Artists from three corners of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 music scene emerged as big winners at the Juno Awards industry gala on Saturday as rapper Tobi, alternative singer Aysanabee and pop star Tate McRae came out on top.

Each pocketed two trophies at the invite-only event held at the Halifax Convention Centre, a precursor to SundayB次元官网网址檚 Junos broadcast on CBC.

Oji-Cree musician AysanabeeB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淗ere and NowB次元官网网址� was named alternative album of the year, while he also won the songwriterB次元官网网址檚 award for his work on the albumB次元官网网址檚 tracks.

While accepting one of his awards the musician, born Evan Pang, asked his fellow Indigenous artists in the room to stand up and be acknowledged, saying this year saw more Indigenous artists up for Junos than ever.

Representatives for the Junos say 33 Indigenous artists were nominated this year.

Signed to a record label owned by Indigenous women, Pang credited his musical predecessors and looked to a future where boundaries no longer restricted Indigenous performers within the industry.

B次元官网网址淚t was Indigenous women who opened the door for me,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to try and take the hinges off and bring it home.B次元官网网址�

Toronto rapper Tobi had his own reasons to celebrate boundary-breaking as his B次元官网网址淧anicB次元官网网址� landed rap album of the year, while its track B次元官网网址淪omeone I KnewB次元官网网址� picked up rap single.

B次元官网网址淲e made this album with a lot of love for humanity and the marginalized people of the world,B次元官网网址� he said from the stage.

B次元官网网址淎s we liberate the least of us, we liberate all of us.B次元官网网址�

And while Calgary native McRae wasnB次元官网网址檛 in attendance, she landed two of the nightB次元官网网址檚 biggest awards. Her pop smash B次元官网网址淕reedyB次元官网网址� was picked as single of the year and she won artist of the year.

Another double winner found himself amid the most surreal of Juno-winning circumstances.

Technical guru Shawn Everett won his second award of the night while standing backstage taking questions about his first.

Everett was named producer of the year as well as engineer of the year for his work with Miley Cyrus and Alabama Shakes member Brittany Howard.

Dressed in massive black platform shoes and sporting dreadlocks, Everett stopped mid-sentence as someone pointed to a live feed of the main room where he was winning his second award.

B次元官网网址淚 won? ThatB次元官网网址檚 crazy,B次元官网网址� Everett said with pure befuddlement as he watched the showB次元官网网址檚 host accept the honour in his absence.

B次元官网网址淭his is a surreal moment for me. This is weird.B次元官网网址�

Everett was later given another chance to deliver his second Juno acceptance speech, which he used to thank his manager and family.

Junos organizers say 17 awards went to first-time winners during the Saturday event.

One of them was Amanda Marshall who scored adult contemporary album of the year for B次元官网网址淗eavy Lifting,B次元官网网址� her comeback after two decades away from the scene, while Toronto music collective New West won breakthrough group.

Other winners at the Saturday event included Montreal pop singer Charlotte Cardin, who went into this yearB次元官网网址檚 Junos with a leading six nominations. Her B次元官网网址�99 NightsB次元官网网址� took home pop album of the year.

And Toronto band the Beaches, who saw their single B次元官网网址淏lame BrettB次元官网网址� become a TikTok sensation last year, won rock album with B次元官网网址淏lame My Ex.B次元官网网址�

James Barker Band picked up country album for B次元官网网址淎head of Our Time,B次元官网网址� while DJ and producer BambiiB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淚nfinity ClubB次元官网网址� was named electronic album of the year.

Music video of the year went to Allison RussellB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淒emons,B次元官网网址� directed by fellow Montrealer Ethan Tobman. Russell accepted on his behalf, saying her childhood friend couldnB次元官网网址檛 attend because he was working on a project with Taylor Swift.

The Junos industry ceremony precedes SundayB次元官网网址檚 CBC broadcast, which Nelly Furtado will host. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where several marquee awards will be handed out, including fan choice and album of the year.

The main Junos show will also celebrate this yearB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, rapper Maestro Fresh Wes, and Halifax native Elliot Page will present Tegan and Sara with the humanitarian award for their work supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

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David Friend, The Canadian Press