Mr. Will Wong, Toronto Entertainment Blogger

#JUNOS: CHARLOTTE CARDIN, SHAWN MENDES, AVRIL LAVIGNE AND DEBORAH COX AMONG BIG WINNERS AT 2022 JUNOS BROADCAST GALA

May 16, 2022
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The 51st edition of the JUNO AWARDS took place tonight at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, a return to an in-person format after the Pandemic halted celebrations last year. Held outdoors to pivot around Covid-19, the event was a welcomed return to outdoor music and this also is the first time the event was held in Toronto since 2011’s edition at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Tonight’s Broadcast Gala, aired live on CBC, concluded a weekend of celebrations honouring the best in the Canadian Recording Industry, including a Comedy Showcase, the Cadillac Fairview JUNO Fan Fare allowing fans to meet some of their favourite emerging Artists, plus the Opening Night Awards, held at Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

It was a star-studded affair on the outdoor Red Carpet as stars, including those performing, being honorued and nominated, made their way through, including the like of Shawn Mendes, Avril Lavigne and fiancé Mod Sun, Deborah Cox, Chris Bosh, Mustafa, Charlotte Cardin and several more. Host Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS also graced us with his presence in a hot pink suit.

See Liu‘s Opening tonight, getting a little help from Michael Buble, Kim’s Convenience Co-star Andrew Phung.

Winning top honours tonight was Montreal’s Charlotte Cardin, who has had a career year and now is touring in support of her Album PHOENIX, which garnered her Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Single of the Year for “Meaningless” which she performed live on the Broadcast.

Pickering’s Shawn Mendes also fared very well not only being honoured with the International Achievement Award, but also received the TikTok JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD, based on fan votes.

Scarborough’s Deborah Cox was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The R&B Vocalist known best for her smash hit “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here“, was supposed her ber friend and NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh who surprised. Several stars like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Angela Bassett and John Legend recorded video greetings congratulating her.

Global Superstar Avril Lavigne might not have received any awards tonight, but added tons of starpower to the Awards this year, performing a Medley of her hits including “Complicated”/”Bite Me”/”Girlfriend”/”Sk8r Boi” and “I’m With You”. At her Ricoh Colisseum show last night, her label honoured her with a plaque for single “Bite Me” which has reached gold status in Canada.

The 2022 Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada was given to Susan Aglukark, recognizing her commitment to improving the lives of children and youth in Northern Indigenous communities.