News 
Jul 01 2011
Ten Heroes in Canadian Music:
10. Chad VanGaalen
Calgary-based singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen is a true inventor in every sense of the word. Not only do his albums ably straddle the line between freeform experimentation and thought-out song crafting, but he also literally invents his own instruments in his basement. Outside of his own recording career, CVG has his production fingerprints all over albums from Women and Extra Happy Ghost!!!, alongside his brilliant animations, including a recent video for J Mascis. Then there are his abstract electronic excursions under the Black Mold moniker. Seemingly always doing something worthy of our attention, VanGaalen is an endlessly creative force.
9. Gord Dufresne, Deranged Records
There are plenty of amazing record labels in Canada, all of which deserve our attention in their own unique way. Still, there's something truly special about Deranged Records, the former Toronto imprint now operated in Roberts Creek, BC, by founder Gord Dufresne. Sure, the label has launched the careers of punk and hardcore stalwarts like Fucked Up and Career Suicide, but there's so much more to take note of. If you're looking for the freshest DIY hardcore, punk or power pop bands from the sweaty basement shows of the world, Dufresne has probably already released their demo as a seven-inch. It's safe to say that Deranged Records is one of the best punk labels in the world, and that makes us damn proud to call it Canadian.
8. Aaron Levin, Weird Canada
In May of 2009, Aaron Levin quit his job as music director at Edmonton's CJSR and decided to start Weird Canada, a site dedicated to emerging outsider artists from anywhere and everywhere in Canada. Since then, the site has grown drastically, turning listeners on to obscure CD-Rs and limited cassette releases from across this great country and uniting artists via a growing online community. These are the people who knew about Dirty Beaches and Braids when they were in their earliest stages. Still, there is no hipster ego or moneymaking motive in Levin's mind, just a desire to keep growing. The site also spawned Wyrd Fest -- a travelling music festival that has had numerous incarnations across Alberta, as well as in Vancouver and Montreal -- and will eventually spearhead a cross-Canada distribution network for tiny independent artists. Canadian hero indeed.
7. Joel Plaskett
What list of Canadian heroes would be complete without a mention of beloved Nova Scotian Joel Plaskett. The accomplished singer-songwriter has a deep discography including releases with Thrush Hermit, Neuseiland and the Joel Plaskett Emergency, alongside his solo albums. Having received multiple awards and honours, along with becoming the first artist to reach one million plays on CBC Radio Three, one would think that Plaskett would have developed quite the ego. Instead, he continues to plug away with a regular stream of new music and a budding career as a producer, working with artists like Two Hours Traffic. Earnest and hard-working, Joel Plaskett is a true Canadian icon.
6. John K. Samson
Sure, Weakerthans' frontman and former Propagandhi bassist John K. Samson is a beloved musician, but he probably loves Canada more than Canada loves him. Throughout his career, Samson has used the city of Winnipeg as his muse, penning love songs to the town and, more recently, dedicated an entire seven-inch series to the roads of Manitoba. Last year, he was dubbed the Winnipeg Ambassador for Music. If there's anyone championing the Canadian Prairies on a world stage and drawing attention to the positive (and some negative) aspects of his hometown, it's Samson.
Page 2 »
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 12:16:11Such a pandering populist list. What happened to the days of Exclaim! being a source of new and exciting music?
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 13:18:30^^^^^
might I suggest the music review sections and not this list if you are looking for "new"
Posted by Josiah On 2011-07-01 13:33:44I hardly think this list is pandering. There are some very obvious choices but also some new and unique ones. Since the list was decided by a committee of people, it was relatively diverse. BUT as I said in my intro there was no way to write a fully comprehensive list, so instead of complaining add your suggestions here! The point of this is to be positive and celebrate our fellow Canadians!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 13:53:25How about a woman or two?
Julie Doiron? Sarah Harmer? Feist? Christine Fellows?
signed,
not a woman.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 14:42:32@Josiah
Committee of people?! More like a committee of GUYS.
This article is embarrassing. Your assignment is to make a list of 20 female heroes in Canadan music by 5pm.
What a joke!
Signed,
I'm not a woman either.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 15:35:37I'm a woman, and I'm totally disappointed with this list. Even your Canadian icons are dudes. What the hell?
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 16:44:41Happy Canada Day! Embrace the negativity. It feels oh so bad. Way to take something trying to be positive and flip it. Enjoy the hate you create.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 17:00:09Feist
Emily Haines
Grimes
Tune-yards
Mish Way
Julie Doiron
Sara Quin
Tegan Quin
Romi Mayes
Alexei Perry
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 19:13:21Other people have said this, but that doesn't mean I won't say it too.
There are women in Canadian music who I think have done as much, if not more, than some of the guys on this list.
That's not to say many of these choices aren't awesome. It's certainly not to claim any kind of hate.
Just... think about it please.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 21:51:45Arcade Fire aren't all dudes. Just sayin...
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 22:25:05No, they're not. There are two women in that band.
