CMAO Logo
Monday night marked the second annual celebration of the best country music Ontario has to offer at the Country Music Association of Ontario – CMAO Awards held in Markham.
Country music stars from all across Ontario flocked to the 2nd annual event hosted by Road Hammer, Jason McCoy.
The Impact Award - presented to one of the most important singer/songwriters in the history of Canada, and Ontario – the one and only GORDON LIGHTFOOT (who was on hand to receive). The Impact Award was established by the CMAO last year. The recipient is determined by the board and honours/recognizes an artist, group, industry personality or company/organization that has left an enduring and indelibly positive footprint on the landscape of country music in Ontario. The first Impact Award recipient was the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA).
CMAO 2014 Highlights – photo courtesy Boots and Hearts
The full list of CMAO Awards winners is as follows:
- Single Of The Year: Take The Week Off - Deric Ruttan
- Album Of The Year: Small Town Pistols - Small Town Pistols
- Songwriter(s) Of The Year – Jessi Alexander / Connie Harrington / Deric Ruttan – Mine Would Be You
- Female Artist Of The Year – Kira Isabella
- Male Artist Of The Year – Tim Hicks
- Group Or Duo Of The Year – Autumn Hill
- Roots Artist Or Group Of The Year – The Western Swing Authority
- Rising Star Award – Jordan McIntosh
- Record Producer(s) Of The Year – Jason Barry / Tebey – The Wait
- Radio Station Of The Year – Major Market – CJKX – KX96 FM – Oshawa, ON
- Radio Station Of The Year – Secondary Market – CJDL – Country 107.3 FM – Tillsonburg, ON
We send our sincerest congratulations to all of the winners and nominees, we’ve gotten to know many of your over the last few years and look forward to getting to know and work with you all in the year ahead! As someone posted on Twitter last night “Good things grow in Ontario”.
About the Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO):
Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated without share capital under the Corporations Act (Ontario) on March 25, 2010. The goal of the Country Music Association of Ontario, through the leadership and experience of our members, is to foster and support the growth and development of Ontario Country Music in all of its forms (traditional, mainstream, folk, alt, bluegrass, roots, Canadiana, etc.), and to develop opportunities for Ontario artists, singers, songwriters, musicians, bands, and all those associated with the Ontario country music infrastructure – provincially, nationally and internationally.
While maintaining a spirit of community and sharing, we educate, encourage creativity, and celebrate the unique achievements and contributions of our entire industry. www.cmaontario.ca