Minister Chalifour Scherrer congratulates East Coast Music Awards winners
OTTAWA, February 16, 2004 -- The Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today congratulated the winners of the East Coast Music Awards. This annual celebration, organized by the East Coast Music Association, took place last night in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador."The East Coast Music Awards highlight the musical wealth of the Atlantic region," said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "I am proud to congratulate artists such as Crush, Ron Hynes, Damhnait Doyle, Jimmy Rankin, and Dutch Robinson, who made their mark this year. Their talent contributes to the success of Canada's music industry, both within our country and abroad."
Minister Chalifour Scherrer took the opportunity to note the Government of Canada's financial support for the East Coast Music Association. Funding of more than $150,000 helps the Association to organize the yearly awards ceremony. It also allows it to promote the expansion of music from Atlantic Canada and to analyse trends and issues related to the music industry in this region.
"Yesterday's celebrations underscore, yet again, the vitality and diversity of the music industry in the beautiful Atlantic region," added Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "I am proud of the talent and innovation of our performers, our musicians, and our songwriters who, more than ever, are thrilling audiences in Canada and beyond."
Financial assistance is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Canada Music Fund. This fund seeks to strengthen the infrastructure of the Canadian sound recording industry and to offer aid for the production, distribution, and marketing of Canadian music.
Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget.
Information:
Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
The winners of the 2004 East Coast Music Awards are:
| Aboriginal Recording of the Year | Welcome to Forever - Forever |
| African-Canadian Recording of the Year | Only Me - Dutch Robinson |
| Alternative Recording of the Year | Talkin' Honky Blues - Buck 65 |
| BluegrassRecording of the Year | The Shores of Nova Scotia - Birchmountain Bluegrass Band | Blues Recording of the Year | Live At Last - MattMinglewood |
| Children's Recording of the Year | Computer Cat - Donna & Andy |
| Classical Recording of the Year | Stravinsky:Works for Violin and Piano - Jasper Wood |
| Country Recording of the Year | Get Back Change - Ron Hynes |
| FACTOR Album of the Year | Get Back Change - Ron Hynes |
| Female Artist of the Year | Damhnait Doyle |
| Francophone Recording of the Year | Blou Blanc Rouge - Blou |
| Gospel Recording of the Year | A Burke Family Christmas - The Burkes |
| Group of the Year | Crush |
| Instrumental Recording of the Year | Infectious - Richard Wood |
| Jazz Recording of the Year | HavanaFax Live - Jeff Goodspeed & Jorge Chicoy |
| Male Artist of the Year | Jimmy Rankin |
| New Artist /Group of the Year | Matt Mays |
| NewCap Rock Recording of the Year | Face in the Crowd - Crush |
| Pop Recording of the Year | Davnet - Damhnait Doyle |
| Roots / Traditional Group Recording of the Year | Can't Be The Same - Ennis Sisters |
| Roots / Traditional Solo Recording of the Year | Handmade - Jimmy Rankin |
| Single of the Year | King for a Day - Crush |
| SOCAN Songwriter of the Year | Cory Tetford & Gordie Sampson ( King For A Day - Crush ) |
| Telegram / Transcontinental Entertainer of the Year | Crush |
| Urban Recording of the Year | I Took the Long Way Home - Dutch Robinson |
| Video of the Year | The Rest of My Life - Sloan |
[ Media Room ]
