Broadcast Dialogue is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Canadian Radio Awards, presented by HD Radio.
We are thrilled to recognize the excellent radio created against a backdrop of remote working, a recovering marketplace, and a slow return to in-person events.
Thank you to all of the stations who entered, our sponsors and supporters who made “The Howards” possible, and our illustrious jury of industry pros who gave careful consideration to each category. Winners were determined by number of votes received, with the runner-up(s) also listed in the most competitive categories.
In another challenging year for Canadian radio, you all deserve congratulations for not only staying the course but finishing the year strong as we look forward to 2022.
And the winners are:
STATION OF THE YEAR
Large Market
WINNER – 93.7 JR Country (CJJR-FM), Vancouver (Pattison Media)
Runner-up: 99.9 Virgin Radio (CKFM-FM), Toronto (Bell Media)
Medium Market
WINNER – CHEZ 106, Ottawa (Rogers Sports & Media)
Runner-up: 104.9 The Wolf (CFWF-FM), Regina (Harvard Media)
Small Market
WINNER – 730 CKDM, Dauphin, MB (Dauphin Broadcasting)
Runner-up: 97.9 The Bruce (CFPS-FM), Port Elgin, ON (Bayshore Broadcasting)
CAMPUS OR COMMUNITY STATION OF THE YEAR
Large Market
WINNER – JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM), Toronto
Medium Market
WINNER – CIVL 101.7 FM, Fraser Valley Community Radio, Abbotsford, BC
Runner-up: CFUV 101.9 FM, University of Victoria Student Radio Society, Victoria, BC
Small Market
WINNER – Oldies 96 Community Radio (CINB-FM), Rothesay, NB
Runner-up: 99.3 County FM (CJPE-FM), Prince Edward County, ON
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Large Market
WINNER – Matt Berry, X92.9 (CFEX-FM), Calgary (Harvard)
Runners-up: Brad Barker, JAZZFM.91 (CJRT-FM), Toronto
Sarah Burke, SiriusXM Canada
Medium Market
WINNER – Morgan Prue, CHEZ 106, Ottawa (Rogers)
Runner-up: Amy “Race” Ballard, The New Hot 89.9 (CIHT-FM), Ottawa (Stingray)
Small Market
WINNER – Danny Ismond, GX94 (CJGX-AM), Yorkton, SK (Harvard)
Runner-up: Eddie Qaqish, FOX FM (CFGW-FM), Yorkton, SK (Harvard)
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Large Market
WINNER – Troy McCallum, boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM), Toronto (Stingray)
Runner-up: Ronnie Stanton, CFOX/Rock 101, Vancouver (Corus)
Medium Market
WINNER – Brittany Thompson, Bell Media Regional PD, Ottawa & Eastern Ontario
Runner-up: Jacquie Beckett, Country 93.5 (CKXC-FM) & K-Rock 105.7 (CIKR-FM), Kingston (Rogers)
Small Market
WINNER – Jasmin Doobay, 99.3 Rewind Radio (CKDV-FM) & 101.3 The River (CKKN-FM), Prince George (Pattison)
BEST CANADIAN MULTI-MARKET PROGRAM
Large Market
WINNER – SiriusXM – Turtle Island Talks, The Indigiverse
Runner-up:
Willy in the Morning, Rock 101 Vancouver, Q107 Calgary, Chuck @ 925, Edmonton (Corus)
Medium Market
WINNER – Brock & Dalby, K-Rock 105.7 Kingston, 92.7 Rock Sudbury, 92.1 Rock Timmins, 101.9 Rock, North Bay (Rogers)
Runners-up: Casey Clark Show, New Country 100.7 Kelowna, New Country 103.1 Kamloops (Stingray)
Turn Up!, 93.1 Fresh Radio Barrie, 104.5 Fresh Radio Cornwall (Corus)
Small Market
WINNER – Country Heat (Stingray)
BEST ON-AIR HOST SOLO (MUSIC)
Large Market
WINNER – Robin LaRose, Rock 101 (CFMI-FM), Vancouver (Corus)
