The 2025 Juno Awards Gala took place on March 29, co-hosted by CBC Music Mornings host Damhnait Doyle and actor Supinder Wraich. The night was a celebration of Canadian music, with 42 awards handed out, marking a significant moment for artists across various genres. This year's event was particularly notable for its history-making wins, including first-time awards for Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Lowell.
Christie Charles, known as Miss Christie Lee, kicked off the gala with a powerful performance, rapping verses inspired by the weekend's nominees and setting an energetic tone for the evening. Her opening lines, “My kids, our Red Future looking pretty bright, so now I know everything's gonna be all right,” referenced Snotty Nose Rez Kids' album, which would later win rap album of the year.
Elisapie was among the first winners of the night, taking home the award for adult alternative album of the year for her project, Inuktitut. With enthusiasm, she rushed to the stage and expressed her pride in her Indigenous heritage, saying, "Junos, this is so beautiful and so heavy. I'm so proud to be an Inuk woman, I'm so proud to be singing in my language." Her acceptance speech highlighted the significance of representation in music, especially as she reflected on the emotional journey of her career.
In a remarkable moment, Snotty Nose Rez Kids celebrated their first Juno Award win for rap album/EP of the year after five nominations. Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce shared the importance of the win, stating, "We really love rap music man, we really love hip-hop, which is why this award means so much to us right now. We made this album to add voices for Indigenous people." His partner, Darren "Young D" Metz, added that winning in their home province of British Columbia felt like destiny.
Montreal producer Priori also made waves, winning electronic album of the year for his album This But More. "I can't say I was expecting this honestly," he remarked, acknowledging the challenge of creating introspective music in a fast-paced industry dominated by platforms like TikTok.
Spencer Chandra Herbert, the B.C. minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, delivered a passionate speech about Canadian content, declaring, "Are you proud that we have Canadian content rules so we can hear your music on our radio stations — I love Cancon, sorry, it's a passion of mine." He underscored the government's commitment to supporting Canadian culture.
Lowell made history as the first recipient of the songwriter of the year, non-performer Juno. She expressed her gratitude, saying, "I'm a little emosh right now to be honest. Definitely never thought this would happen." Her work with artists like Beyoncé and her advocacy for recognizing songwriters was a focal point of her speech.
Another historic moment came from Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds, who became the first Indigenous woman composer to win the Juno for classical composition of the year with her album Angmalukisaa. "I am just so grateful and honoured to have the opportunity to share my vision and my views through my music and through my voice," she said, emphasizing the personal nature of her work.
Klô Pelgag took home the francophone album of the year for her album Abracadabra, celebrating the recognition of French-language music in Canada. "I think to be someone making French music, francophone music, in Canada it's not easy," she reflected, highlighting the challenges faced by artists in the francophone community.
Montreal punk band Nobro won rock album of the year for their album Set Your Pussy Free. Lead singer Kathryn McCaughey delivered a bold introduction before their performance, calling for equal representation and pay for women in the industry.
Riley O'Connor received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, with Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy praising his dedication to strengthening the Canadian music scene. O'Connor expressed his gratitude, stating, "This is not a time to retreat, this is an opportunity to show our neighbours to the south and around the world, the uniqueness of our artistic talent."
Raffi and the Good Lovelies won for children's album of the year with their collaboration on Penny Penguin. Raffi shared his excitement, saying, "I was really hoping I'd get this award because it's not just my award." He also mentioned plans to write a democracy song aimed at children.
Ryan Ofei won his first Juno for contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year, while Caity Gyorgy celebrated her third Juno win for vocal jazz. Montreal's Kaïa Kater also took home her first Juno for contemporary roots album of the year, expressing her gratitude for the recognition.
Sebastian Gaskin won contemporary Indigenous artist of the year, reflecting on his journey and the legacy of his father, who was part of the Indigenous music scene in the '90s. "I worked really hard to get here, so thank you so much," he said, acknowledging the support he received along the way.
AP Dhillon won the inaugural South Asian music recording of the year, although he was not present to accept the award. Actor Neeru Bajwa accepted it on his behalf. The evening also featured David Suzuki presenting the Juno Humanitarian Award to Sarah Harmer, who spoke passionately about the need for environmental action in her acceptance speech.
Nemahsis, a Palestinian-Canadian artist, won for alternative album of the year for her debut record Verbathim. Her emotional speech touched on the importance of recognizing diverse voices in the industry, stating, "Don't let it be too late to listen." She also acknowledged her producer, Noah "40" Shebib, for his support during challenging times.
As the night concluded, the Juno Awards showcased the rich tapestry of Canadian music, celebrating both established and emerging artists. With heartfelt speeches, historic wins, and powerful performances, the gala served as a reminder of the vibrant and diverse music scene in Canada.
