The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend hosted three drive-in tailgate concerts at Ancaster Fairgrounds September 3-5, 2021 including the New Faces Showcase & Concert, the Legacy Revival, and the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards, presented by Slaight Music, with support from Ontario Creates.

This is the third awards weekend I have attended and I have to say one of the best from all aspects. The growing pains are over and the CMAOntario organization is more than ready for primetime. The diversity and quality of the talent emerging in Ontario is a sign of how great and deep the talent pool is in this province. The weekend was hosted by two of the finest performers Ontario has to offer; established veterans Jason McCoy and Beverly Mahood, Canada's answer to Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. The performances were first class with the uber- talented Western Swing Authority serving as the house band with special guest guitar whiz, Wendel Ferguson. 

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario)  celebrated the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 17 categories with a drive-in award show at Ancaster Fairgrounds in Hamilton. Meghan Patrick from Bowmanville, Ontario lead with three wins, followed by Aaron Allen from London, Ontario with two wins.

The 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards was a drive-in country music awards show that included live performances by Aaron Allen, Susan Aglukark, Buck Twenty, David Boyd Janes, Owen Barney, Reney Ray, Tim Hicks, Robyn Ottolini, Kelly Prescott, Sacha, Elyse Saunders, The Redhill Valleys, and the CMAOntario Awards house band The Western Swing Authority.

THE WINNERS OF THE 9TH ANNUAL CMAONTARIO AWARDS ARE:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR sponsored by PURE COUNTRY 93
“No Truck Song” – Tim Hicks

ALBUM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 106.7
Highway Mile – Aaron Allen

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR sponsored by SOCAN
Owen Barney, Alyssa Reid, Dave Thomson, Mike Wise, Jamie Appleby – “Thank Her For That”, Recorded By Owen Barney

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Countryfest Productions
Meghan Patrick

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Boreal Botanical
Aaron Allen

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 103
Buck Twenty

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Skelton Truck Lines
The Abrams

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Desjardins
Les Rats D’Swompe

RISING STAR sponsored by Slaight Music
Robyn Ottolini

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR sponsored by MNP
“Girls Like Me” – Meghan Patrick

FANS’ CHOICE sponsored by Tourism Hamilton
Meghan Patrick

RECORD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Metalworks Recording Studios
Jeff Dalziel – Aaron Allen, David Boyd Janes, River Town Saints

MUSIC INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Calcul8
Randy Owen, Radio Host/Personality

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) sponsored by Fielding Estate Winery
CKDK Country 104, Woodstock

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields
CHCQ-FM Cool 100.1 FM, Belleville

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET) sponsored by Niagara Falls Craft Distillers
CICX Pure Country 106, Orillia

MRC DATA COMPASS AWARD
The Reklaws

THE HOLLY & STEVE KASSAY GENEROUS SPIRIT AWARD
Patrice Whiffen

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. See you next year!

For more on the CMAO or to become a member visit their website:
https://cmaontario.ca/