Awards
We are proud to be a part of an incredible community that includes volunteers and artists.
They are truly the backbone of Folk Fest and set the stage for the Festival to be the beautiful celebration of people and music it is. To be able to recognize iconic artists with the Artistic Achievement Award and devoted volunteers with the Glass Banjo is a tremendous honour for us.
2025-26
Community Service Award - City of Winnipeg
2023-24
Tourism Awards Winnipeg | Manitoba - 2023 Sustainable Tourism (Winnipeg)
2022-23
Tourism Awards Winnipeg | Manitoba - 2022 Marketing Campaign of the Year (Manitoba)
2020-2021
Western Canadian Music Awards - Impact in Live Music
2018-2019
Travel Manitoba Tourism Awards - Event of the Year (Budget over $5000)
Tourism Winnipeg Awards of Distinction - Winnipeg Tourism Marketing Campaign (over $2500)
International Folk Music Awards - Clearwater Award
Live Music Industry Awards (Canadian Music Week) - Community Impact Award
2017 - 2018
Travel Manitoba Tourism Awards - Manitoba Tourism Partnership Award with Birds Hill Provincial Park
#4 on BizBash Top 100 Events in Canada - Music Event
2016 - 2017
Best Family Program at a Festival by Canadian Music Week
Best of Winnipeg: Reader's Choice Award - Winnipeg Free Press
#7 on BizBash Top 100 Events in Canada list
RV West Reader's Choice for Favourite Festival You'd Like to Attend WIth Your RV - Manitoba
Well done, Winnipeg! We have been voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by National Geographic in 2016! And their extra-special mention of Folk Fest had us feeling all aglow!
2015 - 2016
Travel Manitoba Award for Volunteer of the Year: Jane Graham
Voted Favourite Manitoba Festival by The Uniter
#9 on BizBash Top 100 Events in Canada list
2014 - 2015
Volunteer Manitoba Awards – The Friesen Family: Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Family IMPACT Award
Tourism Winnipeg Awards of Distinction: Large Business of the Year Award
Voted Favourite Manitoba Festival by The Uniter
2013 - 2014
A Greener Festival Award for sustainability initiatives
Volunteer Manitoba Awards – Harry Paine in the Lieutenant Governor’s Make a Difference Community Award category and Karen Dana in the William Norrie Award for Outstanding Community Leadership (Urban) category
Voted Favourite Manitoba Festival by The Uniter
2012 - 2013
Manitoba Access Awareness Week 2012 recognition for outstanding contribution toward creating a fully inclusive society
Syverson Monteyne Architecture Awarded 2012 Prairie Wood Design Award for La Cuisine and Site Office Complex
2012 Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development Excellence in Sustainability Awards Honourable Mention in the Category of Pollution Prevention and Product Stewardship
Syverson Monteyne Architecture – Award of Excellence 2012 Prairie Design Awards for design of La Cuisine
2011-2012
Manitoba Tourism Awards - Event of the Year – co-won with Folklorama
Aging Recognition Award for Guest for a Day program from Manitoba Council on Aging for extraordinary contributions to intergenerational interaction
Western Canadian Music Award – Talent Buyer of the Year for Chris Frayer
Golden Carrot award. Nominated by Food Matters Manitoba for contributing to food sustainability in Manitoba.
2010-2011
Tourism Winnipeg’s Award of Distinction, recognizing the contribution of the festival to Winnipeg’s tourism industry.
2009-2010
Ava Kobrinsky and Mitch Podolak received Arts Award “Making a Difference” from Winnipeg Arts Council for creation of the Winnipeg Centennial Folk Festival. Presented by Sam Katz at the 2010 Mayor’s Luncheon of the Arts
2008-2009
Event of the Year from Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Nominated by Travel Manitoba.
Winnipeg Folk Festival signed the Manitoba Food Charter and initiated the L.O.F.T. (local, organic, fair-trade) program in the vendor and Folk Fest food areas.
Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram awarded a Regional Citation from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Awards of Excellence for the Winnipeg Folk Festival Site Master Plan
2007-2008
Premier’s Volunteer Service Award to festival’s 30-year volunteers
Three Signature Awards from Advertising Association of Winnipeg to design firm Relish Design for 2007 Folk Fest advertising campaign posters and program book.
