OTTAWA TO HOST THE 2017 JUNO AWARDS

The JUNO Awards mark a historic return to the nation’s capital as The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and broadcast partner CTV announced today that Ottawa will host The 2017 JUNO Awards and JUNO Week celebrations, March 27 – April 2, 2017. The 46^th annual JUNO Awards, to be broadcast on CTV, will take place at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, April 2, 2017.JUNO Week 2017 will be one of the major events in Ottawa as the Capital celebrates Canada’s 150^th anniversary with a yearlong series of special events, exhibits and immersive experiences. The JUNO Awards are returning to Ottawa after the outstanding success of the 2012 JUNO Awards, and this will be the city’s third time hosting Canada’s Music Awards.

“As Ottawa 2017 commemorates Canada’s incredible heritage and values, the JUNO Awards will pay tribute to this important milestone,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “The Capital’s devoted music fans are proudly supportive of both their local and the national music scene, making Ottawa the perfect home for the JUNO Awards in 2017.”

Mayor Jim Watson responded to the announcement with a challenge for the local arts and music community to begin planning an unprecedented week of music in the Capital. “We have so much talent in this city and we want to share your gifts, with Canada and the world,” said the Mayor. “Yes, we want to fill every venue,” he added, “but we also want workshops, clinics and classroom programming. This is your chance to inspire the next generation of Canadian artists and contribute to the legacy of Canada’s 150^th anniversary celebrations.”

“The 2017 JUNO Awards on CTV will be a special one as we broadcast from the nation’s capital during Canada’s sesquicentennial year,” said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV. “We look forward to inviting the entire country to celebrate with us in Ottawa.”

“Surely there is no better way to mark Canada’s 150^th anniversary than honouring the best in Canadian music, this country’s greatest cultural export,” said Randy Lennox, President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media.

“From kitchen parties to concert halls, music gives a voice to our culture and inspires our celebrations,” said Guy Laflamme, Executive Director of the Ottawa 2017 Bureau. “This is why we are so proud to host the JUNO Awards and present it as one of our Signature Events for 2017. We will be announcing many more events of this caliber in the weeks and months to come, as we gear up for a once-in-a-lifetime, yearlong celebration of Canada’s 150^th, right here in the Capital.”

Ottawa 2017 will feature a variety of cultural, musical and sporting events and experiences across the city’s major institutions, landmarks and neighborhoods. Ottawa-Gatineau is home to major attractions like the National Arts Centre, the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of History, as well professional sports teams like the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and the CFL’s Ottawa RedBlacks. While official programing for Ottawa 2017 is yet to be announced, a number of key events have already been confirmed for Ottawa to mark Canada’s 150^th year, including: Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings curling championship, the Canadian Track and Field Championships and the Canadian Videogame Awards.

When Ottawa welcomed the JUNO Awards in 2012, William Shatner hosted, Blue Rodeo was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Feist was the big winner, taking home three awards, including Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year.

From 2007 to 2015 the JUNO Awards have created a total economic impact of almost $99 million, including $11 million for the 2012 JUNO Awards in Ottawa, $14 million for the 2011 JUNO Awards in Toronto, and $10 million for the 2015 JUNO Awards in Hamilton.

Since CTV first partnered with CARAS in 2002, the JUNO Awards have travelled city to city across Canada starting in St. John’s (and again in 2010), followed by Ottawa (2003 and 2012), Edmonton (2004), Winnipeg (2005 and 2014), Halifax (2006), Saskatoon (2007), Vancouver (2009), Toronto (2011), Regina (2013), Hamilton (2015) and, after a memorable visit in 2008, will return to Calgary this year.

National Sponsors of the 2017 JUNO Awards: We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Radio Starmaker Fund, the Province of Ontario, the City of Ottawa, Ottawa 2017, Ottawa Tourism and TD Bank Group.

About CARAS

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L’académie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l’enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of ongoing opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards and other year-round initiatives. For more information on the 45^th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.junoawards.ca or www.carasonline.ca.

About CTV

CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 14 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at CTV.ca.