L – R: Annabel Oreste, Jennarie, John Fellner, Braden Lam, Andie Therio
Quebec artists secured two of the five spots in Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 13th annual RBC Emerging Musician Program, announced yesterday, with a Laval singer taking home the grand prize.
Annabel Oreste, the 24-year-old Canadian-Haitian pop and R&B artist from Laval, secured the top honour and $20,000. Known to Quebec audiences from her 2021 Star Académie run as Princesse Annabel, Oreste has built her career bridging French and English markets. Her viral cover of Anita Baker’s “Body and Soul” has generated over 300,000 YouTube views, while her collaboration with Quebec youth mental health organization Jeune en Tête on the single “Trop Jeune” demonstrates her commitment to social causes. She’ll debut her first EP, “Lovingly,” in 2026.
Montreal’s Andie Therio rounded out Quebec’s representation, earning third place and $5,000. The singer-songwriter represents a growing movement of Quebec artists working in country and folk, performing primarily in English while maintaining strong ties to the province’s festival circuit. Her 2023 album “Back To You” earned rotation on SiriusXM Canada, and she’s completed sold-out shows in Montreal. After releasing the acoustic “Home Sessions” earlier this year, Therio is shifting toward French-language material with “Nomade,” the title track of her 2026 album.
Toronto’s Jennarie claimed second place and $10,000 after her body-positive anthem “Never Been Small” went viral in 2024, eventually surpassing 2 million Spotify streams and appearing in a recent Netflix comedy special.
The remaining third-place winners include John Fellner from London, Ontario, and Halifax’s Braden Lam, whose debut album “The Cloudmaker’s Cry” reached number seven on CBC’s Top 20.
Quebec’s solid representation reflects the province’s continued influence on Canada’s music landscape, particularly as artists like Oreste navigate between francophone and anglophone markets. Both Quebec winners will perform at Festival du Voyageur 2026 in Winnipeg and Toronto’s Departure Fest, alongside appearances on Stingray’s new Canada’s Walk of Fame channel launching in October.
The winners perform at Toronto’s El Mocambo on December 20th for the annual Rock the Halls charity concert.
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