Canadian country music star Crystal Shawanda visited Van Tech on Friday, February 28 to talk to students about her life, her struggles with bullying and her success breaking into the country music scene in Nashville.

Born in 1983 on the Wikwemikong Indian Reserve, Shawanda recently was nominated for a Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Juno Award for Country Album of the Year. Last year, she won a Juno for Aboriginal Album of the Year.

During her visit to Van Tech stage, she performed for close to 100 students from across the district (and as far away as University Hill Secondary).

Shawanda was at Van Tech through the support of the Talking Stick Festival (who were co-presenters of the performance) as well as because of the hard work of Van Tech music teacher Mark Reid.