The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) honoured artists and industry leaders at the helm of Canada’s music scene at the 2022 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Ontario Creates, which took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Co-hosted by Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe (CBC Music’s The Block ) and Ann Pornel (The Great Canadian Baking Show), the renowned industry event saw five show-stopping performances and the presentation of 41 JUNO Awards, along with The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, the Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada and the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.
Montreal’s pop-electro sensation, Charlotte Cardin took the lead this year with three awards: Single of the Year Presented by Live Nation Canada, Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada and Pop Album of the Year. Chart-topping singer-songwriter The Weeknd followed with two awards for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year and Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN. Both Charlotte Cardin and The Weeknd are nominated for this year’s TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award, which will be presented at the 51st Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast.
Denise Jones, one of the most influential voices in Canada’s Black entertainment community, was posthumously awarded the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. Accepting the award on behalf of Denise were her two sons Jesse and Jerimi. Three-time JUNO Award winner, Susan Aglukark, was recognized with the 2022 Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada. Aglukark was honoured for her commitment to improving the lives of children and youth in Northern Indigenous communities. Dallas Green was named the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation with the award for his dedicated support of MusiCounts and music education.
The evening’s celebrations put a spotlight on Canada’s emerging and rising talent with 24 first-time winners taking home JUNO awards. The list includes Allison Russell (Contemporary Roots Album of the Year), Afrikana Soul Sister (Global Music Album of the Year), Andrea Jin 金玉琪 (Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada), Archspire (Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year), Avataar (Jazz Album of the Year – Group), Caity Gyorgy (Vocal Jazz Album of the Year), Charmaine (Rap Single of the Year Presented by ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective), DJ Shub (Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year Presented by Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada), Emily D’Angelo (Classical Album of the Year – Solo Artist), Fawn Wood( Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year), Garth Prince (Children’s Album of the Year), Hill Kourkoutis (Recording Engineer of the Year), HNTR (Underground Dance Single of the Year), Kairo McLean (Reggae Recording of the Year), MONOWHALES (Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters), Maria Dunn (Traditional Roots Album of the Year), Mustafa (Alternative Album of the Year Presented by CBC Music), Olivia Rodrigo (International Album of the Year), TOR (Electronic Album of the Year) and Will Bonness (Jazz Album of the Year – Solo).
Along with Cardin, artists from La Belle Province came out on top in several categories including Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin (Classical Album of the Year: Small Ensemble), Coeur de pirate (Francophone Album of the Year), Half Moon Run (Adult Alternative Album of the Year Presented by Sonos), L’Harmonie des saisons, conducted by Eric Milnes, feat. Hélène Brunet (Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble), Keiko Devaux (Classical Composition of the Year), Mykaël Nelson, Nicolas Lemieux and Albert Zablit (Album Artwork of the Year), KAYTRANADA (Dance Recording of the Year) and Xavier Dolan (Music Video of the Year).
Five eclectic performances scored the evening: 2022 Francophone Album of the Year nominee Roxane Bruneau; Alternative Album of the Year Presented by CBC Music nominee Ruby Waters; 2021/2022 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class short list artist, Jesse Gold; two-time JUNO Award nominees VALLEY and 2022 JUNO Award winner Allison Russell (Contemporary Roots Album of the Year), who moved audiences with her In Memoriam tribute.
The 51st Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will be live for the first time from outdoor venue Budweiser Stage in Toronto, broadcast and streamed live across Canada at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m Sunday May 15th. PT on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos, and CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages.
JUNO Opening Night Awards – Award Partners: Adult Alternative Album of the Year Presented by Sonos, Alternative Album of the Year Presented by CBC Music, Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented By FACTOR, The Government of Canada, and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year Presented by Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Presented by Audio-Technica, Rap Single of the Year Presented by ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Collective, Rock Album of the Year Presented by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Single of the Year Presented by Live Nation Canada, Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN.
Nominee frontrunner Charlotte Cardin took home three awards, for single, pop album and artist of the year, while the Weeknd won for songwriter and contemporary R&B recording of the year. Olivia Rodrigo's Sour nabbed the international album of the year, and Polaris Music Prize shortlister Mustafa won alternative album of the year.
