Winners of the 2026 Juno Ceremony Including Hamilton's Raquel McIntosh

The 2026 televised Junos ceremony was broadcast on March 29, 2026 from TD Coliseum in Hamilton. Raquel McIntosh, a teacher from Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School caught the country's attention as the Teacher of the Year winner. CONGRATS!

Not only did Hamilton's Arkells hand the award to Ms. McIntosh, they also performed at the event.

Links: Arkells, More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music 

Below is a video of the full ceremony

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Below is a complete list of winners. Local acts are bolded. Click here for the winners of the Saturday Gala

• TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Raquel McIntosh, Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School - Spectator Story
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of CBC Music
  
  
• ALBUM OF THE YEAR: So Close To What - Tate McRae 
  
  
• ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tate McRae 
  
  
• BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR: Cameron Whitcomb - Acceptance Speech
  
  
• CANADIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: Nelly Furtado - Drake Inducts Her, Acceptance Speech, Tribute Medley
  
  
• CONTEMPORARY R&B RECORDING OF THE YEAR: Son Of Spergy - Daniel Caesar - Acceptance Speech
  
  
• FAN CHOICE: bbno$ 
  
  
• GROUP OF THE YEAR: The Beaches - Acceptance Speech
  
  
• INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Daniel Caesar - Acceptance Speech
  
  
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Joni Mitchell - Tribute Performance, Acceptance Speech
  
  
• SINGLE OF THE YEAR: Sports Car - Tate McRae 

Other performances

• Mae Martin's Opening Monologue
• William Prince
• Cameron Whitcomb
• Sofia Camara
• MICO
• The Beaches
• Daniel Ceasar

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Canadian Grammy Winners 2025

There was a lot of Canadian content at the 67th GRAMMY Awards that took place at the Crypto.com Arena (LA) on Sunday, February 2 and was broadcast live on CBS.

Here is the televised ceremony:

Links: Grammy, More Grammy Stories, Video above courtesy of Recording Academy / GRAMMYs

Hamilton Bluesman Steve Strongman attended as a nominee. Below is his commentary

Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman Stories, Video above courtesy of Steve Strongman Music

Below is a complete list of Canadian winners. Click here for the complete list

• Best Traditional Blues Album: The Taj Mahal Sextet  - Live at The Church in Tulsa (released through Waterdown Canada’s Stony Plain Records)
• Lowell: Album of the Year/Best Country Album (Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter, co-writer on some tracks)
  
  
  
  Links: Lowell, More Lowell Stories, Beyonce, More Beyonce Stories, Video above courtesy of rauhlren
  
  
• Daniel Caesar: Best Reggae Album: (Bob Marley: One Love - Music Inspired By the Film ft the song Waiting In Vain)
  
  
  
  Links: Daniel Caesar, More Daniel Caesar Stories, More Bob Marley Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Stereohearts R&B
  
  
• Shawn Everett: Album of the Year/Best Country Album (Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter, production and mixing) / Best Country Song: (Kacey Musgraves - The Architect, production and mixing)
  
  
• Dave Hamelin:  Album of the Year/Best Country Album (Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter, producer)
  
  
• Yannick Nézet-Séguin: Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein with London Symphony Orchestra and Bradley Cooper)
  
  
• Jessie Reyez: Best Reggae Album: Bob Marley: One Love - Music Inspired By the Film ft the song Is This Love)
  
  
  
  Links: Jessie Reyez, More Jesse Reyez Stories, Video above courtesy of Jessie Reyez
  
  
• Scott Zhang aka Monsune: Best R&B Song (SZA - Saturn, songwriter)
  
  
  
  Links: Monsune, More Monsune Stories, SZA, More SZA Stories, Video above courtesy of SZA

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2024 Opening Night Juno Winners

A number of Junos were handed out at a streamed gala on March 23, 2024. Unfortunately, no local artists won but there were lots of talented winners. The televised gala on Sunday, March 24, 2024 (on CBC at 8pm) will feature more incredible artists receiving Junos.

Local musicians Georgie Fab of the Rockets, Greg "Fritz" Heinz of Helix & Robbie Robertson of the Band were honoured at the "In Memoriam" section while Begonia sang Butterfly. Click their names at the beginning of this paragraph to go directly to their section.

Below is a video of the amazing event.

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Click here for the televised winners.

