Gary Slaight remains one of the most influential investors and philanthropists in Canadian music, continuing to shape the industry through both financial backing and long-term cultural support. Through Slaight Music and the Slaight Family Foundation, Slaight has spent years funding artist development, media ventures and humanitarian initiatives including support for initiatives at the Polaris Music Prize, Unison, the Junos and many more Canadian music organizations. Over the last year, Slaight Music started a strategic partnership with Carlos Pineda’s independent record label, management and publishing company MCMXVI, furthering the company’s support of developing hip-hop, R&B and indie artists. Slaight also continued his longstanding philanthropic work by honouring Sarah McLachlan with the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award at Departure, matching the honour with a direct $25,000 to her Sarah McLachlan School of Music, which provides free education to at-risk youth.