The 2001 celebrations marked the 30th anniversary of the Juno Awards and the 26th telecast with CBC Television. The awards began in 1970, when organizers Stan Klees and Walt Grealis, who published RPM, a weekly trade publication, held the Gold Leaf Awards in the St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto.

A year later, the event changed its name to the Juno Awards in honour of Pierre Juneau, the then head of the CRTC, which had implemented the Canadian Content Regulations in 1971.

The Junos remained exclusively an industry event for the next few years, but in 1975, they assumed a much higher profile when they were telecast for the first time and the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) was established to handle the event, working with all segments of the music industry in Canada.

I was the public relations for the 15 years from 1975 to 1987. I worked for expenses only, but it was my contribution to the growing Canadian music industry and its growing stable of stars that included so many of the internationally popular big names in to-day’s world wide markets. My contribution for the 12 years was to work for no fees at all.

One of my favourite highlights was a column in the Globe and Mail headlined “Gino, barefoot at the Junos.” Like Anne Murray, I often took off my shoes while working and I forgot the show was being telecast on one occasion.

15 years later, I’m a guest because I am getting material for this column. My friends, JANE HARBURY & JOANNE SMALE, who handled this year’s JUNO AWARDS through their recently merged company, PLANET THREE, made me more than just warmly welcome. They are two of the best music publicists in Canada. Some day I hope to join them as a consultant.

Nominees and winners are determined by sales, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science members, and a few by panels of experts.

Some of the nominations made that differ from the Grammies:

Best Selling Album (Foreign or Domestic)

Best Selling Francophone Album

Best New Solo Artist

Best New Group

Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording

Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo

and all the usual ones, as the Grammies deem.

Some of this years’ winners at the Juno telecast on March 4, 2001 that you might know are:

Best Selling Album	The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
Best Selling Francophone Album	Un Grand Noel d’amour – Ginette Reno
Best Album & Best Group	Maroon – Barenaked Ladies
Best Female Artist	Jann Arden
Best Male Artist	Neil Young
Best Country Female Artist	Terri Clark
Best Country Male Artist	Paul Brandt
Best Rock Album	Music@Work – The Tragically Hip
Best Vocal Jazz Album	Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
Best Traditional Jazz Album	Rob McConnell Tentet – Rob McConnell Tentet
Best Global Album	Ritmo + Soul – Jane Bunnett & Spirits of Havana
Hall of Fame	Bruce Cockburn

Newcomer to the awards, Nelly Furtado won Best new solo artist, songwriter, singer, and co-producer.

PERFORMERS INCLUDED on the 2001 JUNO AWARDS were The Moffatts, Soul Decision, The Guess Who, Treble Charger, Nelly Furtado, Laura Graham and Laura Fabian.

The MC was Rick Mercer, the star of CBC Television’s MADE IN CANADA and THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, was the host of the 30th Anniversary Juno Awards, celebrating the best in Canadian Music.

Bruce Cockburn is one of Canada’s most celebrated and respected artists, and was inducted into the CANADIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME during the 30th Anniversary Juno Awards Show. He joins such icons as Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, The Guess Who, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Hank Snow and Paul Anka, to name just a few. His awards and achievements include 11 Juno Awards and 20 gold and platinum albums. Bruce has received three Honorary Doctorates including the Doctor of Music Degree from Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

A few interesting happenings at this year’s Junos...

JANN ARDEN – receiving the award for best FEMALE ARTIST, which is a chubby looking figurine (so is Jann) commented, “This is very nice.... It is very similar to my own body!”

RICK MERCER - this year’s affable M.C. can always come up with the best remarks as he always does on CBC TV’s comedy series THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES or the hit comedy sitcom MADE IN CANADA. Half way during the telecast he brought up CELINE DION and her new born baby and said, “The little guy is six weeks old now, he is already sitting up, and dating his manager.”

NELLY FURTADO - the 4 time winner changed costumes each time she was called to received a Juno. But she was barred by the best restaurant in town, RAIN, where her record company was hosting her 4 time victory. The owner claimed the place was too full and he didn’t care what she had won. Her popularity is growing rapidly. She was on Time Magazine’s list of “most popular songs of 2000” and went on a publicity campaign that included singing appearances on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN.

THE JUNOS – in 1995 CARAS released OH WHAT A FEELING, a 4 volume CD, featuring in excess of 5 hours of the best of Canadian talent music. In just 7 weeks the box set was certified DIAMOND, representing a million units in Canada.

Now in 2001, a second 4 c.d. box, OH WHAT A FEELING 2 picks up where the first left off. This is a testament to the huge wealth of talent in Canada. The 4 volume set was co-executive produced by LARRY LEBLANC and universal music president RANDY LENNOX.

All proceeds go to charity. The first earned $2,200,000. The second is likely to do even better. All record labels and music organisation gave freely to produce both of these wonderful sets which are sold in all major record stores in Canada.

Compared to many other award shows, the Junos is one of the best. I hope my 15 years from the beginning helped.