Canadian Blues Music Awards make significant changes to Maple Blues Awards after controversy
Canadian Blues Awards have been completely revamped after facing criticism for lack of recognition for Black artists. The long-running Maple Blues Awards, previously organized by the Toronto Blues Society, have been replaced by the newly established Canadian Blues Music Awards. This new awards program, now a national not-for-profit organization, will govern all aspects leading up to the awards ceremony nationwide, aiming for increased transparency and fairness.
The previous Maple Blues Awards drew severe backlash as only white artists, with the exception of one Indigenous Artist of the Year, were recognized in the winner list. In response to the criticism, the Toronto Blues Society held town hall meetings to address the issue and make necessary changes for better inclusivity and accountability within the organization.
Quinta Wint, the chair of the Toronto Blues Society, expressed full support for the Canadian Blues Music Awards in a letter on the organization’s website. The establishment of the new awards program comes after extensive discussions and dedicated efforts from the Governing Committee to ensure a fair and diverse representation of the Canadian blues community. The awards operate as a separate entity from the Toronto Blues Society, emphasizing independent and transparent recognition processes.
The Canadian Blues Music Awards have introduced submission-based nominations for all categories, with the only exception being the Fan Favourite Award, which allows public participation in the voting process through write-in votes. Artists are required to submit entries based on recordings released within a specific timeframe. The submission portal is accessible online for all applications, submissions, and fan votes.
In other music news, the IMSTA FESTA, described as Toronto’s premier celebration of music technology, will return at Toronto Metropolitan University, featuring Grammy-winning engineers, international stars, and industry innovators. Renowned figures, including Young Guru, Kevin Lyttle, Rafa Sardina, and Richard Devine, will lead master classes and workshops on various aspects of music production and engineering.
Additionally, artist submissions are now open for Contact East 2026, the Atlantic Presenters Association’s biennial performing arts booking conference. The event, featuring a diverse range of artistic genres, will take place in Saint John, NB, showcasing performances in music, cabaret, dance, theater, comedy, and more. Similarly, applications are being accepted for Fuse: Music Residency 2026, an interdisciplinary music residency hosted by the Banff Centre for musicians across different disciplines.
Women in Music Canada, a nonprofit organization, is set to host the first Women in Music Global Summit in Toronto, offering a platform for women and gender-diverse leaders in the music industry to connect and collaborate during International Women’s Week. The summit will include panels, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and a songwriting showcase to promote networking and community-building within the industry. Additionally, the organization will host its fourth annual Honours event at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto for further recognition of women in music.