Ahhh! WHAT A WEEK! I tell ya, this past week has been insanity…good insanity though. I walked in five fashion shows, hosted a spring fashion show at Shepherd’s Fashions, hosted a spring fashion launch for Melanie Lyne and topped it all off by attending a host of Juno Awards events! This was easily the most thrilling weekend I have ever had!
So, us Canadians are really familiar with The Juno Awards. For all of those who aren’t, The Juno Awards is Canada’s premier awards show honouring excellence in Canadian music. It was originally founded as “The Gold Leaf Awards” about four decades ago. Starting as a one-night industry event hosted annually in Toronto, ON, it is now a national week long event held in a different city across Canada each year.
I have always wanted to attend these awards and was finally presented with the opportunity to do so thanks to TD Canada Trust. #megathanks
The TD Green Room
My big Juno Awards weekend kicked off with live musical performances and delicious food and drinks at the TD Green Room at Ottawa’s beautiful Lord Elgin Hotel. Invitees to the TD Green Room were treated to great performances by awesome bands such as Jim and Devin Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Scott Helman, Michelle Treacy and more. When the super stylish Command Sisters took the stage, we collectively lost our minds!
We also enjoyed the amazingly talented Orkidstra – a program devoted to giving youth an opportunity to find their voice and realize their potential by making music together.
I got the chance to interview Claudine Dupont, VP of Global Brand and Corporate Sponsorship for TD Canada Trust. TD Canada prides itself of supporting Canada’s musical space by partnering with The Juno Awards and MusiCounts. Supporting The Junos for the past four years, MusiCounts focuses on Canada’s music scene through sponsoring local jazz festivals from coast to coast along with major music festivals. TD MusiCounts also supports over 100 musical community outreach programs across the country by donating musical instruments, providing musical lessons and musical grants to many after-school programs. The program has become so successful that they are receiving record numbers of applicants!
I laughed also as this dynamic lady could barely contain her excitement at seeing Ruth B and The Strumbellas at The Junos. I can’t say I can blame her!
In between performances, we had our nails and makeup done courtesy of M.A.C. Cosmetics. Best of all, in honour of MusiCounts’ 20th Anniversary, donations of $10,000 each were presented by Scott Helman on behalf of TD MusiCounts to Orkidstra and Status4. It was the best afternoon I had had in a while.
Panicland – TD Green Room
Meet Panicland. This pop group definitely stood out in the crowd. Not ones to let velvet ropes get in their way, they are known for crashing Grammy parties, Juno Parties, the MMVAs and SOCAN Awards – sometimes in disguise or by stealing names – to network with celebrities such as Mark Ronson, Skrillex, Shawn Mendes along with hit songwriters, managers and record label execs. Love their assertive style.
Speaking of style, this young group has tons of it. Favouring vintage over anything else, these guys look *damn good*. Lead singer, Braedon Horbacio’s style could be described as “elevated Kanye”. Bass player Ian Wilmer, leans more towards sporty chic, drummer Travis Hunnie is Dapper Don all the way and guitarist Riley Horbacio is grunge all the way. Sweet as pie, you’ll be hearing a lot more of Panicland in the future. Follow them on Instagram to see what shenanigans they are always getting up to.
The Command Sisters – TD Green Room
I have two new girl crushes: the Command Sisters. These two definitely stood out in the TD Green Room. With her sharp, jet black bob and scarlet shirt and lips, Charlotte Command’s style is incredible. Incredibly sweet and soft spoken, Charlotte fronts the Command Sisters with her velvety voice and amazing range. Charlotte’s sister, Sarah Command, brings edgy to a new level with her jet black, short spiky cut and porcelain skin.
Raised in Alberta, the Command Sisters started songwriting in their teens and learned the mandolin, piano and guitar as kids. Their latest album Exposed is a set of pop songs characterized by sparse and powerful instrumentation and their trademark beautiful vocals. Check out their Instagram – its amazing!