Runner-up: Jake Ryan, Play 107 (CKPW-FM), Edmonton (Harvard)
Medium Market
WINNER – Amy Volume, CHEZ 106, Ottawa (Rogers)
Runner-up: Deevo, Play 92 (CHMX-FM), Regina (Harvard)
Small Market
WINNER – Vanessa Murphy, Bounce 91.9 (CKLY-FM), Lindsay, ON (Bell)
Runner-up: Rob Carnie, 800 CHAB, Moose Jaw, SK (Golden West)
BEST ON-AIR HOST SOLO (NEWS/TALK/SPORTS)
Large Market
WINNER – Simi Sara, 980 CKNW, Vancouver (Corus)
Runner-up: John Moore, Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM), Toronto (Bell)
BEST ON-AIR TEAM (MUSIC)
Large Market
WINNER – The Jeff O’Neil Show, CFOX, Vancouver (Corus)
Runners-up:
Derringer In The Morning, Q107 (CILQ-FM), Toronto (Corus)
The Pepper & Dylan Show, KiSS 91.7 (CHBN-FM), Edmonton (Rogers)
Medium Market
WINNER – Wheeler in the Morning, Energy 106 (CHWE-FM), Winnipeg (Evanov)
Runner-up: Taz & Jim, FM96 (CFPL-FM), London (Corus)
Small Market
WINNER – Shawn & Julia, Country 93 (CKYC-FM), Owen Sound (Bayshore)
Runners-up: Crash & Sarah, Move 106.9 (CIBX-FM), Fredericton (Bell)
Bounce Mornings with Jeff, Kevin & Jenn, Bounce 104.9 (CKBC-FM), Bathurst (Bell)
BEST ON-AIR TEAM (NEWS/TALK/SPORTS)
Large Market
WINNER – The Rush with Ryan & Jay, Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM), Toronto (Bell)
Medium Market
WINNER – The Start with Mackling, Megarry & McNabb, 680 CJOB, Winnipeg (Corus)
BEST ANCHOR/REPORTER
Medium Market
WINNER – Tina Karst, CJOC Lethbridge (Vista)
Runner-up: Jeff Braun, CJOB Winnipeg (Corus)
Small Market
WINNER – Laura Hampshire, 89.1 MAX FM (CISO-FM), Orillia, ON (Bayshore Broadcasting)
Runner-up: Craig Wallebeck, GX94 (CJGX-AM), Yorkton (Harvard)
BEST COMMERCIAL NATIONAL
WINNER – Bell Media Radio Toronto “You’re Doing It Right Now”
BEST LOCAL COMMERCIAL
Large Market
WINNER – Play 107 (CKPW-FM)/95.7 CRUZ FM (CKEA-FM) Edmonton, “Turd Burglars” (Harvard)
Runner-up: 93.7 JR FM (CJJR-FM) Vancouver, “Notary Public” (Pattison)
Medium Market
WINNER – KX96 (CJKX-FM), Ajax, ON, “Rahma Granites” (Durham Radio)
Runner-up: New Country 100.7 (CIGV-FM), Kelowna, BC, “Canguard” (Stingray)
Small Market
WINNER – Country 99 (CFNA-FM), Bonnyville, AB, “Rosie Septic” (Vista)
Runner-up: Island Radio, Pattison Media, “Cornerstone Tile”
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A COMMERCIAL
Large Market
WINNER – Pattison Media Edmonton, “Legacy Cooling & Heating”
Medium Market
WINNER – 94.9 The Rock (CKGE-FM), Oshawa, “Shop Local/King Jeffrey” (Durham Radio)
Small Market
WINNER – 99.7 Country FM (CFNA-FM), Bonnyville, AB, “Rosie Septic Stink Pickle” (Vista)
Runner-up: 94.3 The Goat (CIRX-FM), Prince George, BC, “Rivers Edge Services – Keep Your Cool” (Vista)
BEST USE OF SOUND IN IMAGING, COMMERCIAL OR PROGRAM
Large Market
WINNER – boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM), Toronto, “Imagine John Lennon: A Day For The Life” (Stingray)
Runner-up: Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM), Toronto, “9/11 – 20 Years” (Bell)
Medium Market
WINNER – CHEZ 106, Ottawa, “CHEZ Toys 2021” (Rogers)
Runner-up: FM96 (CFPL-FM) London, “Taz & Jim’s Chicken” (Corus)
Small Market
WINNER – Q Country/94.7 Star FM (CKLQ/CKLF) Brandon, MB “City of Brandon Cart Feud” (Westman Communications)
