Artists from three corners of Canada害羞草研究所檚 music scene emerged as big winners at the Juno Awards industry gala on Saturday as rapper Tobi, alternative singer Aysanabee and pop star Tate McRae came out on top.

Each pocketed two trophies at the invite-only event held at the Halifax Convention Centre, a precursor to Sunday害羞草研究所檚 Junos broadcast on CBC.

Oji-Cree musician Aysanabee害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淗ere and Now害羞草研究所� was named alternative album of the year, while he also won the songwriter害羞草研究所檚 award for his work on the album害羞草研究所檚 tracks.

While accepting one of his awards the musician, born Evan Pang, asked his fellow Indigenous artists in the room to stand up and be acknowledged, saying this year saw more Indigenous artists up for Junos than ever.

Representatives for the Junos say 33 Indigenous artists were nominated this year.

Signed to a record label owned by Indigenous women, Pang credited his musical predecessors and looked to a future where boundaries no longer restricted Indigenous performers within the industry.

害羞草研究所淚t was Indigenous women who opened the door for me,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to try and take the hinges off and bring it home.害羞草研究所�

Toronto rapper Tobi had his own reasons to celebrate boundary-breaking as his 害羞草研究所淧anic害羞草研究所� landed rap album of the year, while its track 害羞草研究所淪omeone I Knew害羞草研究所� picked up rap single.

害羞草研究所淲e made this album with a lot of love for humanity and the marginalized people of the world,害羞草研究所� he said from the stage.

害羞草研究所淎s we liberate the least of us, we liberate all of us.害羞草研究所�

And while Calgary native McRae wasn害羞草研究所檛 in attendance, she landed two of the night害羞草研究所檚 biggest awards. Her pop smash 害羞草研究所淕reedy害羞草研究所� was picked as single of the year and she won artist of the year.

Another double winner found himself amid the most surreal of Juno-winning circumstances.

Technical guru Shawn Everett won his second award of the night while standing backstage taking questions about his first.

Everett was named producer of the year as well as engineer of the year for his work with Miley Cyrus and Alabama Shakes member Brittany Howard.

Dressed in massive black platform shoes and sporting dreadlocks, Everett stopped mid-sentence as someone pointed to a live feed of the main room where he was winning his second award.

害羞草研究所淚 won? That害羞草研究所檚 crazy,害羞草研究所� Everett said with pure befuddlement as he watched the show害羞草研究所檚 host accept the honour in his absence.

害羞草研究所淭his is a surreal moment for me. This is weird.害羞草研究所�

Everett was later given another chance to deliver his second Juno acceptance speech, which he used to thank his manager and family.

Junos organizers say 17 awards went to first-time winners during the Saturday event.

One of them was Amanda Marshall who scored adult contemporary album of the year for 害羞草研究所淗eavy Lifting,害羞草研究所� her comeback after two decades away from the scene, while Toronto music collective New West won breakthrough group.

Other winners at the Saturday event included Montreal pop singer Charlotte Cardin, who went into this year害羞草研究所檚 Junos with a leading six nominations. Her 害羞草研究所�99 Nights害羞草研究所� took home pop album of the year.

And Toronto band the Beaches, who saw their single 害羞草研究所淏lame Brett害羞草研究所� become a TikTok sensation last year, won rock album with 害羞草研究所淏lame My Ex.害羞草研究所�

James Barker Band picked up country album for 害羞草研究所淎head of Our Time,害羞草研究所� while DJ and producer Bambii害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淚nfinity Club害羞草研究所� was named electronic album of the year.

Music video of the year went to Allison Russell害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淒emons,害羞草研究所� directed by fellow Montrealer Ethan Tobman. Russell accepted on his behalf, saying her childhood friend couldn害羞草研究所檛 attend because he was working on a project with Taylor Swift.

The Junos industry ceremony precedes Sunday害羞草研究所檚 CBC broadcast, which Nelly Furtado will host. That害羞草研究所檚 where several marquee awards will be handed out, including fan choice and album of the year.

The main Junos show will also celebrate this year害羞草研究所檚 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, rapper Maestro Fresh Wes, and Halifax native Elliot Page will present Tegan and Sara with the humanitarian award for their work supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

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David Friend, The Canadian Press