IIrish Rovers George Millar (left) and John Reynolds (right) with their SOCAN Song of the Year Awards at the 2011 edition of the VIMAs. (Photo: Courtesy of the Vancouver Island Music Awards/James Kasper)

The Irish Rovers won the SOCAN-sponsored Song of the Year honours for "Gracehill Fair" at the 2011 Vancouver Island Music Awards (VIMAs), held June 23 at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay, B.C. Songwriter George Millar and his fellow Irish Rover John Reynolds graciously accepted the award on behalf of the band, which also won the Island Classic Award.

The awards gala – returning for its seventh year after several years' absence – was held in the middle of the Vancouver Island Music Business Conference, a four-day event held June 22-26 in the Comox Valley, showcasing regional musicians, singer-songwriters and businesspeople in the Vancouver Island music industry. Notable SOCAN members Dan Hill, Sue Medley and Todd Butler attended the event.

In addition to co-presenting the SOCAN song award at the VIMAs, Terry O'Brien – SOCAN's Education and Outreach Manager, West Coast Division – also presented a "SOCAN 101" info session during the conference, on June 24, at the same theatre, just in advance of the keynote address by Nettwerk Music Group founder and CEO, Terry McBride.

For more information, and a complete list of winners, visit the VIMAs website.