TORONTO – Broadcast and music industry veteran and philanthropist Gary Slaight will receive the 2018 Humanitarian Award at this year’s Juno Awards.
Given out annually, the Humanitarian Award celebrates and recognizes the philanthropic efforts made by Canadian artists or industry leaders who have made a positive impact on social welfare worldwide. It will be presented at the Juno Gala Dinner & Awards on March 24, 2018 in Vancouver.
Slaight personifies the essence of the award through his devotion to Canadian music and emerging Canadian artists as well as his philanthropic support of health care, social service, culture and at-risk youth at home and abroad, reads the announcement.
Born in Edmonton, Slaight began his career as media estimator for McLaren Advertising. After several years in the industry, including serving as general manager of Toronto’s Q-107 radio station, he led the team at Standard Radio as president, developing a growth and expansion strategy for the company from seven radio stations in 1987 to 52 in 2007. He also helped bring satellite radio services to Canada in 2005 with the establishment of Sirius Satellite Radio Canada, through a partnership between Slaight Communications, CBC and Sirius Satellite Radio.
After the sale of Standard Broadcasting to Astral Media, Gary and his father Allan made the decision that proceeds from the sale would be directed to philanthropic initiatives with the establishment of The Slaight Family Foundation and towards supporting the Canadian music industry and emerging artists through Slaight Music.
As a visionary, philanthropist and industry leader, Slaight has illustrated his passion for supporting Canadian artists through the creation of Slaight Music’s It’s Your Shot, as well as the Canadian Radio Music Awards. His ongoing efforts have led to the development of the Polaris Music Prize via The Slaight Family Heritage Prize, The Slaight Family Music Lab at the Canadian Film Centre, The Allan Slaight Stage at Massey Hall, The Allan Slaight Juno Master Class, Canadian Music Week Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award and The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame via The Slaight Music Emerging Songwriter Award.
In 2014, Slaight was appointed a Member of The Order of Canada in acknowledgment of his philanthropic work as president of The Slaight Family Foundation and for his commitment to supporting the arts in Canada through Slaight Music.
The 47th annual Juno Awards and Juno Week 2018 will be hosted in Vancouver from March 19 – March 25, culminating in The Juno Awards Broadcast on CBC on March 25.
