What are the Juno Awards? All about the Canadian Grammys

The Juno Awards are prestigious awards that recognize the achievements of the Canadian music industry and are often regarded as the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys. The awards presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) just held their 54th awards ceremony on March 30, 2025.

According to the official Juno website, it was started by Walt Grealis (RPM editor and publisher) and Stan Klees (record label executive) as the RPM Gold Leaf Awards in 1964, but from 1971 onwards it became the Juno Awards. According to Wikipedia, the name was changed in honor of the first president of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Pierre Juneau, who is also the former president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Though the Junos were established in 1964, there was no official award ceremony until 1970. The website further suggests that the award show, rather than being a one-night event, has evolved into a week-long festival that includes city-to-city travel as well as "both public-facing fan events and industry/networking opportunities featuring a diverse array of Canadian artists and emerging talent."

This year, Junos was held on March 30, 2025, in Roger Arena and was hosted by popular Canadian singer and songwriter Michael Bublé. The award show also saw many talented artists being awarded for their achievements, with Tate McRae sweeping the show with four awards.

The Junos 2025 reflected the current surge in Canadian nationalism amidst US President Donald Trump's tariff war with Canada and his statement on making Canada the 51st American state.

The Juno Awards reflected the rise in Canadian Nationalism

From Michael Bublé, the host of the 2025 Junos, taking a dig at Donald Trump to the lifetime achievement award recipient Anne Murray, appearing on the stage wearing a red Team Canada hockey jersey, the Rogers Arena was filled with Canadian patriotism while celebrating Canadian excellence.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Bublé, in his speech while praising Canada for its beauty and excellence, stated that Canada is not for sale, referring to Trump's statement of making Canada the 51st state of the United States. Meanwhile, Anne Murray, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, accepted the same in a red Team Canada hockey jersey. She shared in her speech that Canada has always been and still is her "safe haven" and "safety blanket."

Singer Josh Ross, who won the country music album of the year, also stated in his speech that he is a proud Canadian and shared that it is time to go back to Canadian roots. The 2025 Junos, which had performances from many artists, also witnessed the final performance of the rock band Sum 41.