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.

In her dual role as president of education charity MusiCounts and Chief Operating Officer of CARAS, Kristy Fletcher is able to affect the whole Canadian ecosystem, starting with the next generation of Canadian voices. Over the last year, MusiCounts distributed $1.1 million through its School Music Program, $500,000 through its Community Music Program and awarded $20 million in instruments to Canadian schools over the past decade. Fletcher has also helped launch numerous programs and initiatives like RBCxMusic First Up and MusiCounts Fellowship for Emerging Songwriters & Composers. She became Chief Operating Officer of CARAS in 2025, contributing to the success of the 2026 Junos, which saw a 150% streaming increase compared to the prior ceremony. By supporting inclusive access to music through education, Fletcher can help foster the musicians celebrated on that stage.

Sandy Pandya has earned immense respect in the Canadian music industry. That’s not just because of her influential history that’s included revolutionizing artists’ rights in label deals, but also a simple understanding: musicians are humans too. The founder and CEO of the label, management company and creative incubator ArtHaus has long dedicated her work to artist wellness and community, providing them with tools and resources to thrive and, more importantly, survive. With its nonprofit arm, ArtHaus Community, Pandya offers unique support to emerging independent artists including housing, mental health supports, experiential education, mentorship and career development while working with partners throughout the Canadian industry. In 2025, ArtHaus launched its inaugural South Asian Music Accelerator (SAMA), a first-of-its-kind initiative to propel South Asian artists onto the global scene through mentorship and collaboration. ArtHaus has doubled its roster in 2025 and affiliated artists have had a big year, like Kuzi Cee signing with Universal Music Canada and TALK returning with new music and signing with Big Loud Rock in the U.S. The normally behind-the-scenes Pandya has gotten her flowers, too. This year, she earned the 2026 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the 2026 Juno Awards, recognizing her immense impact.

In September, Alex Johnson stepped into the role of executive director at The Unison Fund, which she says is the only Canadian charity providing access to financial, mental and physical health support to music workers. Johnson is steering Unison into its next chapter: deepening its impact while doubling down on the crisis support that built its reputation. After 2025’s Los Angeles fires, the organization launched a relief program for Canadian music workers. Alongside, they partnered with Revelios and SOCAN on a first-of-its-kind survey on mental health in the music industry. In her role, Johnson is making it a priority to support music workers before a crisis hits, setting the groundwork to sustain needs throughout a music industry worker’s life and expanding the mandate of Unison to provide a full continuum of care from prevention to legacy.

As founding president and CEO of Canada’s National Music Centre (NMC), Andrew Mosker has been at the organization since the start, and he’s helped it evolve from a grassroots initiative into a nationally recognized cultural institution. Headquartered at Calgary’s Studio Bell, NMC houses four Canadian Music Halls of Fame and an impressive collection of musical instruments and artifacts. NMC has also launched a satellite hub in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles neighbourhood, expanding its presence across Canada last November. This year marks the NMC’s 10th anniversary, which is set to be filled with unique exhibits, programs and performances, starting on July 1. Mosker confirmed to Billboard Canada that an exhibition for Canadian icon Joni Mitchell is in the works and will open next spring. It’s important for Canada to celebrate its musical legacy, and the NMC takes that one step further — elevating new and established artists while building on the interconnectedness of music heritage, education and cultural tourism.

The history of two of Toronto’s most legendary venues continues to be written, with stewardship from Jesse Kumagai, president and CEO of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. Kumagai led the 2021 renovations of both halls. Now, Massey is part of an ambitious complex called Allied Music Centre, which is home to new spaces like the TD Music Hall and the Deane Cameron Recording Studio, which has created opportunity for expression at all levels in the iconic space. The corporation is a non-profit charitable organization, with a focus on artist development, educational and community initiatives like Share the Music, Collaborations and The Lullaby Project. Kumagai has ensured the venues are accessible and open to diverse audiences and artists, including the Artist in Residence program, now in its second year, which offers year-round support to Indigenous artists through industry mentorship, studio and facilities access, live performance opportunities, creative collaboration and professional development.