Gord Downie and Diana Krall both emerged double winners at Saturday害羞草研究所檚 Juno Awards pre-telecast ceremony in a night that carried a number of political and social undercurrents.
Some musicians took time to recognize the huge protests against gun violence in the United States earlier in the day, which captured headlines and left some musicians voicing their support.
害羞草研究所淚 just want to give a shout out to all of our brothers and sisters down South that are protesting today 害羞草研究所� protesting gun laws,害羞草研究所� said Arcade Fire害羞草研究所檚 Win Butler as he accepted the international achievement award.
害羞草研究所淐anada is a beautiful example of how it doesn害羞草研究所檛 have to be like that.害羞草研究所�
Downie害羞草研究所檚 brother Mike spoke about awareness of Indigenous issues as he accepted a win for 害羞草研究所淚ntroduce Yerself,害羞草研究所� the final album of the Tragically Hip frontman. Gord Downie also shared a songwriter win for the album.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a ribbon of Indigeneity running right down the middle of our flag,害羞草研究所� Mike said while standing alongside his brother Patrick.
害羞草研究所淭his country害羞草研究所檚 changing, and it害羞草研究所檚 changing for the better.害羞草研究所�
Krall came away with two awards for her album 害羞草研究所淭urn Up the Quiet.害羞草研究所� She scored vocal jazz album and the producer of the year award.
Denise Donlon, a former MuchMusic VJ in the 1980s, received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for a career that also includes years as a record industry executive.
In her speech she addressed the lack of female representation in the music industry, which has been a much-discussed subject in recent years at the Junos. She finished by calling on men in the audience to rise from their chairs as a symbolic commitment of support for more women in music.
害羞草研究所淚 really did feel like we害羞草研究所檙e actually starting to move the needle a little bit on this,害羞草研究所� Donlon said afterwards, acknowledging the idea was partly inspired by Frances McDormand害羞草研究所檚 rousing Oscar speech on 害羞草研究所渋nclusion riders.害羞草研究所�
Other winners included Michael Buble, who hosts the televised Junos show on Sunday. He took home adult contemporary album for 害羞草研究所淣obody But Me.害羞草研究所�
The Shawn Mendes hit 害羞草研究所漈here害羞草研究所檚 Nothing Holdin害羞草研究所� Me Back害羞草研究所� won single of the year, though he was absent from the event.
Ivan Decker became the first comedy album winner in 33 years with 害羞草研究所滻 Wanted to Be a Dinosaur.害羞草研究所� The prize was last given in 1984 to Bob and Doug McKenzie 害羞草研究所� the pair of iconic beer swigging hosers played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.
害羞草研究所淥bviously Bob and Doug were too good, they were just going to have to give it to them every year,害羞草研究所� Decker said in pondering why the award might害羞草研究所檝e been shelved for years.
害羞草研究所淟ast time it was given away I wasn害羞草研究所檛 even born.害羞草研究所�
Fred Penner snagged children害羞草研究所檚 album of the year for 害羞草研究所淗ear the Music,害羞草研究所� his collaborative project that features appearances by Canadian artists including Basia Bulat and Ron Sexsmith.
Buffy Sainte-Marie害羞草研究所檚 politically charged album of songs about unity and resistance, 害羞草研究所淢edicine Songs,害羞草研究所� won the Indigenous music album award.
Bruce Cockburn害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淏one on Bone,害羞草研究所� which dabbled in political commentary at times, grabbed contemporary roots album.
Kendrick Lamar scored the international album of the year award for 害羞草研究所淒amn,害羞草研究所� after the rapper lost to Bruno Mars a couple months ago at the Grammys. The point wasn害羞草研究所檛 lost on Arcade Fire害羞草研究所檚 Butler who brought it up on stage and in the media room.
害羞草研究所淚 just wanted to say that I害羞草研究所檓 really happy Kendrick won too,害羞草研究所� Butler said.
害羞草研究所淚t was (expletive) that he lost at the Grammys.害羞草研究所�
Sunday night害羞草研究所檚 televised show will hand out the remaining awards, including album, group and breakthrough artist as well as country album of the year.
Viewers can also vote for the Juno Fan Choice Award on the Juno Fan Choice website.
The show airs on CBC and streams through the CBC Music website.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
