Charlotte Cardin Triumphs On Juno Awards Opening Night

By Kerry Doole

The rise of Charlotte Cardin to major stardom was reaffirmed on May 14 in Toronto when the Montreal artist accepted three trophies at the 2022 Juno Opening Night Awards. Cardin won the Junos for Artist, Single and Pop Album of the Year, while The Weeknd was the only other multiple winner, earning Contemporary R&B Recording and Songwriter of the Year trophies. He was not present.

A full house at The Metro Convention Centre comprised 1400 artists and industry movers and shakers, with notable dignitaries present, including Governor-General Mary Simon, Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. Guests enjoyed a reception followed by dinner while the event streamed live via CBC Gem and CBC Music for a lengthy three and a half hours, after a 15-minute delay in getting rolling. 

41 trophies, the bulk of the Juno Awards, were handed out on the night, with five of the major categories held back for the more performance-heavy main Juno broadcast tonight, with that event taking place outdoors at the Budweiser Stage.

Presented by Ontario Creates, and co-hosted by Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe (CBC Music’s The Block) and Ann Pornel (The Great Canadian Baking Show), the Opening Night Awards featured five performances' by Juno nominees Roxane Bruneau, Ruby Waters, Valley, Allison Russell, and 2021/2022 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class shortlist artist, Jesse Gold.

Also presented were The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (the late Denise Jones), the Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada (Susan Aglukark) and the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation (Dallas Green).

Early on in proceedings, Allan Reid, president and CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS), welcomed the guests, noting with some understatement, "it has been a very challenging couple of years." Expressing the sentiments of most, he queried, 'Is this me? In the flesh in a full room? Is this real?" He went on to state that "this is the most diverse group of nominees ever, and we had 105 first-time nominees in the 46 categories." Reid also confirmed Edmonton as the host city for the 2023 Juno Awards, some 19 years after its last turn.

In typically modest Canadian fashion, most of the acceptance speeches from the winners were both humble and short, with a few exceptions. Alternative Album winner Mustafa passionately called out systemic racism while standing up for his brothers in Toronto's Regent Park, while Serena Ryder addressed the "epidemic of mental illness" and pledged that "I'll keep on talking about it."

The In Memoriam segment honouring those the Canadian music community has lost was done beautifully, accompanied by Allison Russell's performance, while Governor-General Simon's presentation of the Humanitarian Award to her fellow ambassador of the North, Susan Aglukark, was another highlight.

The 2022 Juno Opening Night Awards Presented by Ontario Creates are available to rewatch on-demand via CBC Gem or CBCMusic.ca/junos.

The 51st Annual Juno Awards Broadcast will be live for the first time from outdoor venue Budweiser Stage in Toronto, broadcast and streamed live across Canada tonight (May 15) at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos, and CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

Here is the full list of winners from the Juno Opening Night Awards

Artist of the year: Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Single of the year: Meaningless, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Songwriter of the year: Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye

Jack Richardson Producer of the year: WondaGurl  

Recording engineer of the year: Hill Kourkoutis

Music video of the year: Easy on Me, Xavier Dolan (Adele), Columbia*Sony

International album of the year: Sour, Olivia Rodrigo, Universal

Breakthrough group of the year: Monowhales, True Records*ADA

Pop album of the year: Phoenix, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Dance Recording of the year: Caution, Kaytranada, Sony

Underground dance single of the year: Shadows in the Dark, HNTR featuring Elliot Moss, mau5trap*AWAL

Electronic album of the year: Oasis Sky, TOR, Independent

Rock album of the year: Sisters Not Twins (The Professional Lovers Album), The Beaches, Universal

Metal/hard music album of the year: Bleed the Future, Archspire, Season of Mist*The Orchard

Alternative album of the year: When Smoke Rises, Mustafa Regent, Park Songs*Pirates Blend

Contemporary R&B recording of the year: Take My Breath, The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Traditional R&B/soul recording of the year: 24hrs, Savannah Ré, 1Music*Universal

Rap single of the year: Bold, Charmaine, Warner

Country album of the year: What Is Life? Brett Kissel, Warner

Adult contemporary album of the year: The Art of Falling Apart, Serena Ryder, ArtHaus*Warner

Adult Alternative album of the year: Inwards & Onwards, Half Moon Run, Crystal Math*Universal

Reggae Recording of the year: Easy Now, Kairo McLean, Willow Records*Independent

Jazz album of the year (group): Worldview, Avataar, InSound*Independent

Album artwork of the year: Mykaël Nelson (art director, designer, & illustrator), Nicolas Lemieux (art director & designer), Albert Zablit (photographer); Histoires Sans Paroles – Harmonium Symphonique – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Simon Leclerc, GSI Musique

Contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year: War Club, DJ Shub, Shub Music*The Orchard

Jazz album of the year (solo): Change of Plans, Will Bonness, Independent

Classical album of the year (solo artist): energeia, Emily D’Angelo, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year: No Greater Love, The Color, Dream Records*Universal

Classical album of the year (large ensemble): Solfeggio, L’Harmonie des saisons, conducted by Eric Milnes ft. Hélène Brunet, ATMA*Naxos

Comedy album of the year: Grandma’s Girl 姥姥的孩子, Andrea Jin 金玉琪, 604*Fontana North

Children’s album of the year: Falling in Africa, Garth Prince, Prince Garth Music*Independent

Instrumental album of the year: That Tall Distance, David Myles, Little Tiny Records*Fontana North

Classical composition of the year: Arras, Keiko Devaux, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

Vocal jazz album of the year: Now Pronouncing: Caity Gyorgy, Caity Gyorgy, La Reserve*Independent/The Orchard

Global music album of the year: Kalasö, Afrikana Soul Sister, Les Faux-Monnayeurs*Propagande/Believe

Album Francophone de l’année:  Impossible à aimer, Cœur de pirate, Bravo Musique*Propagande/Believe

Traditional roots album of the year: Joyful Banner Blazing, Maria Dunn, Independent*Outside/Believe

Blues album of the year: Open Road, Colin James, Stony Plain*Fontana North/IDLA

Classical album of the year (small ensemble): Beethoven: Sonates pour violon et piano / Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5, Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin, Analekta*F.A.B./The Orchard

Contemporary roots album of the year: Outside Child, Allison Russell, Fantasy Records*Universal

Traditional indigenous artist or group of the year: Kakike, Fawn Wood Buffalo, Jump*Amplified/Drumbeat/A-Train