The Weeknd has cleaned up at the Junos, Canada’s music awards.
On Monday night, the Canadian superstar won album of the year for Sunrise FM. That followed the Toronto-raised pop superstar, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, at the pre-telecast awards show, picking up trophies for best artist, best single for “Sacrifice” and songwriter of the year.
The Weeknd, who wrote “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” for Avatar: The Path of Water, came into the Junos with a field-leading six nominations. She previously won best artist on Junos in 2015, 2016 and 2021, and this year she beat out competition from Avril Lavigne, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Michael Bublé and Shawn Mendes in that high-profile category.
The Weeknd’s participation in the Junos, with Sunrise FM disputed, came as he continues to turn down Grammy Awards in the United States. At the same time, the Rogers Place stadium in Edmonton resounded with boos when the popular Canadian artist failed to appear at the Junos to receive his album of the year trophy.
Also during the live broadcast that aired nationally on the CBC, Lavigne yelled expletives at a topless environmental activist who slammed into the stage, “Save the Green Belt” drawn on her back, as the Complicated singer was hosting a musical performance by AP Dhillon.
Lavigne also picked up the Juno Fan Choice Award for the fourth time. “Now nobody try anything this time,” the Canadian superstar said as she accepted the award, before uttering another swear word, only this time she trailed off.
An emotional high point for this year’s Junos came during a performance by singer-songwriter Oji-Cree Aysanabee that was accompanied by video testimony reminiscing about her grandfather’s time at the McIntosh Residential School in northwestern Ontario, where the indigenous youth separated from their families made widespread use of allegations that they suffered physical and sexual abuse.
In another awards show on Monday night, the award for best rap album went to Toronto rapper TOBi, also known as Nigerian-Canadian artist Oluwatobi Feyisara Ajibolade, for Continuous?. And Timmins, Ontario-based singer-songwriter Preston Pablo won breakout artist of the year, while best contemporary R&B recording went for a third time to Jessie Reyez for her second studio album, Yessi.
Also Monday night, Nickelback was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by Ryan Reynolds and Bublé, via video appearances, and Winnipeg-based Lakewood School music teacher Jewel Casselman, she was recognized as the Canadian music teacher of the year.
In another pre-broadcast awards show at the Junos, the trophy for best international album went to Harry Styles for harry’s House, and the Arkells picked Juno for best group, a category they’ve won five times before.
The Junos, organized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, were celebrated with an awards gala and in-person concerts in Edmonton, Alberta. The 2023 edition was organized for the second consecutive year by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Simu Liu, who showcased her singing and dancing skills, which included performing a backflip and a medley of Lavigne hits.
