GO BACK
The CCMA’s in Saskatoon 2026
The Canadian Country Music Awards this year are happening now in Saskatoon, Sk. As I was already in Calgary Alberta, I decided to head that way since I am about to head off to Ontario anyway.
ROAD TRIP !!
We made it to Saskatoon on Wednesday evening, Sept 16, and it all starts tomorrow. I was not able to find a reasonable hotel right in the downtown core because I waited too long before looking for a room. But I did manage to find a hotel about 10 minutes west of the central core, and it was very affordable for the 3 nights I’m staying.
It wasn’t a luxury hotel by any means but at least I’m booked in, and it didn’t break the bank, at $100/night. There’s a small swimming pool, and we were able to enjoy a good swim without anyone else around. It was clean, tho not like a Holiday Inn, and the restaurant downstairs offered a great breakfast special that has to be almost twice as good as anything in any of 4 star hotels in town. Surprisingly, the entire breakfast for two rang in at less than $30, and surpassed anything at Denny’s or any of the usual restaurant chains or any of the big hotels!!
So what hotel was it ?? The Confederation Inn.
It seems like they were, until recently a very low end and sketchy hotel/bar/alcohol venue, filled with all the usual suspects hanging around outside all night. I was sketchy outside, and there was a pub built into the side of the building that was open until 2am.
Once inside, we were treated very well by the staff who really went out of their way to ensure we had as great experience as they could offer. They carried our bags and kept watch for us as we came in & out all weekend (the doors needed to stay locked at night to keep out non-registered guests who would wander in looking for bathrooms or a place hide)
Our car was safe under bright lights, nobody bothered us outside, and although the room itself was probably somewhere less than fantastic, we were treated very well, without breaking our budget!!
We explored the downtown core a little that evening, looking for the venues we were attending in the next few days. The Introductions ceremony, The Legends show, Songwriter’s meetings, the Gala, etc. And maybe more, as time & money allows.
It was a short drive to the core of the city, where most of the events were scheduled, but forget about free parking or even bringing a car anywhere in or near the central core of Saskatoon. Sadly, Impark has every single inch of the city core and surrounding areas completely covered with Pay-to-Park coverage. You’d have to walk many Kms or take a cab or a bus, or give in to the parking rates dictated by Impark, who are based out of Vancouver and appears to be owned & operated entirely by sketchy people who would happily cut your throat while emptying your credit card balance for a couple hours of parking.
There were country musicians and cowboy hats all over the inner core as I drove thru downtown Saskatoon. They were wandering around town, some with instruments in hand, and with small entourages who by the looks of it, were either bandmembers, managers & publicists, or just friends & family that got roped into carrying their bags for them. It looked almost as if they were trying to reveal to the world that they were somebody special.
The Columbian Nutana Cafe.
Just south of the Downtown core, I happened to pass by a nice looking coffee shop called the Columbian Nutana, that had a few parking spaces empty right in front of it. After exploring the vicinity, I came back here & stopped for a couple hours and rested up, got online to start writing this article, and even bought the baseball hat with their logo !!
I had some time before I had to be anywhere so this place was perfect! The only way it could be better was if they stayed open later and had open mics a few times a week. (Although I don’t really know the local music scene well enough to say that for sure)
The Highlite of the Weekend
The most memorable part for us was meeting and speaking with CCMA artist & singer, Corinda Chandler. Nobody is more fun to talk to, and if you’re lucky enough to meet her, your road trip was probably worth it already !! She is the only person who’s recorded an entire album of great classic country music with Country Music Hall of Famer, Ray Griff, who’s authored many great songs for many great country artists over the last fifty years or so, both in Canada and in the US.
GO BACK