WATCH: Alberta remains fertile ground for country music

The west has been a hotbed for country music for a very long time and so it continues. Exciting this morning to receive the list of nominees for the 2019 Alberta Country Music Association Award Nominees and see my friend Ryan Langlois on the list for Male Artist of the Year. So many terrific musicians, writers, performers on this list.

Male Artist of the Year

Ben Chase

Dan Davidson

Drew Gregory

Sean Gristwood

Ryan Langlois

Female Artist of the Year

Hailey Benedict

Krissy Feniak

Lauren Mayell

Andrea Nixon

Mariya Stokes

Group/Duo of the Year

The Dungarees

Ghost Boy

Nice Horse

The Prairie States

Renegade Station

Fans Choice

Ben Chase

The Dungarees

Drew Gregory

Nice Horse

The Prairie States

Renegade Station

Industry Person of the Year

Johnny Gasparic / MCC Recording

Carla Hackman / Sakamoto Agency

Larry Mayell / LJVM Projects

Chard Morrison / Shattered Glass

Sarah Scott / Sun Country 99.7

Musician of the Year

Lisa Dodd (Bass)

Johnny Gasparic (Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Dobro, Mandolin)

Cody Mack (Drums, Bass)

Josh Ruzycki (Guitar)

Brandi Sidoryk (Bass)

Album of the Year

“Juliet” / Dan Davidson

“Twenty Something” / The Dungarees

“Running on the Edge” / Tim Isberg

“It Was A Song” / Ryan Langlois

“Wild” / Ryan Lindsay

Song of the Year

“All Over It” / Written by: Ben Chase, Matty McKay, Aaron Pollock, Adam Dowling

(Performed by: Ben Chase)

“Better in a Bar” / Written by: Drew Gregory, Aaron Goodvin

(Performed by: Drew Gregory)

“Hands on My Body” / Written by: Mariya Stokes, Aaron Pollock, Michael Braun (Performed by: Mariya Stokes)

“It Was A Song” / Written by: Ryan Langlois

(Performed by: Ryan Langlois)

“Just Drive” / Written by: Justin Hogg, James Murdoch

(Performed by: Justin Hogg)

Single of the Year

“All Over It” / Ben Chase

“Twenty Something” / The Dungarees

“Better In a Bar” / Drew Gregory

“Just Maybe” / The Prairie States

“Along for the Ride” / Renegade Station

Horizon Youth

Hailey Benedict

Martina Dawn

Hannah Gazso

Anna Johnson

Jordan Leaf

Entertainer of the Year

Gord Bamford

Paul Brandt

Aaron Goodvin

High Valley

Brett Kissel

Tenille Townes

Video of the Year

“Twenty Something” / The Dungarees

“Suntans & Beer Cans” / Justin Hogg

“Lightbulb” / Troy Kokol

“Just Maybe” / Prairie States

“Along for the Ride” / Renegade Station

“Hands on My Body” / Mariya Stokes

Community Spirit Award

Hailey Benedict

Bob Donaldson

The Dungarees

Donny Lee

Kym Simon

The Prairie States

Renegade Station

Country Venue of the Year

Boot Scootin Boogie – Edmonton

Cook County Saloon – Edmonton

Ranchmans Cookhouse and Dancehall – Calgary

Talent Buyer of the Year

Carla Hackman / Sakamoto Agency

Natasha Mandrusiak – Calgary Stampede

Pat McGannon / PM Gigs

Chris Melnychuk – Trixstar

Angie Morris – Sirroma Entertainment

Adam Oppenheim / Stampede Entertainment

Rising Star

Ben Chase

Karac Hendriks

Ryan Lindsay

Trevor Panczak

Brad Saunders

Radio Station of the Year

840 CFCW – Edmonton

REAL COUNTRY 95.5 – Red Deer

SUN COUNTRY 99.7 – High River

THE ONE 88.1 – Parkland

WILD 95.3 – Calgary

Ticket link, hotel info, and further information about the ACMA™ Awards Weekend will be announced soon. Information on ACMA available at www.acmamusic.com.

ACMA Awards weekend will be held January 25-26, 2020 at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre in Red Deer.

2019 ACMA Award Nominees!

November 19th, 2019 (Edmonton, AB) – The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA)™ is pleased to present our Nominees for the upcoming 2019 Alberta Country Music Awards™.

