Last Updated on October 18, 2025 by YGK News Staff
Two Kingston artists will be returning to the city as award winners following Wednesday night’s presentation of the 2025 Ontario Folk Music Awards in Ottawa.
Kingston’s Al Rankin was awarded the Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award for what Folk Canada said is a “lifelong dedication to fostering Canadian folk music”, and Savannah Shea was awarded ‘Song of the Year’ for her song ‘Best Remembered‘.
Rankin’s longtime work as a concert promoter has earned him the Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award, which Folk Canada’s Executive Director, Rosalyn Dennett says a long list of artists have said his support goes beyond simply putting on a show.
“One of the things that really stood out to the jury was the spirit of volunteerism that he’s had throughout his career,” Dennett said.
“He’s supported musicians and artists on their journey… It’s not just people of his generation, but that it really extends to emerging artists today who feel like they can call him up at any moment and ask for some advice and get some support from him. He’s a person that’s really influenced a lot of folks and has helped be a boost in people’s careers.”
While Rankin is being recognized for his longtime work with the music industry, Savannah Shea represents the current generation of working artists, and said that this year was her first experience with the Folk Music Awards – and one she wouldn’t have been a part of if not urged to apply by the city’s Music Officer Moira Demorest.
Shea said it wasn’t in her plans before that, but she’s happy to be there this week taking advantage of what the conference has to offer and meeting other musicians on hand.
“I don’t think I would have gone if I hadn’t got the nomination because I was just wasn’t on my radar,” Shea said.
“There’s a lot of interacting with other people in the music industry… A lot lot of opportunities to sort of sell yourself as an artist, I find that very overwhelming so my main goal is to just go and make a lot of friends and like make a bunch of connections.”
Shea will also be a part of a Kingston music showcase this Saturday night which was organized by the Kingston Music Office, with other locals joining Shea in Ottawa for the performance.
2025 is the 39th anniversary of the Folk Music Ontario Conference, with Folk Music Canada and Folk Music Ontario merging officially this year.
The awards were focused just on Ontario folk music creators and industry members, but Folk Music Canada also brought in people from across the country to take part in the conference.
Dennett said the hope of these awards is to get more attention on the hard working songwriters and workers in the music industry, and ultimately to help make the industry a more viable place to work in.
“We want to grow a working middle class of artists and music industry professionals,” Dennett said.
“We’re hoping to give people a bit of a boost and a lift. The whole purpose of awards is celebration and a marketing opportunity for the people that are nominated. There’s been some really incredible folks that have passed through the organization or through the awards.”
The 2025 Awards Conference continues through October 19.
