Skate punk icon Avril Lavigne reflected on the humble beginnings of her more than two-decade singing career ahead of her induction into CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Walk of Fame at a special anniversary gala in Toronto on Saturday.

The singer-songwriter, who rose to fame with hits such as B次元官网网址淐omplicatedB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪k8er Boi,B次元官网网址� said itB次元官网网址檚 especially meaningful to receive the honour for the roots she set down in Canada before she helped usher in an era of female-driven, pop-punk music in the early aughts.

B次元官网网址淎ll my family are here. This is where I got my start signing in Napanee, Ont., I performed with Shania Twain when I was 14 in Ottawa, I did theatre out here, so itB次元官网网址檚 an honour to get this award,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is my home. It means so much to me.B次元官网网址�

Media personality George Stroumboulopoulos, who presented her star, said Lavigne had enormous impact on many kids who grew up seeing themselves in her music and persona.

B次元官网网址淪he never pretended. I remember seeing her back in those early days being really, really connected to punk roots B次元官网网址� there was a level of authenticity thatB次元官网网址檚 very hard to fabricate,B次元官网网址� said Stroumboulopoulos.

B次元官网网址淪he should get her flowers in front of everybody. To me, to be able to be a part of that, is lovely.B次元官网网址�

The Walk of Fame, honouring notable Canadians for excellence in fields spanning from entertainment to humanitarianism, celebrated its 25th anniversary at a star-studded event attended by household names like 1972 Summit Series-winning hockey legend Paul Henderson and former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chr茅tien.

The event was hosted by Drew and Jonathan Scott of B次元官网网址淧roperty BrothersB次元官网网址� and Juno award-winning singer Deborah Cox, who received a star on the Walk of Fame last year.

Political satirist and 2023 inductee Rick Mercer said receiving a star on the Walk of Fame is something he never believed would happen for him.

B次元官网网址淔or 15 years that I had the TV show, I would come out of the subway and walk to the CBC, and I would walk along part of the Walk of Fame and say hello to certain people,B次元官网网址� Mercer said of being immortalized in TorontoB次元官网网址檚 entertainment district.

B次元官网网址淚 think things like this happen and itB次元官网网址檚 natural to wonder, is it over now? But IB次元官网网址檝e got a few tricks up my sleeve,B次元官网网址� he said, noting heB次元官网网址檚 still focused on writing after the release of his most recent memoir, B次元官网网址淭he Road Years.B次元官网网址�

Hockey superstar and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said he was a little surprised to receive a Walk of Fame star so early in his playing career, but said it was an honour to be recognized and represent Canada regardless.

B次元官网网址淢oments like these obviously make you kind of step back and reflect a little bit, and obviously you have to think about the lasting legacy, things that I want to accomplish still.B次元官网网址�

The generation-spanning TV franchise B次元官网网址淒egrassiB次元官网网址� was also recognized as cast members from the showB次元官网网址檚 various iterations since 1979 reunited for what creator Linda Schuyler called B次元官网网址渁 huge reunion.B次元官网网址�

Also commemorated was prolific Cree-Metis actress Tantoo Cardinal, who starred in the 1990 Western B次元官网网址淒ances with WolvesB次元官网网址� and in Martin ScorseseB次元官网网址檚 October blockbuster B次元官网网址淜illers of the Flower Moon.B次元官网网址� Reflecting on a career that has spanned five decades, she said the star gives her a sense of accomplishment in both her contributions to society and Indigenous storytelling.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of healing thatB次元官网网址檚 needed to be done in our community, and so thatB次元官网网址檚 always what IB次元官网网址檝e tried to work with,B次元官网网址� said Cardinal.

B次元官网网址淚 put in my two bits and now the roadB次元官网网址檚 open. IB次元官网网址檓 in a new age and IB次元官网网址檓 in a new place in my career, and a lot of things that I was so concerned about in the early days are no longer a responsibility that I need to hold on to and carry.B次元官网网址�

Hip-hop staple Kardinal Offishall was this yearB次元官网网址檚 recipient of the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour. Philanthropist and broadcast industry fixture Gary Slaight will also get a star, as will Rosalie Silberman Abella, the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Pioneering neuroscientist Brenda Milner became the oldest living inductee at 105.

Thirteen Canadian rock bands of the 1970s and B次元官网网址�80s B次元官网网址� including Glass Tiger and Loverboy B次元官网网址� inducted into the Walk of Fame at a special event in September are also being celebrated.

The 25th anniversary broadcast of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Walk of Fame will air on Dec. 16 on CTV.