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Langlois named Top 3 finalist for Project Wild

Nov 19, 2018 | 9:50 AM

A Red Deer musician is one step closer to making the album of his dreams after being named a Top 3 finalist for a unique country artist development program in Alberta.

Ryan Langlois, formerly of The Boom Chucka Boys, will join Leaving Thomas and The Prairie States in performing at the Project Wild Top 3 Awards night Finale November 24 at Knoxville’s in Calgary.

Project Wild is funded by Wild 95.3 radio in Calgary – owned by the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group which currently has a seven-year commitment of $4.9 million to develop artists and industry in Alberta.

Project Wild has artist applicants competing for significant music grants, with each of the Top 12 finalists, which also included Red Deer singer/songwriter Jamie Woodfin, awarded $5,000 to go towards career development. A committee then judges how effectively each artist uses their money.

Woodfin chose to pair up with Ronald McDonald House of Central Alberta, an organization close to his heart, while Langlois chose his Let’s Walk journey, a fundraising initiative that saw him and several others walk for one hour each day for 30 days this fall and raise $960 in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Central Alberta Branch.

By finishing in the Top 3, Langlois, Leaving Thomas and The Prairie States will have access to larger grant money, with third place to receive $50,000, second place $75,000 and first place to receive $100,953.