Canadian Lawyer

Cross EXaMiNEd Sing, sing, sing Dauphin, Man., lawyer juggles law with second career as award-winning singer-songwriter. by Myron loVe D esiree Dorion had quite an eventful 2013. In September, the former legal aid lawyer in Dauphin, Man., made the move into private practice with Dawson and Bretecher Law Corp. And over the summer, thanks to a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, she spent a few days in Nashville — the home of country and western music — studying voice with Renee Grant-Williams whom, Dorion notes, has previously worked with current country music stars Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw. "My head was spinning when I left Nashville," she says. While Dorion practises law by day, in the evenings and on weekends, she is an award-winning country singer-songwriter. In 2010, her album Soul Back Jack garnered Dorion multiple awards and nominations including best coun24 Jan uary 2014 www.CANADIAN try album and best female artist at the 2010 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, best country artist at the 2010 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, best country album at the 2011 North American Indigenous Image Award, best country album at the 2011 Indian Summer Music Awards, and best country album and best female artist at the 2011 Native American Music Awards. Her latest release, Small Town Stories, is also in the running for 2013 best country CD. Country music has always been an important part of Dorion's life. "In our community, the only music we listened to was country music," says Dorion, whose family moved to Dauphin (population about 8,000) in western Manitoba when she was six years old. "I grew up listening to Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings." She is also the mother of two-year-old Grace whom she takes L a w ye r m a g . c o m Desiree Dorion's latest release is getting lots of kudos and attention. with her to rehearsals and gigs. Dorion began writing poems and songs at a very young age. "As far back as I remember, I wanted to express myself," she recalls. "I started writing poems when I was five or six. I still have some of those silly little poems." When she was 12, she says, someone saw her performing and invited her to come to Winnipeg to record her songs. "I took the bus from Dauphin to Winnipeg (a three- to four-hour drive) every weekend for several weeks, spent all day Saturday in the recording studio, and bussed back on Sunday," she says. "When I listen to that album now, the songs sound juvenile and the vocals weren't that good. But it was a wonderful experience." While Dorion wanted to pursue a career in music, she was aware it was important to finish her education and seek a career that offered a more stable future. She first tried social work. "I

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