TERRY JACKS AND ALLAN REID TO BE HONOURED
AT THE WCMAs THIS OCTOBER

FULL LIST OF WCMA NOMINEES TO BE
ANNOUNCED ON MAY 2^nd

BREAKOUT WEST TAKING PLACE THIS YEAR IN
KELOWNA, BC FROM OCTOBER 10^th – 14^th

Toronto, ON – April 25, 2018 – This October, BreakOut West heads back to Kelowna, BC, for the first time since 2010. Now in its 16^th year, the gathering continues to develop, support, and honour the best of Western Canadian music, with its annual conference, festival and the Western Canadian Music Awards. Today, the WCMAs announce the 2018 recipients of the Heritage Award – Vancouver music legend, Terry Jacks – and the Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award – Allan Reid, President & CEO of The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), The JUNO Awards, MusiCounts and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

“That’s wonderful,” remarks Jacks. “I’ve worked with a lot of wonderful people over the years. This award brings back a lot of wonderful memories.”

Each year, the Heritage Award is presented to a person who has made significant contributions to the music industry over the course of their career. “Terry’s influence on the music created in Western Canada is undeniable,” says Robyn Stewart, Executive Director, Western Canadian Music Alliance. “He created some of the most infectious melodies throughout his career. Recognizing the body of his career’s work through this award is long overdue and we are honoured to recognize his success."

The Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award is given to a person who has made a significant impact on the music industry through his or her mentorship, training, and/or leadership. WCMA Board of Directors President, Christine Rogerson, comments, “It is so fitting that we could recognize Allan with the Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award, while in his home town of Kelowna. He has influenced the careers of countless industry and artists, and has had undoubtable impact on the lives of Canadian youth and many rising musical stars through the work of MusiCounts.” 

Reid exclaims, “It's an absolute honour to receive this award in Kevin Walters’ name and on behalf of the many artists that I've had the privilege of working with throughout my career. I would not have reached this point in my career if it wasn't for the music they create.”

Jacks and Reid will be presented with their awards at the Industry Awards Brunch during BreakOut West in October. The full list of WCMA nominees will be announced on May 2^nd, with member voting opening at that time.

About Allan Reid
Allan Reid is a passionate supporter of Canadian music. Having been in the industry for over 30 years, he holds an essential voice as the President & CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), The JUNO Awards, MusiCounts and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2016, Allan’s dedication to artist development was the driving force behind the creation and success of the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class. Prior to taking on his role at CARAS in 2014, Allan served as the Executive Director for MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity, from 2012-2014. Allan spent 25 years of his career at major and independent labels in Canada as the head of A&R, and was instrumental in the careers of many of today’s top Canadian artists’ careers, including Jann Arden, Sam Roberts Band, Sarah Harmer, and the Tragically Hip, to name a few.

About Terry Jacks
Born in Winnipeg and raised in Vancouver, singer/songwriter/record producer, Terry Jacks, pursued his musical interests after trying his hand as a draftsman. In the mid-1960s, he was a singer and guitarist with The Chessmen in local clubs and on CBC TV’s Music Hop, and was the founder, producer and songwriter of the short-lived, Poppy Family. The Poppy Family had international hits with Which Way You Goin’ Billy, and That’s Where I Went Wrong. The former reached #1 in Canada and #2 in the US on the Billboard charts, won the group four JUNO Awards in 1969 for Best Singler, Best “Middle of the Road” Album, Best Group Performance, and Outstanding Sales, and eventually sold over 3 million copies. Terry also owned Poppy Family productions, the publishing company, Gone Fishin’ Music Ltd, and later, Sunfish Publishing, but preferred to work as a producer. He had the biggest hit of his career with his self-produced single, Seasons in the Sun, released under his own label, Goldfish Records, which Terry established in 1974. The song stayed on the charts for 17 weeks in Canada and 15 in the US, reaching #1 on both the adult contemporary and pop Billboard Chards in the US. The single won JUNO Awards for Best Male Vocalist and Best Contemporary/Pop Single in 1974, as well as Best-Selling Single in 1975, and sold more than 14 million copies worldwide.

In the 1980s Terry became involved in the environmental movement, focusing on pulp mill pollution issues in Canada. His environmental work has earned him several awards including one from the United Nations Association of Canada and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award in 1997 for his work, as well as the Eugene Rogers Environmental Award.

About BreakOut West
BreakOut West is an annual gathering to celebrate, develop and support the best of western Canadian music, taking place this year in Kelowna, BC from October 10-14, 2018. Western Canadian artists are developing sustainable careers of national and international scope, and BreakOut West is an integral component of this development. Through the annual conference and festival, industry from around the world and western Canadian artists are given the opportunity to discover, educate, network and grow. The event consists of the BreakOut West Festival; showcasing the talent contained in the "left half" of Canada and delivering Western Canadian Music Awards to honoured nominees, and the Conference itself with educational panels, networking events, and so much more. 

The Western Canadian Music Alliance is funded in part by the six provincial and territorial governments of western Canada. BreakOut West and the Western Canadian Music Awards are generously funded by the FACTOR, Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters, along with the Kelowna host partners, and event sponsors and funders. 

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