ArtistDirect News
Thunder Bay Artists Win Multiple Awards at Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards 2026
Thunder Bay’s creative scene made headlines on June 22 when five local artists were honored at the 2026 Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards. The biennial ceremony, organized by Cultural Industries Ontario North, gathered film and music talent from across the province to celebrate regional excellence.
The event spotlighted the breadth of talent thriving in Thunder Bay. Among the recipients were documentary filmmaker Ryan La Via, actress Barbara Saxberg, Indigenous musician Aysanabee, audio engineer Ryan MacDonald, and short‑film director James Livitski. Each award carried significance both for the individual and for the city’s growing cultural footprint.
La Via, a Dougall Media employee, took home the Outstanding Director – Long Format award for his documentary A Sobering Story. The film, which probes substance‑use issues in Thunder Bay, was lauded for its candid storytelling. In his acceptance, La Via remarked, “I was just in awe, and it was surreal.” He thanked co‑producer Ryan Hill and editor Matthew King for their contributions. La Via added that the accolade could pave the way for future projects, including a feature film titled Discernment and a biography, A Superior Songbook, about local musician Rodney Brown.
Saxberg earned the Outstanding Actor – Short Format award for her portrayal of Helen in The Space Left Behind, a short that follows a woman coping with grief after her husband’s death. Returning to acting after a 25‑year tenure with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, she said, “I’m an older actor, and I don’t know how many chances I’m ever going to have to do something like this.” She added, “It’s never too late. If it’s something that you really want to do and you don’t want to have regrets, then give it a try.”
Multi‑Juno winner Aysanabee, an Oji‑Cree artist from Sandy Lake First Nation, captured both the Outstanding Indigenous Artist or Group and Outstanding Album awards for Edge of the Earth. Unable to attend in person, he appeared via FaceTime with local musician Sara Kae. He reflected, “I got to watch my acceptance speech from the audience, which is pretty meta.” Aysanabee also confirmed at the Juno Awards that he will not pursue Indigenous categories in the future to give other Indigenous musicians a chance.
Ryan MacDonald of the Honest Heart Collective received the Outstanding Engineer award for his work on regional productions, while James Livitski was honored with Outstanding Director – Short Format for Lasagna Run.
The Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards celebrate creative achievements across the province’s film, television and music sectors. The 2026 ceremony highlighted Thunder Bay’s capacity to nurture talent that competes on a national level. By recognizing achievements in documentary filmmaking, acting, engineering and Indigenous music, the awards underscored the city’s role as a vibrant cultural hub and opened doors for future projects.
In sum, the ceremony reaffirmed Thunder Bay’s diverse artistic skill set and reinforced the region’s position as a fertile ground for creative talent that resonates beyond provincial borders.
The event spotlighted the breadth of talent thriving in Thunder Bay. Among the recipients were documentary filmmaker Ryan La Via, actress Barbara Saxberg, Indigenous musician Aysanabee, audio engineer Ryan MacDonald, and short‑film director James Livitski. Each award carried significance both for the individual and for the city’s growing cultural footprint.
La Via, a Dougall Media employee, took home the Outstanding Director – Long Format award for his documentary A Sobering Story. The film, which probes substance‑use issues in Thunder Bay, was lauded for its candid storytelling. In his acceptance, La Via remarked, “I was just in awe, and it was surreal.” He thanked co‑producer Ryan Hill and editor Matthew King for their contributions. La Via added that the accolade could pave the way for future projects, including a feature film titled Discernment and a biography, A Superior Songbook, about local musician Rodney Brown.
Saxberg earned the Outstanding Actor – Short Format award for her portrayal of Helen in The Space Left Behind, a short that follows a woman coping with grief after her husband’s death. Returning to acting after a 25‑year tenure with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, she said, “I’m an older actor, and I don’t know how many chances I’m ever going to have to do something like this.” She added, “It’s never too late. If it’s something that you really want to do and you don’t want to have regrets, then give it a try.”
Multi‑Juno winner Aysanabee, an Oji‑Cree artist from Sandy Lake First Nation, captured both the Outstanding Indigenous Artist or Group and Outstanding Album awards for Edge of the Earth. Unable to attend in person, he appeared via FaceTime with local musician Sara Kae. He reflected, “I got to watch my acceptance speech from the audience, which is pretty meta.” Aysanabee also confirmed at the Juno Awards that he will not pursue Indigenous categories in the future to give other Indigenous musicians a chance.
Ryan MacDonald of the Honest Heart Collective received the Outstanding Engineer award for his work on regional productions, while James Livitski was honored with Outstanding Director – Short Format for Lasagna Run.
The Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards celebrate creative achievements across the province’s film, television and music sectors. The 2026 ceremony highlighted Thunder Bay’s capacity to nurture talent that competes on a national level. By recognizing achievements in documentary filmmaking, acting, engineering and Indigenous music, the awards underscored the city’s role as a vibrant cultural hub and opened doors for future projects.
In sum, the ceremony reaffirmed Thunder Bay’s diverse artistic skill set and reinforced the region’s position as a fertile ground for creative talent that resonates beyond provincial borders.