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The 2025 Western Canadian Music awards artistic category winners were announced Thursday night in Winnipeg and some of Vancouver’s top talents was honoured.
B.C.-based artists won eight of the 24 categories, including three awards for Juno-winning Vancouver-based Indigenous rappers Snotty Nose Rez Kids.
The duo took home the rap and hip-hop artist of the year and songwriter(s) of the year awards. Sterling Larose picked up the video director of the year for his work on the clip for Snotty Nose Rez Kids song BBE from the band’s hit album Red Future.
Other local winners included Kym Gouchie for children’s artist of the year, Kevvy of Fake Shark for his work with a number of artists in the producer of the year category, and Vancouver metal quartet Anciients, which won in the metal and hard music category.
The classical composer of the year was Vancouver’s Jeffrey Ryan for his piece Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra conducted by the late Bramwell Tovey.
Vocal artist and soundscape experimental composer Ruby Singh won in the spiritual artist of the year category for his multicultural a cappella recording Vox.Infold II.
The 2025 WCMA industry awards will be announced on Sept. 28. For updates, visit breakoutwest.ca.
2025 Western Canadian Music Awards artistic winners
Here is the full list of the 2025 WCMA artistic winners, which includes artists from across Western Canada, the Yukon and Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Vancouver metal band Anciients released its latest album Beyond the Reach of the Sun in 2024.
• Afrobeats Artist of the Year: Tommyphyll, Man.
• Blues Artist of the Year: Big Dave McLean, Man.
• BreakOut Artist of the Year: Wyatt C. Louis, Alta.
• Children’s Artist of the Year: Kym Gouchie, B.C.
• Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year: Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Man.
• Classical Composer of the Year: Jeffrey Ryan — Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation — Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bramwell Tovey — B.C.
• Country Artist of the Year: Jade Turner, Man.
• Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year: ASKO, Alta.
• Francophone Artist of the Year: Ponteix, Sask.
• Global Artist of the Year: Kelly Bado, Man.
• Indigenous Artist of the Year: Wyatt C. Louis, Alta.
• Instrumental Artist of the Year: Joel Jeschke, Alta.
• Jazz Artist of the Year: Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Man.
• Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year: Anciients, B.C.
• Pop Artist of the Year: RIELL, Alta.
• Producer of the Year: Kevvy, B.C.
• R&B Artist of the Year: Katie Tupper, Sask.
• Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year: Snotty Nose Rez Kids, B.C.
• Recording of the Year: Dump Babes, Sask.
• Rock Artist of the Year: Field Guide, Man.
• Roots Artist of the Year Leaf: Rapids, Man.
• Songwriter(s) of the Year: Yung Trybez/Young D (Snotty Nose Rez Kids) — RED FUTURE, B.C.
• Spiritual Artist of the Year: Ruby Singh’s Vox.Infold II — B.C.
• Video Director of the Year: Sterling Larose, Snotty Nose Rez Kids BBE. B.C.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source ca.news.yahoo.com ’
