Gord Downie and Diana Krall both emerged double winners at Saturday鈥檚 Juno Awards pre-telecast ceremony in a night that carried a number of political and social undercurrents.
Some musicians took time to recognize the huge protests against gun violence in the United States earlier in the day, which captured headlines and left some musicians voicing their support.
鈥淚 just want to give a shout out to all of our brothers and sisters down South that are protesting today 鈥� protesting gun laws,鈥� said Arcade Fire鈥檚 Win Butler as he accepted the international achievement award.
鈥淐anada is a beautiful example of how it doesn鈥檛 have to be like that.鈥�
Downie鈥檚 brother Mike spoke about awareness of Indigenous issues as he accepted a win for 鈥淚ntroduce Yerself,鈥� the final album of the Tragically Hip frontman. Gord Downie also shared a songwriter win for the album.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a ribbon of Indigeneity running right down the middle of our flag,鈥� Mike said while standing alongside his brother Patrick.
鈥淭his country鈥檚 changing, and it鈥檚 changing for the better.鈥�
Krall came away with two awards for her album 鈥淭urn Up the Quiet.鈥� She scored vocal jazz album and the producer of the year award.
Denise Donlon, a former MuchMusic VJ in the 1980s, received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for a career that also includes years as a record industry executive.
In her speech she addressed the lack of female representation in the music industry, which has been a much-discussed subject in recent years at the Junos. She finished by calling on men in the audience to rise from their chairs as a symbolic commitment of support for more women in music.
鈥淚 really did feel like we鈥檙e actually starting to move the needle a little bit on this,鈥� Donlon said afterwards, acknowledging the idea was partly inspired by Frances McDormand鈥檚 rousing Oscar speech on 鈥渋nclusion riders.鈥�
Other winners included Michael Buble, who hosts the televised Junos show on Sunday. He took home adult contemporary album for 鈥淣obody But Me.鈥�
The Shawn Mendes hit 鈥漈here鈥檚 Nothing Holdin鈥� Me Back鈥� won single of the year, though he was absent from the event.
Ivan Decker became the first comedy album winner in 33 years with 鈥滻 Wanted to Be a Dinosaur.鈥� The prize was last given in 1984 to Bob and Doug McKenzie 鈥� the pair of iconic beer swigging hosers played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.
鈥淥bviously Bob and Doug were too good, they were just going to have to give it to them every year,鈥� Decker said in pondering why the award might鈥檝e been shelved for years.
鈥淟ast time it was given away I wasn鈥檛 even born.鈥�
Fred Penner snagged children鈥檚 album of the year for 鈥淗ear the Music,鈥� his collaborative project that features appearances by Canadian artists including Basia Bulat and Ron Sexsmith.
Buffy Sainte-Marie鈥檚 politically charged album of songs about unity and resistance, 鈥淢edicine Songs,鈥� won the Indigenous music album award.
Bruce Cockburn鈥檚 鈥淏one on Bone,鈥� which dabbled in political commentary at times, grabbed contemporary roots album.
Kendrick Lamar scored the international album of the year award for 鈥淒amn,鈥� after the rapper lost to Bruno Mars a couple months ago at the Grammys. The point wasn鈥檛 lost on Arcade Fire鈥檚 Butler who brought it up on stage and in the media room.
鈥淚 just wanted to say that I鈥檓 really happy Kendrick won too,鈥� Butler said.
鈥淚t was (expletive) that he lost at the Grammys.鈥�
Sunday night鈥檚 televised show will hand out the remaining awards, including album, group and breakthrough artist as well as country album of the year.
Viewers can also vote for the Juno Fan Choice Award on the Juno Fan Choice website.
The show airs on CBC and streams through the CBC Music website.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
