Juno Awards 2017: The Tragically Hip & Its Frontman Best Even The Biggest Names

The Juno Awards, known to some as the Canadian Grammys, wrapped just a short time ago in Ottawa, and while it was a ceremony filled with only a handful of awards, the biggest stars of Canadian music (and beyond) turned up to perform and accept their well-deserved trophies. 

The biggest night in music in Canada has now split into two evenings, with the event now occupying an entire weekend in the North. Most of the trophies are now handed out on Saturday night, while just a few are given away on Sunday night during a telecast. The big winner of the weekend-long event this year was Gord Downie, the frontman of the Canadian band The Tragically Hip. He won three awards, while his band took home two, giving the man a total of five. This may be Downie's last Junos, as he recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, so it is fitting that the Canadian music industry honors him while he is still alive to enjoy the praise.

The late, great Leonard Cohen took home both Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, prizes which his son Adam collected on his behalf. Social media star Shawn Mendes earned the Fan Choice Award thanks to his incredible popularity, while hot up-and-comers like Ruth B and Alessia Cara also went home champions in noticeable verticals.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was that Drake, the man currently taking over the world with his constant deluge of chart-topping material, went home empty-handed...not that he was actually at the ceremony. The rapper was nominated for many trophies, and while everybody expected him to at least win in the Rap Recording of the Year category, he lost to newcomer Jazz Cartier. Perhaps even Canadians think Drake has already enjoyed enough good fortune?

Another shocker: The Strumbellas won Single of the Year for their hit “Spirits.” It’s not that they didn’t deserve a win for the song, but they were up against powerhouses and massive global smashes such as Drake’s “One Dance,” Shawn Mendes’ “Treat You Better,” The Weeknd and Daft Punk’s “Starboy” and Alessia Cara’s “Wild Things.” All four of those singles performed better globally than “Spirits,” but the Canadian band came out on top in the end.

Group of the Year
The Tragically Hip

Rock Album of the Year
The Tragically Hip - Man Machine Poem

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
Sarah McLachlan - Wonderland
(peermusic Canada only)

Canadian Hall of Fame
Sarah McLachlan
(peermusic Canada only)