The Covenant Awards are awarded to the Canadian gospel music industry by GMA Canada, the Gospel Music Association of Canada. The association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music in Canada. The ceremonies are held annually in cities across the nation.
History
GMA Canada created the Covenant Awards in 1974 in Ontario.Valerie J. Webster, Awards, Honors & Prizes: United States and Canada 1999, Gale Research, USA, 1998, p. 317 At the beginning, it was mostly for gospel music.newswire.ca, GMA Canada Week 2012 Comes to Crossroads in Burlington, ON, Canada, June 7, 2012 Over the years, all styles of Contemporary Christian music have been included.
In 2008 the association released a special three-CD collection to commemorate its 30th anniversary, the GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection.
Awards
Covenant Awards are handed out in over 45 categories.GMA Canada, COVENANT AWARDS , Official Website, Canada, Retrieved July 10, 2017 One of the most prestigious awards given is the GMA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award.
Categories
Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year Artist(e) francophone de l’annee Children's Artist of the Year Country Artist of the Year Gospel Artist of the Year Indigenous Artist of the Year Instrumental Artist of the Year Pop Artist of the Year Rock Artist of the Year Worship Artist of the Year Album of the Year Artist of the Year Breakthrough Artist of the Year Canadian Christian Song of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year Female Vocalist of the Year Group of the Year Live Music Artist of the Year – Online or In-person Musical Collaboration of the Year Producer of the Year Radio or Podcast Personality/Team of the Year Video of the Year Visual Designer of the Year Adult Contemporary Song of the Year Country Song of the Year Folk Song of the Year Gospel Song of the Year Pop Song of the Year Rap Song of the Year Rock Song of the Year Seasonal Song of the Year Worship Song of the Year
GMA Canada 2001 Covenant Award Winners / 23rd annual
Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger & Shirley Pavy of Lighthouse Ministry in Song Overcomers Award Recipient: Margaret Williams Favourite Female Artist of the Year: Marlene O'Neill Favourite Male Artist of the Year: Andrew Martin Favourite Instrumentalist Artist of the Year: Warren B. Parker Favourite Live Band Artist of the Year: Canada's Double Portion Favourite Vocal Group Artist of the Year: Parker Trio Favourite Song of the Year: "With Wings As Eagles" – Warren and Shannon Parker Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: Love in the Ruins, Hope in the Wasteland – Lianna Klassen Country Album of the Year: Out of His Great Love – Canada's Double Portion Inspirational Album of the Year: Just Him, Just Hymns – Andrew Martin Pop Album of the Year: Mark Masri – Mark Masri Southern Gospel Album of the Year: Encore! – Marlene O'Neill, Joan Elliot Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year: "Dwell in the House" – Mark Masri Country Song of the Year: "Roll Up Your Sleeves" – David Armstrong Pop Song of the Year: "Take My Hand" – Mark Masri, Madeline Stone and Bernie Herms Rock Song of the Year: "Out of the Way" – Dan Pascal, Julia Churchill and Adam McKechnie Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "Just As I Am" – Rena Gaile Disc Jockey/Christian Radio Program: Ben Davy – "The Breakfast Club" (Life 100.3)
GMA Canada 2002 Covenant Award Winners / 24th Annual
Winners
Children's Album of the Year: Everybody Needs Good Manners – Judi Vankevich – The Manners Lady Country Album of the Year: Simple Man – Trevor Baker Francophone Pop Album of the Year: Juste Au Bon Moment – Tabitha Lemaire Inspirational Album of the Year: Because of Love – Kelita Instrumental Album of the Year: Anointed Pan – Winston Dayal Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Waiting For Aidan – Steve Bell Rock Album of the Year: Downhere – downhere Southern Gospel Album of the Year: I Need You – Andrew Martin Urban/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: Instrument of Praise – Toronto Mass