Runner-up: Q104 (CKQV-FM), Kenora, ON, “Q104 imaging package” (Golden West Broadcasting)
SOUND OF SUCCESS AWARD
Large Market
WINNER – JAZZFM.91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto “JAZZFM.91 Community Partners”
Medium Market
WINNER – Bell Media Kingston, Ottawa, Brockville, Pembroke “Tampon Tuesday”
Runner-up: Bell Media Atlantic “Tides and Tables”
BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVE
Large Market
WINNER – Orbyt Media – “A Day to Listen”
Runners-up:
CHIN Toronto, “Vaccine Awareness Month”
CISN-FM Edmonton “Yards of Hope” (Corus)
Medium Market
WINNER – CHEZ 106, Ottawa, “Rock n’ Roll Obit” (Rogers)
Runner-up: Classic Rock 98.1 (CKLO-FM), London, “Local Business Fund” (Blackburn)
Small Market
WINNER – 94.3 The Goat (CIRX-FM), Prince George, “Vaccine Hesitancy” (Vista)
Runner-up: 107.1 Juice FM (CJCS-FM), Stratford, “Frauds & Scams PSA” (Vista)
IMAGING PRODUCTION
Large Market
WINNER – JACK FM (Rogers Sports & Media)
Runners-up:
Sportsnet 590 The Fan (CJCL-AM), Toronto (Rogers Sports & Media)
Q107 (CILQ-FM), Toronto (Corus Entertainment)
Medium Market
WINNER – Rock 95 (CFJB-FM), Barrie (Central Ontario Broadcasting)
Runner-up: OZ FM (CHOZ-FM), St. John’s, NL (Stirling Communications)
Small Market
WINNER – 103.5 The Bridge (CHNV-FM), Nelson, BC (Vista Radio)
Runner-up: Rewind Radio 99.3 (CKDV-FM), Prince George, BC (Pattison Media)
BEST IMAGING VOICE
Large Market
WINNER – JACK FM, Greg Beharrell
Medium Market
WINNER – 104.9 The Wolf (CFWF-FM), Regina, SK, David Kaye
Runner-up: OZ FM (CHOZ-FM), St. John’s, NL, Matt Fogarty
BEST ON-AIR PROMOTION
Large Market
WINNER – KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM), Toronto, “KiSS 92.5 $25,000 Mystery Word” (Rogers)
Runner-up: CFOX, Vancouver, “Go Fox Yourself” (Corus)
Medium Market
WINNER – K-Rock 105.7 (CIKR-FM) Kingston “HAKUNA MA-TATAS Brock & Dalby T-Shirt Campaign for Breast Cancer”
Runner-up: 96.3 CRUZ FM (CFWD-FM), Saskatoon, “No Sports Sports Report” (Rogers)
Small Market
WINNER – 106.1 The Goat (CKLM-FM), Lloydminster, “The Goat’s Poo Bingo” (Vista)
Runner-up: GX94 (CJGX-AM), Yorkton, “Santa Calls” (Harvard)
BEST SALES PROMOTION
Large Market
WINNER – “ATOMIC SONiC with Sea Change Brewing Co.”, SONiC 102.9 (CHDI-FM) Edmonton (Rogers)
Medium Market
WINNER – “Kick-ass Small Town PROVE IT Tour”, 96.3 CRUZ FM (CFWD-FM), Saskatoon (Harvard)
Runner-up: “What Wood Ya Do?” CHEZ 106, Ottawa (Rogers)
Small Market
WINNER – “Supper in the Field” GX94 (CJGX-AM) Yorkton (Harvard)
Runner-up: “RAM Everyday Adventure” (Golden West Alberta)
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ENGINEERING
Large Market
WINNER – Corus Vancouver, CFOX, Rock 101, 980 CKNW, AM 730
Small Market
WINNER – Torres Media, The New K Country 93.7 (CKOU-FM), Keswick, ON
BEST PODCAST
WINNER – Behind the Vinyl, boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM), Toronto, (Stingray)
Runner-up: The Roz & Mocha Show Podcast, KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM), Toronto, (Rogers)
FYI MUSIC NEWS EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
(as voted on by radio programmers & music directors and based on Mediabase data, recognizing an artist who has broken into the Top 50, but has yet to chart in the Top 50)
WINNER – Mattmac
Runner-up: Hailey Benedict
AWARD SPONSORS
