The Trews, Sweatshop Union and the late Jeff Healey represented for Canada at the eighth annual Independent Music Awards, picking up wins among thousands of submissions from around the world.

The IMAs are dedicated to promoting artists and releases “traditionally underserved by mass media and big box retailers,” according to a release from Music Resource Group, which presents the awards.

Antigonish, Nova Scotia’s The Trews won in the hard rock/metal song category for “Hold Me In Your Arms.” The band is also gearing up for the release of their album “No Time For Later” in the U.S. in February, a year after its Canadian release.

Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Sweatshop Union received the best rap/hip-hop song award for their track “Oh My,” and Toronto’s Healey, who died last March of cancer, won in the best blues album category for “Mess of Blues.”

The full list of winners can be found at the official IMA website here.

The IMA judging panel was made up of music industry representatives and artists, who determined winners in more than 50 categories.

“Anyone who follows the music industry knows that the most exciting and diverse new music is being created by independent artists,” said IMA director Martin Folkman in a statement.

“IMA winners and finalists truly represent the range of today’s vibrant indie scene and include artists who previously recorded for major labels, artists currently on indie labels and self-released talent in a wide spectrum of genres from Contemporary Classical to Heavy Metal and everything in between.”

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Two concerts will be done in honour of Canada’s Jeff Healey who died of cancer earlier this month.

The Globe and Mail reports that two shows will be organized by friends and family of the late musician to happen in early May in Toronto.

The first show will be on May 3 at the Sound Academy, the second will be the next day at Healey’s Roadhouse.

Two confirmed bands to perform are Healey’s House Band and the Jazz Wizards, which both played with Healey throughout his career. More artists are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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The public will have a chance to say goodbye to acclaimed Canadian musician Jeff Healey, who died Sunday at age 41 after a lifelong battle with cancer.

Healey’s widow released a statement Tuesday stating that while his funeral will be a private affair, a public memorial is being organized.

“We would like to thank our family, friends and Jeff’s fans for their condolences and kind thoughts at this most difficult time,” Cristie Healey said.

“Now we need to say our goodbyes in private; however, we respect the public need to participate in celebrating Jeff’s life and music and we are planning a public memorial, with details to follow.”

Meanwhile, tributes for the blues, rock and jazz musician have been pouring in from around the world.

Bryan Adams called Healey “one of Canada’s greatest talents,” while friend and fellow musician Colin James remembered Healey’s “unworldly” musicality and unique way of playing guitar, with the instrument in his lap rather than standing up.

“It was amazing for any guitar player to see,” James said. “It was physically shocking to hear him play.”

Healey is survived by his widow and two children. His last album, “Mess of Blues,” will hit stores on April 22.

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Legendary rocker Jeff Healey lost his battle with cancer Sunday.

The 41 year-old musician died in a Toronto hospital, CBC.ca reports his publicist said.

Healey had a rare form of retinal cancer called Retinoblastoma at a very young age that caused him to lose his vision but that didn’t stop the talented artist from teaching himself to play guitar and go on to be labeled a teenage musical prodigy.

Over his extremely successful career, Healey performed with jazz greats George Harrison, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

According to his website, the Grammy-nominated musician was just weeks away from the release of his first rock album in eight years.

Mess of Blues will be released on April 22.

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