WINNERS
TikTok Juno Fan Choice
347aidan
bbno$
Charlotte Cardin
Forest Blakk
Jessia
Justin Bieber
Loud Luxury
Pressa
Shawn Mendes
The Weeknd
Single of the year
"Make a Life, not a Living," Brett Kissel
"Meaningless," Charlotte Cardin
"I'm not Pretty," Jessia
"Peaches," Justin Bieber and Daniel Caesar feat. Giveon
"Take my Breath," the Weeknd
International album of the year
30, Adele
Planet Her, Doja Cat
Sour, Olivia Rodrigo
Evermore, Taylor Swift
F--k Love 3+: Over You, the Kid Laroi
How Canada helped shape pop-punk
Album of the year
Phoenix, Charlotte Cardin
Dangerous Levels of Introspection, JP Saxe
Justice, Justin Bieber
Wonder, Shawn Mendes
Too Young to be Sad, Tate McRae
Artist of the year
Charlotte Cardin
JP Saxe
Justin Bieber
Shawn Mendes
The Weeknd
How Charlotte Cardin became more herself — by leaning on others
Group of the year
Arkells
Loud Luxury
Mother Mother
The Reklaws
Valley
Breakthrough artist of the year
347aidan
Faouzia
Jessia
Pressa
Tesher
Breakthrough group of the year
Black Pistol Fire
Cleopatrick
Monowhales
Ocie Elliott
Spiritbox
Songwriter of the year
Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye: "Hurricane," Kanye West and the Weeknd feat. Lil Baby (co-songwriters Albert Daniels, Cailin Russo, Charles Njapa, Christopher Raelas, Cydell Young, Daniel Seeff, Dexter Mills, Dominque Armani Jones, Henry Walter, Jahmal Gwin, Josh Mease, Kanye West, Khalil Abdul-Rahman, Malik Yusef, Mark Mbogo, Mark Williams, Mike Dean, Nasir Pemberton, Raul Cubina, Ronald Oneil Spence Jr., Sam Barsh, Tobias Smith, orlando wilder); "Moth to a Flame," Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd (co-songwriters Axel Hedfors, Carl Nordström, Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello); "Take my Breath" (co-songwriters Ahmad Balshe, Max Martin, Oscar Holter).
Allison Russell: "4th Day Prayer" (co-songwriter Jeremy Lindsay); "Montreal" (co-songwriter Jeremy Lindsay); "Nightflyer" (co-songwriter Jeremy Lindsay).
Charlotte Day Wilson: "I can Only Whisper" feat. BadBadNotGood (co-songwriters Alexander Sowinski, Chester Hansen, Dylan Wiggins, Jack Rochon, Leland Whitty, Matthew Tavares, Teo Halm); "If I Could" (co-songwriters Jack Rochon, Merna Bishouty); "Wish it was Easy" (co-songwriters Bram Morrison, Dylan Wiggins, Lois Lilienstein, Sharon Hampson).
Mustafa Ahmed: "Air Forces" (co-songwriters Adam Feeney, Mickey Newbury, Simon Hessman); "The Hearse" (co-songwriters Adam Feeney, Jane Smith, Matthew Tavares, Simon Hessman); "What About Heaven" (co-songwriters Adam Feeney, Dylan Wiggins, Simon Hessman).
Tobi: "Off the Drugs" (co-songwriters Harper Gordon, James Colwell, Jun Ha Kim, Mick Jenkins); "Shall I Continue" (co-songwriters Alex Goose, Phil Chang, Andrew Joseph Gradwohl Jr.); "Too Hot" (co-songwriters Alex Goose, Phil Chang, Ramon Ibanga Jr.).
5 takeaways from the Weeknd's new album, Dawn FM
Country album of the year
What is Life?, Brett Kissel
Boys, Dean Brody
Girl to Girl, Tenille Arts
Sophomore Slump, the Reklaws
Campfire Troubadour, Tim Hicks
Adult alternative album of the year
Wilds, Andy Shauf
Live to Tape: Volume I – EP, Bahamas
Inwards & Onwards, Half Moon Run
All That Emotion, Hannah Georgas
Ignorance, the Weather Station
Alternative album of the year
Hope for Sale, Chiiild
Death of an Optimist, grandson
When Smoke Rises, Mustafa
If it Comes Down to It, Ruby Waters
The Fool, Sate
Folk music was missing something. Then came Mustafa
Pop album of the year
Phoenix, Charlotte Cardin
How are You?, Jessia
Justice, Justin Bieber
Wonder, Shawn Mendes
Too Young to be Sad, Tate McRae
Rock album of the year
Blink Once, Arkells
Look Alive, Black Pistol Fire
Sisters not Twins (The Professional Lovers Album), the Beaches
Hidden Gems, the Blue Stones
F--k Art, the Dirty Nil
Vocal jazz album of the year
You are the Light and the Way, Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks
Earth Voices, Amanda Tosoff
Now Pronouncing: Caity Gyorgy, Caity Gyorgy
The Weight of Hope, Elizabeth Shepherd & Michael Occhipinti (ES:MO)
Montreal (Live), Holly Cole feat. Holly Cole Trio
Jazz album of the year (solo)
When is Ancient?, Andrés Vial
Aesthetics, Efajemue
Bridges, Jesse Ryan
Stranger Than Fiction, Jon Gordon
Change of Plans, Will Bonness
Jazz album of the year (group)
Worldview, Avataar
Voyage intérieur, Christine Tassan Quintette
The Prophet, Esteban Herrera Quintet
