Barrie Event planner receives Cdn. Country Music Award

Core Country Builders and Founders Named to Hall

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) today named the 2007 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees to be honoured this September during Country Music Week. The 2007 inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame are: Artist John Allan Cameron, past CCMA Executive Director Sheila Hamilton in the “Builder” category, and Broadcaster Cliff Dumas. All of the inductions, and additional presentations of Awards of Achievement, will takeplace during Country Music Week September 7 - 10 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame recognizes long-term contribution to the growth and development of Canadian country music. The recipient may be living or deceased but is recognized based on his/her achievements as a Canadian in the country music industry in one of three categories, Artist, Builder, or Broadcaster.

Sheila Hamilton, the past Executive Director of the CCMA, spent most of her career with the Association. She began her relationship with country music in 1975 as Traffic Manager of CFGM, then a powerful radio station serving the country music market in southern Ontario, and was soon made Assistant Producer of Opry North, a popular syndicated radio show organized by CFGM. In 1977 Sheila began to work with the CCMA, handling public relations, maintaining membershipl ists, and working in other administrative areas. Between 1980 and 1988 Sheila maintained her part time position, in addition to working with three major advertising agencies in print and broadcast production. In 1988, she took on the role of assistant to Jack Feeney, Executive Director of the CCMA, and a year later stepped into the role when Jack retired. During her time with the CCMA, Sheila participated in lobbying efforts with various levels of government, developed significant relationships with country music organizations in Nashville and Europe, and was key to much of the planning, execution and growth of the Association’s annual convention Country Music Week. Sheila retired from the CCMA in 2005 but remains connected through her participation on national committees.

Sheila has now started her own Event Management company and can be reached at sheilahamilton@sympatico.ca and 705-791-3077