The Juno Cup Celebrity Hockey Game
Later that night, we were treated to the Juno Cup Celebrity Hockey Game at TD Bank Place. The theme of the hockey game was “Rock vs. Jock”. Team Rock featured notable artists such as Blue Rodeo, The Strumbellas and Billy Talent. Team Jock was composed of hockey greats like Daniel Alfredsson, Paul Coffey, Gary Roberts and more.
The Juno Awards
Rounding off the weekend was the thrilling Juno Awards at Canadian Tire Centre! The energy was palpable as scores of people filled the arena. The sets were stunning and people went nuts as the beautiful Chloe Wilde, host of E! Canada and eTalk CTV took the stage to get the show started and present this year’s hosts, Bryan Adams and Russell Peters. Russell Peters was hilarious (if not a little tongue in cheek) and kept the show high energy with his special brand of humour.
Amazing performances by Billy Talent, July Talk, The Strumbellas, Alessia Cara, Ruth B and more were dotted throughout the ceremony. Top awards went to the following:
- Songwriter of the Year: Gord Downie, Secret Path
- Group of the Year: Tragically Hip
- Album of the year: Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker
- Juno Fan Choice: Shawn Mendes
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Ruth B
- Country Album of the Year: Jess Moskaluke, Kiss Me Quiet
- Pop album of the Year: Alessia Cara, Know-It-All
- Rock album of the Year: The Tragically Hip, Man Machine Poem.
- Producer of the Year: A Tribe Called Red.
- Adult Alternative Album of the Year: Gord Downie, Secret Path.
- Breakthrough Group of the Year: The Dirty Nil.
- Alternative Album of the Year: July Talk, Touch.
- Adult Contemporary Album of the Year: Sarah McLachlan, Wonderland.
- R&B/Soul Recording of the Year: The Weeknd, Starboy.
- Indigenous Music Album of the Year: Quantum Tangle, Tiny Hands.
Here are a bunch of pics from The Juno Awards for you all to enjoy!
Well, I hope you enjoyed my coverage of The Juno Awards! I want to thank TD Canada Trust for having me as their guest and to Melanie Lyne for the lovely outfit! Who was your favourite winner? Let me know in the comments!
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
I’ve never heard of the Juno Awards, but it looks like it was an awesome time! And you look gorgeous!
Man talk about a weekend! What a great lineup. Jam packed excitement. Love all the pictures!
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Thanks, Carrie! I’m still buzzing!
Looks like you had a great time. Never been to an awards show myself. I would love to attend at least one eventually.
Wow what an amazing experience you had at the Junos! I watched them from home and they were really good so I could only imagine how amazing they were live !! You looked fabulous as always Dom! I love love the Stumbellas and wish I could have heard them live!
Oh, my goodness! I am absolutely speechless! What an amazing week you have DOM! What incredible opportunities you have had recently! Here is to many more this year!
xo Debbie | http://www.tothineownstylebetrue.com
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Awww Debbie! You are so awesome! You’ve been so supportive right from the get-go. You’re the best. Thank you!
In the inaugural awards presentation in 1991, hip-hop phenom Maestro Fresh-Wes’ ‘Symphony In Effect’ beat out the sublime ‘Wash Your Face In My Sink’ from Toronto hip-hop duo Dream Warriors. Dream Warriors came back the following year with a win for ‘My Definition of a Bombastic Jazz Style,’ the title track of which featured that epic earworm melody sampled from Quincy Jones’ “Soul Bossa Nova” which Canadians recognized as the theme song of the ‘ Canadian game show, “Definition.” (It also figured prominently in the opening of the original ‘Austin Powers’ movie.) ‘My Definition of a Bombastic Jazz Style’ beat out Maestro’s ‘Conductin’ Thangs’ and ‘Jamaican Funk Canadian Style’ by the first Canadian rapper to sign a major American deal, Michie Mee, plus LA. Luv.