This past weekend, Vancouver hosted the 54th annual JUNO Awards. The ceremonies began with the JUNO Awards Gala on Saturday, March 29, co-hosted by CBC Music Mornings' Damhnait Doyle and actor Supinder Wrainch at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The following night at Rogers Arena, hometown singer Michael Bublé returned for his third stint as JUNOS host, having previously filled the role in 2013 and 2018.
As always, the JUNOS honoured music legends and industry leaders. It culminated with Good Charlotte twins Benji and Joel Madden inducting Sum 41 into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and the Ajax pop-punks capping off their nearly 30-year run with their final performance ever: a confetti-and-pyro-filled blowout medley of "Over My Head (Better Off Dead)," "Still Waiting" and "In Too Deep."
But as much the JUNOS reflected on Canada's music history, this year's event confirmed more than ever that new voices are on the rise, they have a lot to say, and they are undeniable. See the full list of 2025 JUNO Awards winners, and read on for six highlights of the weekend.
Nemahsis addresses "the elephant in the room"
"Tonight, we've covered feminism. We've covered the effects we've had on global warming," singer Nemahsis began in as measured a voice as she could muster during her acceptance speech for Alternative Album of the Year at the JUNO Awards Gala. "But everybody's failed to mention the elephant in the room, the Palestinian that's in the room," she pointed out, referring to herself. "I look around in this room and the people I relate most to are the Indigenous people, because I, too, am indigenous somewhere, and I can't even perform this album there yet."
She went on to recount getting dropped by her label immediately following Hamas's October 7 attack, leaving her with no support other than her parents, her manager Chass Bryan, and a few others. "This album [Verbathim] came out because of my parents and Chass and the people of Palestine. I love you."
In the backstage Q&A room, Nemahsis continued, "When we look in rooms like this, there still aren't enough indigenous people... It's never too late, but it can take a bit too long." She left the media members with one urgent call to action: listen to indigenous artists' stories so those stories can live on. "It gives me motivation to write another album," Nemahsis added.
Indigenous artists continue making JUNO history
In 2024, Elisapie became the first Inuit artist to receive a JUNO, for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. On Saturday night, classical singer Deantha Edmunds, 2025's only other Inuit nominee, made similar history, becoming the first Indigenous female composer to win Classical Composition of the Year.
"It makes me feel like my voice is being heard, and that's something that we all want. And to be able to sing classically in Inuktitut these messages that come straight from my heart means so much. I just can't believe it. I'm, so, so happy," Edmunds said, beaming. "I'm just so excited at the thought of what comes next."
That same night, Haisla rappers Snotty Nose Rez Kids continued their upward trajectory. The Kitimaat Village duo secured its first JUNO, for Rap Album/EP of the Year, thus establishing them as the first Indigenous artists to win the award. SNRK have long considered Vancouver their second home, so winning the award in the actual home of the Coast Salish peoples was a full circle moment.
Musicians display many shades of national pride
The JUNOS have always been nationalistic, but with political tensions mounting between Canada and the United States, expressions of Canadian pride at this year's event ranged from subtle and suggestive to defiant.
"Canada, we're talking about people who show up for our country," Bublé said introducing Montreal UFC legend Georges St-Pierre. Josh Ross's acceptance speech for Country Music Album of the Year echoed Canadians' self- characterization as being just good neighbours and stewards of the land: "I am proud to be Canadian, and I think it's time to get back to our roots and remember that friends are better than enemies."
Nova Scotian folk icon Anne Murray wore her national pride most loudly and literally of all. On Sunday, she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award (her record-setting 26th JUNO) in a red jersey with "CANADA" stitched across the front. Early in her career, the majority of her work had begun taking place in the States. Though she felt pressured to move south, "I just couldn't do it," she said. "I knew instinctively that I needed a place to go when my work was done. Canada was my safe haven, my safety blanket, my light at the end of the tunnel, and it still is."
During the Q&A, she fielded a question about her patriotic clothing choice. "All I have to do is wear this," she responded matter of factly. "I don't even have to say anything. Order of Canada pin — says it all," she explained, pointing to her jersey accessory.
Hip-hop shows out and shows love to Punjabi artists
Boi-1da received the International Achievement Award for pioneering a Canadian hip-hop sound, and producing music for titans including Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Rihanna, and noted JUNOS boycotter Drake. Boi-1da thanked Drizzy in particular for his unwavering support over the years, and went as far as praising him as the greatest rapper and artist of all time. "Think what you want. He's the best. And he's from Canada," Boi-1da had to note. (See above.)
During his Q&A, the producer also shouted out AP Dhillon and NAV, who keep him tapped into current Punjabi artists. Speaking of current Punjabi artists, a handful of BC-based names had a glowing showcase on Sunday when Victoria's GMINXR and Surrey's Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga and Jazzy B put on an absolutely banging performance of their bhangra and hip-hop meld.
New categories give overdue props
The 2025 JUNOS featured two new categories. South Asian Music Recording of the Year expanded the award show's language representation to officially include Punjabi.
Unfortunately, inaugural winner AP Dhillon was not in attendance to comment on his historic accolade.
On other hand, producer Lowell was present to speak as the first Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer). Though Lowell had written JUNO-winning hits that brought her to the award show eight or nine times before, on Saturday, her own name finally got recognized.
"Songwriters are usually women, people of colour. We usually tend to pay those people lower," Lowell noted. She also took the opportunity to shout out other songwriters, including "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" co-writer Nate Ferraro — "All of these amazing songwriters who should've gotten this award once, at least once; everyone before me."
bbnoloveforelonmusk
No question, the weekend's most magnetic standout was Vancouver's bbno$. That's "baby no money," he was sure to remind everyone repeatedly, although it was difficult to forget his slightly unhinged, 100 percent unapologetic energy. The viral rapper, accompanied by a squad of drag queens including Priyanka, put on the highest energy performance of the weekend with the wobbling, bumping "it boy."
The "Edamame" hit-maker expressed surprise over beating out big names like Shawn Mendes for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award. "Shawn Mendes has really, really soft hands," bbno$ revealed before signing off: "Also, Elon Musk is a piece of garbage. Thank you!" he said to a chorus of cheers.
Cut to Bublé and Arkells' Max Kerman on standby to introduce Sum 41. "Man, I didn't hear that," Bublé feigned, "but they liked it!" Kerman, however, refused to play along. "I heard it, and I agree!" he trolled.
In the media room, bbno$ had further choice words for Musk. "He can just eat a piece of shit... I'm spreading positivity while he's spreading hate. So fuck him until he dies."
"Baby, I'm here," the rapper had pronounced at the beginning and end of his performance of "it boy," and he can't be ignored.