Cape Breton’s Goldie Boutilier took home two of the top awards at Thursday night’s East Coast Music Awards Gala at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S. Boutilier, who made her ECMA debut last year in St. John’s, won both Album of The Year and Breakthrough Artist of The Year. “Coming home and having a night like I did last night was the most fulfilling and it matters the most because these are the people that have grown up with me, that have seen every version of me,” said Boutilier. “I’m really proud to represent Cape Breton. Cape Breton has given me my grit, my stubbornness, my inability to argue in a way that makes any sense, and I’m so proud to be from here, so it was really nice.” The Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award went to The Barra MacNeils, who are celebrating 40 years as a band. In addition to award presentations, the gala included live performances by artists like Morgan Toney, Lennie Gallant, Maggie Andrew, City Natives, and Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts. Other winners included: The ECMA Awards Gala was part of the five-day East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference, that includes networking events, live performances, export showcases and community celebrations. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
