that builds and maintains affordable and geared-to-income housing in the city .
Both the 2018 and 2022 editions of The Rally featured free transit to and from the show , a local artisan market outside the stadium gates , and community bike share rides to the show , alongside the band . This year ’ s event included a special addition – the opening of the city ’ s brand new “ The Rally Court ” – a dazzling refurbished basketball court in Hamilton ’ s Ward 3 neighbourhood . Replete with brand new vibrant surfacing , glass backboards , bleachers and updated lighting , the court was spearheaded by the band , The City of Hamilton , and funded by Arkells ’ friends in the basketball community : The Nick Nurse Foundation , The Foxcroft Family , Superfan Nav Bhatia , and Canada Basketball . For more information , go to
www . canadaswalkoffame . com .
CAPTION ?
Levon Ichkhanian Awarded Queen ’ s Jubilee Pin
Toronto-based musician Levon Ichkhanian recently received two great honours from his community . First , his local MP , Leah Taylor Roy , presented Ichkhanian with the Queen ’ s Jubilee Pin in recognition of his service to community building through music . As well , later in July , Ichkhanian was given the Musician of the Year award by the Toronto Musicians ’ Association .
Ichkhanian is a third-generation , Lebanese-Canadian guitarist with over 41 years of professional experience in all aspects of music . Throughout his 45 years of professional music , he has worked with many international artists , including superstars like from Elton John , Barbra Streisand , and Diana Krall . He owns and operates Global Village Creative Inc ., a music service company . Ichkhanian was also the music contractor for the hit musical Come from Away and is a PhD candidate in Ethnomusicology at York University .
A SCENE FROM THE “ ALI ” MUSIC VIDEO
Mustafa ’ s “ Ali ” Video Crowned Canadian Music Video of the Year at 2022 Prism Prize
The Prism Prize , an annual awards event that recognizes outstanding Canadian artistry in music video production , announced the winners of the Grand Prize and fan-voted Audience Award in July . During a live screening and awards presentation at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto . “ Ali ” by Mustafa , who also directed the music video , took home the $ 20,000 grand prize for Canadian Music Video of the Year , selected by a jury of more than 130 music and visual arts industry professionals . The Audience Award , which comes with a $ 5,000 cash prize , went to artist Khanvict and director Anjali Nayar for their music video “ Closer .” Mustafa was also given the Willie Dunn Award , which is presented to a Canadian trailblazer who has demonstrated excellence within the music , music video , and / or film production communities
The 2022 Prism Prize screening and awards presentation was a celebration of our homegrown Canadian talent and the top-10 Canadian music videos of the year , which explored complicated and compelling themes of racism , discrimination , religion , political justice , death , and challenging societal norms . The show was hosted by comedian Hoodo Hersi .
Along with the Grand Prize and Audience Award , the 2022 Special Award recipients were also announced . This is a group of multi-talented Canadian creatives who are diversifying and elevating the music industry , both in Canada and abroad . It includes : Pop , R & B , soul and jazz band , Chiiild , was presented with the Hi-Fidelity Award ; Toronto-based director Iris Kim was awarded the Lipsett Award ; and director and digital artist Sammy Rawal was granted the Special Achievement Award .
“ In our tenth year of the Prism Prize , it is clearer than ever that Canadian creatives are continuing to take the art of music videos to new heights , offering compelling and emotional visuals for audiences everywhere ” says Louis Calabro , Interim CEO at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Founder of Prism Prize .
“ Mustafa ’ s ‘ Ali ’ is no exception - the video is the perfect accompaniment to the deeply moving song , a beautiful tribute to Mustafa ’ s dear late friend , Ali Rizeig .”
To watch the top-10 finalists , as well as hundreds of other eligible videos from years past , go to
www . prismprize . com .
HAVIAH MIGHTY IS ONE OF THE FINALISTS FOR THE SLAIGHT MUSIC EMERGING SONGWRITER AWARD
Finalists Announced for the 2022 Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame ( CSHF ) has announced the finalists for the 2022 Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award . Established in 2017 , the award celebrates the current achievements and bright futures of Canadian songwriters on an upward trajectory in their career . This year ’ s finalists are comprised of five Anglophone artists and six Francophone artists from across Canada , who will be vying for a cash prize and exclusive opportunities to SOCAN songwriting camps , mentorship opportunities , and recognition at the 2022 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala .
This year ’ s Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter contest consisted of 30 outstanding candidates . The top finalists were determined after a first round of voting by a juried panel of music industry professionals . The 2022 finalists in the Anglophone category are : Nate Ferraro , a multi-platinum songwriter ; Eli Brown , a L . A . -based platinum-selling songwriter and record producer known for his work on Drake ’ s “ In The Bible ” and more ; LOONY , a genre-fusing artist whose album soft thing made the Polaris Music Prize long list and accumulated over 50 million streams ; TOBi , a Juno-winning rapper and singer who was born in Nigeria and moved to Canada as a child ; and Polaris Prize- and Juno-winning rapper Haviah Mighty .
In the Francophone category for the Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award , finalists are Robert Robert , Lou-Adriane Cassidy , P ’ tit Belliveau , Lydia Képinski , LUMIÈRE , and Étienne Coppée .
Past winners include Charlotte Cardin , Jessie Reyez , Lowell , Les Louanges , Mustafa , and Ariane Roy .
PHOTO : DUSTIN RABIN
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 19