Choir Children's Song of the Year: "The Golden Rule Rap" – Judi Vankevich – The Manners Lady Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year: "No Way" – SAJ Country Song of the Year: "Through Your Eyes" – Jamus Dorey, songwriter (Four for the Lord) Francophone Song of the Year: "Les Roches Crieront" – Luc Gingras Inspirational Song of the Year: "Unto The Lord" – Debbie Zepick Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year: "Freedom" – Manafest Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "Dance Like No One's Watching" – Carolyn Arends Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Alright" – Promise D'Apostle Rock Song of the Year: "Larger Than Life" – downhere Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "I Know My God Cares For Me" – Andrew Martin, Ken Harden Traditional Gospel Song of the Year: "O Canada" – Trevor Baker Disc Jockey/Radio Program of the Year: Bobby Sunday – "Prayz Joynt" (JOY 1250 AM/CJYE)
GMA Canada 2003 Covenant Award Winners / 25th Annual
Winners
Children's Album of the Year: Cry Out – God Rocks! Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year: Love Holds On – Mark Mallett Francophone Album of the Year: Expression De Louanges – Eglise Sans Frontieres & Friends Inspirational Album of the Year: We've Been Waiting For You – Carolyn Arends Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year: So Much for Substitutes – downhere Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: New Day – Janelle Praise & Worship Album of the Year: Forward To Forever – Jody Cross Southern Gospel Album of the Year: Love Remains – The Parker Trio Children's Song of the Year: "Rocks Cry Out" – Bruce Stacey Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year: "Makin' My Way" – Mark Mallett Francophone Song of the Year: "Tu Es Le Chant" – Tabitha Lemaire Inspirational Song of the Year: "His Hand Upon You" – Jody Cross Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year: "What It's Like" – downhere Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "I Believe in You" – The Lapointes Praise & Worship Song of the Year: "Humbled" – Jody Cross Southern Gospel – Song of the Year: (tie) – "Thank God For Calvary" – The Parker Trio – "You Alone" – Canada's Double Portion
GMA Canada 2004 Covenant Award Winners / 26th Annual
Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award: George Beverly Shea Female Vocalist of the Year: Aileen Lombardo Male Vocalist of the Year: Greg Sczebel Group of the Year: Three Season Ant New Artist of the Year: Three Season Ant Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: Keep on Standing – Krystaal Country/Bluegrass/Southern Gospel Album of the Year: Hold On – Debbie Forsyth Inspirational Album of the Year: Where You Remain – Ali Matthews Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year: 2 Days After Yesterday – Three Season Ant Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Taken – Raylene Scarrott Rap/Hip Hop/Dance Album of the Year: Red Letterz – Fresh I.E. Song of the Year: "If I Believe" – Aileen Lombardo. Kerroy Williams, songwriter Contemporary Song of the Year: "Under His Wings" – Aileen Lombardo. Aileen Lombardo, Kerroy Williams, Joy Brown, Roy Oommen, Carmon Barry, Mark Masri, songwriters Country/Bluegrass/Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "Hunger Mountain" – Ali Matthews Inspirational Song of the Year: "If I Believe" – Aileen Lombardo. Kerroy Williams, songwriter Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year: "Refusing" – Stereotrap Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "Thrive" – Bec Abbot Praise & Worship Song of the Year: "I Rest" – Three Season Ant, songwriters Rap/Hip Hop/Dance Song of the Year: "Lights Are Comin' On" – Greg Sczebel Urban Song of the Year: "Noah" – Krystaal
GMA Canada 2005 Covenant Award Winners / 27th Annual
Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tommy Hunter Artist of the Year: Thousand Foot Krutch Female Vocalist of the Year: Amanda Falk Male Vocalist of the Year: Brian Doerksen Group of the Year: Thousand Foot Krutch New Artist of the Year: Gaetz Ave Children's Album of the Year: Movers And Shakers – Outside The Lines Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: Truth – Hetti-Marie Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year: Let Go – Cheryl Dunn Francophone Album of the Year: Emmène-Moi – Tabitha Lemaire Inspirational Album of the Year: Bare My Soul – Kristina Instrumental Album of the Year: Road To Home – Brian Thiessen Modern Rock Album of the Year: The Art of Breaking – Thousand Foot Krutch Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Closer to You – Carried Away Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Today – Brian Doerksen Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: Epiphany – Manafest Rock Album of the Year: Grasping For Hope in the Darkness – Critical Mass Seasonal Album of the Year: An Irrational Season – Carolyn Arends Southern Gospel Album of the Year: Live in Havana – Parker Trio Special Events/Compilation Album of the Year: Sea to Sea: Filled With Your Glory, Producer Martin Smith Song of the Year: "I Know" – Carried Away Aboriginal Song of the Year: "Carry Me" – Shezza Children's Song of the Year: "Movers And Shakers" – Outside The Lines, Derek Elliotson, songwriters Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year: "That's What I Love About Jesus" – Paul Brandt Francophone Song of the Year: "Tout c'que je veux" – Tabitha Lemaire Inspirational Song of the Year: "Getting Ready For Glory" – Carolyn Arends Instrumental Song of the Year: "Ern's Waltz" – Stephanie Mainville Modern Rock Song of the Year: "Be My Escape" – Relient K Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "Here I Go" – Gaetz Ave Praise And Worship Song of the Year: "Today" – Brian Doerksen. Brian Doerksen and Sandra Gage songwriters Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Let It Go" – Manafest. Manafest, Gerard Thomas, Adam Messinger, Aubrey Noronha, Nasri, songwriters Rock Song of the Year: "No Turning Back" – Travis Blackmore, Robin Ghosh, Mike Kidd, songwriters (Black Talon) Seasonal Song of the Year: "On Angels' Wings" – Ali Matthews Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "My Faith, My All", The Master's Four. Wendy Pound, songwriter Urban Song of the Year: "Everybody" – Greg Sczebel Producer of the Year: Glen Teeple
GMA Canada 2006 Covenant Award Winners / 28th Annual
Winnershttp://www.gmacanada.ca/index.php/covenant-awards-2006/28th-annual-covenant-award-winners
Lifetime Achievement Award: Connie Scott Artist of the Year: Brian Doerksen Female Vocalist of the Year: Amanda Falk Male Vocalist of the Year: Brian Doerksen Group of the Year: Starfield New Artist of the Year: The Silent Album of the Year: Beauty in the Broken – Starfield Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year: Across The Miles – Canada's Double Portion Folk/Roots Album of the Year: Window of Light – Ali Matthews Francophone Album of the Year: Oasis – Andréanne Lafleur Hard Music Album of the Year: More Than Watchmen for the Morning – Means Inspirational Album of the Year: Hymns: A Modern Translation – Sean and Aimee Dayton Instrumental Album of the Year: Another Place – Andrew Bartley Jazz/Blues Album of the Year: Beginnings Live – The Mike Janzen Trio Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year: Smile, It's the End of the World – Hawk Nelson Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Beauty in the Broken – Starfield Praise And Worship Album of the Year: Rekindle – Jody Cross Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: The Proletariat LP – The Joe Rock Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed and Mystified – downhere Seasonal Album of the Year: Christmas Presence – Holy Trinity Anglican Church Southern Gospel Album of the Year: Here There Or in the Air – The Torchmen Quartet Special Events/Compilation Album of the Year: Sea to Sea: I See The Cross – Producer Martin Smith Traditional Gospel Album of the Year: The Live Experience – Toronto Mass Choir Urban/R&B/Soul Album of the Year: Who Is Like The Lord – Hiram Joseph Song of the Year: "Son of God" – Tim Neufeld, Jon Neufeld, Gordon Cochran, songwriters Recorded Song of the Year: "A Better Way" – downhere