Honouring Canadian Trailblazers and their groundbreaking accomplishments, the second edition of DEPARTURE HONOURS took place last night at Toronto’s Koerner Hall with a star-studded group of notables in attendance. The Departure Festival + Conference is a re-incarnation of what formerly was Canadian Music Week, running from May 4–10, 2026, that acts as a hub for music, technology, art, and media. It combines a high-level industry conference with a city-wide festival featuring live music, comedy showcases, and film
Honoured this year were:
Lilly Singh (Trailblazer Award): Recognized for her impact as a creator and trailblazer.
Bruce Allen (Lifetime Achievement Award): Honoured for his decades-long career in music management, representing artists like Bryan Adams and Michael Bublé.
Sarah McLachlan (Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award): Recognized for her philanthropic work and musical contributions.
Maggie Kang (Cultural Innovator Award): The creator/director of KPop Demon Hunters, who was also awarded a Key to the City of Toronto during the festival earlier in the day.
Jacob Tierney (Creative Impact Award): Writer, director, and producer known for Heated Rivalry and Letterkenny.
The Remix Project (Industry Achievement Award): Recognized for their work in empowering youth in creative industries.Â
Heated Rivalry star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova was in attendance to present Tierney with his award.
The Gala was hosted by CTV personalities Traci Melchor and Tyrone Edwards.
Some highlights from the Red Carpet as we were joined by special contributor Angela McLean, including last night’s Honourees, who reflect upon their success and their path to where they are now:
There still are several exciting conferences, film screenings, showcases, and more to check out. Details are at departureto.com.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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