The Collingwood Elvis Festival was founded in 1995 by Elvis impersonator Billy Cann as The Canadian National Elvis Tribute and Convention. The festival is the largest of its type in the world and is sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises under an annual Licence Agreement. During the week of the festival, Elvis tribute artists perform in local bars and night clubs, with "Vegas style" shows in the municipal arena. The highlight of the festival is on a main stage in the center of the town. The festival historically includes a candlelight vigil and an Elvis Tribute Artist Parade.
Past performers
The winner of the first festival was Ray Guillemette Jr. Guillemette has since performed at every Collingwood Elvis Festival except in 2001, when he was hit by a drunk driver and lost his leg. He returned to the festival in 2002, and competed again through use of a prosthetic limb. Hal Niedzviecki's book, Hello, I'm Special: How Individuality Became the New Conformity tells of a former Anglican priest, Rev. Dorian Baxter who went by the name of Elvis Priestly was no longer welcome at the festival due to his performing Elvis funerals for dead fans. Baxter was persuaded by his daughter to enter the festival in 1996. Rosemarie O'Brien, Collingwood Elvis Festival Event Co-Ordinator for the Town of Collingwood, confirmed that Rev. Baxter has never been unwelcome at the festival, but would be required to adhere to the festival's rules and guidelines which precludes any activity that could be interpreted by Elvis Presley Enterprises as derogatory to the image and likeness of Elvis Presley, and could therefore, jeopardize the festival's license agreement. The winner for 2016 was a German performer, Oliver Steinhoff. He was the first German to win at the festival. Previous international winners of the Collingwood Elvis Festival includes Elvis Tribute Artists from the United Kingdom, Australia, the U.S., and Germany.
Historical Winners
1995 - Ray Guillemette, Jr., Anthony Giavon
1996 - Anthony Giavon, Pasquale Ferro, Vili Verhovsek, Will Chalmers
1997 - Eric Gustafson, Ray Guillemette, Jr., Shawn Barry, Thomas Gilbo
1998 - Shawn Barry, Matt King, Pete Irwin, Leo Days
1999 - Chris Purtee, Roy LeBlanc
2000 - Dean Vegas, Shane Jeffery
2001 - Roy LeBlanc, Paul Ross, and Lance Dobinson
2002 - Robin Kelly, Darrin Hagel, and Paul Fracassi
2003 - Gino Monopoli, Jeff Bodner, with Zach Peddie, Matthew Lawrence
2004 - Shon Carroll, David Lee Roseberry, Pete Paquette, Marcus Wells, and Steven Pelleriti, Paul Fracassi
2005 - Ben Klein, Roy Evans, Glenn Aitchison, David Stewart, with Brenen Katolinsky, Joshua Bravener, and Ray Guillemette, Jr.
2006 - Pete Paquette, Irv Cass, Lance Dobinson, David Muggeridge, with Brenen Katolinsky, Brycen Katolinsky, and Paul Ross
2007 - Dwight Icenhower, Jay Zanier, Chris Ayotte, Doug McKenzie, with Brenen Katolinsky, Matthew Lawrence, and Anthony Giavon
2008 - Pete Paquette, David Muggeridge, James Gibb, John Cigan, with Brenen Katolinsky, Anthony Carbone, and Roy LeBlanc
2009 - Chris Ayotte, Thane Dunn, Brent Morrey, Patrick McGuire, with Luca Lavoie, Anthony Carbone, and Jay Zanier
2010 - Mark Anthony, Andrew Todd, Kenneth Chan, Tim Hendry, Joey Cundari, Rev. Matt Martin, with Ethan Chalmers, Anthony Carbone, and Ben Klein
2011 - James Gibb, Pete Storm, Matt Cage, Wayne Junior, with Connor Russo, Brycen Katolinsky, and Daylin James
2012 - Matt Cage, Ben Portsmouth, Brycen Katolinsky, Anthony Carbone, with Connor Russo, Drake Milligan, and Thane Dunn
2013 - Brycen Katolinsky, Jesse Aron, Richard Wolfe, Kevin Bezaire, with Connor Russo, Drake Milligan, and Norm Ackland, Jr.
2014 - Cliff Wright, Gordon Hendricks, Brent Freeman, Daniel Barrella, with Hank Poole, Drake Milligan, and David Lee Roseberry
2015 - Austin Irby, Bruno Nesci, Norm Ackland Jr., Eric Evangelista, with Benjamin Dalske, Drake Milligan, and Corny Rempel
2016 - Ryan Pelton, Oliver Steinhoff, Brycen Katolinsky, Sylvain Leduc, with Benjamin Dalske, Connor Russo, and Matt Cage
2017 - Gordon Hendricks, Brycen Katolinsky, Mason Cigan, Dustin Bricker, and Connor Russo.
2018 - Tim Hendry, Pete Doiron, and Connor Russo.
2019 - Sylvain Leduc, John Cigan, and Benjamin Dalske.
Events within
During the festival there is another event called the Live & Original Music Series which began in 2015. More of an event at grass-roots level, this is for unknown artists to show their talents and original material. The winner for the L & O Showdown for 2015 was Gina Horswood and for 2016 was Mike Charette.
Privatization of management
The festival has historically been financially backed by the town of Collingwood, though the last town-funded festival took place in 2019. A member of the Collingwood council cited increased financial risk to the community due to steadily decreasing attendance and revenues, though the festival still had a positive financial impact of over $700,000 in 2018. The annual upfront expense to the town is around $50,000. The town intends to transfer management of the festival to a private backer for the 2020 edition, but no transfer had been finalized.
