The Toronto Blues Society is entering a new era for their 40th Anniversary. They recently announced the launch of the Canadian Blues Music Awards, replacing their longstanding Maple Blues Award which took place for the last time in 2023.
In a statement on their website by TBS Chair Quinta Wint, the intention of this new awards program is to “serve the Canadian blues community with greater transparency, fairness, and unity from coast to coast to coast.”
The TBS also announced that they would no longer be involved with the governance, nominations, judging or voting processes with the new awards program, but will continue to host the awards ceremony.
“We are excited about this bold new direction and grateful for everyone who has contributed to making it possible,” says Wint. “Together, we can ensure that the Canadian Blues Music Awards truly celebrate the extraordinary talent, passion, and resilience of blues artists across our nation.”
The awards committee is currently seeking jurors from across the country for their jury pool to help shape the award categories in time for the awards ceremony next year, interested individuals can learn more here.
The Canadian Blues Music Awards will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026. To learn more about the new awards shows, visit their website.