Hamilton hosted the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards ceremony on June 1, 2025. Quite a few local acts brough home the hardware.
Below is a complete list of winners and nominees. Winners are bolded and at top of the category. Local artists are italicized.
COMPASS AWARD: Josh Ross (Waterdown)
Links: Josh Ross, More Josh Ross Stories, Video above courtesy of JOSH ROSS
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
- The Redhill Valleys (Hamilton)
Links: Redhill Valleys, More Redhill Valleys Stories, Video above courtesy of The Redhill Valleys - The Western Swing Authority (Waterloo)
- Amanda and James
- New Moon Junction
- River Town Saints
- Rosewood Ave
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
- Jeff Brown (Beamsville) plays with Kelsi Mayne, Washboard Union, Jason Blaine
- Adrian Juras (Niagara) plays with Karli June and Ryan Langdon (Niagara Falls)
- Joey DePaiva (Milton) plays with Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Ancaster), Spencer Burns, Nicole Rayy (Oakville)
- Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Ancaster) plays with Robyn Ottolini
- Jordan Honsinger plays with Tebey (Burlington)
- Ryan Cassar plays with Elyse Saunders, Kelsi Mayne, Paige Rutledge (Guelph)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
- KX94.7 (CHKX-FM, Hamilton)
- Country 106.7 (CIKZ-FM, Kitchener)
- Country 104 (CKDK-FM, London)
- KX96 (CJKX-FM, Ajax)
- Pure Country 93 (CJBX-FM, London)
- Pure Country 94 (CKKL-FM, Ottawa)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET)
- Hot Country 93.9 (CFWC-FM, Brantford)
- Cool 100.1 (CHCQ-FM, Belleville)
- Country 104.3 (CJQM-FM, Sault Ste. Marie)
- Country 105 (CKTG-FM, Thunder Bay)
- Country 92.9 (CFCO-FM, Chatham)
- HOT COUNTRY 88.5 (CKDX-FM, Newmarket)
ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR
- Bruce County: Owen Riegling
- Break Up Rules: Paige Rutledge (Guelph)
- Golden Child: Meghan Patrick
- Growing up to Do: Robyn Ottolini
- L Is For: Andrew Hyatt
- Pathways: Julian Taylor
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Mackenzie Leigh Meyer (Ancaster)
- The Redhill Valleys (Hamilton)
- The Western Swing Authority (Waterloo)
- Callie McCullough
- Emily Clair
- Julian Taylor
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Sully Burrows
- Olivia Mae Graham (Norfolk)
- Paige Rutledge (Guelph)
- Alexa Goldie
- Dayna Reid
- Spencer Burns
FANS’ CHOICE
- Owen Riegling
- Tebey (Burlington)
- Josh Ross (Waterdown)
- The Reklaws Cambridge)
- Sacha
- Steven Lee Olsen
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Robyn Ottolini
- Jessie T (Kitchener)
- Dayna Reid
- Elyse Saunders
- Karli June
- Sacha
INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
- Samantha Pickard, Strut Entertainment
- Elliott Deseure & Nick Marinac (Burlington), Adaptive Media
- AJ Astle, Roadhouse Productions
- Christine Wiley & Christine Stevens, C to C Music Insider
- Dave Woods, In the Country
- Sam Davs, Cosmic Alchemy Designs
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Owen Riegling
- Nate Haller (Waterloo)
- Ryan Langdon (Niagara Falls)
- Tim Hicks (St. Catharines)
- Andrew Hyatt
- Brian John Harwood
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
Links: Elyse Saunders, More Elyse Saunders Stories, Video above courtesy of ElyseSaunders - Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey (Burlington)
- Guilty: Nicole Rayy (Oakville)
- Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
- Moonshines: Owen Riegling
- Still Make Cowgirls: Karli June
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
- Pure Country 106 (CICX-FM, Orillia)
- Country 89 (CKYY-FM, Welland)
- Country 103 (CHAW-FM, Little Current)
- Country 93 (CKYC-FM, Owen Sound)
- K Country 93.7 (CKOU-FM, Georgina)
- The Ranch 100.1 (CHLP-FM, Listowel)
THE REAL McCOY AWARD: Jason McCoy
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
- Adam Newcomb: Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Riley Taylor
- Douglas Romanow: Nicole Rayy (Oakville)
- Matthew Koebel (Waterloo): Jessie T (Kitchener), Paige Rutledge (Guelph), Jessica Sole
- Shawn Moore (Waterloo): Spencer Burns, Bradley Hale (Elmira), Brothers Wilde, Tim Albertson
- The Agenda: Angelica Appelman (Kitchener), David Madras, Kasey Nugent, Patrick James Clark, Peter Peres
- Deric Ruttan: Karli June – Still Make Cowgirls
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
- Moonshines: Owen Riegling
- Blinding Lights (Country Version): Tebey (Burlington)
- Race To The Bottom: Nate Haller (Waterloo)
- Finding Firsts: Andrew Hyatt
- Hey Mom I Made It: Sacha
- Never Have I Ever: Elyse Saunders
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
- Owen Riegling, Daryl Scott, Jesse Slack: Moonshines
- Tebey (Burlington), G. Palmer, S. Walker, D. Dupelle: Hangover at My Place
- Tim Hicks (St. Catharines) , Deric Ruttan, Monty Criswell: Quits
- Chrystal Oudijk, Douglas Romanow, Nicole Rayy (Oakville): Guilty
- Elyse Saunders, Jason Blaine: Never Have I Ever
- Karli June, Deric Ruttan: Still Make Cowgirls
FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Kristine St-Pierre
- Les Rats D’Swompe
- Mitch Jean
- Reney Ray
- Sugar Crush
- Vincent Bishop
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