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It was a big night for Vancouver-based pop-rock duo Tegan and Sara yesterday (March 24), as the sisters were honoured at the 53rd annual Juno Awards for their advocacy work within the LGBTQ2S+ community.

The Junos celebrated another year of honouring Canadian and global musicians with an awards ceremony at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre.

The Quin sisters earned the 2024 Juno Humanitarian Award, presented to them by Halifax native and award-winning actor Elliot Page. Known for his roles in Trailer Park Boys, Juno (no affiliation to the awards), and The Umbrella Academy, Page came out as trans in 2020.

“If the world were not so hostile to 2SLGBTQ+ people, we would see ourselves purely as musicians,” Sara Quin said while accepting the award.

The duo used the opportunity to speak out against recent policies put out by the Alberta government to prevent trans youth from seeking gender-affirming care.

“Advocating for our community’s rights is a great privilege, and we are dedicated to confronting any form of discrimination that threatens the well-being of our community,” Sara said. “Like the Alberta government’s attempt to prevent trans youth from accessing vital care.”

Tegan Quin called the policies a “movement against trans youth.”

Other major awards this year went to Toronto pop-rock outfit The Beaches, who snagged Rock Album of Year; while Montreal’s Charlotte Cardin secured both the Pop Album of the Year and Album of the Year for her record 99 Nights.

It was an otherwise slim year for BC-based acts, with just a couple wins.

Vancouverite Felix Cartal nabbed the Dance Recording of the Year with the track “Need Your Love”; meanwhile, the TikTok Juno Fan Choice award went to Surrey-based Punjabi rapper Karan Aujla. And, while she didn't win an award, Canada's Drag Race winner (and Vancouverite) Venus showed up to perform "Maneater" with host (and fellow British Columbian) Nelly Furtado.