Mr. Toronto

Do you know (say that fast – Juno – get it?  Clever? Oh, never mind…) that Canada’s annual music awards (our version of the Grammy’s) are coming back to Toronto this year, for the first time in 10 years?  (Unlike the Grammy’s, this award ceremony is in a different Canadian city every year).  And if that’s not special enough, they will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary here!

Earlier this week, I attended the big media event at the Royal York Hotel, where they announced the nominees…these things are never too exciting – loads of categories no one really cares about (unless you’ve been nominated, of course), loads of people no one has ever heard of (and then of course, the ones you HAVE heard of, but don’t care about – Justin Bieber, anybody?….) So let me just share with you some highlights of the event itself.

First of all, it’s important to note that “the event” is really a whole whackload of activities, some of which having started already!  For example, The Bata Shoe Museum has already opened an exhibit of Juno Award winner’s shoes…. and next week, the AGO opens up a collection of artwork chosen by Award winners…. then, as we get closer to the main event (which is on Sunday, March 27, by the way), there’s a flurry of activity, from block parties to concert series, to photography exhibits and film screenings…. for a complete list, visit www.junoawards.ca

As for the main event itself – it’s taking place at the Air Canada Centre, and will be as much concert as award ceremony…scheduled performers (announced to date) include Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Hedley and Johnny Reid.  And if those names don’t mean that much to you, they are upping the ante by having superstar rapper Drake as the Host, and by giving special awards to Shania Twain and Neil Young…OMG!!  Tickets for this public event are on sale now through Ticketmaster.

See ya there!

Mr. Toronto