Skate punk icon Avril Lavigne reflected on the humble beginnings of her more than two-decade singing career ahead of her induction into Canada害羞草研究所檚 Walk of Fame at a special anniversary gala in Toronto on Saturday.

The singer-songwriter, who rose to fame with hits such as 害羞草研究所淐omplicated害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淪k8er Boi,害羞草研究所� said it害羞草研究所檚 especially meaningful to receive the honour for the roots she set down in Canada before she helped usher in an era of female-driven, pop-punk music in the early aughts.

害羞草研究所淎ll my family are here. This is where I got my start signing in Napanee, Ont., I performed with Shania Twain when I was 14 in Ottawa, I did theatre out here, so it害羞草研究所檚 an honour to get this award,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his is my home. It means so much to me.害羞草研究所�

Media personality George Stroumboulopoulos, who presented her star, said Lavigne had enormous impact on many kids who grew up seeing themselves in her music and persona.

害羞草研究所淪he never pretended. I remember seeing her back in those early days being really, really connected to punk roots 害羞草研究所� there was a level of authenticity that害羞草研究所檚 very hard to fabricate,害羞草研究所� said Stroumboulopoulos.

害羞草研究所淪he should get her flowers in front of everybody. To me, to be able to be a part of that, is lovely.害羞草研究所�

The Walk of Fame, honouring notable Canadians for excellence in fields spanning from entertainment to humanitarianism, celebrated its 25th anniversary at a star-studded event attended by household names like 1972 Summit Series-winning hockey legend Paul Henderson and former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chr茅tien.

The event was hosted by Drew and Jonathan Scott of 害羞草研究所淧roperty Brothers害羞草研究所� and Juno award-winning singer Deborah Cox, who received a star on the Walk of Fame last year.

Political satirist and 2023 inductee Rick Mercer said receiving a star on the Walk of Fame is something he never believed would happen for him.

害羞草研究所淔or 15 years that I had the TV show, I would come out of the subway and walk to the CBC, and I would walk along part of the Walk of Fame and say hello to certain people,害羞草研究所� Mercer said of being immortalized in Toronto害羞草研究所檚 entertainment district.

害羞草研究所淚 think things like this happen and it害羞草研究所檚 natural to wonder, is it over now? But I害羞草研究所檝e got a few tricks up my sleeve,害羞草研究所� he said, noting he害羞草研究所檚 still focused on writing after the release of his most recent memoir, 害羞草研究所淭he Road Years.害羞草研究所�

Hockey superstar and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said he was a little surprised to receive a Walk of Fame star so early in his playing career, but said it was an honour to be recognized and represent Canada regardless.

害羞草研究所淢oments like these obviously make you kind of step back and reflect a little bit, and obviously you have to think about the lasting legacy, things that I want to accomplish still.害羞草研究所�

The generation-spanning TV franchise 害羞草研究所淒egrassi害羞草研究所� was also recognized as cast members from the show害羞草研究所檚 various iterations since 1979 reunited for what creator Linda Schuyler called 害羞草研究所渁 huge reunion.害羞草研究所�

Also commemorated was prolific Cree-Metis actress Tantoo Cardinal, who starred in the 1990 Western 害羞草研究所淒ances with Wolves害羞草研究所� and in Martin Scorsese害羞草研究所檚 October blockbuster 害羞草研究所淜illers of the Flower Moon.害羞草研究所� Reflecting on a career that has spanned five decades, she said the star gives her a sense of accomplishment in both her contributions to society and Indigenous storytelling.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a lot of healing that害羞草研究所檚 needed to be done in our community, and so that害羞草研究所檚 always what I害羞草研究所檝e tried to work with,害羞草研究所� said Cardinal.

害羞草研究所淚 put in my two bits and now the road害羞草研究所檚 open. I害羞草研究所檓 in a new age and I害羞草研究所檓 in a new place in my career, and a lot of things that I was so concerned about in the early days are no longer a responsibility that I need to hold on to and carry.害羞草研究所�

Hip-hop staple Kardinal Offishall was this year害羞草研究所檚 recipient of the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour. Philanthropist and broadcast industry fixture Gary Slaight will also get a star, as will Rosalie Silberman Abella, the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Pioneering neuroscientist Brenda Milner became the oldest living inductee at 105.

Thirteen Canadian rock bands of the 1970s and 害羞草研究所�80s 害羞草研究所� including Glass Tiger and Loverboy 害羞草研究所� inducted into the Walk of Fame at a special event in September are also being celebrated.

The 25th anniversary broadcast of Canada害羞草研究所檚 Walk of Fame will air on Dec. 16 on CTV.