Deborah Cox said her recognition at this year鈥檚 Canada鈥檚 Walk of Fame gala event underscored the importance of representation, adding she hoped it would help inspire other Black musicians.

The Juno award-winning R&B singer was among the group of Canadians recognized at Saturday鈥檚 event for excellence in their respective fields, which include humanitarianism, entrepreneurship, sports, entertainment, and philanthropy. They will each receive stars in Toronto鈥檚 entertainment district.

鈥淔or me, growing up, it was really tough to find people that looked like me on the radio and on television,鈥� the 48-year-old singer-songwriter said on the red carpet before she received her star on Saturday night.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge milestone, I couldn鈥檛 have dreamt for my journey to end in a better way.鈥�

Songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis said they were touched to present Cox with her star in her hometown of Toronto.

鈥淲e were excited about accepting the privilege of presenting her star,鈥� Jam said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e inspired to write songs for her, she delivers the songs in a beautiful way.鈥�

Eleven other influential names were inducted into the Walk of Fame at the gala, including Indigo founder Heather Reisman, comedy content creator Just for Laughs, and rock band The Tragically Hip.

The band was inducted Saturday in recognition of their humanitarian efforts.

鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to get noticed for taking those chances and opportunities,鈥� said guitarist Paul Langlois. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit humbling, it鈥檚 not something we look to celebrate.鈥�

The gala also recognized the 2021 inductees R&B singer Jully Black, actor Graham Greene, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Ajay Virmani.

This year鈥檚 inductee Tatiana Maslany, whose work on 鈥淪he-Hulk: Attorney at Law鈥� and 鈥淥rphan Black鈥� has ushered her into esteemed company, said she鈥檚 honoured to be recognized at this point in her career. But it鈥檚 too early, the 37-year-old actor said, to think about her legacy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal to be recognized,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so young. It seems nuts to think about my legacy.鈥�

Maslany is currently working on a TV series for AMC titled 鈥淚nvitation to a Bonfire. She described the project as a 鈥渄ark and sexy鈥� piece set in the 1930s.

Director Julien Christian Lutz, known as Director X, said it came as unexpected praise to be recognized with a star for his work behind the camera.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour,鈥� said the 47-year-old filmmaker. 鈥淚t makes me feel hopeful that our industry is going to recognize some of us that have always been on the outskirts of the game.鈥�

Posthumous honours went to Canadian journalist Barbara Frum, acclaimed for her interviews for CBC, as well as Lionel Conacher, a Canadian athlete and politician.

Andre De Grasse, who presented Conacher鈥檚 family with the induction, said Conacher inspired him to become a better athlete.

鈥淗e鈥檚 definitely motivated me now to try to just keep going and keep striving for greatness,鈥� the 28-year-old Olympic medalist said.

Canada鈥檚 Walk of Fame will air on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. on CTV.

Christian Collington, The Canadian Press

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