Below is a complete of winner from the gala:

• ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Multitudes by Feist 
• ALBUM ARTWORK OF THE YEAR: RIOPELLE SYMPHONIQUE – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal 
  - Nicolas Lemieux (Art Director)
  - Mykaël Nelson (Designer & Illustrator)
  - Albert Zablit (Photographer)
• ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Here and Now by Aysanabee 
• ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tate McRae
• BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Scream, Holler & Howl by Blue Moon Marquee 
• BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR: New West 
• CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Welcome to the Flea Circus by The Swinging Belles
• CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (LARGE ENSEMBLE): Maxime Goulet: Symphonie de la tempête de verglas Orchestre classique de Montréal, conducted by Jacques Lacombe 
• CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SMALL ENSEMBLE): Il Ponte di Leonardo By Constantinople 
• CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO ARTIST): Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 4 by James Ehnes
• CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR: Don’t Throw Your Head in Your Hands by Nicole Lizée
• COMEDY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: A Lylebility by Kyle Brownrigg 
• CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN | GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Arrow by K-Anthony
• CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR: Elisapie 
• CONTEMPORARY R&B RECORDING OF THE YEAR: Never Enough by Daniel Caesar
• CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Stand in the Joy by William Prince
• COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Ahead Of Our Time by James Barker Band 
• DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR: Need Your Love by Felix Cartal & Karen Harding 
• ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: INFINITY CLUB by Bambii 
• FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: En concert avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal by Les Cowboys Fringants
• GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Okantomi by OKAN
• INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: When we were that what wept for the sea by Colin Stetson
• INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOS by SZA 
• JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP): Cry Me A River by Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band 
• JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO): Day Moon by Christine Jensen 
• METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: As Gomorrah Burns by Cryptopsy 
• MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Demons by  Allison Russell (Ethan Tobman - Director)
  
  
  
  Links: Allison Russel, More Allison Russel Stories, Video above courtesy of Allison Russell
  
  
• POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: 99 Nights by Charlotte Cardin 
• PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Shawn Everett
• RAP ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR: PANIC by TOBi
• RAP SINGLE OF THE YEAR: Someone I Knew  by TOBi 
• RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: Shawn Everett
• REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR: Dread by Kirk Diamond & Finn
• ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Blame My Ex by The Beaches 
• SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Aysanabee
• SPECIAL ACIEVEMENT AWARD: Chip Sutherland
• TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR: Joel Wood
• TRADITIONAL R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR: Hello by Aqyila
• TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: The Breath Between by David Francey
• UNDERGROUND DANCE SINGLE OF THE YEAR: Call My Name by BLOND:ISH 
• VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Our Roots Run Deep by Dominique Fils-Aimé 

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Debby Friday Wins Polaris Prize + Shortlist

The winner for the prestigious Polaris Prize was announced on September 9, 2023 and Toronto artist Debby Friday took the top honour (which includes $50,000) for her album Good Luck. 

Here is her acceptance speech from the Gala

Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Links: Debby Friday, Video above courtesy of Debby Friday - Topic

We didn't report of the Short List, which was revealed on July 13 so here's is a complete list below. Links with an asterisk (*) will take you to the band's performance at the Gala.

• Alvvays – Blue Rev
• Aysanabee – Watin *
• Begonia – Powder Blue *
• Dan Mangan – Being Somewhere *
• Daniel Caesar – Never Enough
• Debby Friday – Good Luck *
• Feist – Multitudes
• Gayance – Mascarade *
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU? *
• The Sadies – Colder Streams *

You can view the Short List announcement below.

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories, Video above courtesy of polarismusicprize

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Hamilton's Zoon on 2023 Polaris Long List

On June 13, 2023, the latest Polaris Music Prize Long List was unveiled. This prestigious competition celebrates musical creativity and diversity in the Canadian music scene. The short list will be announced on July 13.

You can view the announcement below.

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories, Video above courtesy of polarismusicprize

Here's the complete Long List 

Click here for the winner & Short List

• Zoon – Bekka Ma’iingan
  
  
  
  Links: Zoon, More Zoon Stories, Video above courtesy of Paper Bag Records
  
  
• ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT – Darling The Dawn
• Alvvays – Blue Rev
• Aquakultre – Don’t Trip
• Aysanabee – Watin
• Badge Époque Ensemble – Clouds Of Joy
• Begonia – Powder Blue
• Bibi Club – Le soleil et la mer
• BIG|BRAVE – nature morte
• Philippe Brach – Les gens qu’on aime
• Mariel Buckley – Everywhere I Used To Be
• Daniel Caesar – Never Enough
• Chiiild – Better Luck In The Next Life
• Feist – Multitudes
• Debby Friday – Good Luck
• Gayance – Mascarade
• Ghostkeeper – Multidimensional Culture
• Home Front – Games of Power
• JayWood – Slingshot
• Khotin – Release Spirit
• Thierry Larose – Sprint!
• Murray Lightburn – Once Upon A Time In Montreal
• Isabella Lovestory – Amor Hardcore
• Dan Mangan – Being Somewhere
• N NAO – L’eau et les rêves
• Tami Neilson – Kingmaker
• Eliza Niemi – Staying Mellow Blows
• Nico Paulo – Nico Paulo
• Planet Giza – Ready When You Are
• poolblood – mole
• Jessie Reyez – Yessie
• The Sadies – Colder Streams
• Jairus Sharif – Water & Tools
• Andy Shauf – Norm
• Dylan Sinclair – No Longer In The Suburbs
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU?
• Alexandra Stréliski – Néo-Romance
• U.S. Girls – Bless This Mess
• Witch Prophet – Gateway Experience
• Yoo Doo Right – A Murmur, Boundless to the East

