Boi-1da and Sarah Harmer Announced As Special 2025 Juno Awards Recipients

Boi-1da and Sarah Harmer are earning special honours.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced both Canadian artists as special award recipients at this year's Juno Awards.

Globally successful record producer Boi-1da (born Matthew Samuels) will receive the International Achievement Award during The Juno Broadcast live on CBC on March 30. This award recognizes Canadian artists who have attained exemplary success on the world stage and it honours Canadian talent who have raised the profile of Canadian music around the world, as well as topping charts. Boi-1da is the first producer recipient of the prestigious award, and just the 10th in total. He previously won a Grammy for Best Rap Song six years ago for co-writing Drake's hit "God's Plan."

Sarah Harmer will receive the 2025 Humanitarian Award At The Juno Awards Gala, on Saturday, March 29 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This award recognizes Canadian artists or industry leaders whose work has positively enhanced the social culture of Canada, and Harmer is being honoured for eloquently using her voice to advocate for major environmental issues.

"This year’s Juno Special Award recipients exemplify the very best of what Canadian music has to offer,” says Allan Reid, President and CEO of CARAS. “From creating superstar recordings to leading with compassion in their humanitarian efforts, we are excited to celebrate Boi-1da and Sarah Harmer for their work and profound impact.”

It is almost 20 years since Boi-1da’s first recognized production credit, for the track “Do What You Do” on Drake’s 2006 mixtape Room for Improvement. That launched a career that now boasts these impressive stats: 60+ platinum singles, 19 Grammy nominations with one win, 4 RIAA-Certified Diamond records and four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s.

He's produced tracks for superstars including Rihanna, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Kardinal Offishall and many more.

“It's a huge honour," he says. "Canada has always been home, and its music scene shaped me into the producer I am today. To be able to take that foundation and contribute to music on a global scale means everything. I hope this inspires the next generation of Canadian artists and producers to dream big and know that the world is listening."

Singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer began her illustrious musical career with roots-rock bands The Saddletramps and Weeping Tile, prior to launching a solo career that took off with her 2000 sophomore album, You Were Here. That record went platinum and five more full-length albums have brought her both commercial success and international critical acclaim.

Harmer's record as an environmental activist runs long and deep. In 2005, she co-founded citizen’s organization PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land) and supported it via a tour of the Niagara Escarpment region. A documentary DVD of this tour was released in 2006 as Escarpment Blues and Harmer also coauthored a book about the campaign, The Last Stand: A Journey Through the Ancient Cliff-Face Forest of the Niagara Escarpment.

She is credited with leading the successful effort to prevent an open-pit gravel mine in a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve on the Escarpment in Ontario and has been active in different community environmental groups, including the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition, and pipeline protests.

“I truly appreciate this honour," says Harmer of this special award. "I accept on behalf of all the people who volunteer their time to speak up to protect land, water, and the web of life in their communities, and beyond. Musicians who use their platforms to amplify these struggles give a huge boost to the collective fight. Now more than ever we need to use our powers to build community and respect the natural world that underpins our lives.”

She is no stranger to recognition at the Juno Awards, having taken home 10 trophies for her solo work.