Home / Arts / Here are the highlights from the 51st Annual JUNO Awards held in Toronto last night

Here are the highlights from the 51st Annual JUNO Awards held in Toronto last night

Charlotte Cardin swept the show, taking home four JUNOS total throughout the weekend

Shawn Mendes made a special appearance in front of a sea of roaring fans to receive the prestigious International Achievement Award

Deborah Cox performed a medley of her chart-topping hits following her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, by the NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, her induction was presented by TD Bank Group

Eleven live performances from Avril Lavigne, Arcade Fire, Arkells, Haviah Mighty, Mustafa, Tesher and more demonstrated Canadian musical excellence across many genres

TORONTO, May 16, 2022 – Under a big and bright full moon over Toronto, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC celebrated Canada’s biggest night in music at the 51st Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast, marking the first in-person show since 2019. Hosted by Marvel Studios star of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, Simu Liu, the awards were broadcast for the first time in history from an outdoor venue at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, nationwide on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos. The hotly anticipated event featured exhilarating performances from the nation’s biggest movers in music along with appearances from some of Canada’s most recognizable personalities.

Following her three major wins last night at the 2022 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Ontario Creates, and a breathtaking performance of her hit “Meaningless” on Budweiser Stage, a humbled Charlotte Cardin added Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada to her collection of statuettes, making her the most decorated artist at this year’s JUNO Week with a total of four awards.

Hamilton-raised legends Arkells took home Group of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada after an electric two-song performance of “Reckoning” and “You Can Get It” that began from the crowd. Vancouver pop songstress JESSIA took home her first JUNO for Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class alumni Haviah Mighty became the first female in history to win best Rap Album/EP of the Year, only moments before her powerful performance of hits “Protest” and “So-So.”

Canadians were given the option to vote for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, which was awarded to Shawn Mendes. This marks the fourth time Shawn has won the award bringing his’ total JUNO count to an impressive 13 awards. Mendes also made a special appearance to accept the prestigious JUNO International Achievement Award, which has only been awarded eight times previously. The award honours Canadian artists who have attained extraordinary success on the world stage and raised the profile of Canadian music around the world.

MusiCounts also recognized Canadian music educator, Darren Hamilton’s (David Suzuki Secondary School, Brampton, ON) impact not only on students, but also their community and the music education field, through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.

The JUNO Awards Broadcast made history with the induction of legendary award-winning recording artist and world-renowned Broadway, television, film and fashion icon, Deborah Cox, during the induction and performance presented by TD. Cox became the first Black woman to join the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and was inducted by Toronto Raptors alumni, NBA Hall of Famer, author, music producer and friend, Chris Bosh. To mark the milestone and Cox’s immeasurable impact on Canada’s music scene, fans were treated to a four-track medley of her hits “Beautiful U R,” “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” “Where Do We Go From Here” and “Who Do U Love.”

The 2022 JUNO Awards staged spectacular performances under the stars including the highly anticipated return of pop-punk icon and nine-time JUNO Award winner Avril Lavigne, who rocked audiences with a nostalgic mashup of “Complicated,” “Girlfriend,” “I’m With You,” “Sk8r Boi,” and “Bite Me,” from her latest album Love Sux. Later in the show, Simu Liu returned to the stage with his own rendition of “Complicated.”

Arcade Fire lit up the night performing “Unconditional 1 (Lookout Kid),” while west-coast rap sensation and JUNO Award nominee bbno$, whose songs have been streamed more than 2.8 billion times globally, had the audience dancing in their seats to his viral tracks “Lalala” and “Edamame.” Godfather of PowWowStep and 2022 JUNO Award Winner DJ Shub & JUNO nominated Canadian hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids performed a politicized medley of “War Club,” “Uncle Rico,” and “Rebirth;” past JUNO award nominee and presenter Lauren Spencer-Smith, took the stage for her platinum single “Fingers Crossed” and first-time JUNO Award nominee Tesher wowed the crowd with some of his international hits including a surprise collaboration performance of “Jalebi Baby” featuring an energetic Simu Liu. Mustafa, winner of the 2022 JUNO for Alternative Album Presented by CBC Music, moved audiences with a performance of “Stay Alive,” which featured fifteen people from the community where he grew up.

The evening’s roster of incredible presenters included some of Canada’s most notable personalities: actor and comedian Andrew Phung (Run the Burbs, Kim’s Convenience); co-creator and star of CBC’s hit series, Sort Of, Bilal Baig; Minister of Canadian Heritage The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, JUNO Award winner and internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Donovan Woods; JUNO Award nominee Faouzia; first female leader of the Assembly of First Nations, National Chief RoseAnne Archibald; Francophone nominee Roxane Bruneau; JUNO Award-winning and three-time JUNO nominated rapper and singer, TOBi and TikTok star and Indigenous activist Tia Wood.

Fans can rewatch every performance and memorable moment from the 51st Annual JUNO Awards broadcast, on CBC Gem, CBCMusic.ca/junos and The JUNO Awards social channels.

The 2022 JUNO Awards Broadcast is produced by Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company in association with CBC and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).

JUNO Awards Broadcast – Award Partners: TIkTok JUNO Fan Choice, Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada, Group of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction Presented by TD Bank Group, Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.