Brett Kissel and W. Brett Wilson win 2026 Gary Slaight Humanitarian Award for charity work
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“Airwaves” singer Brett Kissel and businessman W. Brett Wilson are being honoured for their long-running charity work through country music.
The pair will receive the 2026 Gary Slaight Humanitarian Award, which recognizes individuals or initiatives that have made significant contributions to humanitarian causes.
The Canadian Country Music Association made the announcement Wednesday, noting that since 2010, the pair have hosted more than 40 charity events under the “BrettBrett” banner, raising over $11 million for causes across Canada and abroad.
In 2017, they organized and funded a trip to Tijuana with Youth With a Mission’s Homes of Hope program, where more than 40 participants built homes for families living in poverty.
Kissel, an Alberta country artist, called the honour meaningful, pointing to how their “crazy ideas” for charity events grew with community support.
Wilson, a Saskatchewan entrepreneur and former “Dragons’ Den” investor, said giving back is an opportunity and that he’s proud of BrettBrett for uniting artists, audiences and causes.
The award will be presented to the pair during a private industry event as part of Country Music Week, taking place Sept. 16 to 19 in Saskatoon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2026.