Shawn Mendes emerged as the big winner at the 2019 Juno Gala Dinner and Awards, picking up four trophies.
The 20-year-old Pickering, Ontario native won artist of the year, songwriter of the year, pop album of the year, and single of the year for his song "In My Blood."
Thirty-six Juno awards and three special achievement awards were presented at the packed gala event at the London Convention Centre on Saturday night - one day before the 48th annual Juno Awards broadcast.
Despite picking up the most hardware of any artist, Mendes was not able to accept his awards in person, as he is currently on the European leg of his world tour. The pop sensation is slated to appear in a taped performance from Europe at Sunday's Juno Awards.
London dance music duo Loud Luxury was one of 20 first-time nominees to win a Juno. The pair won dance recording of the year for their hit song "Body."
"This is an extremely crazy, full circle moment for us," said Loud Luxury’s Joe De Pace. "Andrew and I met at Western University, and when we started Loud Luxury it was just a 'let's make some music together because you produce and I produce and let's play some parties together in London because it is fun.' So to be here in London this year and winning the first award of the night is absolutely insane for us."
The duo shared stories of moving to L.A. with nothing more than the shirts on their backs, trying to make a career out of music.
"We were working for so long to break down any door that we could, find any opportunity. Now the thing that has really changed is it feels like those opportunities come a lot easier, and it's on us to take advantage of that and the platform we have been given," said Andrew Fedyk.
Acclaimed songwriter and producer turned philanthropist David Foster was honoured with this year's humanitarian award. The prestigious award was presented to him by Michael Bublé, just minutes after Bublé picked up his 14th Juno for adult contemporary album of the year.
Bublé described Foster as "a man whose heart is as big as the sun."
Foster was recognized for his lifelong dedication to philanthropy through his support of hundreds of charities, including the David Foster Foundation, which raises organ donation awareness and provides financial support to Canadians in need of life-saving transplants.
"It's easy to put your name to something, it's harder to do the real work, and I really feel like I've done the real work," said Foster, who received a standing ovation. "In terms of philanthropy, it's something that everyone should do, not just people who are well known or famous. Everyone should be doing it in their own way."
Foster also took time to praise Canadian talent that has taken the world by storm.
"We are leaders, we are not followers," exclaimed Foster. "The top four out of ten artists right now are Canadian, that's very disproportionate. You can't argue Drake, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and Shawn Mendes are in the top ten."
When asked if there was another Canadian artist he would be interested in working with in the future, Foster singled out Loud Luxury.
"I was struck by that fact [Loud Luxury] said their song was number one for a solid year. I think that is fascinating and the song sounded really good," said Foster, who will return to southwestern Ontario June 9 to play a show at Caesars Windsor.
Washboard Union took home the breakthough group of the year award, becoming the first ever country act to do so. The adult alternative album of the year award went to Toronto-born folk singer Bahamas for "Earthtones", while Oshawa-native Dizzy won alternative album for "Baby Teeth."
Sarnia's Donovan Woods claimed the contemporary roots album of the year award for "Both Ways." Colin James's "Miles to Go" won for blues album of the year, while Windsor's Dave Merheje won comedy album of the year for "Good Friend Bad Grammar."
In his first ever Juno win, Indigenous tenor and composer Jeremy Dutcher took Indigenous music album of the year for "Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa."
When asked how he felt about the only Indigenous award being presented at the gala and not the Junos broadcast, Dutcher did not pull any punches.
"Our music deserves to be on these stages," said Dutcher. "Representation is important, we are not to be siloed. I hope this is the last year that this happens."
It was a Junos first for Voivod who picked up the metal/hard music award of the year for "The Wake." The world music album of the year was presented to Wesli for "Rapadou Kreyol."
Rock album of the year went to the Arkells, whose bass player is a London-native. The group spoke about parents of autistic children using their song "Relentless" during rallies in protest of the provincial government's changes to autism funding.
"It's really unexpected where the songs go, but I think the messages in the songs are about overcoming and that can be a really versatile topic," said Mike DeAngelis "I was really happy to see that they wanted to use it, and when they asked it was easy to say 'yes, please do.' We saw them marching and showing action in public - we're super happy about that."
The remaining Juno Awards will be handed out Sunday night at Budweiser Gardens.
