The Merritt
Walk of Stars is branding the history of country music into the
sidewalks and buildings of the Country Music Capital of Canada -
Merritt
,
BC
.
Hundreds of International Country Music Artists have performed at
the annual Merritt Mountain Music Festival over the past
16 years. Those stars have left their mark permanently by placing
handprints (or, for Carlene Carter, footprints) and signatures in
concrete stars. In 2003, those stars became the basis for the Merritt
Walk of Stars. Today more than 100 bronzed stars and dozens of
large scale murals are displayed on the Merritt Walk of Stars in
downtown Merritt.
We cordially
welcome you to visit Merritt and this wonderful legacy of country
music!
*2008 marked
another year of success for Merritt Walk of Stars. In May the 5th
Annual Gala was another success featuring a star studded line up of
artists including Johnny Reid, The Good Brothers, Jason
Blaine, Jessie Farrell, Tracy Chamberlain, Donny Anderson, Ken
McCoy, Art Pruce, Tammy Weymouth and Harley
Carmen. The event was hosted by CMT's Casey Clark and
Country 103.1's Kelly Moore. Mark you calendar for the 6th Annual
CMT/MWOS Gala coming up May 29-31, 2009.
5th
Annual CMT/Merritt Walk of Stars Gala May 2008
Johnny Reid
Johnny
Reid performs for fans on the MWOS Outdoor Stage during the 5th Annual
CMT/MWOS Gala Weekend in May.
The Good
Brothers
Hall of
Fame Inductees Bruce, Brian and Larry of The Good Brothers unveil their
star in downtown Merritt while in town to perform at the 5th Annual
CMT/MWOS Gala.
*July and
Merritt Mountain Music Festival brought the very best of Country Music
to Merritt. The Judds, Hank Williams Jr., Sugarland and
many more headlining artists took a moment to meet with Merritt Walk of
Stars and were honored to make their handprint stars to be placed
on the Walk.
Merritt
Mountain Music Festival July 2008
The Judds
Wynnona
and Naomi Judd of The Judds left their mark in the Country Music
Capital of Canada in July 2008. Watch for the handprint star of
these superstars out on the Walk in downtown Merritt in 2009.
Hank Williams
Jr.
Hank
Williams Jr. stops by to make his handprint star moments before his
performance on the Mountain.
*In September
representatives from Merritt Walk of Stars attended the CCMA
Awards in
Winnipeg
.
CCMA Awards September 2008
Johnny
Reid stops to chat with Merritt Walk of Stars Former Board Member Shelley
Sanders, at the CCMA awards in
Winnipeg
.
*In October
MWOS was a major sponsor of the BCCMA Award Shows.
BCCMA
Awards October 2008
Kelly
Moore, Country 103.1, accepts the award for Country On-Air Personality
of the Year: (250) Area Code. The award was presented
by event sponsors Melvina White, Owner of Cactus Annie's Pub, and Ron
Sanders, President of Merritt Walk of Stars.
*Congratulations
to all of the BCCMA Award Show nominees and award winners in 2008! |
I'm looking forward
to a great year of growth and development for the "Country Music
Capital of Canada." As a Director with the Walk of Stars and the
Marketing Membership Committee Chair, my goal is to help share the
vision of Merritt as a major tourist destination and a cultural
centre for country music and the country way of life, through this
e-newsletter, the web site www.merrittwalkofstars.com and print
products. This vision can be as large as we make it, so I invite
anyone who would like to contribute to the website or newsletter to
contact me with your suggestions, and photos. 