KINGSTON, ON – March 17, 2009 - The K-ROCK Centre was recognized at the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry awards by being named “Major Facility of the Year” for venues under 8,000 capacity.

The K-Rock Centre won this award just weeks after celebrating its 1st Anniversary.  With only one year in operation, and against such established concert venues as the Brandt Centre in Regina, the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria and last year’s winner Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, this recognition is a major achievement.

Harry Cann, Senior Regional Vice President, Arcturus/SMG said, "We are very excited the K-Rock Centre and the City of Kingston have received this award.  It speaks to the solid reputation and position the Centre has already developed with the key decision makers in the music and entertainment industry.  The venue is and will continue to be a premier venue of its size in North America. The City and the community should be proud of this level of recognition."

“This national recognition shows that the Canadian music industry is well aware of the premier facility now available in Kingston,” said Harvey Rosen, Mayor of the City of Kingston.  “Word about our new facility spread so quickly that in just one year we have already developed a Canada-wide reputation for excellence.”

Sold-out events such as the Tragically Hip, Avril Lavigne, Anne Murray, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Great Big Sea and So You Think You Can Dance Canada have cemented the K-Rock Centre’s reputation as a “must-play” venue on the Canadian touring landscape.

“We have been doing a lot of ground work with national promoters and talent agents and we are pleased that we have received recognition for that” said Ken Noakes, Areturus-SMG's General Manager of the K-Rock Centre.  “It is a tribute to the hard work of our staff and the tremendous support of our events by the community that we have earned this recognition in our first year of operation.”

Riley O’Connor, Live Nation Canada, Chairman agreed with Noakes “The City of Kingston investing in a multi-purpose event facility like K-Rock Centre further proves how supporting community-based infrastructure creates a positive economic impact for the local community.  Well done.”

 “These achievements never come to fruition without a lot of hard work from so many different people throughout the community. The Kingston City Council, City of Kingston, our naming sponsor - K-ROCK Radio, Kingston Economic Development Corporation, Tourism Kingston, Kingston Accommodation Partners, Downtown Kingston and the Kingston Frontenacs – all of which have been invaluable partners along the way,” replied Noakes

“What a wonderful reward to The City of Kingston. The vision has become a reality and the rest of the country has noticed. K-Rock is very proud to have its name on this award winning facility,” said John Wright, Owner of the Radio Group and

K-ROCK 105.7 - the naming sponsor of the K-ROCK Centre.

Jeff Garrah, CEO, Kingston Economic Development Corporation echoes, “We’re delighted that the K-Rock Centre received this recognition from their industry partners.  It once again positions Kingston as an outstanding city on a national level to visit, live and do business.  The K-Rock Centre is an important asset to the community and for the facility to be ranked #1 after its first year of operation is commendable.”

“Thanks to all those from the Greater Kingston region for supporting the K-ROCK Centre - As a community, we’ve achieved this result.  This is a marriage for years to come and we’ve got exciting things in the pipeline.”

The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in more than 30 different categories and are decided upon by industry vote. The award was handed out at the Canadian Music Week conference in Toronto on March 12th.