Covenant Awards 2007
Brian Doerksen and Starfield were the big winners at GMA Canada’s 29th Annual Covenant Awards held October 26th, in Calgary, Alberta.
Doerksen picked up 6 Covenant Awards including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of The Year and Album Of The Year. The six awards were a clean sweep for Doerksen, who won for each of the six nominations he received. Starfield picked up 4 Covenant Awards along with the newly introduced Blessings Fan’s Choice Award. The Abbotsford-based band won for Group Of The Year and Recorded Song of the Year. Other winners included newworldson for New Artist of the Year and Folk/Roots Album Of The Year, Amanda Falk for Female Vocalist of the Year and multiple category wins for Paul Brandt, Manafest, Relient K, The Kry, High Valley, and God Rocks! Bibletoons.
Hosted by Carolyn Arends and Leland Kalssen, the 29th Annual Covenant Awards were held at Centre Street Church in Calgary and featured performances from Paul Brandt, Brian Doerksen, Starfield, Carolyn Arends, Steve Bell, High Valley, His Season, The Kry, Sebastian Demrey, Manafest, Drew Brown, Carried Away, Masters Four and Hokus Pick. Hokus Pick was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award and performed their classic hit I’m So Happy.
Artists And Industry Comment On GMA Canada Week:
GMA Canada Week experienced overwhelming success in 2007, with increased attendance to both the conference and Covenant Awards, however the biggest “success” continues to be how the event impacts artists and those involved in the Canadian Christian music industry. Here is just a sample of some of the comments GMA Canada received:
Once again, the CCM conference and GMA Canada awards week was a huge opportunity for us to network and catch up with friends. Playing at the GMA Canada awards show was the coolest thing we’ve ever done.
Brad Rempel (of High Valley)
http://www.highvalley.ca
“I have watched GMA Canada blossom and flourish over the past few years. This is a very exciting time to be involved in the Christian music industry in Canada! I am thrilled to be a part of this vital community with so many talented and passionate people who are committed to bringing the message of hope to a dark and broken world.”
Ali Matthews
http://www.alimatthews.com
On behalf of KGM Enterprises, I would like to thank GMA Canada for the great opportunity you provided us to attend the conference and the awards ceremony. I enjoyed myself and appreciated your hospitality
Best Regards,
Kathy Grant
President, KGM Enterprises
http://www.kgmministries.com
The GMA Canada Week was one of the most inspiring and practical weeks I have ever attended for Christians in the arts. I am encouraging everyone to be there in 2008. You will be blessed, equipped and inspired.
Arlen Salte
Breakforth Ministries
http://www.breakforthministries.com
“Thanks GMA-Canada! It’s so great to come together with such incredible people. It’s so good to be part of GMA Canada Week and catch up with old friends, meet new friends and see the amazing talent we have in our country. The Shine-FM competition was awesome. It was so good to see such talented people from across Canada. Can Hokus Pick play every year?”
Carried Away
http://www.carriedaway.ca
“GMA Canada Week was amazing – I’m still pinching myself. Many thanks and congratulations to everyone who gave of their time and talents to help make the event such an inspirational, uplifting success. Praise God!”
Charlene Lewis
http://www.nonemuch.com
“This was the best industry week I have ever seen in Canada…being involved for the last 20 years all I can say is, we’ve come a long way! Thank you to everyone involved, you have over-delivered!!!!
Kevin Pauls
http://www.kevinpauls.com
The Canadian Christian music industry is gaining critical momentum, and positioning itself for significance and profound ministry impact in the future. This is in large part due to GMA Canada and the investment of time, talent and Christian service that everyone offered to GMA Canada week in 2007 and recent years. I personally will be strongly encouraging people within my sphere of influence to lend their support and involvement to GMA Canada and the Covenant awards because I know that it will make a major difference to the size, scope and impact of Christian music ministry in Canada and abroad. Way to go GMA Canada!
Jon Buller
Worship Pastor and Recording Artist
http://www.htmministries.com
First I want to say thank you so much for asking me to present. It was such an honour to be apart of the event. It was well put together and executed masterfully. I felt like a star myself hanging out with such amazing and talented Canadian artists.
Andrew James
Inspired Magazine
http://www.inspired-magazine.com
I loved meeting with fellow Canadian Artist’s and networking together! Here in Canada we have such an awesome sense of community as artists and we can gain strength from each other. I wouldn’t have that if I hadn’t gone to GMA, I will definitely plan to go year after year if the Lord permits!
Stephanie Isrealson
http://www.stephanieisraelson.com
Thanks for letting me be apart of this years GMA Canada. I had a blast, and was very impressed with the professionalism and the way the night flowed.
Be blessed
Chris Janz
http://www.chrisjanz.com
I love the growing sense of community and friendship among those involved in Christian music in Canada. I met several people this year that I have respected and admired from a distance; what a gift to be able to thank them in person for the powerful and creative way they are serving Canadians!
Brian Doerksen
http://www.briandoerksen.com