50th JUNO Awards ready to go in Toronto for 2021

COVID-19 may have derailed celebrations in Saskatoon last March, but that hasn’t stopped the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) from insuring the 50th JUNO Awards are celebrated and honoured in Toronto in style.

In a virtual press conference on December 1, CARAS announced the Golden Anniversary of the JUNO Awards would be held in Toronto on Sunday, May 16.  The date was chosen with possible restrictions in mind and under the hope that warmer spring weather would provide opportunities for events to take place in outdoor spaces.

In addition to the event announcement, special announcements to commemorate the Golden Anniversary of the JUNO Awards were also announced.  Three stunning new statuettes were unveiled for the 2020 JUNO Awards. Honouring the 2000 to 2010 individually-crafted glass design by celebrated glassmaker, Shirley Elford, a new gold statue will honour JUNO Award winners, a new silver statue will honour Special Award recipients, and a new gold and silver statue will honour the Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees.

Music education was also in the spotlight during the announcement.  Music teachers across the country in need of support for their school music programs are encouraged to apply, before December 11, 2020, to musicounts.ca, as MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity, will be awarding $1.5 million dollars worth of instruments and equipment to schools and community organizations through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program and TD Community Music Program.

For more information about the 2021 JUNO Awards and to check out the latest episode of JUNOTV’s rising, featuring Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter, Amaal, be sure to visit www.junoawards.ca.