In mid-May, the Osler Festival Band was in Ottawa performing at Music Fest Canada. After a sterling performance, the young band members learned they had won gold. In addition to topping the charts of Music Fest, the band was also awarded the Hamilton Outstanding Young Band Award. The award comes with a full set of portable Hamilton music stands.

This is the first year that Hamilton has offered this award. The competition adjudicators say they were unanimous in their decision that Osler's band were "absolutely outstanding" and completely deserving of the award.