Artists and Industry from Manitoba Earn Western Canadian Music Awards in Winnipeg

Posted on September 25, 2025

Locals Bring Home Hardware in 12 Categories, Including Inaugural Afrobeats; Special Honours for Chantal Kreviazuk, Ernest Monias, and John Scoles

The music community in Manitoba was in the spotlight during the 2025 Western Canadian Music Awards and the 23rd annual BreakOut Festival & Conference, which were hosted in Winnipeg, September 24 - 28.

Artists and music companies from Manitoba picked up hardware in a dozen categories, alongside three specialty awards, recognizing those making a significant impact in Western Canada’s music scene and beyond. The artistic awards were announced at the Park Theatre on September 25, while the industry awards were presented at an awards brunch on September 27 at the Fairmont Winnipeg.

The 2025 specialty awards honoured the contributions of three luminaries from Manitoba. Grammy and JUNO Award-winning singer/songwriter and musician, philanthropist and humanitarian, Chantal Kreviazuk is the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee. The Heritage Award was presented to trailblazing multi-award-winning “King of the North” Cree singer/songwriter, Ernest Monias. Legendary promoter and community advocate, John Scoles of Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club received the Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award.

Emerging Winnipeg-based, Nigerian-born artist and producer Tommyphyll earned the first-ever WCMA for Afrobeats Artist of the Year. Music legend Big Dave McLean followed last year’s JUNO win with the WCMA for Blues Artist of the Year, which he previously won in 2020 and 2017. Winnipeg-based arts and cultural org the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra was named Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year, which it won last in 2019. Country/Americana singer/songwriter Jade Turner earned her first WCMA for Country Artist of the Year. Kelly Bado picked up her second WCMA for Global Artist of the Year, winning previously in 2021. Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra picked up the WCMA for Jazz Artist of the Year, its first win after five nominations. Field Guide was named Rock Artist of the Year, a first-time win. Another first-time winner, Leaf Rapids earned Roots Artist of the Year.

This year's industry winners included Birthday Cake Records, which picked up the awards for Impact in Music Marketing, double-winner Paquin Artists Agency won for Impact in Artist Development and Impact in Live Music, and sākihiwē festival, which won the Community Excellence Award.

Now celebrating its 23rd year, BreakOut West is running September 24 - 28 in Winnipeg. This year’s event included the WCMAs, a music conference, music discovery festival, and more special events.

Several hometown acts are hitting the showcase stage at this year’s BreakOut West Festival, including Alpha Toshineza, Boniface, CEC, Dill the Giant, FONTINE, Jade Turner, Lhasa Petik, Noah Derksen, Slow Leaves, The Haileys, TOMMYPHYLL, and Virgo Rising. Each has two performances during the festival’s three-night run.

Find out more about this year’s event at breakoutwest.ca.

2025 Western Canadian Music Awards Winners

Artistic Winners

Afrobeats Artist of the Year
Tommyphyll – MB

Blues Artist of the Year
Big Dave McLean – MB

BreakOut Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR)
Wyatt C. Louis – AB

Children’s Artist of the Year
Kym Gouchie – BC

Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB

Classical Composer of the Year
Jeffrey Ryan – Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation “Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation – Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bramwell Tovey” – BC

Country Artist of the Year
Jade Turner – MB

Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
ASKO – AB

Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by APCM – Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
Ponteix – SK

Global Artist of the Year
Kelly Bado – MB

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Wyatt C. Louis – AB

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Joel Jeschke – AB

Jazz Artist of the Year
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB

Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Anciients – BC

Pop Artist of the Year
RIELL – AB

Producer of the Year
Kevvy – BC

R&B Artist of the Year
Katie Tupper – SK

Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC

Recording of the Year
Dump Babes – SK

Rock Artist of the Year
Field Guide – MB

Roots Artist of the Year
Leaf Rapids – MB

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by SOCAN)
Yung Trybez/Young D (Snotty Nose Rez Kids) – RED FUTURE "Snotty Nose Rez Kids – RED FUTURE" – BC

Spiritual Artist of the Year
Ruby Singh’s Vox.Infold II – BC

Video Director of the Year (Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music)
Sterling Larose – Snotty Nose Rez Kids "BBE" – BC