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Business leaders gather for preshow mixer at Capital Music Awards

Awards show spotlights Ottawa's music scene and talent with support from Kinaxis, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, Optimal Show Experience

May 17, 2024

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You know it’s going to be a memorable night when there’s a dancing unicorn at the preshow mixer for the 5th Annual Capital Music Awards, held Thursday night at the Bronson Centre.

“It is such a pleasure to welcome you here,” Melanie Brulée, executive director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, said during a reception packed with award nominees and event sponsors.

The Capital Music Awards were hosted by Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Angelique Francis (second from left), seen at a preshow mixer with her musically talented family, including father Kiran and sisters Kira and Kharincia. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Melanie Brulée, executive director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, welcomes guests to the preshow mixer for the 5th Annual Capital Music Awards, presented by Kinaxis and held at the Bronson Centre on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Traci Despatis, manager of cultural tourism development at Ottawa Tourism, with Peter Gilroy, president of Optimal Show Experience, and Optimal Show Experience CFO Livia Zheng, at the preshow mixer for the 5th Annual Capital Music Awards, held at the Bronson Centre on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The preshow mixer for the Capital Music Awards featured a DJ, champagne, food and … a dancing unicorn. Photo by Caroline Phillips

In attendance were two former Ottawa CEOs of the Year, John Sicard of presenting sponsor Kinaxis, and Calian Group’s Kevin Ford, the latter of whom is also on the board of the OMIC. As well, the event had the support of Christine Crump, the new president of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa, which sponsored the reception. Kudos to Crump for her choice of edgy attire. One of the benefits of moving to the nation’s capital from Toronto is that everyone is seeing her wardrobe for the first time, she joked.

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Crump spoke during the reception about the unifying power of music. “Music permeates everything we do,” she said, referring to Hard Rock’s music venues located around the world.

In Ottawa, Hard Rock International has started the countdown to the opening day of its new hotel and casino on the grounds of the existing Rideau Carleton Casino in the south end, on Albion Road. The $350-million project, to be the first of its kind in Canada for Hard Rock International, will have a 150-room hotel, 10 restaurants and bars, and expanded gaming floor.

“Arguably, the most exciting element of the expansion is Hard Rock Live, an entertainment venue that will shake up Ottawa and amplify the guest experience for up to 2,200 fans at a time,” said Crump.

Riaz Sidi, president of Sidi.io, and Canadian Live Music Association president and CEO Erin Benjamin, both of whom are on the Ottawa Board of Trade, and Christine Crump (right), president of Hard Rock Ottawa, which sponsored the preshow mixer for the 5th Annual Capital Music Awards, held at the Bronson Centre on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Also spotted at the reception was OMIC board chair Susan Odle, founder and CEO of 8020CS, and some of her fellow board members, including Colin Mills from Algonquin College, CKCU eKwende Kefentse, and former board president Steve Foley from Audio Valley Recording Studio. Also spotted was Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Angelique Francis, who hosted the awards show.

Interestingly, Ottawa businessman Josh Gibson, managing partner at Caber Group, had bought a bunch of tickets for the reception to support OMIC and its big event, only to learn later that his 18-year-old son James Gibson was a finalist in the Newcomer of the Year category.

Karen Wood, owner of Knock on Wood Communications and Events, attended with one of her team members, Mary Jelley, who worked for Warner Music Canada for almost 37 years – most of them as Ottawa regional manager. Also seen arriving were Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Councillor Ariel Troster (Somerset Ward).

Later that evening, awards were handed out in 13 categories to shine a light on artists, educators and industry professionals. Erin Benjamin, president and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, was announced the winner of the Community Impact Award.