CANADIAN IDOL WINS CONTEST WITH MERCYME'S HIT

Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:00 PM America/New_York

Kalan Porter triumphed over 8,977 other competitors last week to win the Canadian Idol contest, Canada's version of the popular television program American Idol. The 18-year-old received the majority of 3.6 million votes cast following his final performance showdown where he sang MercyMe's hit, "I Can Only Imagine."

Porter is a native of Medicine Hat, Alberta, where he is involved in music with his church and family band. He won a recording contract with BMG.