Singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk was in town to launch the jacket she collaborated on with Canada Goose. The down-filled hooded black beauty made its debut at Calgary's Holt Renfrew and will be available through the holiday season while supplies last. Proceeds of the sale of the jacket go to Polar Bears International, which helps preserve the polar bear and its habitat. While she was here, Kreviazuk took time to greet fans and chat with me about her connection to the North and what other projects she has coming up.

You grew up in Winnipeg, but you call Churchill the gem of Manitoba. How did you become familiar with the northern region?

I used to go up north just be alone. Churchill was my favourite spot. I just thought it was the most amazing place. The sun only set for a second and then came back up. The people are phenomenal. I’d go out on the bay and have beluga whales dancing around me feeding with their babies. I would go out in a kayak or swim with them. Everyday it was another adventure. And, at night you just don’t sleep because it is so beautiful.

Do you feel connected to the people of the North?

The CBC did a documentary on me and I found out that was where my grandmothers are from. I fell in love with the region on a whole new level knowing I was standing in the lookout point where my grandfathers would have stood when they were working at York Factory and waiting for the ships to come in.

My happiest times in my life are in the presence of the native people. I feel such a profound sense of peace and understanding. These are people who are humble and live based on their needs and love. I think we can be so proud of our progress and see where we are in our civilization living down south but when you are around these people and this simple lifestyle you become very aware of how little you need. And how beautiful the world is around you without all sorts of bells and whistles. It is very addicting. Until you live it you don’t quite know.

How did they influence the design of your Canada Goose Jacket?

It was collaboration with the professionals and based on a feeling derived from the inspiration I feel when I watch the women up north with their babies. I took my four-month-old baby once and everyone was freaking out, but didn’t think much about it. When I got up there on the airport tarmac with the baby, I bundled him bundled up as best I could. The woman on the plan from the region just popped their coats on, put the baby inside and popped their hoods over. That is how they have been protecting their babies up there for centuries. I thought it would be really cool to incorporate it into the coat. I also love that it is metropolitan. It is sleek. It’s different than anything else by Canada Goose.

A documentary about your music and life will be on HBO Canada in December. What is it like to put your life out there in such a public way?

It has been cathartic because there are parts of me that have only been in my music. Now they are out on a far more concrete, tangible level. I explain issues that have impacted my life, why I make music based on the themes that I do and why I do a lot of the things that I do in my life. It made me feel more self-respect in a strange way than I ever have.

Do you prefer writing music for yourself or others?

I have a song on Drake’s next album and that is my new favourite thing. I wrote it and I sang on it and that’s what I want to do. I like to be a writer and singer on other people’s projects. I love being able to experience the diversity and crossover of genres. It’s a really fun experience. The album comes out November 15 and the song is called “Over My Dead Body”.