I recently learned I was nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Award for "English Songwriter of the Year". It took me a bit by surprise. I also learned that three other nominees for Folk awards were Edmontonians: Maria Dunn, Wendy McNeil and George Koufogiannakis. When we were being interviewed on CBC, we were asked about the Edmonton Folk scene and it made me quite proud how much there is going on here in this city. Folk music is alive and well in Edmonton! We have so many people here promoting Folk Music. There’s Bill Werthman and the volunteers of the Northern Lights Folk Club, Peter Pirquet and the volunteers at The Full Moon Folk Club, Steve Goss and Brian Parsons and the volunteers at the Uptown Folk Club and venues like the Blue Chair in our town. As well, there are promoters like Rhea March supporting young songwriters through U22. We have CKUA Radio which is an Alberta treasure that supports the local roots scene. We have Stony Plain Records, which is an Edmonton-based roots label with an international presence and last but not least the Edmonton Folk Festival. (Sorry if I’ve left anyone out). So, it's not surprising Edmonton will be well represented at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards.