The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame () is a Canadian non-profit organization, founded in 1998 by Frank Davies, that inducts Canadians into their Hall of Fame within three different categories: songwriters, songs, and those others who have made a significant contribution with respect to music.Lara Zarum, "Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame". The Canadian Encyclopedia, October 26, 2020.
History
Founder Frank Davies founded the CSHF/PACC while he was on the board for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). His position was as the first music publisher appointee and as the voice for songwriters and publishers among the group of music industry professionals who oversee Canada's Juno Awards. Frank has had a long career in music, mainly as a record producer and music publisher, recently having received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the 2014 Juno Awards and the Harold Moon Special Achievement Award (SOCAN). He developed the Hall of Fame because he wanted increased public recognition for Canadian Songwriters.
SOCAN In December 2011, SOCAN – the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada acquired the assets of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame's mandate aligns with SOCAN's objectives as a songwriter and publisher membership-based organization. The CSHF continues to be run as a separate organization with its own board of directors.
Award Northern Island (1927) The award is a miniature replica of the sculpture 'Northern Island' created by Elizabeth Wyn Wood, who was born in Orillia, Ontario. Wood was a Canadian sculptor, who graduated from the Ontario College of Art (OCA) in 1926. The award was selected by Davies and established in the year 2003.
Wood took many trips to the Pickerel River crossing, which is halfway between Parry Sound and Sudbury. She sketched, explored, swam, and feasted in the area she was enchanted by. It was in 1927 that Wood completed the first of the island sculptures which conveyed her true and unique artistic character.
Frank Davies Founder's Award The Frank Davies Founder's Award is given to individuals who have dedicated a lifetime to building the Canadian music industry. Recipients receive the Northern Island Award.
Legacy Award The Legacy Award is presented to individuals who have contributed significantly to the development, promotion and preservation of Canadian songs and songwriters. Legacy Award inductees receive the Northern Island Award.
Mandate The CSHF/PACC's mandate is to honour and celebrate Canadian songwriters and those who have dedicated their lives to the legacy of music, and to educate the public about these achievements.
Few people, Canadians included, are aware of the depth of Canada's rich musical heritage and the enormous impact the country's songwriters have had on contemporary music around the world. Canadian songwriters have penned hits for Rod Stewart, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Gene Autry, Céline Dion, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Bing Crosby, Jacques Brel, The Counting Crows, Louis Armstrong and André Gagnon, to name a few. The revelation of this news is always a source of great pride for Canadians and cause for admiration internationally.
Induction guidelines
Songwriters Songwriters must be Canadian by birth or citizenship or have landed immigrant status and may be living or dead. Songwriters must have written or co-written the music and/or lyrics to a song or catalogue of songs in one or more of the following categories:
Having entered into popular culture and been sustained through oral tradition for a significant period of time; Having achieved substantial regional, national and/or international status whether culturally, commercially and/or socially; Having recorded a historical event or helped to define an era of popular culture; Having created or helped to create a genre of music.
Songwriters must have made a significant contribution through a song or catalogue of songs published, or otherwise made available to the public in some form, for at least twenty-five years. By virtue of their induction to the CSHF, a songwriter inductee's entire catalogue of work is also recognized and inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Recognition by era:
Songwriters and songs shall be recognized by era. All inductees are honoured equally and the eras simply provide a context for induction by allowing the CSHF to honour inductees, annually or otherwise, within a given span of years. The eras are:
Pioneer Era – up to 1938 Radio Era – 1939 to 1969 Modern Era – 1970 to twenty-five years prior to the current year)
Songs An eligible song is a musical work that consists of lyrics and music, or music alone without lyrics, and written wholly or in part by a Canadian (that is, Canadian by birth or citizenship or having landed immigrant status), living or dead, and may qualify in one or more of the following categories:
Having entered into popular culture and been sustained through oral tradition for a significant period of time; Having achieved substantial regional, national and/or international status whether culturally, commercially and/or socially; Having recorded a historical event or helped to define an era of popular culture; Having created or helped to create a genre of music.
An eligible song may be an adaptation of an earlier musical work provided the adaptation is itself sufficiently original so as to qualify for copyright protection as a new musical work.
A translation is not eligible for song induction independent of the induction of the original musical work. However, if the translated lyrics are not a straight translation of the original lyrics but instead articulate a new and original meaning and sensibility such that the translated lyric is itself a new work capable of copyright protection as an adaptation separate from the original musical work (including a straight translation of that work) then the adapted musical work may qualify for song induction.
Songs may have been written by previous songwriter inductees or eligible songwriter inductees and are subject to the same timelines and guidelines regarding eras as apply to the songwriters.
Others With respect to the induction of those individuals who have contributed significantly to the development and recognition of Canadian songs and songwriters (such as, but not limited to, publishers, performers, broadcasters and other members of the media, collectors and compilers of traditional material, performers of Canadian songs etc.) the board of directors will review any recommendations made to them by the Anglophone and Francophone Induction Committees. These awards are presented at the discretion of the board of directors.
Board approvals In accordance with the CSHF bylaws, the number of inductees, if any, in any given year shall be at the discretion of the board. The board shall also have the option to override guidelines in exceptional circumstances.
