THE AWARD GOES TO ...
PHOTO : DUSTIN RABIN
THE AWARD GOES TO ...
Buffy Sainte-Marie Wins 2015 Polaris Music Prize
Power In The Blood by Buffy Sainte-Marie has won the 10 th annual Polaris Music Prize . Taking place at The Carlu in downtown Toronto , gala host Fred Penner announced Sainte-Marie as the winner and awarded her with the $ 50,000 prize .
In addition to upgrading her studio , Sainte-Marie said portions of the prize money will go to charities dealing with animal rights , marginalized peoples , as well as indigenous people and the environment . With an esteemed career spanning five decades , the Cree artist is the second aboriginal woman to win the Polaris Prize and , at 74 , is also the oldest Polaris winner .
For more information , go to www . polarismusicprize . ca .
Musicians & Music Moguls Among 2016 Order of Canada Recipients
Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida , as well as music industry philanthropist Gary Slaight , conductor and composer Alex Pauk , and soprano Suzie LeBlanc , were inducted into the Order of Canada in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Sept . 23 , 2015 .
Kreviazuk and Maida were honoured for their humanitarian work , including human and animal rights , mental health , education , and the environment . Slaight was honoured for his work fostering emerging artists , and sponsoring cultural initiatives such as the JUNO Awards , the Polaris Prize , and Canada ’ s Walk of Fame , and for supporting humanitarian causes through the Slaight Family Foundation .
For a full list of Order of Canada recipients , go to www . gg . ca .
PHOTO : PETER SAVIC
PHOTO : CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS / DONNA SANTOS
DJ VEKKED AT THE 2015 WORLD DMC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Canada ’ s DJ Vekked Earns DMC World Championship Title
Canada ’ s DJ Vekked had a strong showing at the 2015 DMC World Championships in London , England , earning the title of 2015 DMC World DJ Champion and adding to his earlier win as 2015 DMC Online World Champion . Not only that , Vekked and his partner DJ Brace , under the name The Fresherthans , also won the 2015 DMC Online Team Championship and took second place in the DMC World Team Championships behind France ’ s 9 O ’ Clock .
Vekked is no stranger to the event , having placed in the top three in 2014 in three competitions : the DMC World DJ Championship , Battle for World Supremacy competition , and the World Team Championships . Vekked also won the Battle for World Supremacy title in 2012 .
For more information and to watch DJ Vekked ’ s winning set , go to www . dmcdjchamps . com .
Canada Council ’ s Musical Instrument Bank Competition Winners Announced
After a week of intense competition , 21 talented cellists and violinists have each taken home a rare instrument on loan from the Canada Council of the Arts ’ Musical Instrument Bank . These musicians are among Canada ’ s up-and-coming talents , most under the age of 30 . The priceless instruments will afford them an edge on national or international stages . Legends in themselves , the instruments were created by some of the world ’ s greatest craftsmen , including Stradivari , Guarneri , and Gagliano . The full collection is valued at over $ 41 million .
The complete list of 2015 Canada Council of the Arts ’ Instrument Bank competition winners and the instrument they ’ ll get to use is available at instrumentbank . canadacouncil . ca .
2014 PRISM PRIZE WINNER EMILY KAI BOCK
Prism Prize Grand Prize Doubled to $ 10,000 for Year Four
Prism Prize organizers have announced that the grand prize for Best Canadian Music Video of the Year will be doubled to $ 10,000 in 2016 . Traditionally held in March , the awards presentation will move to May 15 , 2016 , once again held at TIFF Bell Lightbox . This move is prompted by the introduction of the first-ever Prism Prize Top 20 , which will allow for further recognition of deserving Canadian videos , filmmakers , and artists .
The Prism Prize will announce the Top 20 on Feb . 9 , 2016 , while the top 10 will be announced on March 22 , 2016 , followed by the Prism Prize Screening and Awards Presentation on May 15 , 2016 .
For more information and / or to watch past winning and nominated videos , go to www . prismprize . com .
Michael Bublé will be honoured with a star on Canada ’ s Walk of Fame in Toronto following the ceremony on Nov . 7 , 2015 . As well , singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes is the recipient of the 2015 Allan Slaight Honour , which recognizes young , inspirational Canadian music artists who have achieved international success .
For more information , go to www . canadaswalkoffame . com .
PHOTO : VINCENT MCMILLAN
WWW . CANADIANMUSICIAN . COM CANADIAN MUSICIAN • 15