Canadian music legends and first time nominees lead winner's list at the 2017 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards in Ottawa

Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip receive Academy nods for evening's top awards

15 first time nominees took home their first JUNOS

Bell Media President, Randy Lennox, presented with Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award

Drake received International Achievement Award

Buffy Sainte-Marie honoured with Allan Waters Humanitarian Award

TORONTO, April 1, 2017 /CNW/ - The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today handed out 34 JUNOS and three special awards during a spectacular gathering of the Canadian music industry at the 2017 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards presented by SOCAN in Ottawa.

Attended by over 1,500 guests, the event, hosted by cbc radio one q's Tom Power at the Shaw Centre, recognized the industry's top talent and Canada's music milestones from the past year.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2017 JUNO GALA DINNER & AWARDS, INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES AND IMAGES, GO TO WWW.JUNOAWARDS.CA

Full press release available here.

Premier Partners of The 2017 JUNO Awards: CARAS acknowledges the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters, Radio Starmaker Fund, Ottawa 2017, the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Ottawa Tourism, Google Play Music 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, MusiCounts, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and other year-round initiatives. For more information on the 46th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.junoawards.ca

SOURCE 2017 JUNO Awards

on the JUNO Awards, please contact: Zai Karim, rock-it promotions, [email protected], 416 656 0707