2008 inductees
Gala The CSHF 2008 inductees were announced on 15 November 2007 at Toronto's Le Royal Meridien King Edward. The event was attended by over 150 artists, members of the media and other people in the industry. Performances at the press conference included: Suzie McNeil Julie Crochetière Dave Bourgeois Cindy Daniel Lawrence Gowan
The gala for this year's awards was conducted on 1 March 2008 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts and recorded for broadcast. Featured performances at the gala were: Kyle Riabko Anik Jean Yelo Molo Emilie-Claire Barlow David Foster Rufus Wainwright Martha Wainwright Boom Desjardins Ellis Marsalis Branford Marsalis Jully Black Serena Ryder Gregory Charles Dione Taylor Oliver Jones Toulouse Lily Lanken CBC Radio 2 aired the gala broadcast on 2 March, and rebroadcast on CBC Radio 1 the following day. CBC Television aired its gala broadcast on 3 March. Performances from many French-language artists were omitted from the broadcasts, causing Hall of Fame honouree Claude Dubois to charge the CBC with racism and in turn prompted an apology from CBC vice-president Richard Stursberg.
Frank Davies Legacy Award Oscar Peterson
Radio-era inductees
Songwriters Alex Kramer André Lejeune
Songs Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney Candy – Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney, Mack David Il suffit de peu de choses – André Lejeune, Fernand Robidoux, Moune Victor My Sister and I – Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney, Hy Zaret Prétends que tu es heureux – André Lejeune Une promesse – André Lejeune, Guy Godin
Modern-era inductees Songwriters Paul Anka - award presented by former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien Claude Dubois
Songs Artistes – Claude Dubois Aimes-tu la vie comme moi? – Georges Thurston, Billy Clements, Phillip Mitchell Canadiana Suite – Oscar Peterson Comme un million de gens – Claude Dubois Diana – Paul Anka Femme de rêve – Claude Dubois Heart Like a Wheel – Anna McGarrigle Hymn to Freedom – Oscar Peterson, Harriette Hamilton It Doesn't Matter Anymore – Paul Anka Le Beat à Ti-Bi – Raoul Duguay Le Labrador – Claude Dubois L'infidèle – Claude Dubois Love Child – R. Dean Taylor, Deke Richards, Pam Sawyer, Frank Wilson My Way – Paul Anka, Claude François, Jacques Revauk, Gilles Thibault Put Your Head on My Shoulder – Paul Anka She's a Lady – Paul Anka Signs – Les Emmerson
2010 inductees The 2010 awards were presented at a gala in Toronto on 28 March 2010 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Legacy awards Musical archivist Edward B. Moogk received the Frank Davies Legacy Award. The Canadian Music Publishers Association Legacy Award was presented to music promoter Guy Latraverse.
Pioneer era songs "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine", Alfred Bryan and Fred Fisher "Des mitaines pas de pouces", Ovila Légaré
Radio-era songs "(There's a) Bluebird on Your Windowsill", Elizabeth Clarke "Deux enfants du même âge", Germaine Dugas
Modern era performers and songs The rock group Rush (Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart) was inducted in 2010 as were several of its songs:
"Closer to the Heart" by Rush and Peter Talbot "Limelight" by Rush "The Spirit of Radio" by Rush "Subdivisions" by Rush "Tom Sawyer" by Rush and Pye Dubois
Francophone singer Robert Charlebois was also declared a modern era inductee, as was some of his songs:
"Demain l'hiver" by Charlebois "Fu Man Chu" by Charlebois, Claude Gagnon, Marcel Sabourin "Les ailes d'un ange" by Charlebois "Lindberg" by Charlebois, Claude Péloquin, Louise Forestier and Pierre F. Brault "Ordinaire" by Charlebois and Claudette Monfette
Two songs neither related to Charlebois nor Rush were also inducted into the Hall of Fame:
"The Hockey Theme", Dolores Claman "J'entends frapper", Michel Pagliaro
Inductees Songwriters
Bryan AdamsCindy Caron, "Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, Daniel Lavoie au Panthéon des auteurs et compositeurs canadiens". L'Express, September 27, 2022. Paul Anka Randy Bachman Roméo Beaudry Blue RodeoDavid Friend, "Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame: Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane inducted". Global News, September 29, 2024. Mary Travers Bolduc Shelton Brooks Alfred Bryan Édith Butler John Capek Wilf Carter Robert Charlebois Tom CochraneBrad Wheeler, "Tom Cochrane calls his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame his ‘most poignant’ accolade yet". The Globe and Mail, September 28, 2024. Bruce Cockburn Leonard Cohen François Cousineau Burton Cummings Lionel Daunais Serge Deyglun Beau Dommage Claude Dubois Pye DuboisNick Krewen, "Kim Mitchell says Songwriters Hall of Fame honour caught him by surprise". Toronto Star, July 21, 2021. Willie Eckstein Raymond Egan Jean-Pierre Ferland FeistBrad Wheeler, "Tragically Hip, Feist, Roch Voisine and Loverboy members to be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame". The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2026. David Foster Myles Goodwyn Harmonium Bill Henderson Dan Hill Ron Hynes Marc Jordan Andy Kim Alex Kramer