Call for Nominations: Vince Fontaine Legacy Award
Press Release
May 8, 2025
Deadline: Thursday, May 22 at 4 PM
The Indigenous Music Steering Committee at Manitoba Music is pleased to open the Vince Fontaine Legacy Award up to public nomination.
The award honours the indelible legacy of Vince Fontaine, who passed away in January 2022. It was created by the Indigenous Music Steering Committee to recognize an emerging Indigenous artist or industry professional currently working towards a career in the music industry and is intended to contribute to their professional development. The recipient will be an Indigenous emerging artist from Manitoba who exemplifies Vince’s community spirit and professional qualities. The award is in the form of a scholarship in support of mentorship and learning opportunities. The award is sponsored jointly by Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music.
About Vince Fontaine
Vince Fontaine was an important leader in the music community and had an incredible impact on many. He was a mentor, champion, challenger, tireless supporter of Indigenous artists, and an amazing musician/composer/producer with trailblazing acts like Eagle & Hawk and Indian City. He shared his guidance as a founding member of the Indigenous Music Steering Committee and as a past member of Manitoba Music’s Board of Directors. He was dedicated to making the music industry a better place, opening doors, challenging systems, and elevating Indigenous voices, and for his many songs and heartfelt performances.
The Legacy Award
Created in 2023, the Vince Legacy Award recognizes an emerging Indigenous artist or industry professional currently working towards a career in the music industry and is intended to contribute to their professional development.
Eligibility
- An emerging professional working in music
- A full-time resident of the province of Manitoba for a minimum of two (2) years
- Someone who demonstrates the professional traits, values, and commitment of Vince Fontaine, including strong participation in the community, is generous with their time and energy, and is a passionate advocate for Manitoba’s cultural scene and elevating Indigenous voices.
- Nominees can be an artist/performer, administrator, promoter, manager, agent, label, recording engineer, or other industry related role and may have recently launched a career in the music industry.
Recipient Award
- Certificate of award
- Complimentary placement in Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI’s) acclaimed Artist Entrepreneur West (AE West) artist development program at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary this fall (Nov-early Dec) valued at $2,000.
- Return flight and accommodations for duration of AE West program, including per diems and coverage for reasonable expenses
- One year Manitoba Music membership and one year of complimentary entry to Manitoba Music seminars and workshops
Past Recipients
Veronica Blackhawk (2023)
Brandi Vezina (2024)
Who Can Nominate
Any member of the music community can put forward a name for nomination. Self-submissions are not eligible.
Nomination Process
Nominator must complete the online nomination form in full, including a brief rationale for the nomination (not more than 500 words).
Each nomination will be reviewed upon submission to ensure that it is complete and meets all eligibility requirements. Any submissions that are incomplete or ineligible will be disqualified.
All eligible applications will be considered by the Indigenous Music Steering Committee at Manitoba Music. Primary considerations in adjudication include excellence demonstrated in the stated criteria and an indication of how the award would help advance the candidate’s career. All decisions are final.
Timeline
Nominations must be received by Thursday, May 22 at 4 PM through the online form. The awards will be announced on National Indigenous Peoples Day and presented at the Manitoba Music Annual General Meeting in June.
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