Welcome to the Northern Ontario Country Music Association Website!
The Northern Ontario Country Music Association (NOCMA) is based in Northern Ontario in Sault Ste. Marie. The NOCMA operates "The Great Northern Opry", “The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame”, “NOCMA Records Label”, and organizes “The Annual Great Northern Opry Country Music Weekend & Annual Northern Ontario Country Music Awards”
Our History:
The organization that gave birth to the country music effort in Sault Ste. Marie, was originally known as The Country Club and was created by the efforts of Al Mooney, George Pinder and Dave Patterson in 1989.
The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame started out as The Sault Ste. Marie and District Country Music Hall of Fame back in 1991 with Don Ramsay as the first inductee .
The first location for The Sault Ste. Marie Country Music Hall of Fame was located in the lobby of The Ramada Inn. The Ramada Inn had display cases in the lobby which were purchased from Tony Ruscio, the owner of the Ramada Inn, with the profits from the 1991 Awards Show. Over the years the Hall of Fame displays were moved to a couple of different mall locations and most recently at the Riuniti Banquet Hall in Sault Ste. Marie. As of April 2012, the displays have been put in storage as we seek a more permanent location.
By 1999 it became evident that in order to survive, changes would have to be made or the efforts of the past ten years would have to come to an end. The Country Club had lasted for a decade with 13 Inductees in The Sault Ste. Marie and District Country Music Hall of Fame and 15 inductees in The Great Northern Opry an identity created in the Sault by Grace Kozak back in the late 60’s and which was reactivated with the first inductee in 1993.
As the financial obligation began to increase and after several discussions with Carol Patterson, the decision to keep going was made. However, changes had to be made. The Country Club was changed to the Northern Ontario Country Music Association (NOCMA), The Sault Ste. Marie and District Country Music Hall of Fame was changed to The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame and we still Inducted country talent into The Great Northern Opry from Across Northern Ontario. Unfortunately, the red Ink kept flowing.
Mike Case came aboard in 2010 to help with organizing Great Northern Opry Shows and this worked. But, The Annual Northern Ontario Country Music Awards was still losing money. In 2010, a meeting was held in Espanola with representatives from across Northern Ontario to discuss a solution to make the Awards Shows profitable or at least to break even. The decision was made to hold Great Northern Opry celebrations in each district to raise the funds to cover inductee costs. This was a positive move, 2011 was a better year. We do expect to be in the black or at least break even with the 2012 Country Music Awards weekend as well. The Annual Northern Ontario Country Music Awards weekend will be held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. at The Comfort Suites & Conference Centre November 2-3-4 - 2012
The Sault Ste. Marie Ontario based organization has the same country music structure as the organization based in Nashville Tennessee and exists to recognize and promote Northern Ontario country music talent. Nashville has The CMA, The Country Music Hall of Fame and The Grande Ole Opry. Northern Ontario has the NOCMA, The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame and The Great Northern Opry. As of 2012 we will have 82 Inductees in The Great Northern Opry and 41 Inductees in The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame.
Another effort of the NOCMA that is often overlooked is its record label. To date we have three CD’s that have all been branded with the NOCMA label and one that is currently in the works. Watch for Great Northern Opry member Scott Infanti’s “Country Gospel” album that should be released sometime in the fall of 2012. This project also has collaborated efforts from three other Opry members: Paul Chapman, Don Reed and Kelly Jackson.
We Need a Home and Your Support:
As of May 2012, The NOCMA was fortunate to strike a deal with The Royal Canadian Legion in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. This will be the home of The Great Northern Opry every Sat. Night at 8.00 pm. There are no cover charges, attendance is free. The NOCMA will not make money on this arrangement. The Legion pays three Great Northern Opry Inductees to perform 8.00 pm. to 11.00 pm. Having “aHHhhhBThe Great Northern Opry” being displayed on the sign in front of The Legion all year, is fantastic exposure for the NOCMA. Should you be interested in being a Guest on The Great Northern Opry, Contact Mike Case at 705-257-1135 or use our submission form.
As of April 2012, the the Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame displays are again in storage. There will be a "temporary" display set up in the Comfort Suites and Conference Centre during The Northern Ontario Country Music Awards Weekend, but we are looking for a permanent home for the display.
We have ongoing shows through the year in various locations. Please take a look at our news and events page for more information on upcoming shows.
The financial investment that has been made in The Northern Ontario Country Music Association and its projects over the last 23 years should indicate to anyone that this organization will be around for many years to come, but we need your support! Northern Ontario has a wealth of country music talent that has yet to be recognized. This is our goal.
We have representatives in each district of Northern Ontario that can use your support:
- Linda & Yvan Nadeau - Timmins, Cochrane & Kapuskasing
- Glen & Beth McDougall - Manitoulin Island
- Scott Infanti - Sudbury
- Mike Case - Sault Ste. Marie
- We have an opening for a representative in North Bay
- Carol & Dave Patterson - head office in Sault Ste. Marie
TO GROW AND CREATE A POSITIVE FUTURE, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. Sign up to be a member now, it's free. Please use our contact form if you wish to become more involved.
