Logan Staats had a big night last night (Oct. 14) in Hamilton, Ontario. The Mohawk roots singer-songwriter and Indigenous activist was the only double winner at the 2026 Ontario Folk Music Awards at the Studio Theatre, collecting trophies as performing artist of the year and as the recipient of the Culture in Climate Award.
This was something of a hometown victory for Staats as he was born and raised in the nearby Six Nations of the Grand River community and Brantford. He cut his teeth on the Hamilton club circuit prior to gaining national prominence as the very first winner of The Launch, the much-hyped Canadian TV talent search, in 2018. After a rocky period, personally and professionally, he is back in the spotlight with a just-released third album, Peacemaker, that is earning critical kudos.
In his acceptance speech for winning in the performing artist category, Staats noted that ''so many of the people I look up to are in this room.'' After thanking his record label, the Indigenous-led Ishkode Records, and agency, Paquin, he dedicated this win ''to my community of Six Nations.''
The 32nd annual Ontario Folk Music Awards was a comparatively stripped-down affair, featuring just five artist categories alongside four special achievement awards that had been announced earlier. The smoothly run event was attended by the artist nominees and their teams plus Folk Canada Conference delegates and attendees. That conference runs Oct. 14-18 in Hamilton, with the OFMAs serving as its kickoff event.
The awards show featured a well-balanced mix of live performances and award presentations and speeches. Performers included such nominees and winners as Tanika Charles, Vicki Brittle, Jonathan Nvita, kazdoura, Logan Staats (with The Pairs) and Terra Lightfoot, with the latter hometown hero doing double duty as the congenial host. This performance lineup featured global music and R&B stylings, not just conventional folk, making for a nicely varied evening.
Jonathan NvitaCourtesy Photo
It was a night of emotional speeches as many of the winners and honorary award recipients explained the often difficult journey it took to reach the podium here. Congolese-Canadian singer and storyteller Jonathan Nvita recounted the origins of the song ''Kaku 'Grandma,'" the one that won him the prestigious Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award. He expressed hope that his success will show his fellow Africans that ''your dreams are valid'' and pledged that ''this is just the beginning of my story.''
In accepting the Culture in Climate Award for his frontline activism in defending Indigenous land and water rights, Logan Staats declared that ''this is for the Mohawk warriors and the people at Fairy Creek and Wet'suwet'en Nation [the B.C. sites of two protest blockades he has participated in]. This is for the people brave enough to say 'Landback' and ‘Free Palestine.' I'm proud to be here and part of the medicine that is folk music. As folk singers we have a heavy burden on our shoulders at the moment to sing about the state of the world.''
Coco Love AlcornCourtesy Photo
Arguably the most emotional moments were provided by Coco Love Alcorn, recipient of the Estelle Klein community builder award and a renowned singer-songwriter and leading light of community choirs. A video tribute from 54-40 (with whom she often worked) and her vocalist father John Alcorn was followed by an eloquent speech in which she thanked ''my community for sending so much love my way.''
In late 2025, it was revealed that Alcorn had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and a Gofundme campaign to support her quickly raised over $206K, confirming the affection in which she is held. Alcorn then premiered a new work in progress, with the chorus of ''love has the power to heal," and it elicited an uplifting singalong from the audience.
A flight delay meant that Chris White, the recipient of the prestigious Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award, missed the show, but his peers read his speech and offered tribute to the co-founder and former artistic director of the Ottawa Folk Festival and CKCU radio host.
In a rarity for music award shows, this one actually wrapped a few minutes before the scheduled two hour mark, ending on a very high parochial note. In honour of the city, two notable Hamiltonians were honoured via renditions of two of their classic songs. The Pairs delivered a short excerpt of ''The Sunny Side Of The Street'' by late local folk legend Jackie Washington, and then the entire cast of performers united for a spirited version of Tom Wilson and Junkhouse's ''Shine,'' a song that has become an anthem for The Hammer.
On this night, Ontario folk music did indeed shine.
Based at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton, the Folk Canada conference continues from Oct. 15-18. It features panel discussions, peer sessions, artist talks, community gatherings, keynote addresses and a Culture in Climate summit, plus extensive showcase performances from a large number of emerging and established folk and roots artists from Canada and beyond.
Check a full conference schedule and list of showcase performers here and find the full list of Ontario Folk Music Award winners below.
2026 Ontario Folk Music Award Winners
Song of the Year
“Quit My Habit” by Rebekah Hawker (Rebekah Hawker,. Edward T Murphy)
Album of the Year
Reasons To Stay by Tanika Charles
Recording Artist of the Year
Aysanabee
Performing Artist of the Year
Logan Staats
Music Video of the Year
“Been Done” by Frank Mighty
Culture in Climate Award
Logan Staats
Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award (Presented by Ontario Arts Council)
Kaku “Grandma” by Jonathan Nvita
Estelle Klein Community Builder Award
Coco Love Alcorn
Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award
Chris White