There are fourteen men on the list.
Just sayin.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-01 22:26:46Julie Doiron. major oversight, f'real.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 03:55:55And the great rock'n'roll gender debate rears its head once again. It's like 1997 all over again. Guess nothing changes on either side of the fence.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 03:59:55The best forum for equality in music is... some Canada Day list on a music blog? Seems like an appropriate place, yes?
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 04:05:41I'm sure hearts were in the right place here and there was no purposeful attempt at exclusion. Happy Canada Day and thanks for reminding us of what we have, even if there is an abundance of chest hair.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 09:58:19what a stupid way to fill space. you shouldn't argue with Exclaim about this, since it has no merit. Its a case of having nothing to write about, so let's fill our magazine with pointless lists and other stupid bullshit.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 15:12:39I'm very grateful and surprised by my inclusion on this list.
It's everyone's job to be aware of gender inequities and to work towards a space where we all feel empowered to creatively express; and where leadership is recognized across gender boundaries.
In the case of Weird Canada, much of the site's identity is buoyed by the efforts of two women: Marie Lef and Jenni Roberts. Without their leadership, guidance, and work, Weird Canada would not be on this list.
Hearts,
Aaron Levin
Weird Canada
weirdcanada.com Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 15:16:53.
PS - I really don't think Exclaim! made a conscious effort to exclude women from this list. I think this kind of feedback is very valuable and I'm happy to see a constructive dialogue.
Hearts,
Aaron Levin
Weird Canada
weirdcanada.com Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-02 23:47:22'm sure there was no conscious effort made to offend anyone, but it also doesn't really look like there was any conscious effort made to create a well-balanced, representative list either. This really just looks like the product of one dude and his buddy, the sort of thing that belongs on a personal blog, not on the site of a national magazine.
Posted by Shane On 2011-07-03 05:55:09Fuck the Facts should be somewhere near the top of this list, and FTF's Mel Mungeon should be given special consideration for being all that and a mom, too.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-03 09:25:24Drake and no hip?
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-04 10:02:14Shotgun Jimmie should've been in that shit! Also what's with no females?
Posted by Justinsb On 2011-07-04 12:09:08Gotta agree, it's not a great list - sneaking in label owners, bloggers and Steve Jordan but leaving out Julie Doiron & Sarah Harmer (Not to mention BSS & New Poronos and all of their side projects....Feist?? but Drake goes way up the list? Don't see any real rhyme or reason to it other than they are 10 people who are involved in Canadian music. Could have drawn names out of a hat (but if you did there would probably be some women on the list.)
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-04 13:49:19Sloan?
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-04 14:22:26Could have been worse...at least they didn't list Young, Cohen or Mitchell.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-05 11:03:43How does Damian Abraham ever get anything done with everyone in Toronto constantly licking his fat hairy balls!?!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-05 12:45:57So this is how much Mr. Hughes gives a shit about what people think:
https://twitter.com/#!/josiahhughes/status/87954017669484544
Nice one, buddy.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-05 14:33:13Nice creepy stalking ^^^^^ and way to point out a comment that doesn't really mean anything. Nice one, buddy.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-07 13:19:17Thanks for unwittingly shinning a light on sexism in the Canadian music scene.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-07 13:34:51Maybe you should check your male privilege and realize it's not too "positive" to be excluding half of the population... Seriously , I'd have expected better from Exclaim!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-07 13:45:31There are women in Arcade Fire. There are women are Deranged. There are women on Weird Canada (Aaron even points out several help run the thing). Why don't you pick up on a new exclusion topic? Like there being no first nations acts. Or no french ones. Or did your "privilege" make you forget about that?
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-07 17:15:41Yes, there are 2 women in Arcade Fire. That has been addressed. Interesting that neither are included in the photo. I have no idea what "There are women are Deranged." is meant to mean but if it means that there are women in bands put out by Deranged that is besides the point as it's the label owner who is being lauded , not the individuals in the bands he has put out. Ditto with Weird Canada it's irrelevant that "several help run the thing" when neither of them are mention in the list of heroes, only Aaron. (kudos to him for sharing the glory with the women he works with.)
According to the 2006 Canadian census , the Aboriginal population is 3.8% of the national total , 21.4 speak french at home.
Meanwhile women make up aprox 51% of the national population.
Oh and by the way one of the women in Arcade Fire is Francophone, as a French Canadian though , I've never expected anyone at Exclaim! to know of care about francophone music , much less a writer from Alberta.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-07 18:11:37Hey smart person ^^^^^^, what's Canada's population of gingers? That's the real problem here: this list needs more gingers! Exclaim! how dare you?!
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-07-12 05:07:33Jesus Christ. What a bunch of whiny cunts the lot of you are. If you don't like it, write your own fucking list. Who gives a shit. It's just another list to add to the pile of lists.
Posted by Nameless Poseur On 2011-09-02 00:32:36are you saying that because of their smaller population first nations people (of any gender) are less important than white women?
SHARE IT! 
