Being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame is more than a career milestone — it’s a celebration of Canada’s musical identity and enduring cultural resonance.
Presented by Music Canada, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame Ceremony took place on May 15, 2025 in Calgary at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre.
From genre-defying singer-songwriters to chart-topping bands, the class of inductees recognized in this year’s ceremony paint a vibrant picture of our nation’s music story.
“This celebration is more than just an event,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre. “It’s a powerful bridge, uniting Canadians through shared stories and experiences, building community, and showcasing our nation’s incredible talent to the world.”
2025 inductees Dan Hill, Ginette Reno, Glass Tiger, Loreena McKennitt, and Sum 41, along with 2024 inductee Maestro Fresh Wes, were joined by family, friends, and peers in celebration.
“We are so proud of what you do and the music you make and how you make all Canadians proud. We’re honoured that tonight your legacy will forever be etched into history as your names join that wall of fame,” said Allan Reid, President and CEO of CARAS, the organization behind the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
For nearly five decades, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame has honoured our country’s musical icons. Its permanent home in the National Music Centre acts as a landmark guiding visitors through Canada’s music story, showcasing the instruments, artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia of music legends.
But the Hall of Fame doesn’t stay in the past, memorializing artists from days gone by. It’s a living organism with roots anchored in Canadian music heritage, connecting generations and continuing to grow each year. The names on that wall have always been trailblazers, rule-breakers, and culture-shapers.
“Look at these names, man,” said Maestro Fresh Wes, pausing to take it all in before placing his own plaque on the wall. “This is absolutely incredible. Neil Young, April Wine, Corey Hart, David Foster. Thank you so much everybody who’s inspired me throughout the years.”
Hailed as the “Godfather of Canadian Hip-Hop,” Maestro Fresh Wes forged a brand new path for hip-hop and rap in the Canadian music scene, laying the blueprint for future generations.
“Don’t make records, make history,” he added. “We’re in the process here to continue to make history, all right. All those artists who performed just now … I learned so much, I’m still a student, I’m still learning, and I’m still being inspired by all of you.”
Dan Hill is a timeless presence in Canadian music. Known for deeply heartfelt songwriting, his breakthrough hit “Sometimes When We Touch” became one of BMI’s Top 100 Most Played Songs of All Time. Over the years, Hill has built a versatile career as a singer, songwriter, and producer, with his work recorded by a long list of global artists including Tina Turner, Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, Reba McEntire, The Backstreet Boys, and more.
For Hill, the level of talent among Canadian artists is unmatched. Watching the legends that came before him provided an education that would take him all the way to the top.
“I fell in love with Canadian singer-songwriters almost before I could talk,” said Hill. “I learned about songwriting and performing from Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen. I mean, really the greatest singer-songwriters in the world. So to be part of this vaunted group is both humbling and thrilling.”
Canadian singer-songwriter Roch Voisine took the stage to induct Ginette Reno, with the help of Celine Dion, who appeared in a special video message to congratulate one of her own heroes.
“Ginette, ma chère Ginette … The Golden voice of Québec,” Dion said with admiration. “You are truly a national treasure, and a symbol of our cultural pride. Congratulations on this well-deserved honour. You are now in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, as you have been in our hearts forever.”
For over six decades, Ginette Reno has been revered nationally and internationally for her commanding voice, singing passionately in both French and English. With more than 2,000 recorded songs and 42 albums — all of which were certified Gold or Platinum — she has earned her place in the canon of Canadian and Québécois music. She also shines on screen as an actress, proving her remarkable versatility.
“I didn’t sing for glory, success, or money,” said Reno as she accepted the award. “I’m so honoured and so privileged, because I feel I belong. Thank you.”
Emerging in the early ’80s, Glass Tiger quickly rose to fame with chart-topping hits like “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” and “Someday.” Both songs were written exactly 40 years ago on the day of their Hall of Fame induction, filling the night with a heightened sense of gratitude and nostalgia.
“It gives us also the opportunity to realize, not just the pay-off for us, but the pay-off for our families watching us go out the door year after year, day after day. And so, it’s nostalgic for me that way, it’s a sort of encompassing legacy for us and for them and for the fans, for the people that have been incredibly loyal to us over the past 40 years,” said lead singer Alan Frew.