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CONGRATS! Local Artists on Polaris Prize Long List

Dundas Electronic music artist Caribou, Burlington's Sarah Harmer and WHOOP-Szo from Guelph were among the many talented musicians announced as part of the 2020 Polaris Prize Long List.  Hopefully they will make the Short List (announced July 15) and then move on to win the big prize (gala is September 21 at The Carlu in Toronto)



Links: Caribou, More Caribou Stories, Video above courtesy of CaribouVideos



Links: Sarah Harmer, More Sarah Harmer Stories, Video above courtesy of Sarah Harmer

Links: WHOOP-Szo, Video above courtesy of youvechangedrecords

Here's a complete list of winners:

• Caribou – Suddenly
• Sarah Harmer – Are You Gone
• WHOOP-Szo – Warrior Down
• Allie X – Cape God
• Anachnid – Dreamweaver
• Aquakultre – Legacy
• Marie-Pierre Arthur – Des feux pour voir
• Backxwash – God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
• Badge Époque Ensemble – Badge Époque Ensemble
• Begonia – Fear
• P’tit Belliveau – Greatest Hits Vol. 1
• Daniel Caesar – CASE STUDY 01
• Chocolat – Jazz engagé
• Louis-Jean Cormier – Quand la nuit tombe
• Corridor – Junior
• dvsn – A Muse In Her Feelings
• Jacques Greene – Dawn Chorus
• Ice Cream – FED UP
• Junia-T – Studio Monk
• Kaytranada – Bubba
• Flore Laurentienne – Volume 1
• Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight To Eternity?
• Men I Trust – Oncle Jazz
• nêhiyawak – nipiy
• OBUXUM – Re-birth
• Owen Pallett – Island
• Pantayo – Pantayo
• Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia
• Joel Plaskett – 44
• William Prince – Reliever
• Jessie Reyez – Before Love Came To Kill Us
• Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline
• Riit – ataataga
• Super Duty Tough Work – Studies in Grey
• U.S. Girls – Heavy Light
• Leif Vollebekk – New Ways
• Wares – Survival
• The Weeknd – After Hours
• Witch Prophet – DNA Activation
• Zen Bamboo – GLU

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Short List

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories

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News Roundup, Part 2: The Awards (Prism Prize, International Folk Music Awards)

Prism Prize Top 20

• Arkells: People's Champ
  
  
  
  Links: Arkells, More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of Arkells Music
  
  
• Bahamas: No Depression
• Belle Game: Low
• Blue Hawaii: Do You Need Me
• Cadence Weapon: High Rise
• Chad Vangaalen: Host Body
• Charlotte Cardin: The Kids
• Clairmont The Second: Gheeze
• Classified: Powerless
• Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.: Best Part, A Visual
• Deadmau5: Monophobia (Feat. Rob Swire)
• Drake: Nice For What
• Jean-Michel Blais: Dans Ma Main
• Harrison ft. Ralph: Your Girl
• Jessie Reyez: Body Count
• Rich Aucoin: The Middle
• Said The Whale: Unamerican
• So Loki: Athletes World
• SonReal: Have A Nice Day
• The Weather Station: Impossible

Links: Prism Prize, More Prism Prize Stories

International Folk Music Award Winners

Canadian winners bolded

• Album: Mary Gauthier - Rifles and Rosary Beads
• Song: Joan Baez - The President Sang Amazing Grace (written by Zoe Mulford)
  
  
  
  Links: Joan Baez, More Joan Baez Stories, Video above courtesy of The Atlantic
  
  
• Artist: I’m With Her
• Spirit of Folk Awards: Alfredo Caxaj, Ellen Hamilton, Gilles Garand, Matt Smith, Michael Wrycraft, ShoShona Kish, Sonny Ochs and Sofia Rei
• The People’s Voice Award: Buffy Sainte-Marie
• The Clearwater Award: Hillside Festival (Guelph)
• Folk DJ Hall of Fame Inductees: Bob Harris, Matt Watroba, Wanda Fischer
• Lifetime Achievement Awards: Leonard Cohen (Legacy), Joni Mitchell (Living)

Links: International Folk Music Awards, More IFMA Stories

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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News Roundup (St. Catharines Arts Awards, Grammys, Sam Heller, Gaslight Alley, Ti-Cats, more)

