The Beaches took home Group of the Year at this year’s Juno Awards, held Sunday night in Halifax.
Nova Scotian music icon Anne Murray was a surprise guest, who handed the award to the Toronto group.
The award show was hosted by Nelly Furtado.
Furtado kicked off the ceremony with an exciting and sparkling performance of her classic hits, including her breakout single “I’m Like A Bird,” a medley of songs from the ultra-popular, Timbaland-produced album “Loose,” and “Eat Your Man,” her 2023 single with Dom Dolla.
The singer performed in a silver sparkled space-like outfit.
The Beaches win Photo credit: Juno Awards
Pop sisters Tegan and Sara were honoured for their work with LGBTQ+ youth and were presented the humanitarian award by Halifax-bred actor Eliot Page.
The award, Page said, arrives at “a time in history where 2SLGBTQI+ rights are being revoked, restricted and eliminated.”
The award recognized the impact of the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which the sisters created to help improve the lives of LGBTQ+ women and girls.
During their acceptance speech, the duo called out the Alberta government’s highly controversial plans to restrict surgery, and hormone treatment for transgender youth.
“These attacks are harmful because they target kids, who need our support the most,” Sara said.
They closed their speech on a lighter note: “We love being gay!” “So gay! You should try it out!” said Tegan
Canadian hip-hop icon Maestro Fresh Wes made history again on Sunday when he became the first rap artist to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
The Junos assembled an impressive roster of Canadian talent to pay tribute to Robbie Robertson, Gordon Lightfoot, and Quebec singer Karl Tremblay, three Canadian legends who died in 2023.
Following an introduction by Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy, the three-part tribute began with a moving performance by Montreal pianist Alexandra Stréliski, who paid homage to Tremblay, the late singer of Quebec folk-rock band Les Cowboys Fringants.
Karan Aujla won the 2024 TikTok Juno Fan Choice Award, breaking boundaries for a community not traditionally recognized in this space.
“Punjabi music is the future,” Aujla promised while speaking with OMNI News on the Junos red carpet.