Vegetables, Lina Allemano Four
Arancina, David Restivo Trio
Instrumental album of the year
Perséides, Cœur de pirate
That Tall Distance, David Myles
Madison Archives, Frank Evans & Ben Plotnick
Then is Now Rhapsody in Blue, Jens Lindemann with Jon Kimura Parker, Matt Catingub & Canadian All Star JazzPops Orchestra
Hemenetset, Jorane
Francophone album of the year
Impossible à aimer, Cœur de pirate
Grignotines de Luxe, FouKi
Le ciel est au plancher, Louis-Jean Cormier
Acrophobie, Roxane Bruneau
Toute beauté n'est pas perdue, Vincent Vallières
Children's album of the year
Words Words Words, ABC Singsong
Falling in Africa, Garth Prince
Ponderosa Bunchgrass and the Golden Rule, the Oot n' Oots
Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats Vol. 1, Walk Off the Earth & Romeo Eats
Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro "School Days," Young Maestro
Classical album of the year (solo artist)
Remote Together, Catherine Lee
Enargeia, Emily D'Angelo
Chopin: Complete Nocturnes, Jan Lisiecki
Songs for Murdered Sisters, Joshua Hopkins
Introspection: Solo Piano Sessions, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Classical album of the year (large ensemble)
Messiah/Complex, Against the Grain Theatre with Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Debus
Solfeggio, L'Harmonie des saisons, Eric Milnes, Hélène Brunet
Sibelius 3, Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
L'Homme armé, Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, Andrew McAnerney
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 & Symphonic Dances, Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Classical album of the year (small ensemble)
Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5, Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin
Immersion, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà
Klebanov: Chamber Works, ARC Ensemble
No Time for Chamber Music, Collectif9
20C Remix, Standing Wave
Classical composition of the year
Flight, Dorothy Chang
Chamber Symphony No. 2 "Children's War Diaries," Jaap Nico Hamburger
Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra, Kati Agócs
Arras, Keiko Devaux
Breathing in the Shadows, Saman Shahi
Rap album/EP of the year
See You Next Wednesday, Belly
Stock Exchange, Haviah Mighty
Emergency Tsunami, NAV
The Extravagant Collection, NorthSideBenji
Gardner Express (Deluxe), Pressa
Dance recording of the year
See, Ceréna
Sleep, DVBBS
Get Away (Radio Edit), Karl Wolf
Caution, Kaytranada
Hypnocurrency, Rezz & Deadmau5
Contemporary R&B recording of the year
Tabula Rasa, a l l i e
"Vibe for Me (Bob for Me)," Aqyila
"Gifted," Kallitechnis
"Supernovas," k-os
"Take my Breath," the Weeknd
Reggae recording of the year
Herb Dream, Blessed
By any Means, Exco Levi
Don't let it get to You, Josemar Starliners
Easy Now, Kairo McLean
Too Ruff, Kirk Diamond and Finn
At just 13 years old, Kairo McLean is the youngest reggae nominee ever at the Juno Awards
Contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year
When the Magic Hits, Adrian Sutherland
War Club, DJ Shub
Wild Whisper, Jayli Wolf
Shawnee Kish, Shawnee Kish
Life After, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Contemporary roots album of the year
Prospect, AHI
Outside Child, Allison Russell
Without People, Donovan Woods
My Name is Suzie Ungerleider, Suzie Ungerleider
Open House, the Fretless
Traditional roots album of the year
Back to the Harbour, Alan Doyle
New Time & old Acoustic, John Reischman
Joyful Banner Blazing, Maria Dunn
Chinook Waltz, Over the Moon
Trench Songs, the Fugitives
Blues album of the year
Open Road, Colin James
bLOW, Colin Linden
Live at the Isabel, Miss Emily
Hope Dies Last, Steve Marriner
Pinky's Blues, Sue Foley
Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year
Songs of the Lord, Jennifer Lewin
For the Kingdom, Kevin Adams & Voices of Praise
Vol. 1, Manic Drive
Moments, Movement Worship
No Greater Love, the Color
Global music album of the year
Kalasö, Afrikana Soul Sister
Mendó, Alex Cuba
Northside Kuisi, A New Tradition Vol.3, Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music
Oya, Donné Roberts
SMS for Location Vol.4, Moonshine
Jack Richardson producer of the year
Charlotte Day Wilson: "I can Only Whisper," Charlotte Day Wilson feat. BadBadNotGood (co-producer Thomas Brenneck); "If I Could," Charlotte Day Wilson (co-producer Jack Rochon).
