Durham Region’s country music talent took centre stage at the 14th annual Country Music Ontario Awards, held Sunday at Port Credit Memorial Arena in Mississauga. Artists with deep roots in Oshawa, Courtice, and Uxbridge walked away with some of the night’s biggest honours, proving that Durham continues to be a powerhouse in Ontario’s country music scene.
Leading the charge was rising star Sacha, who moved to Oshawa during her junior high years and has been making waves in the industry ever since. She entered the evening nominated for three awards and walked away with two of the most prestigious titles of the night: Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her critically acclaimed release Women in the Mirror. The double win solidifies Sacha’s position as one of the most exciting voices in Canadian country music today and brings pride to her adopted hometown of Oshawa.
Not far behind was Tyler Lorette, a 21-year-old singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Courtice in Clarington. Lorette tied for Breakthrough Artist of the Year alongside Jessica Sevier, marking the first tie in Country Music Ontario Awards history. The young artist has been turning heads across the industry with his impressive musical versatility and dynamic stage presence. At just 21, Lorette’s ability to write, produce, and perform at a high level makes him a standout among his peers and puts him firmly on the map as an artist to watch in the coming years.
Robin Ottolini of Uxbridge also had a night to remember at the awards ceremony. Nominated for three awards alongside Sacha, Ottolini shared the Songwriter of the Year Award with Jessica Sevier, Dave Woods, and Derek Hoffman for the collaborative songwriting effort Good to Drive. The award highlights the depth of songwriting talent that Durham Region continues to produce year after year, and Ottolini’s contribution to the craft has earned well-deserved recognition from peers across the province.
The biggest winner of the evening overall was Owen Riegling from Mildmay in Bruce County, who swept all three categories he was nominated in: Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year for Taillight this Town, and the coveted Fan Choice Award. Other notable winners included James Barker Band for Group of the Year and Ryan Cassar for Musician of the Year.
The Country Music Ontario Awards show closed out the CMAOntario Festival and Awards Weekend with live performances by Riegling, Lorette, Sevier, Sully Burrows, Olivia Mae Graham, Elyse Saunders, School House, Cory Marks, Les Rats d’Swompe, and the CMAOntario house band The Western Swing Authority. The performances showcased the breadth and energy of Ontario’s country music community.
The awards celebrate the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry, honouring artists and industry professionals across 17 categories along with special awards. For Durham Region, the 2025 edition of the Country Music Ontario Awards was a powerful testament to the incredible musical talent thriving in communities across the area. With artists like Sacha, Lorette, and Ottolini leading the way, the future of country music in Durham has never looked brighter.
