For greater than 4 a long time, Canada’s reggae neighborhood has constructed, celebrated, and preserved its musical legacy by award platforms created to acknowledge the artists, musicians, producers, and trade professionals who’ve contributed to the expansion of reggae and dancehall within the nation.
That journey could be traced by three vital award exhibits: The Canadian Reggae Music Awards, the Reggae Music Achievement Awards, and now The Reggae North Music Awards. Every emerged at a unique second, responding to the wants of the Canadian reggae neighborhood and carrying ahead the work of those that got here earlier than.
The story is subsequently not merely about three award exhibits. It’s a story of continuity, transition, and legacy—of 1 era standing on the shoulders of giants to create alternatives for the subsequent.
The Canadian Reggae Music Awards: The place It Started
Winston Hewitt – Canadian Reggae Music Awards
The inspiration was laid in 1985, when reggae artist and visionary Winston Hewitt based the Canadian Reggae Music Awards. Hewitt acknowledged that Canadian reggae artists wanted a platform of their very own. At a time when reggae musicians have been usually ignored by mainstream award establishments, he needed to create an event the place their accomplishments may very well be publicly acknowledged.
The inspiration got here to him in 1984 whereas watching the American Music Awards. Hewitt had been concerned in reggae music for years, and as he watched artists from totally different genres being celebrated, he seen the absence of reggae artists from such recognition. He realized that many reggae artists weren’t promoting sufficient data to earn the normal gold or platinum data that might function symbols of accomplishment.
His response was to create one other type of recognition. Thus, the Canadian Reggae Music Awards was born. Held yearly in Toronto, the awards grew to become an necessary establishment for the Canadian reggae scene. Over time, quite a few Canada-based reggae artists gained recognition and publicity by the occasion, serving to to determine a stronger id for reggae throughout the Canadian music ecosystem.
The awards continued for many years, though the occasion skilled a hiatus in 2005, 2006 and 2007, earlier than returning. Its ultimate version occurred in 2009, bringing an necessary chapter of Canadian reggae historical past to an in depth. But whereas the ceremony finally ended, the necessity it addressed didn’t disappear. And neither did its legacy.
Recognizing Winston Hewitt
As conversations about Canadian reggae awards proceed, the contribution of Winston Hewitt deserves to stay central to the story. His achievement was greater than creating an annual ceremony. He helped set up the concept that Canadian reggae artists deserved a devoted platform the place their work may very well be seen, celebrated, and remembered.
For artists who might not have acquired mainstream trade recognition, an award displayed on the wall might turn into a tangible image of accomplishment. Hewitt’s imaginative and prescient helped open doorways for generations of artists and contributed to placing Canadian reggae on the map. The establishments that adopted inherited that basis.
The Reggae Music Achievement Awards: Persevering with the Legacy
Delroy “Speedy” Sterling – Canadian Reggae Music Achievement Awards
With the conclusion of the Canadian Reggae Music Awards, one other reggae advocate acknowledged that the Canadian scene nonetheless wanted an awards platform. That individual was Delroy “Speedy” Sterling.
In 2006, Sterling launched the Reggae Music Achievement Awards (RMAA), which continued till 2011, marking a five-year run.
The timing was vital. The Canadian Reggae Music Awards had ended, however Canadian reggae continued to provide artists and contributors whose work deserved recognition. Sterling stepped into that hole and sought to proceed the custom of celebrating achievement throughout the nation’s reggae neighborhood.
Underneath Sterling’s management, the RMAA grew to become a platform for recognizing influential contributions to Canadian reggae music. It additionally supplied aspiring artists with public publicity and a possibility to attach their work with a wider viewers and the worldwide reggae market.
Sterling described the RMAA as “a celebration of excellent achievements.” The awards highlighted creative potential inside Canada’s wealthy Caribbean cultural neighborhood and sought to convey better consideration to the individuals serving to to develop reggae music in Canada.
Though the RMAA resulted in 2011, Sterling’s contribution grew to become one other necessary hyperlink within the chain. Delroy Sterling handed away in 2012, however the work he championed remained a part of the broader Canadian reggae legacy.
The Hole
After the RMAA concluded, Canadian reggae as soon as once more discovered itself with out a nationwide awards platform of this nature. For 13 years, there was no comparable occasion devoted to bringing reggae and dancehall artists from throughout Canada collectively to have a good time their accomplishments.
Throughout these years, nevertheless, the music didn’t cease. Canadian reggae and dancehall continued to evolve. Artists emerged from totally different areas, new sounds developed, and the Canadian Caribbean cultural neighborhood continued to contribute to the nation’s musical panorama. What was lacking was a nationwide stage devoted particularly to recognizing that work.
That hole in the end led to the subsequent chapter.
The Reggae North Music Awards: A New Technology Takes the Stage
Tony Anthony – Reggae North Music Awards
In 2024, the Reggae North Cultural Affiliation, beneath the management of singer, songwriter and musician Mark “Tony Anthony” Bennett, responded to that absence by establishing the Reggae North Music Awards.
The target was easy however vital: create an area the place reggae and dancehall artists from throughout Canada might come collectively, have a good time one another’s work, and obtain recognition for his or her efforts. The launch represented greater than the creation of one other awards ceremony. It marked the continuation of a convention that had begun almost 4 a long time earlier.
Tony Anthony acknowledged that Canada’s reggae neighborhood had as soon as once more reached a degree the place its artists wanted a devoted platform.
“There was a spot of 13 years since there was an occasion of this nature that celebrated and recognised the work of Reggae and Dancehall artists throughout Canada,” Tony Anthony stated. “As we speak we’ve got some wonderful expertise throughout the nation, and it is a crucial platform that may solely assist to encourage these artists and assist to create recognition for them not solely in Canada however worldwide.”
The Reggae North Music Awards subsequently represents a bridge between generations. It acknowledges the pioneers who established the muse whereas creating area for up to date artists to construct upon it.
Three Awards Exhibits, One Persevering with Legacy
The historical past of Canada’s reggae awards could be seen as three chapters of the identical story.
Winston Hewitt created the muse.
Delroy “Speedy” Sterling carried the custom ahead.
Mark “Tony Anthony” Bennett and the Reggae North Cultural Affiliation have taken up the duty for a brand new era.
The organizations and award exhibits are totally different, and every operated throughout its personal interval, however they share a standard goal: recognizing the individuals who contribute to the event of reggae music in Canada.
From 1985 to right now, the necessity for recognition has remained remarkably constant. The Canadian Reggae Music Awards demonstrated that Canadian reggae deserved its personal stage. The Reggae Music Achievement Awards continued that mission after the unique awards concluded. And after one other prolonged hole, the Reggae North Music Awards have reopened that area for right now’s artists.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
The phrase standing on the shoulders of giants is especially becoming when this historical past. As we speak’s reggae artists didn’t arrive in an empty panorama. They inherited a musical neighborhood formed by performers, promoters, organizers, producers, broadcasters, entrepreneurs, and cultural advocates who invested their time and vitality into constructing Canada’s reggae trade.
Award exhibits are a part of that infrastructure. They create moments of recognition. They protect historical past. They offer rising artists one thing to aspire to and established artists a possibility to have their contributions acknowledged. Most significantly, they remind the neighborhood that its achievements matter.
Because the Reggae North Music Awards enters its third yr in 2026, the occasion represents one other stage in a narrative that started greater than 40 years in the past. This yr’s Award present is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, on the Rose Theatre in Brampton, bringing one other era of reggae and dancehall artists collectively beneath one roof.
The transition from the Canadian Reggae Music Awards to the Reggae Music Achievement Awards and, in the end, to the Reggae North Music Awards demonstrates that establishments might come and go, however the want to have a good time Canada’s reggae tradition endures.
As we speak’s artists are, fairly actually, standing on the shoulders of giants.
