As popular music began to take off in the 1960’s, a number of musicians, journalists, entrepreneurs and artists came to the realisation that Canada was being left out of the conversation, despite the best efforts of some exceptionally talented musicians. Many artists in Canada felt they were forced to choose between abandoning their music careers and leaving the country and at this point the group chose to petition the government for regulations aimed at protecting and amplifying Canadian music. 

Ritchie Yorke moved to Canada in 1967, settling in capital city Toronto and quickly began working with The Toronto Telegram and was then appointed as the first full-time rock writer for Canada’s national newspaper The Globe and Mail, also contributing regularly to Billboard and Rolling Stone magazines. Ritchie used these positions to promote and advocate for Canadian artists, and was soon a major part of the formation of the CANCON laws. 

In June 1970, the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission declared regulations that  mandated at least 30 per cent of playlists to be dedicated to Canadian music and CANCON was born.

Over 50 years later, SOCAN, Canada’s largest performers rights management company is holding their 32nd annual SOCAN Awards at the end of May 2021. During this ceremony, 24 visionaries will be recognised for their contribution to CANCON and Canadian music with the SOCAN Guardian Award. Ritchie Yorke will be one of the recipients of this award, alongside other great advocates like producer Frank Davies and former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.