To the MCMA Membership,

On behalf of myself and our entire Board of Directors, I want to wish each and every one of you the very best this Holiday Season, and a very Happy New Year! As 2025 draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to share some of our incredible successes throughout this remarkable year.

Highlights from 2025:

1. Dauphin’s Countryfest
   The MCMA returned to Dauphin’s Countryfest this summer to support and bring attention to our talented MCMA artists performing throughout the festival. With the help of our sponsors – Styling’s RV, Dauphin’s Countryfest and Gibbs Promotions – we continued to increase our presence at this prestigious event. Countryfest once again provided us a prime campsite on Media Row, where we proudly parked a motorhome donated by Styling’s RV. Gibbs Promotions equipped us with a box of MCMA-branded koozies, which we distributed to fans and supporters. We hosted several live performances at our site, shining a spotlight on MCMA artists and their music. We were also honoured to host the After Party in the VIP tent each night, offering another fantastic opportunity to showcase MCMA members.
2. Manitoba Country Music Awards – Ten-Year Anniversary
   November marked one of our proudest moments yet – celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Manitoba Country Music Awards! Held at the Club Regent Casino and Event Centre, the Awards Show was a sold-out success and an unforgettable evening. The venue once again proved the perfect place for this event, offering outstanding sound, lighting and seating. We are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Awards Show is already booked for November 7, 2026!
   Special thanks to Chris and Dave from Doc Walker for hosting this year’s show – they did an incredible job! We were also deeply honoured to induct Doc Walker into the Manitoba Country Music Hall of Fame, recognizing their lasting contributions to Manitoba’s country music community. A big thank you goes to Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and the team at Club Regent Casino and Event Centre for their continued support in making this milestone celebration such a success.
3. Industry Panel and Kickoff Party
   On the Friday preceding the Manitoba Country Music Awards, we held an engaging industry panel discussion focusing on marketing and promotion. This session was hosted in partnership with Indigenous Music Manitoba and Manitoba Music, followed by an exciting Kickoff Party featuring some of our talented Manitoba country artists. Thanks to Canad Inns and Nashville’s Winnipeg, who graciously hosted and sponsored the event, we celebrated the start of the Awards weekend in style and showcased incredible performances from our MCMA members.
4. Connection with the Province of Manitoba
   We have continued to strengthen our relationship with the Province of Manitoba, focusing on opportunities for funding and collaboration to support the growth of Manitoba’s country music community.
5. Social Media Milestones
   Our social media team has excelled in 2025, sharing engaging content about our thriving country music community here in Manitoba. Their efforts have helped us connect with audiences like never before, delivering timely and relevant updates about our members and their projects.

Looking Forward

These highlights are just part of the remarkable work we achieved in 2025! For an organization that does not receive operational funding from government or other agencies, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished with the support of this amazing community. Your involvement and passion for Manitoba country music inspire everything we do.

As we head into 2026, we’re excited about what’s to come – new initiatives, events and opportunities to continue supporting Manitoba’s artists and celebrating their contributions to country music.

We’ll be hosting our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in late January or early February 2026 at Canad Inns Transcona. Please check our website at www.ManitobaCMA.com for updates or reach out with any questions to manitobacma@gmail.com.

Stay connected with us on Facebook at MCMA Facebook Page for the latest information on the MCMA and our members. You’ll find links to all kinds of performances and exciting projects our members are working on.

During this Holiday Season, I wish each of you peace, happiness and quality time with your loved ones. Thank you for being part of this incredible community and helping us celebrate and promote the amazing country music talent here in Manitoba.

Respectfully,

Miles Trach
President
Manitoba Country Music Association