Winners will be announced during the ACMA Awards weekend on

January 25 & 26, 2020.

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Big win for Alberta and Canada: Statement from Premier Smith

Published on April 2, 2025

Government of Alberta

Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement on the April 2, 2025 U.S. tariff announcement:

“Today was an important win for Canada and Alberta, as it appears the United States has decided to uphold the majority of the free trade agreement (CUSMA) between our two nations. It also appears this will continue to be the case until after the Canadian federal election has concluded and the newly elected Canadian government is able to renegotiate CUSMA with the U.S. administration.

“This is precisely what I have been advocating for from the U.S. administration for months.

“It means that the majority of goods sold into the United States from Canada will have no tariffs applied to them, including zero per cent tariffs on energy, minerals, agricultural products, uranium, seafood, potash and host of other Canadian goods.

“There is still work to be done, of course. Unfortunately, tariffs previously announced by the United States on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum have not been removed. The efforts of premiers and the federal government should therefore shift towards removing or significantly reducing these remaining tariffs as we go forward and ensuring affected workers across Canada are generously supported until the situation is resolved.

“I again call on all involved in our national advocacy efforts to focus on diplomacy and persuasion while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Clearly, this strategy has been the most effective to this point.

“As it appears the worst of this tariff dispute is behind us (though there is still work to be done), it is my sincere hope that we, as Canadians, can abandon the disastrous policies that have made Canada vulnerable to and overly dependent on the United States, fast-track national resource corridors, get out of the way of provincial resource development and turn our country into an independent economic juggernaut and energy superpower.”

Alberta

Energy sector will fuel Alberta economy and Canada’s exports for many years to come

Published on April 2, 2025

Todayville

From the Fraser Institute

By Jock Finlayson

By any measure, Alberta is an energy powerhouse—within Canada, but also on a global scale. In 2023, it produced 85 per cent of Canada’s oil and three-fifths of the country’s natural gas. Most of Canada’s oil reserves are in Alberta, along with a majority of natural gas reserves. Alberta is the beating heart of the Canadian energy economy. And energy, in turn, accounts for one-quarter of Canada’s international exports.

Consider some key facts about the province’s energy landscape, as noted in the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) 2023 annual report. Oil and natural gas production continued to rise (on a volume basis) in 2023, on the heels of steady increases over the preceding half decade. However, the dollar value of Alberta’s oil and gas production fell in 2023, as the surging prices recorded in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine retreated. Capital spending in the province’s energy sector reached $30 billion in 2023, making it the leading driver of private-sector investment. And completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project has opened new offshore export avenues for Canada’s oil industry and should boost Alberta’s energy production and exports going forward.

In a world striving to address climate change, Alberta’s hydrocarbon-heavy energy sector faces challenges. At some point, the world may start to consume less oil and, later, less natural gas (in absolute terms). But such “peak” consumption hasn’t arrived yet, nor does it appear imminent. While the demand for certain refined petroleum products is trending down in some advanced economies, particularly in Europe, we should take a broader global perspective when assessing energy demand and supply trends.

Looking at the worldwide picture, Goldman Sachs’ 2024 global energy forecast predicts that “oil usage will increase through 2034” thanks to strong demand in emerging markets and growing production of petrochemicals that depend on oil as the principal feedstock. Global demand for natural gas (including LNG) will also continue to increase, particularly since natural gas is the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel and more of it is being traded in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Against this backdrop, there are reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for Alberta’s energy sector, particularly if the federal government dials back some of the economically destructive energy and climate policies adopted by the last government. According to the AER’s “base case” forecast, overall energy output will expand over the next 10 years. Oilsands output is projected to grow modestly; natural gas production will also rise, in part due to greater demand for Alberta’s upstream gas from LNG operators in British Columbia.

The AER’s forecast also points to a positive trajectory for capital spending across the province’s energy sector. The agency sees annual investment rising from almost $30 billion to $40 billion by 2033. Most of this takes place in the oil and gas industry, but “emerging” energy resources and projects aimed at climate mitigation are expected to represent a bigger slice of energy-related capital spending going forward.

Like many other oil and gas producing jurisdictions, Alberta must navigate the bumpy journey to a lower-carbon future. But the world is set to remain dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come. This suggests the energy sector will continue to underpin not only the Alberta economy but also Canada’s export portfolio for the foreseeable future.