Chuckle Bros

More Musical Toons

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News

St. Catharines Arts Award Nominations

Arts in Education

• Amanda Nelli (Chorus Niagara Children's Choir)
• Joe Norris
• PK Hummingbird Steel Drums
• Kay Charles
• Patrick Nunes
• Danielle Wilson

Emerging Artist

• Kylie Haveron
• Rea Kelly
• Ola Kiermacz
• Mel Monaco

Established Artist

• Ayo Adewumi
• Colin Bruce Anthes
• Wayne Corlis
• Geoff Farnsworth
• Clelia Scala

Making a Difference

• Rhiannon Barry
• Juliet Dunn
• Mark Elliott
• Emma German
• Chris Illich
• Laurie Sadowski
• Jeanette Tossounian
• Willow Arts Community

Spectator Stories

• Valerie Tryon
• Gemma New to conduct for TSO
• Grammy ceremony review
• Pre-Grammy story
• More Grammys

Canadian Grammy Winners

• Rap Song: Drake - God's Plan
• RnB Performance:  H.E.R. - Best Part (ft Daniel Caesar)
• Contemporary Classical Composition: Aaron Jay Kernis - Kernis: Violin Concerto (ft James Ehnes)
• Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: The Greatest Showman (ft Greg Wells)
• Recording Package: St. Vincent - Masseduction (ft Willo Perron)
• New Age Album: Opium Moon (ft Lili Haydn) - Opium Moon
• Album of the Year and Best Country Album: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour (mixed by Shawn Everett)
• Bluegrass Album: The Travelin' McCourys - The Travelin' McCourys (ft writing by David Francey)

Passings

• Joseph Jarman (Art Ensemble of Chicago)

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Adventures of Trebleclef, the Music-Loving Monkey

Trebleclef went to a wonderful matinee featuring Sam Heller and Gaslight Alley at Clifford Brewing in Hamilton.

Click here for more pics from the event

Links: Gaslight Alley, More Gaslight Alley Stories, Video above courtesy of Sam Heller

Links: Sam Heller, More Sam Heller Stories, Video above courtesy of Sam Heller

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Treble also bumped into Justin Vaughn of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who was at St. Charles Adult Education Centre speaking out against gender-based violence and harassment.

Video above courtesy of The Hamilton Tiger-Cats

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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News Roundup, Part 2: Canada and World (Patrick Bourgeois, Awards, CBC's Top Albums, Passings)

Click here for News Roundup, Part 1: Local

Picture courtesy of SOCAN

Patrick Bourgeois of Les BB Passes

Links: Les BB, Video above courtesy of UnidiscMusic

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Canada

• FREE Neil Young Archive Online this Month
• Talkin Blues Podcast w Lance Anderson

GAMIQ (Gala alternatif de la musique indépendante du Québec) Award Winners

Highlights below. Click title above for complete winner list

• Artist: Alaclair Ensemble
• Song: Alaclair Ensemble - Ça que c’tait
• Video: Alaclair Ensemble - Ça que c’tait
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Disques 7ieme Ciel
  
  
• People's Choice: Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project
• Breakout Artist: Lydia Képinski
• Pop Album: Peter Peter - Noir Éden
• Pop EP: Lydia Képinski - EP
• Folk Album: Leif Vollebekk - Twin Solitude
• Folk EP: Helena Deland - Drawing Room
• Rock Album: Chocolat - Rencontrer Looloo
• Rock EP: Jesse MacCormack - After the glow
• Folk-Bluegrass Album or EP: Canailles - Backflips
• World Music Album or EP: The Brooks - Pain & Bliss
• Jazz Album or EP: Parc X Trio - Dream
• Concert: L’Osstidtour

CBC's Top Canadian Albums of 2017 List

1. Daniel Caesar: Freudian
   
   
   
   Video above courtesy of DanielCaesarVevo
   
   
2. Alvvays: Antisocialites
3. Drake: More Life
4. Feist: Pleasure
5. Gord Downie: Introduce Yerself
6. Jessie Reyez: Kiddo
7. Weaves: Wide Open
8. Broken Social Scene: Hug of Thunder
9. Partner: In Search of Lost Time
10. Land Of Talk: Life After Youth
11. Tei Shi: Crawl Space
12. Arcade Fire: Everything Now
13. Jackie Shane: Any Other Way
14. Majid Jordan: The Space Between
15. The Weather Station: The Weather Station
16. Vivek Shraya: Part-Time Woman
17. Colter Wall: Colter Wall

FYI Music News Stories

• Brad Saunders Wins Project WILD
• Warner Music's 50 Year History Now Online

Passings

• Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle, singer)
• Robert De Cormier (Folk Revivalist)
• Mitch Margo (The Tokens)
• Mundell Lowe (Jazz guitarist)

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