Canadian Music Trade - December/January 2018 | Page 19

Mike Miltimore & Riversong Guitars Pick Up Kamloops Business Excellence Awards Riversong Guitars and its founder, Mike Miltimore, had a big night at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on Oct. 21, 2017. Miltimore took the award for Business Person of the Year while Riversong Guitars won as Small Business of the Year. The Business Excellence Awards is now in its 31 st year and recognizes the best businesses and business owners in the city of Kamloops, BC. “It’s really, truly amazing. It’s a vote to what we’re doing here at Riversong Guitars. Our team here is working really hard to build the best quality guitars and represent Kamloops in the best light to the rest of the world,” Miltimore told local media outlet CFJC Today after the presentation. For more information, contact Riversong Guitars: 250-319-5050, [email protected], www.riversongguitars.com. Newfoundland’s Gerry Strong Earns Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award Eleanor McCain & Matt Dusk Join MusiCounts at Ontario Elementary School On Nov. 23 rd , three-time ECMA nominee Eleanor McCain and JUNO Award nominee Matt Dusk joined MusiCounts for a special holiday celebration at St. Aidan Catholic School in Scarborough, ON. Through Eleanor McCain’s contribution of her True North: The Canadian Songbook Commemorative Band Aid Grants, St. Aidan Catholic School and four additional schools across the country were awarded $20,000 in new instruments via the MusiCounts Band Aid Program. As part of the festivities, McCain and Dusk took to the stage to perform a medley of holiday songs for students. “It is such an honour to be here today to celebrate the incredible work that MusiCounts does to ensure that kids have access to music programs and instruments,” says McCain. “It is so inspiring to see such talented young musicians here that will benefit from the enhanced grant for years to come.” For more information, contact MusiCounts: 416-485-3135, [email protected], www.musicounts.ca. SEND US YOUR PERSONAL UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOUR PEERS! Retailers, reps, suppliers, educators, and other trade professionals are encouraged to send us personal stories about themselves or their colleagues that we can share with your peers in the industry. Tips on weddings, anniversaries, major milestones, awards, births, new initiatives, and other achievements are all welcome and appreciated! Please send your stories to [email protected] and we’ll handle the rest! CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE 19 Newfoundland’s Gerry Strong was the recipient of the Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards. This annual legacy category award recognizes the exception- al contribution of an individual, group, or organization to any aspect of the Canadian folk music scene. For more than 40 years, Strong has been one of the mainstays of the music scene in New- foundland and Labrador. A member of the seminal band Tickle Harbour, Strong was one of the pioneers of the traditional music revival who helped create an interest in the musical heritage of the province. Known as the top tin whistle and Irish flute player in Newfoundland, Strong currently performs with the groups A Crowd of Bold Sharemen, What Odds, and Cotillion, and has toured both nationally and internationally. A talented arranger and composer, he has mentored and taught countless players. Strong also works as a volunteer presenter and is one of the founders of The Carbonear Folk Festival, The Freshwater Concert Series, and The Freshwater Coffee House events, which present local, national, and international performers in the rural Newfoundland community of Freshwater, Carbonear.