June 15, 2015
It’s been 40 years since the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) gave a voice to the independent music community, and to celebrate, CIMA will host its inaugural CIMA Awards Gala at the 2015 Awards Gala and 40th Anniversary Celebrations tonight in Toronto.
Hosted by CBC’s Grant Lawrence, the evening will highlight the entrepreneurial spirit and creative forces that shape Canada’s independent music industry, past and present.
Awards honouring a variety of influential people will be given, including the Founders Award, the Entrepreneur Award, the Brian Chater Leadership Award, and the Unsung Hero Award. As for the founders, the story goes that Bernie Finkelstein, Stan Klees, Terry Brown, Frank Davies, Tommy Graham, Greg Hambleton, Jack Richardson, Allan Macmillan, Ben McPeek, Art Snider, and Paul Clinch met at the Inn on the Park in December, 1970. Within a year, the Canadian Independent Record Producers Association (CIRPA) would be established, only later to be renamed CIMA in 1975.
The gala will also feature special performances by Myles Goodwyn, Ian Thornley, Tomi Swick, Hawksley Workman, and Jason Collett. The Canadian Blast Afterparty will immediately follow the Awards Gala, featuring CAIRO, Ain’t No Love, Grand Analog, and The OBGMS.
We’re kicking off our 40th year in style with an Awards Gala & 40th Anniversary Celebrations! All the details: http://t.co/zRsTBs5QW1
— CIMA (@_CIMAmusic) April 28, 2015
Stuart Johnston, President of CIMA, says “this is an exciting milestone for the organization, as it gives the opportunity to look back and truly recognize the efforts of our industry’s forefathers—the trailblazers who, through talent, skill, entrepreneurship and sheer force of will, shaped the industry and CIMA into what it is today.”
More information about the awards gala is available here.
CIMA is a non-profit association supporting the interests of Canada’s independent music community with a primary focus on advocacy, professional development, and business development. Founded in 1971, CIMA was the first national organization in the world to support independent music, launching key programs such as FACTOR and the Canada Music Fund.
More about CIMA’s mandate can be read here.
In other news…
- Musician Steel Audrey dies in Australia
- No more poster fines in Toronto
- Canadian Music Café returns for seventh year
- Lineup for MMVAs announced
- …and fans wait hours for wristbands
- The Band releases vinyl box set
- Saxophonist Ornette Coleman dies at 85
- Alanis or Atwood?
–Leyland Bradley
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Get at me @LeylandMarie or leyland.bradley@gmail.com.