The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is excited to announce the winners of the 12th Annual CMAOntario Awards, presented by Slaight Music, which took place on Sunday, June 2 in Hammerson Hall at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. Jason Blaine, Owen Riegling, and James Barker Band each took home two CMAOntario trophies.
Hosted by Pure Country Radio’s Jason McCoy and country TikTok sensation Teigen Gayse, the CMAOntario Awards acknowledged the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 17 categories plus special awards. The show included special performances by 2024 CMAOntarioaward winners Owen Riegling, Jason Blaine, Nicole Rayy, and Elyse Saunders, and nominees Karli June, Griffen Palmer, River Town Saints, Sugar Crush, Callie McCullough, Ryan Langdon, and The Western Swing Authority.
Photos by Orest Dorosh
The Winners of the 12th Annual CMAOntario Awards are:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Pure Country
The Road that Raised You Up – Jason Blaine
ALBUM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 106.7 Kitchener
Greatest Show on Dirt – Meghan Patrick
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR sponsored by SOCAN
Jason Blaine, The Road the Raised You Up, recorded by Jason Blaine
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by IBEW Local 353
Elyse Saunders
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by IBEW Local 353
Owen Riegling
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR sponsored by Country 103
James Barker Band
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Shawn Moore
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Slaight Music
Owen Riegling
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR sponsored by Jim Dunlop Productions
Honky Tonkin About – The Reklaws ft. Drake Milligan
Dirty – Nicole Rayy
(Tied)
INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Manrkē
Dave Woods
FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Reney Ray
FANS’ CHOICE sponsored by Visit Mississauga
Tim Hicks
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR sponsored by Cithara Guitars
Shane Guse
COMPASS AWARD
James Barker Band
HOLLY & STEVE KASSAY GENEROUS SPIRIT AWARD
Walter Nowakowski
IMPACT AWARD
Charlie Major
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) sponsored by Fielding Estate Winery
KX 94.7, Hamilton
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields
Hot Country 93.9, Brantford
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
Pure Country 106, Orillia
The CMAOntario Award Show was preceded by a weekend of activities in Mississauga as part of the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend, May 31-June 2, 2024. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend included Songs & Stories: Songwriters in the Round, R2i TuneUp Conference, Street Fair, Bonfire and Tailgate Party. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend will return to Mississauga in 2026.
