It’s Canada’s 156th birthday today, and it’s no coincidence that it’s also the birthday of the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia. Back in 1998, Jaimie Vernon was commissioned by Toronto Sun music editor John Sakamoto to write a new online Canadian music encyclopedia. It went live on the CANOE Jam! Music website Canada Day – July 1st, 1998.

It’s been a long road since then with the Canadian music scene exploding exponentially both here at home, and internationally. There is nowhere you can’t hear great Canadian music! We eventually moved the Encyclopedia to a dedicated website so updates and news could be added in real time. Since March of this year we’ve been actively expanding the online pages of the CPME as a reflection of our country’s fluid and growing musical history. There’s always more to learn about our past heroes, and there’s always more new artists to investigate – the Canadian musical farm teams are strong!

And we’re not done yet. A 25th anniversary re-issue of the print version of the Encyclopedias is in the works – as soon as we get another 800+ artists added to the database!! We will also be adding ancillary topics to the website including producers, songwriters, and record label histories as well. This, of course, is a mammoth task and will be rolled out in stages over the next few years.

We would like to thank the thousands of readers who’ve perused and shared our pages, and watched our videos on YouTube, and bought the books; and to the artists and their associates who’ve sent us revisions for this work-in-progress over the last 25 years, we are truly grateful. Your collective memories and insight have made us the go-to CanCon music reference on seven continents (yes, there are readers in the Antarctic).The CPME will continue to grow, and we’re proud to document and share our musical findings with you.

CA-NA-DA. We love you!!

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: DICK N’ THE DONUTS, THE DOLE TINKERS, DIANE CHASE, CONRAD, STEVE FOX, FUNLAND BAND, LIZ LAUSANNE, THE BRASS UNION, THE BARNCATS, THE BIRD SISTERS, BOREAL, CHRISTINE SAUNDERS, THE REVERBS, JUDE VADALA, TANNIS SLIMMON, KATHERINE WHEATLEY

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: NIKKI YANOFSKY, BAND OF RASCALS, BASEMENT REVOLVER, ANYWAY GANG, PARLOVR, NANCY PANTS, MOSE SCARLETT, HEARTBREAK HILL, DOTTIE CORMIER, NEW COUNTRY REHAB, CHRIS WHITELEY, DAN WHITELEY, JENNY WHITELEY, KEN WHITELEY

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: DEREK MILLER (2), MORAHAMBI, BLOODWURM, QUAD, MORBIDOX, FLATLAND, MONKEY TRIAL, ANHAI, CODA THE WEST, FALL DOWN GO BOOM, FISHTALES, BOYS NEXT DOOR, HYPNOTIC BIDETS, SICK BOYS

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: HEY ROMEO, HEY STELLA!, HARLOW, SQUIRREL, BEAUTIFUL 2000, MICHAEL DILAURO, SISTER SOMEONE, SHORTFALL, ZOEBLISS, HUSH HUSH, RED AUTUMN FALL, IMAGINARY HEAVEN, MADISON STRAYS, SIMEON ROSS, LEADERHOUSE, HENNESSEY, MOLLY’S REACH, CINNAMON

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: RICK BELANGER, BANDA CRUISE, BEFORE THE FLOOD, MICHAEL J. BIRTHELMER, BRIAN BYRNE, BUZZ BAND, MARK RAWLEY, RIVER TIBER, THE RIZDALES, and PAROJOMA

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: BEAU GESTE, DE CLOXX, CORBEAU, CORBACH, JIMMY TANAKA, CHATELAINE, DEVAY, SHAYLE, MARJO

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: PHIL REYNOLDS, ROCKETFACE, ROBOTAKI, CROWN LANDS, COURAGE MY LOVE, CAUCHEMAR, GLEET, SMOOTHER, SPONGE, SHALLOW NORTH DAKOTA, KITTENS

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: RHEA’S OBSESSION, GORDON & SUE WITH THE ALGONQUINS, b4-4, RYANDAN, LES B.B., PATRICK BOURGEOIS, FRANCOIS JEAN, THE WIPERS, LUDOVICK BOURGEOIS, LARA, TOP SONART, PIERRE FAVREAU, DROPPED AT BIRTH, DROP TOP ALIBI, ELEVEN PAST ONE

We have added biographies and discographies for the following artists: BETWEEN THE LINES, ADAM’S RIB, CADILLAC BILL & THE CREEPING BENT, FUJAHTIVE, DANIEL WEAVER, PAUL DEAN, MICHAEL DANCKERT, THE SPIVS, THE BRAINS. , JESSE ROPER, MIKE FERGUSON (1), MIKE FERGUSON (2), SPACEBOOTS, DEEP SEA GYPSIES