Photos + Recap: 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards 

Photos by: Tyler Roberts –
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EDMONTON, AB – March 11: Arkells at the 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) paid tribute to the artists at the top of Canada’s music scene on March 11th at the 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards, inside the Edmonton Convention Centre. Co-hosted by Alberta duo Andrew Phung (CBC’s Run the Burbs and Kim’s Convenience) and Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe (CBC Music’s The Block), the event included five knockout performances and the presentation of 41 JUNO Awards.

The Weeknd, took the night’s top spot with four awards: Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. The Weeknd has now amassed 21 wins in just a decade, surpassing Celine Dion and tying Bryan Adams as the second most decorated JUNO Award winner of all time. If he wins any of the awards he is nominated for on Monday night’s Broadcast (TikTok JUNO Fan Choice or Album of the Year), he will push past Adams and take over the spot, second only to Anne Murray, who is the JUNOS’ most decorated artist with 25 awards.

The JUNO Opening Night Awards put a spotlight not only on our nation’s music veterans, but also its rising stars with 16 JUNO awards going to first-time winners: Akeel Henry (Jack Richardson Producer of the Year), Angelique Francis (Blues Album of the Year), Banx & Ranx (Breakthrough Group of the Year), Bekah Simms (Classical Composition of the Year), Florian Hoefner Trio (Jazz Album of the Year – Group), Greg Gow (Underground Dance Single of the Year), Jon Dore (Comedy Album of the Year), Jordan St. Cyr (Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year) Kirk Diamond, Kairo Mclean and Finn (Reggae Recording of the Year), Lenka Lichtenberg (Global Music Album of the Year), Orchestre De L’Agora, conducted by Nicolas Ellis, soloist Marina Thibeault (Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble), Rêve (Dance Recording of the Year), Savannah Ré feat. Dylan Sinclair (Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year), The Bearhead Sisters (Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year) and Walk Off The Earth and Romeo Eats (Children’s Album of the Year).

Artists from the Wild Rose Country were also well applauded, including Calgary’s Caity Gyorgy (Vocal Jazz Album of the Year), Grande Prairie’s Tenille Townes (Country Album of the Year) and Edmonton’s The Bearhead Sisters. Albertan icons Nickelback, Tate McRae and Tenille Townes still have highly-anticipated performances to come and will heat up the stage at Rogers Place tonight in celebration of Canada’s biggest night in music.

The 52nd Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will air live across the country from Rogers Place in Edmonton tonight (March 13th) at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos, and CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages.

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: Arkells at the 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)

EDMONTON, AB – March 11: The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta on March 11, 2023. (Photo: Tyler Roberts for Aesthetic Magazine)