#SPOTTED: JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS IN TORONTO FOR CANADA’S WALK OF FAME GALA

After the absence of in-person celebrations last year, the Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala is back and bigger than ever this year, honouring both 2021 and 2022 inductees. Over 700 guests attended the star-studded affair at Beanfield Centre on Canadian National Exhibition grounds last night to honour Canada’s finest across multiple disciplines like the Arts, Sports, Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy.

2022 Inductees and Honourees include:

Deborah Cox (Arts & Entertainment)

The Tragically Hip (Humanitarianism)

Heather Reisman (Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy)

Director X (Arts & Entertainment)

Tatiana Maslany (Arts & Entertainment)

Just for Laughs / Juste pour rire Group (Arts & Entertainment), accepting on behalf: Bruce Hills, President of Just for Laughs & Charles Décarie, President and CEO of Just For Laughs / Juste pour rire Group

Barbara Frum (Legend Award), accepting on behalf: Linda Frum (Daughter) & David Frum (Son)

Lionel Conacher (Sports & Athletics), accepting on behalf: Lionel Conacher (Grandson) & Chas Conacher (Great Grandchild) 

Arkells, Allan Slaight Music Impact Honouree*

James Temerty, National Hero Honouree* 

2021 Inductees:

Jully Black (Arts & Entertainment)

Graham Greene (Arts & Entertainment)

Ajay Virmani (Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy) 

Bob Banting and Melinda Best, attending on behalf of Frederick Banting and Charles Best – researchers who discovered insulin over 100 years ago along with 2021 Inductees John Macleod, and James Collip (Science, Technology and Innovation) 

Presenters at this year’s Awards included:

Esteemed journalist Peter Mansbridge presenting to Inductee Barbara Frum

Poet and author Margaret Atwood presenting to Inductee Heather Reisman

International record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis presenting to Inductee Deborah Cox

Comedian and writer Ronnie Chieng presenting to Just For Laughs

Award-winning singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie presenting to Inductees The Tragically Hip

American filmmaker Joel Silver presenting to Inductee Director X

Emmy-winning actress and director Helen Shaver presenting to Inductee Tatiana Maslany

Six-time Olympic medalist, André De Grasse presenting to Inductee Lionel Conacher

We’re absolute huge fans of many of these notable individuals and were so thrilled to spot Songwriting-Producing Duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in the City. Hailing from Minneapolis and now based in L.A., their music has affected the world on an international scale. They are responsible for smash hits like

The S.O.S. Band – Just Be Good To Me
The Human League – Human
Ralph Tresvant – Sensitivity
Robert Palmer – I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On
Boyz II Men – On Bended Knee
Michael & Janet Jackson – Scream
Janet Jackson – Control/Rhythm Nation/That’s The Way Love Goes/Nasty/The Best Things in Life are Free
Mariah Carey – Thank God I Found You/Can’t Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme)/Through the Rain
Mary J. Blige – Everything/Love Is All We Need
Gwen Stefani – Harajuku Girls

They almost in fact need an Awards Ceremony all their own! And such amazing guys! Love that they even colour-coordinate, they are so in-sync. Their catalog has provided the Soundtrack for much of my life. An incredible honour.

Having collaborated on many occasions with Scarborough’s own Deborah Cox on her albums The Morning After and The Promise, it was only fitting Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis came to honour her in her shining moment. Cox has had quite a year with several high-profile appearances in the City this year like the JUNO Awards, Canadian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Gala and now a moment all her own at the Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala.

Missed out? The Broadcast Gala CELEBRATING GREATNESS: CANADA’S WALK OF FAME 2022, hosted by Traci Melchor, is set to air Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis