On September 1, the Niverville Olde Tyme Country Fair was nominated for its first Manitoba Country Music Award in the Festival or Event of the Year category.

According to the MCMA’s website, this award recognizes events in Manitoba that focus on “the development and promotion of Manitoba country music talent through the presentation of Manitoba country music talent as well as through, but not limited to, community involvement, promotions, leadership and recognition.”

Unfortunately, Niverville’s fair did not take home the prize when the awards were handed out on November 10 at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in downtown Winnipeg. The award went to Dauphin Country Fest.

“We were a bit surprised to be nominated for Festival of the Year,” says Dustin Krahn, Promotions and Sponsorship Coordinator for the Olde Tyme Country Fair. “It is definitely a huge honour for us to even be considered. It is always nice to be noticed and get a bit of a pat on the back from within the industry! We love to showcase local artists. A lot of the other nominees and award winners have performed at our fair over the years and we are very happy to see so many of them doing well and succeeding.”

Other nominees included Festival du Voyageur, Greg Arcade’s Thursday Night Country Showcase (at Wee Johnny’s), the Morden Corn and Apple Festival, the Red River Ex, Rossburn DUKE Fest, Steinbach Summer In The City, Stonewall Quarry Days, and Winkler Harvest Festival.

The MCMA awards are voted on by its membership, comprised of people in the local music industry.

“We were extremely happy with the awards show this year,” says Janelle Johnson, a music publicist and director on MCMA’s board. “Manitoba is bursting with talent and the Manitoba Country Music Association works hard to showcase that!”