Ryan Davidson, featured guitarist on Lab 2009 which itself was nominated for two Grammys, has been voted the CCMA Guitarist of The Year.

The CCMAs (Canadian Country Music Awards) is the Canadian equivalent of the CMAs (Country Music Awards) in the USA. It is broadcast on CBC which is national television.  An award can only be voted on by fellow CCMA members. There are 3 ballots for CCMA Guitarist of The Year. The first which includes all guitarists that are members, the second is narrowed down to around 25, the third is narrowed down to 5. The winner is then voted on by members and given the award at private ceremony of about 50 people.

Gord Bamford, who Ryan performs with, took home 7 of his 16 nominations. Another way of looking at it is, he is equivalent of Brad Paisley in the USA. That is, he's done really well here and mostly, he is one of the only acts to promote long improvised solos with little to no regard for "keeping it country" 

Ryan comments on winning the award that night: "I was not able to attend my ceremony as I was performing at Sony's Artist Showcase as were 2 other winners in Gord Bamford's group, Chad Melchert (Drummer of The Year) and Lisa Dodd (Bassist of The Year). The awards for instrumentalists are not televised and we all found out after we got off stage via text message and social networking. I originally thought it was a practical joke and I laughed out loud in disbelief as it is my first year as a member of CCMA."

Congratulations to Ryan!