Juno Awards 2022: Charlotte Cardin wins big at opening night

Charlotte Cardin and The Weeknd were among the big winners at the Juno Opening Night Awards in Toronto on Saturday, as more than 40 awards were handed out in a variety of categories. 

Live streamed from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the ceremony was emceed by CBC's The Block host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe and Canadian comedian Ann Pornel. The second night of the Juno Awards will take place Sunday night and air live on CBC.

Montreal's Cardin picked up three awards, including single of the year, pop album of the year for Phoenix and artist of the year. Cardin also had the most nominations of the evening.

"This is so special to me," she said after winning artist of the year. "I'm going to keep working so hard."

"It's the most beautiful gift. There are no words to describe that feeling. I put out that album being very, very proud," she said of her sophomore release.

Toronto singer-songwriter Mustafa, who won a Juno for alternative album of the year for When Smoke Rises, accepted his award by acknowledging the loss of his friends in the neighbourhood of Regent Park. 

"I wrote a record on death, I wrote a record on loss," he said, adding it was important for him to document this loss. He also noted being the first Black Muslim winner of this category and why we should rethink "firsts."

"Being the first of anything should now be critiqued more than celebrated."

The artist added that he is in good company within the Canadian songwriting community. "I feel so privileged to come from a legacy — or to be in a nation that has such a legacy of great songwriters."

Toronto's The Weeknd won two awards, picking up contemporary R&B recording of the year for Take My Breath and songwriter of the year.

The evening also included performances by several 2022 Juno Award nominees: Roxane Bruneau, Ruby Waters, Allison Russell and indie band Valley, as well as Jesse Gold, a 2021-22 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class short list artist.

It was also a night to recognize some of Canada's most prolific names in music. Denise Jones, who passed away in 2020, was honoured with the 2022 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for championing Canada's Afro-Caribbean culture.

Her sons Jerimi and Jesse, who accepted the award on her behalf, noted their mother was the true embodiment of hope and was the reason why the Junos introduced a reggae category in 1985. 

"My brother and I stand before you tonight as testaments to what love, guidance, wisdom being poured into young people looks like," Jeremi said.