JUNO WHERE? JUNO HERE

Awards coming to Ottawa

The Juno Awards will return to Ottawa in 2017 as part of the city’s sesquicentennial celebrations.

A formal announcement is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the Mercury Lounge, but several sources suggested the announcement is related to the annual awards show for Canadian musicians.

It’s a “pretty big announcement,” promised Jerrod Riley, the spokesman for Ottawa 2017.

Riley would not confirm what the event is, but described it as a weeklong event of national significance to be held at the end of March and beginning of April.

Juno Week 2016, to be held in Calgary, is scheduled for March 28 to April 3.

Landing the Junos in 2017 — the year when Canada marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation — has been a key part of Mayor Jim Watson’s plan.

The mayor is hoping to score a hat-trick that year by securing three marquee events: the CFL Grey Cup championship, an NHL Winter Classic and the Junos.

Neither the CFL nor the NHL have announced a host city for 2017 festivities yet.

In June, Guy Laflamme, who heads the Ottawa 2017 Bureau, told the Citizen that Ottawa had the first right of refusal to bring the Junos to town in 2017, and added that he’d had numerous meetings with Allan Reid, the president of CARAS (The Canadian Association of Recording Arts and Sciences).

Reid could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but is expected to be in Ottawa for the announcement.

Ottawa last hosted the Junos in 2012.

Feist won artist of the year, while Justin Bieber took home the fan choice award.

The televised awards show, hosted by William Shatner, drew about 12,000 people to the Canadian Tire Centre.

There was also a gala dinner at the Shaw Centre and live shows at numerous downtown night clubs, including Mercury Lounge.

The Junos were also held in Ottawa in 2003.