Chromeo: "On my Mind," Chromeo and Anomalie (co-producer Anomalie); "Tango," Onyx Collective.
Kaytranada: "Caution," Kaytranada; "Teen Scene," Maeta Roc Nation.
WondaGurl: "Fair Trade," Drake feat. Travis Scott (co-producers Jahaan Sweet, OZ, Patron, Travis Scott); "Made a Way," Faze Kaysan feat. Lil Durk and Future (co-producers Allen Ritter, FaZe Kaysan).
YogiTheProducer: "24hrs," Savannah Ré (co-producer adamjosh); "Solid," Savannah Ré.
Recording engineer of the year
Evan Miles: "Told You," Jon Vinyl; "Use Me," Plaza.
George Seara: "Coldest Fire," Ahi; "Teach me how to Love," Shawn Mendes.
Hill Kourkoutis: "Howler," Sate; "The Drought," Tania Joy.
John "Beetle" Bailey: "Maybe This Year," Molly Johnson; "Mi Santuario," Sultans of String feat. Juan Carlos Medrano.
Serban Ghenea: "Leave the Door Open," Silk Sonic; "Stay," the Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber.
Meet Hill Kourkoutis, the 1st woman nominated for a recording engineer Juno
Album artwork of the year
Lyle Bell (art director, designer, photographer): Strike me Down, Whitehorse.
Mykaël Nelson (art director, designer, illustrator), Nicolas Lemieux (art director, designer), Albert Zablit (photographer): Histoire sans paroles: Harmonium Symphonique, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Simon Leclerc.
Roberta Landreth (art director, designer): Wouldn't you Love to Know?, Steve Bell.
Sarah Marcotte-Boislard (art director, illustrator), Jules Boislard-Gauthier (photographer): Astronomie (Suite), Dany Placard.
Sarah Marcotte-Boislard (art director, illustrator): Le Ciel est au plancher, Louis-Jean Cormier.
Music video of the year
"Ta main" by Adrian Villagomez (Ariane Roy)
"Meaningless" by Norman Wong (Charlotte Cardin)
"Neeye Oli" by Shan Vincent de Paul & Kalainithan Kalaichelvan (Shan Vincent de Paul, Navz-47 & Santhosh Narayanan)
"La nuée" by Vincent René-Lortie (Simon Leoza)
"Easy on Me" by Xavier Dolan (Adele)
Electronic album of the year
Out Here With You, Attlas
Conviction, Sydney Blu
One More Saturday Night, the Halluci Nation
Oasis Sky, Tor
Catching Z's, Zeds Dead
Metal/hard music album of the year
Bleed the Future, Archspire
Lifeblood, Brand of Sacrifice
Power Trio, Danko Jones
Eternal Blue, Spiritbox
Days Before the World Wept, the Agonist
Adult contemporary album of the year
Meet you at the Light, Desirée Dawson
Nothing is Lost, Luca Fogale
The Outer Circle, Mathew V
The Art of Falling Apart, Serena Ryder
The way you see Me, Tafari Anthony
Comedy album of the year
Grandma's Girl, 姥姥的孩子 Andrea Jin 金玉琪
All Inclusive Coma, Gavin Stephens
Tigre King, Hisham Kelati
Trillipino, Keith Pedro
Airports, Animals, Seán Devlin 叶 世民
Traditional R&B/soul recording of the year
Alpha, Charlotte Day Wilson
Alt Therapy, Emanuel
Lost in You, Jon Vinyl
24hrs, Savannah Ré
Love and be Loved, Zenesoul feat. Aaron Ridge
Rap single of the year
"What I Like," Anders and FrvrFriday
"Edamame," bbno$ feat. Rich Brian
"Bold," Charmaine
"30,000 ft.," NorthSideBenji & Dj Charlie B
"Attachments," Pressa feat. Taliban Glizzy
Welcome to Charmaine's Hood Avant Garde
Underground dance single of the year
"Waves," Blond-ish feat. Grace Tither
"Hood Shit," Carlo Lio feat. MC Flipside
"Shadows in the Dark,," HNTR feat. Elliot Moss
"All I Need (DJ-Kicks)," Jayda G
"Sobriety," Korea Town Acid
Traditional Indigenous artist or group of the year
Kakike, Fawn Wood
Singing is Healing, Joel Wood
Manitou Mkwa Singers II, Manitou Mkwa Singers
Nang Giizhigoong, Nimkii & the Niniis
Angel Eagle: Cree Round Dance Songs, Young Spirit
Website: junoawards.ca