Thunder Bays Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards Celebrate Local Talent with Five Major Honors

Thunder Bay’s Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards lit up the city on June 27, 2026, handing out five top prizes to local creators in film and music.

The ceremony, which showcases the region’s brightest talent, honored Ryan La Via with the Outstanding Director – Long Format award for his documentary A Sobering Story. Barbara Saxberg earned Outstanding Actor – Short Format for her performance in The Space Left Behind, and Oji‑Cree singer‑songwriter Aysanabee received both Outstanding Indigenous Artist or Group and Outstanding Album for Edge of the Earth. Ryan MacDonald of the Honest Heart Collective was named Outstanding Engineer, while James Livitski took home Outstanding Director – Short Format for Lasagna Run.

La Via, a Dougall Media employee, described the night as “surreal” and said the recognition could help secure funding for future projects. He is currently developing a feature film, Discernment, with co‑producer Ryan Hill and a biography, A Superior Songbook, about local musician Rodney Brown, slated for release in 2027.

Saxberg, who returned to acting after a 25‑year stint with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, won the acting award for her portrayal of Helen in The Space Left Behind, a short film about grief. She noted that the award was a special moment, adding that it was “nice to see that Thunder Bay is recognized for the work, for filmmaking, for acting, for writing, for directing, for sound engineering, so it was encouraging to see the level of talent and expertise that exists here.”

Aysanabee, who released Edge of the Earth on June 20, 2025 through Ishkōdé Records, could not attend in person but joined via FaceTime with the help of local musician Sara Kae. He said he was “honoured to get that award, and it’s just really cool to see the evolution of it all.” Aysanabee also announced at the 2025 Juno Awards that he would no longer pursue Indigenous categories, hoping to give other Indigenous musicians a chance.

Ryan MacDonald’s award for Outstanding Engineer underscores his technical work with the Honest Heart Collective, a local music production group. James Livitski’s win for Lasagna Run highlights the region’s growing strength in short‑format filmmaking.

The Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards serve as a platform for local artists to gain visibility and industry recognition. The event’s focus on both music and film reflects the interconnected nature of the creative economy in Thunder Bay and the surrounding region.

The ceremony also underscored the community’s commitment to supporting emerging talent. La Via encouraged younger filmmakers, saying, “younger filmmakers looking to get into the industry shouldn’t give up,” and urged storytellers to keep pursuing their projects.

With the awards announced, the recipients are poised to expand their careers. La Via’s upcoming feature Discernment is expected to release by the end of 2026, while Saxberg’s continued work in film and television is likely to follow. Aysanabee’s Edge of the Earth has already charted on Canadian streaming platforms, and his future releases are anticipated by industry observers.

The ceremony concluded with a celebration of Thunder Bay’s artistic community, underscoring the city’s growing reputation as a hub for creative talent in Canada.