Yukon to host Western Canadian Music Awards in 2011

The Western Canadian Music Awards are coming to Yukon next year, marking the first foray north of 60 for one of Canada's largest music industry showcases.

The federal and Yukon governments announced Tuesday they will spend a total of $390,000 to help Whitehorse host the WCMAs and BreakOut West, an accompanying music festival and conference, Oct. 20-23, 2011.

"We haven't had it in the Yukon territory before, so it seemed like an opportune time to bring it up," Barbara Dunlop, head of the Yukon Film and Sound Commission, told CBC News on Tuesday.

"Of course, the resources from the territorial government and from the federal government were key to being able to do that this year."

Since the first WCMA in 2003, the awards have honoured musicians and music industry professionals from the western Canadian provinces, as well as the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Several Yukon musicians and groups are vying for awards at this year's ceremony, taking place Sunday in Kelowna, B.C.

One of this year's nominees, Debbie Peters of Whitehorse-based Magnum Opus Management, has also been hired to co-ordinate next year's event in Yukon.

Peters said the event will provide a great weekend for Yukon-based musicians and fans.

"Over the course of a weekend, there's many showcase opportunities," Peters said. "There's workshops to be had. There's one-on-one meetings ... with industry professionals that are being brought in."

Yukoners with nominations at this year's WCMAs in Kelowna are:

• Singer-songwriter Gordie Tentrees, nominated for roots solo recording of the year.
• Folk quartet Annie Lou, nominated for roots duo or group recording of the year.
• Magnum Opus Management, nominated for agency of the year.

As well, singer-songwriter Leela Gilday of the Northwest Territories has been nominated for aboriginal recording of the year.