CBC Radio 3 Announces Nominees for Best Record Store in Canada

As previously reported, CBC Radio 3 has launched the Searchlight competition in search of "The Best Record Store In Canada." After hundreds of supportive messages poured in, they have revealed an impressive 47 nominated retailers vying for the prize.

"I was really blown away by the response from the fans,” admits CBC Radio 3 host Grant Lawrence. "I thought there was a digital music revolution going on, but it's amazing how fans of stores from every province in the country came out of the woodwork with very passionate nominations. That a total of 47 stores made our initial stage of nominations is phenomenal.”

Voting has now officially begun, and will continue until next Wednesday (April 2), when the list will be pared down to 20, and announced on CBC Radio 3 at 12 p.m. PST/3 p.m. EST. The following week, the list will be pared down to 10, and the final week, voters will choose from the final five. On April 18 – the day before Record Store Day – the Searchlight winner will be announced. To place your vote, click here.

"I think the competition will be stiff,” adds Lawrence. "Right off the top of my head, I can think of great stores that I have visited from Victoria to St. John's. Sure, stores in Vancouver and Toronto will be the ones to beat, but you never know if that cool little shop in Prince George or Charlottetown might take it.”

The winner will get a live CBC Radio 3 broadcast from the shop, complete with an in-store session by favourite local bands. They’ll also get a complete Sirius satellite radio kit.

In the coming months, CBC Radio 3 will widen its Searchlight, and find other "bests” in Canada, including the best nightclub, the best guitar store, and the best music magazine (we know who we'd vote for...).

And the nominees are...

NEWFOUNDLAND
Fred’s Music – St. John’s

NOVA SCOTIA
Taz Records – Halifax

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Back Alley Music – Charlottetown

NEW BRUNSWICK
Backstreet Records – Saint John

QUEBEC
Cheap Thrills – Montreal
Phonopolis – Montreal

ONTARIO
Atomix Records – St. Catharines
Birdman Sound – Ottawa
Bluestreak Records – Peterborough
Criminal Records - Toronto
Compact Music – Ottawa
Encore Records – Kitchener
End Hits – Ottawa
Grooves – London
Monster Records – Toronto
Slinky Music– Toronto
Penguin Music – Toronto
Rotate This – Toronto
Sonic Boom – Toronto
Sounds Unlikely – Ottawa
Soundscapes – Toronto
Speed City Records – London
Star Records – Oshawa
Vertigo Records – Ottawa

MANITOBA
Into The Music – Winnipeg
Music Trader – Winnipeg

SASKATCHEWAN
Vintage Vinyl – Regina
The Vinyl Diner – Saskatoon
X-Ray Records – Regina

ALBERTA
Blackbyrd Myoozik – Edmonton
Free Cloud – Edmonton
Listen Records – Edmonton
Megatunes – Calgary
Melodiya – Calgary
Recordland – Calgary
Sloth – Calgary
Sound Connection – Edmonton

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Audiopile – Vancouver
Bop City – Courtney
Ditch Records – Victoria
Fascinating Rhythm – Nanaimo
Krazy Bob’s Music Emporium – Langley
Meow Records – Prince George
Neptoon Records – Vancouver
Red Cat – Vancouver
Scratch Records – Vancouver
Zulu Records – Vancouver