Bryan Adams will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at this year’s Juno Awards on Sunday night.
The Award recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada.
Since the early days of his music career, Adams has been at the forefront of fundraising and social awareness events from Amnesty International “A Conspiracy of Hope” and Rock for Amnesty Tours, Live Aid, Live 8 and One Night Live. In 1985 Adams co-wrote and took part in the recording of “Tears Are Not Enough,” Canada’s song to help raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.
Over the years he has been a part of the annual Prince's Trust Rock Gala, the “Reach Out to Asia” campaign to help the underprivileged, and in 2006 he became the first westerner to perform in Karachi, Pakistan, after 9/11 with funds raised going towards victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. He has successfully campaigned for the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary with Greenpeace as well as animal rights through PETA.
His photography has raised money to benefit cancer research and in 2006, he established The Bryan Adams Foundation, to further advance the education and learning opportunities for children and young people worldwide.
“Without any fanfare Bryan’s Foundation has quietly worked to enrich the lives of children and young people here at home and in the far flung corners of the globe,” explains Melanie Berry, President & CEO of CARAS. “It is an honor and a privilege to recognize his history of philanthropic work with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award.”
“I’m accepting this award”, noted Adams, “in the hope that it will inspire and encourage others to contribute and/or also give back.”
Bryan Adams is one of the most recognized rock music artists in the world. He is a Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, has been awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia in addition to numerous music industry awards. He is currently touring with his acoustic guitar on the Bare Bones Tour, and has the feature song “You’ve Been A Friend To Me” in the film Old Dogs.
