Since 2000, The Estelle Klein Award (EKA) has been presented to folks who have had a lasting impact on the community, nominated and voted on by their peers at FMO. Following the call for nominations for the 2022 Ontario Folk Music Awards, FMO heard directly from members regarding serious concerns about the Estelle Klein Award process.
The main concern was that the current system of direct member voting effectively turns the award into a “Popularity contest”, which isn’t congruous with the spirit of this recognition. Of particular concern was that those who lived/worked in less populated areas of Ontario would be underrepresented.
For 2022, it was decided to use the EKA to honour all those who were nominated, with a promise to change the format for 2023. Following the 2022 conference, FMO sent out a survey to the membership to garner their thoughts and ensure that the EKA properly represented the wider community.
We received a healthy amount of engagement, and based on the responses from the community, FMO is implementing the following recommendations for the 2023 award:
-
Create another category for mid-career or up-and-coming music industry workers, to encourage and celebrate those that are currently active in building and supporting the community. We are excited to introduce the Community Builder award for community members that are actively enriching and supporting folk music in their local communities and throughout the province.
-
Hire a publicist to promote the winner. FMO has secured a publicist that will be publishing a dedicated campaign to promote the winners of the EKA.
-
Keep nominations for the award to FMO Members-only. This will remain the process for nomination. Only active FMO members will be able to nominate candidates. Please note that candidates themselves do not need to be active FMO members.
-
Continue the EKA Career Retrospective Videos. In 2023 we will create a video for each EKA winner to be aired at the Ontario Folk Music Awards.
-
The FMO Board should select the winner from the slate of nominees. Our Board of Directors proudly represents each region of Ontario in all of its diversity. The Board has committed to selecting the EKA winners from the slate of nominees.
-
Do not publish the list of nominees, just open nominations, and then announce the winners. The list of nominees will not be published, our process will be to accept nominations until the deadline, and then announce the EKA winners to our community and in a dedicated publicity campaign.
-
Bring back the Estelle Klein Interview. This year we will Invite both of the EKA winners to each do a live taping of the Re:Folk:Us podcast as the EKA Interview, which will be released at the time of, or before, the 2023 FMO Conference.
About the Award:
The Estelle Klein Award honours the work of an individual or group that has made significant contributions to Ontario’s folk music community. The award is named after Estelle Klein, a long-time advocate of Canadian folk music and one of the early founders of the folk festival scene in this country.
This year, we are seeking nominations for two award categories: Lifetime Achievement and Community Builder. The new Community Builder category shines a light on mid-career or up-and-coming community members that are actively enriching and supporting folk music in their local communities and throughout the province.
Lifetime Achievement Nomination Form
Community Builder Nomination Form
Winners are recognized with a registration for that year’s Folk Music Ontario conference for themselves and a partner as well as a lifetime FMO membership. Each winner will also be featured in an interview for the ReFolkUs Podcast, filmed and recorded before the conference, and a video honoring each recipient that will be aired at the Ontario Folk Music Awards.
Nominations are now open to all active Folk Music Ontario members, and we encourage folks to nominate their candidates before the deadline, Friday, July 21st, at 11:59PM EST.
NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS
- Any FMO member may submit a nomination
- Nominee must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Nominee must have made a significant contribution to Ontario's folk music community
- Nominator Statement - why the nominator believes this individual or group should be considered (1000 words max)
- Bio of achievements (250 words max)
- Links to support material - press, recordings, etc. (2 max)
- Website link
- Nominee contact info
We thank you for your trust and engagement as we continue to find new and meaningful ways to uplift, celebrate, and support our beautiful folk community.
Thanks for your nominations! If you have any questions, please contact us directly at office@folkmusicontario.ca