roses in my heart

The Shai Awards

This year's Canadian Gospel Music Awards show will be presented from the Hershey Centre in Missisauga on May 14th and will be aired (for the first time nationally) on CBC!

The meaning of the word Shai is:

* To Impact nations
* Do miracles
* Integrity
* Server of the poor and powerful
* Teacher
* Gift
* The receiver of a double portion of anointing

"These seven meanings of the word Shai together sum up what VGM (Vibe Gospel Music Association; Canada's GMA) is trying to accomplish through the Shai Awards Show.

We want each artist to understand that we are affirming their calling as musicians in Canada. Canadian artists need to march forward and impact nations with their music, to see the hand of God in their ministry and the voice of God in their songs. Artists driven to serve both the poor and powerful, grateful for any opportunity to minister. We want to release them with a gift, blessing them with a double portion of anointing together with all that they have learnt; we want to send them out as part of the Church to minister to our nation and the world."

Nominees in select categories include the following (see the Shai webset for a full list):

Contemporary/Pop
Amanda Falk - Amanda Falk
Greg Sczebel - Here to Stay
Kim Haller - Wherever
Raylene Scarrot - Taken
Shezza - Shezza

Country/Bluegrass
Ali Matthews - Where You Remain
Cheryl Dunn - Let Go
Daae Family, The - Together
One Heart - Straight From the Heart
Philip Grimes - I Knew

Folk
Ali Matthews - Where You Remain
Carolyn Arends - Under The Gaze
For The Cause, Kari Bayley - Gods & Fools
Joel Geleynse - The Rebellion of Camouflage
Rob Berg - Dust to Glory

Fracophone
Emma - Ton Amour Me Libère
Luc Dumont - Solo
Maggie Blanchard - Pour tout ce que tu es
Olivier Cheuwa - Nouveau Depart
Richard Toupin - Pleine Lune

Hard Music
Beaumont - First Chance At Forever
Black Talon - Black Talon
Flint - Smoke and Mirrors
Lee Spoken - Drawn In
Understated - Rise From the Ashes

Inspirational
Ali Matthews - Where You Remain
Bev Foster - Trustpoints
Carolyn Arends - Under The Gaze
Curtis Mulder - True
Stephanie Mainville - Family

Instrumental
Calvin Dyck - One Small Child
Juanita Faas - Attitudes
North Park Worship Big Band - Christmas Jazz

Jazz/Blues
Foster & the Paper Bag Band - Orangify
Juanita Faas - Attitudes
North Park Worship Big Band - Christmas Jazz
Ruth McGillivray - River of Soul
Terebinth - Offering

Rap/Hip-Hop/Dance
Black Talon - Black Talon
Hetti-Marie - Truth
Malichi - Make A Change
N.I.F.T.Y - The Preface

Rock/Alternative
Ellis - Bright Light City
Hawk Nelson - Letters to the President
Joel Geleynse - The Rebellion of Camouflage
stereotrap - refusing
Three Season Ant - 2 Days After Yesterday

Seasonal
Calvin Dyck - One Small Child
Carolyn Arends - Christmas an Irrational Season
Lapointes, The - This Christmas
Rob Berg - Christmas Here At Our House
Winter Harp - Christmas Night

Southern Gospel/Traditional
His Season - His Season
Master's Four, The - Livin' By Faith
New Hope - The Healer
One Heart - Straight From the Heart
Torchmen, The - Timeless

Praise & Worship
Brian Doerksen - Today
Curtis Mulder - True
Elevate - Elevate
Kry, The - God of Infinite Worth
North Park Worship Band - Bless Original Live Worship

Song of The Year
If I Believe - Aileen Lambardo - Kerroy Williams
Small - Amanda Falk- Amanda Falk/ Meghan Pierce/ Malynda Zacharias/ Marshall Zacharias
I know My God Cares For Me - Andrew Martin - Andrew Martin
The River - Brian Doerksen -Brian Doerksen/ Brian Thiessen/ Michael Hansen
Today - Brian Doerksen - Brian Doerksen/ Sandra Gage
Getting Ready For Glory - Carolyn Arends - Carolyn Arends
This is the Moment - Carolyn Arends - Carolyn Arends
In the Pocket - Greg Sczebel - Greg Sczebel
Every Little Thing - Hawk Nelson - Trevor McNevan/ Jason Dunn/ Daniel Biro/ Matt Paige/ Dave Clark
Holy is Your Name - The Kry - Jean-Luc Lajoie/ Isabelle Lajoie

New Artist of The Year
Amanda Falk
God Rocks
Hawk Nelson
North Park Worship Big Band
Shezza

Male Soloist of The Year
ANDREW MARTIN
BRIAN DOERKSEN
CURTIS MULDER
GREG SCZEBEL
STEVE BELL

Female Soloist of The Year
AMANDA FALK
CAROLYN ARENDS
CHERYL DUNN
KRISTINA
LIANNA KLASSEN

Group of The Year
HAWK NELSON
THE DAAE FAMILY
THE KRY
THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH
THREE SEASON ANT

Artist of The Year
BRIAN DOERKSEN
CAROLYN ARENDS
GREG SCZEBEL
JAYLENE JOHNSON
STARFIELD

You can cast your vote by going to this site.