Rush receiving humanitarian award at Juno awards
Iconic prog-rock band to receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award this March
The 2015 Juno Awards just got a little bit bigger.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced Thursday that rock icons Rush will be in Hamilton for the awards this March to accept the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award.
The award recognizes Canadian artists whose contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada.
"We are sincerely grateful to be recognized as this year's recipients of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award,” the band said in a statement. “We are proud, honoured and humbled to be in the company of all Canadians who find it within their hearts to help those in need."
Their tenacity and spirit serves as an inspiration to all of us, and we salute them for all of their exceptional work.- Allan Reid, Juno Award president
Rush is undoubtedly one of Canada’s greatest musical success stories. The band has sold over 40 million records and sold out tours the world over. They have more than one connection to Hamilton, too – drummer and lyricist Neil Peart is from the area, and downtown Hamilton’s “Jed the Dancing Guy” is guitarist Alex Lifeson’s cousin.
The band is also well known for its humanitarian work. In Rush’s early days the band encouraged fans to bring food donations along to show for those in need.
In 2008, Rush donated $100,000 from a Winnipeg concert to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. In the same year, the band donated $100,000 from their show in New Orleans to Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation to assist in the revitalization of the city post Hurricane Katrina, and sponsor the construction of a house in The Lower Ninth Ward dubbed “The House that Rush Built.”
Then from their 2010 Time Machine Tour on, Rush has donated $1 from every ticket sold to charity including Doctors Without Borders, a total Juno organizers say will soon surpass over $2 million in the last five years.
"We are proud to be recognizing Rush’s noble legacy with this award," said Allan Reid, Juno Award president. "The group’s dedication to countless charities and organizations over the course of their career is truly remarkable.
“Their tenacity and spirit serves as an inspiration to all of us, and we salute them for all of their exceptional work."
EDM-pop starlet Kiesza, surging 16-year-old success story Shawn Mendes, rock-reggae collective MAGIC! and award-show stalwarts Hedley will all play the 2015 Juno awards in Hamilton this March.
Tickets for the 2015 Juno awardsre on sale now. They range from $39 to $149 and can be purchased at FirstOntario Centre, by phone at 1-855-872-5000 and online at Ticketmaster.ca.