Beloved for their anthemic sound and resonant lyrics, the band earned five JUNO Awards, a Grammy nomination, and multi-platinum sales across North America. More than four decades later, they continue to record and tour, reinforcing their impact as Canadian pop-rock icons.
Loreena McKennitt crafted her own sound, bridging Celtic traditions with global influences. A gifted multi-instrumentalist and fiercely independent artist, she founded her own record label and has earned international acclaim, selling over 14 million albums in more than 40 countries. She is also a dedicated humanitarian and advocate, known for her work in cultural, environmental, and social initiatives.
“It’s been fascinating to observe how through the ages, music has been at the heart of the human experience, connecting one generation to the next, and our souls come alive through communal singing, dancing, and playing,” McKennitt reflected as she joined the Hall of Fame.
But McKennitt doesn’t focus on the past. Instead, she hopes her work will inspire and equip the next generations of musicians.
“A few of us might be able to make a career of music, but even more deserving are the children now and in the future, whose souls long to be enriched and connected through singing and playing music together,” she said earnestly.
Formed in 1996, Sum 41 exploded onto the global scene with All Killer No Filler and its breakout hit “Fat Lip,” launching a career that would span nearly three decades. Blending punk with pop, and even metal, the band sold over 15 million albums and earned JUNO Awards, a Grammy nomination, and worldwide acclaim.
In the beginning, they were just kids who passionately wanted to make music against all odds. Now, they’re the first punk band to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“Based on all the reviews that we got at the beginning of our career, this wasn’t supposed to happen, so thank you all of you for having us, for having us on this wall and putting us in the books of Canadian music history,” said Dave Baksh of Sum 41.
Just as these artists have united generations of Canadians through music, they have also carried Canada’s music story across borders, serving as ambassadors for a uniquely creative nation.
Their induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame cements that legacy, not as a final chapter, but as a passing of the torch — fuelling an even stronger music ecosystem for Canadian artists.
“If you’re ready to sacrifice a lot of stuff, and you believe in yourself and you know that there’s something unique you have, something that you can share with people … do it,” Reno said as a message to the next wave of Canadian talent. “Just do it. Open the doors. Bam, bam, bam.”
Hill, Reno, Glass Tiger, and McKennitt commemorated their inductions with unforgettable performances, bringing those in the audience back to the hit songs and star power that defined their rise to fame. But today, their legacies represent even more than that. These inductees stand as proof that music can do more than entertain — it can transform lives, strengthen communities, and shape cultural landscapes.
“It’s a long road to a lot of happiness, and there’s going to be a lot of downs, but it’s so worth it,” said Sum 41’s Baksh. “Whether you fail or succeed, music is just, it’s one of the most amazing things that I think all of us can attribute our lives to.”
You don’t have to look hard to see how the music of Canada’s greatest artists has sparked change. Their stories are living testimonies of music’s power to inspire, disrupt, and heal.
“The great thing about music is art, all forms of art, at its best, holds up a mirror of what’s going on in our culture and in our society. Great pieces of art can actually make change for the better,” said Hill.
As the evening came to a close and six iconic artists took their place in the fabric of Canadian culture, Music Canada’s CEO Patrick Rogers reflected on the lasting significance of the Hall of Fame and everything it represents.
“Tonight is about recognizing all the years of hard work, perseverance, and passion that brought you here, and celebrating the contributions you’ve made to Canadian music history. In a time when it feels more important than ever to name and recognize and know Canadian greatness, we need to look no further than the names on this wall.”
Fans have a chance to celebrate the newest Hall of Fame members all year long through the National Music Centre’s Class of 2025 and Sum 41 exhibitions at Studio Bell in Calgary, where they can dive deeper into their stories and get up close with instruments and memorabilia, from Glass Tiger’s synthesizer and stage outfits to McKennitt’s harp and “The Mummers’ Dance” mask.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame Ceremony will be available to stream on CBC Gem and CBC Music’s YouTube channel this fall.