Up! Value Award from West Jet – Event Category winner
2006-2007
Uptown’s Best of Winnipeg – Best Festival
Folk Alliance – Best Festival
2004-2005
Uptown’s Best of Winnipeg – Best Festival
2003
Western Canadian Music Award – Retail Store of the Year
2002
Prairie Music Award – Retail Store of the Year
1995
Signature Award – Best Poster Design
The Glass Banjo Award is the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s highest honour, recognizing volunteers, supporters, partners and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to making the Festival what it is.
Past Recipients
2024
Howard Mandshein (Donor)
Mark & Eunson Family (Volunteers)
2023
Lloyd Peterson (Volunteers)
Lisa Sinnicks (Volunteers)
2022
Candice Masters (Volunteer)
The Asper Foundation (Sponsor)
2019
Manitoba Federation of Labour (Sponsor)
Whales Tails™ (Food Vendor)
2018
Elder Mae Louise Campbell
2017
Bob Martin (Audience Services Coordinator)
Firebugs (HMV)
Redd Line Jewellery (HMV)
ZAM!! (HMV)
2016
Bob Frayer
MTS (Sponsor)
2015
The Schwab Family
Long & McQuade (Sponsor)
2014
Trudy Schroeder (Past Executive Director)
Rene's Septic Services (Sponsor)
2013
The Singleton/Hiebert/Sults/Helene Family
The Fairmont Winnipeg (Sponsor)
2012
Gord Finch Site Electrician
Sound Art (Sponsor)
2011
Bill Merritt (Past General Manager)
Premier Greg Selinger Province of Manitoba
2010
Terry Sargeant (Past-President)
Big Rock Brewery (Sponsor)
2009
Manitoba Hydro (Sponsor)
The Potter Family (Site Crew)
2008
Inland Audio Visual (Sponsor)
2007
Ron Oswald (Board Member)
Jack Cram and Francene Adelman (Daytime Stage Coordinators)
Canwest Global Foundation (Sponsor)
2006
Andy Szukiewicz (Birds Hill Provincial Park Maintenance Manager)
Assiniboine Credit Union (Sponsor)
2005
Danielle Carignan and Alexander Svenne (La Cuisine Coordinators)
2003
Mayor Glen Murray City of Winnipeg
Suzi and Rich McClear (KAXE Public Radio)
2002
Randy Woods (Main Stage Host)
“Peter Paul Van Camp” (Winnipeg Free Press)
2001
Winnipeg Foundation
Darlene “Toots” Toews (Graphic Designer)
2000
Brenda Douglas (Past-President CBC)
1999
Birds Hill Provincial Park
Michael Handler (Past-President)
1998
Mitch Podolak (Founder)
Harry Paine (La Cuisine Coordinator)
Rosalie Goldstein (Past Artistic Director)
1997
Burkhard Weiss (Festival Tents)
Jon Singleton (Treasurer and Board Member)
Beth Shore (Board Member and Travel Agent)
1996
Karen Lawlor (Past Staff and Main Stage Coordinator)
Jane Graham (Past-President)
Bob Smith (Site Manager)
1995
Kim St. Hilare
David Landy (Photographer)
1994
Karen Dana (La Cuisine Coordinator)
Leslie Hambleton (La Cuisine Coordinator)
The Artistic Achievement Award is presented annually to an artist who has performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, who has demonstrated musical excellence, who reflects the values of our organization and who has contributed at an exceptional level to the field of folk music and to the community as a whole.
Past Recipients
- 2016: Loudon Wainwright III
- 2015: Arlo Guthrie
- 2014: David Lindley
- 2013: Ani DiFranco
- 2012: Sarah Harmer
- 2011: Oscar Brand
- 2010: Leon Redbone
- 2009: Billy Bragg
- 2008: Richard Thompson
- 2007: Buffy Sainte-Marie
- 2006: Odetta
- 2005: Bruce Cockburn
- 2004: Loreena McKennitt