The Juno Awards celebrated the best in Canadian music last night in Halifax. From well-deserved wins to electric performances to some peak nostalgia, the JUNOS were a lively celebration of the musical talent in our country. It was also a huge night for Canada’s women artists, including some of our faves who we caught up with at the nominee announcement in Toronto last month.

Here are the big wins and standout moments you need to know about from the 2024 JUNOs:

Nelly Furtado’s Momentous Medley

Host Nelly Furtado commanded the JUNOs stage from the start, opening the show with a medley of some of her biggest hits. 

She brought the nostalgia with tracks from her fan-favourite 2006 album Loose, including Say it Right and Promiscuous, as well as her 2023 single Eat Your Man. She closed out the medley with her soulful single I’m Like a Bird.

The Beaches Bring it Home

The Beaches WERE the moment at the JUNOS last night. The Toronto band took home both awards they were nominated for—Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year, continuing the momentum from the release of their latest album Blame My Ex. Crowds were buzzing for the high-energy performance of their viral hit Blame Brett, with many holding up signs with their own exes’ names. 

But our favourite part of the evening may have been their acceptance speech for Group of the Year, which guitarist Kylie Miller wrapped up by saying:  “To all the young girls watching us, start bands with your best friends.”

Charlotte Cardin Collects Two Awards

With nominations in 6 categories, Montreal singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin was the most nominated artist at the JUNOs this year. Last night she took home the award for Pop Album of the Year as well as the coveted Album of the Year award for 99 Nights. 

In her speech, she thanked her friends who helped bring the album to life: “We made it at a moment where I desperately needed a creative outlet and a safe space to tell these stories.” The audience was also treated to a performance of her infectious hit Confetti.

Tegan & Sara’s Tribute to the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

One of the most touching moments of the evening was the iconic indie pop duo Tegan and Sara receiving the Humanitarian Award, recognizing their continued support and advocacy for 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Canada. Elliot Page presented the award to the sisters, who took the time to acknowledge the hostility their community continues to face.

“Advocating for our community’s rights is a great privilege, and we are dedicated to confronting any form of discrimination that threatens the wellbeing of our community—threats like the Alberta government’s attempt to prevent trans youth from accessing vital care. These attacks are harmful because they are directed at the kids, who need our support the most.”

See the full list of winners on the JUNOs website.