Saskatoon to host 2020 Juno Awards

Saskatoon will host the 2020 Juno Awards.

The city’s tourism agency, Tourism Saskatoon, held a press conference at the Remai Modern Art Gallery Thursday to announce the news.

“Why not Saskatoon? This is an amazing city,” said Juno Awards president and CEO Allan Reid, when asked why the Junos would be coming to the Bridge City.

Along with dozens of events planned for Junos Week from March 9-15, Reid said the awards would bring as many as 3,000 visitors.

“It is agents, promoters, managers, record labels, publishers — it’s the entire music industry that travels with us.”

But even with all those people coming along for the ride, Reid said a successful Junos would rely on having the community on board.

“As much as the Junos comes in and we bring the music industry here and a lot of artists here, we’re also here to shine a light on this community and I think the biggest thing is for citizens to get involved,” he said, encouraging people to attend as many shows and events as possible, or to consider volunteering their time.

Tourism Saskatoon put together a bid last year for the Canadian music awards show, hoping to bring it back to the Bridge City for the first time since 2007.

“The young, dynamic nature of Saskatoon is such a great fit for this event,” Tourism Saskatoon CEO Todd Brandt told 650 CKOM last year about the agency’s bid. “I think it’s even better rationale to host in 2020 than in 2007.”

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark thanked Brandt and SaskTel Centre executive director Scott Ford, who is also serving as chair of the 2020 Juno host committee.

“I think one of the things that makes us successful is that, while we may be small, we have mighty capacity when it comes to hosting events,” Clark said.

Thursday’s announcement was accompanied by a performance by Mortlach, Sask.’s Megan Nash, who is a 2019 nominee in the Junos’ contemporary roots album of the year.

She said she’s looking forward to heading to London, Ont. for this year’s awards and also hopes to see her home province get a chance to shine in 2020.

“Hopefully that Saskatchewan community vibe will come across next year and that people from other parts of the country will get to see what we have going on,” she said.

Canadian Acadamy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announces the 2020 Juno Awards will be held in Saskatoon. #yxe #Sask. pic.twitter.com/TGZZkixQrL

— Bryn Levy (@BrynLevy) February 28, 2019

49th annual JUNO awards activities/festivities will start March 9, 2020 in #yxe culminating March 15 in awards ceremony at SaskTel Centre. pic.twitter.com/WQaRyW6qNh

— Bryn Levy (@BrynLevy) February 28, 2019