Toronto to host Juno Awards in 2011

If you don’t subscribe to the theory that time changes everything, we give you the Juno Awards.

The last time the Junos took place in Toronto, the awards handed out to Canadian musical artists were hosted by erstwhile tween-pop sensations The Moffats, while the show was held in something called the "Skydome." Bryan Adams won the award for best male artist, someone named Tal Bachman won best new solo artist – and promptly went missing – and Matthew Good won for best group when he still had one.

After a decade criss-crossing the country, the Juno Awards will finally return to Canada’s largest city in 2011, it was announced Monday.

The Junos are chosen by either members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences or a panel of experts, depending on the award. Nominees are determined by sales during the qualifying period.

“The JUNO Awards has had such a significant impact on Canada and the Canadian music industry over the past 40 years. There is much to celebrate and reflect upon within four decades of accomplishments, and we can’t think of a more fitting city to host the festivities than Toronto,” said Melanie Berry, President & CEO of CARAS in a press release.

“I am very pleased that the City of Toronto is bringing the JUNO Awards home to Canada’s entertainment capital to celebrate its 40th anniversary,” said Toronto Mayor David Miller. “The 2011 JUNO Awards, in combination with winning the rights to host a number of other important international events, will boost Toronto’s economy and enhance the strength of our vital tourism sector.”

Next year marks their 40th anniversary. Juno-related festivities will take place starting March 21, 2011, with the awards themselves taking place on March 27 at the Air Canada Centre. This year’s Juno Awards take place April 18 in St. John’s, N.L.