The Tragically Hip Honoured with the Junos' 2021 Humanitarian Award

The award "recognizes outstanding Canadian artists or industry leaders whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and beyond"

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Feb 24, 2021

The Tragically Hip will be honoured for their humanitarian efforts at this year's Juno Awards. Today, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) named the iconic Canadian band as recipients of the Junos' 2021 Humanitarian Award.

The Humanitarian Award "recognizes outstanding Canadian artists or industry leaders whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and beyond." 

CARAS cites the Hip's efforts in raising and donating "millions of dollars for various social and environmental causes including Camp Trillium, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Sunnybrook Foundation, the Special Olympics and more."

"For decades, this group of musical brothers has contributed to helping improve the social well-being of others and protecting the vast natural wonders of this country we call home," Allan Reid, president & CEO of CARAS, the Juno Awards & MusiCounts said in a statement. "After a challenging year when the power of kindness and generosity were more necessary than ever, we are proud to commemorate the band's tireless activism and charitable achievements at the 50th annual Juno Awards."

"We are honoured to be receiving the 2021 Humanitarian Award," the Hip wrote in a respective statement. "Our admiration for the past recipients makes it impossible not to feel humbled as well.

"We learned early on back in Kingston that you can accomplish great things with a stage and a willing audience. It's about building community, and no one appreciated that responsibility more than Gord Downie. He was committed to social and environmental justice and we remain inspired by his example. Best intentions can achieve little without loyal support and action, so we consider this award as much a recognition for fans of our group, as they have been there for us through everything, and for every cause, and for that we are eternally grateful. We share this honour with you."

The Humanitarian Award will be presented to the Tragically Hip during the 50th annual Juno Awards broadcast on May 16 airing nationwide on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and streaming globally on CBCmusic.ca/junos.

Past winners of the Humanitarian Award include Buffy Sainte-Marie, Arcade Fire, Rush, Neil Young, Tom Cochrane, Sarah McLachlan and more.

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