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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