The Inaugural Reggae North Music Awards Took Place on September 29 at the Rose Theatre

The inaugural Reggae North Music Awards took place on September 29 at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Mark “Tony Anthony” Bennett, founder and organizer of the event, said it was “a night to remember.”

Charmaine Williams, minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunities For the Province of Ontario, presents Mark "Tony Anthony" Bennett, founder of the Reggae North Music Awards, with a proclamation for his contribution to reggae in Canada. Third from left is Joan John, councilor for Southgate township in Ontario, and Garnett Manning, adviser to the mayor of Brampton. Occasion was the inaugural Reggae North Music Awards, held at the Rose Theatre in Brampton on September 29.A cross-section of Toronto’s West Indian community attended the show, which saw awards handed out in 18 categories including Reggae Song of The Year and Entertainer of The Year.

“Overall, we are extremely happy with how the night turned out, we started on time and the show ended 15 minutes before the scheduled time. There’s always room for improvement and we will

be proceeding to adjust where it is necessary to ensure a smoother flow,” said Bennett. “We also learned some logistical lessons that will help us improve for future events, but all in all, I wouldn’t change much.”

Steele won Reggae Song of The Year with You Know You Want to Be Loved. Tonya P won the equivalent with Free.

Kirk Diamond took the award for Male Vocalist of The Year, while the female category went to Ammoye. Entertainer of The Year went to Exco Levi, who also won the Trap/Fusion Dancehall Song of The Year with Change Your Mind, which features Charly Black.

The Living Legend Award went to singer Jimmy Reid, a stalwart of Canadian reggae. 

Dignitaries attending the show included Charmaine Williams, minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunities for the Province of Ontario, Younna Bailey Magalhaes, Deputy Consul General of Jamaica and Joan John, councillor for the township of Southgate in Ontario.

The Reggae North Music Awards was held two weeks after organizers of the annual JUNO Awards announced they were dropping its Reggae Recording of The Year category, citing the music’s weak sales and repetition of nominees. 

After an outcry by the Canadian reggae community, it was reinstated.

Tony Anthony has been a singer/musician for over 35 years. Since moving to Canada in the early 1990s, he has recorded numerous singles and three albums, making him one of the country’s leading reggae artists.

He is also a music producer who operates the Phylani Music label.