Victoria loses JUNO bid
Victoria has lost its bid to host the 2014 JUNO Awards to Winnipeg, and the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is keeping tight lipped about its reasoning.
"While we wish we could tell you the reasons why Greater Victoria was not chosen by CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), they made the decision without visiting Victoria or meeting with our team," wrote Ray Parks, president of the Capital Region Music Awards Society, which submitted the bid to host the awards. "In the coming days, we will attempt to gain a better understanding of CARAS’ selection process and the reasons for their decision."
CARAS' president, Melanie Berry, said in a statement that the board of directors balanced all "relevant and collateral factors" in coming to its decision.
"While each bid remains confidential, Victoria put in an excellent bid package but was not the winning bid to host the 2014 JUNO Awards," said Berry.
Whether the Capital Region's bid committee will try again to secure the JUNOs in 2015 or 2016 is yet to be seen.
"A decision to prepare a Greater Victoria bid for 2015 or 2016 will depend on the results of this discussion with CARAS and if we receive continuing support from our provincial and municipal government partners," said Parks, in a letter posted to capitalregionmusicawards.com.
The provincial government had pledged $1.5 million to help stage the event.
Winnipeg hosted the JUNOS in 2005. It will host the 2014 awards on March 30.
rholmen@vicnews.com
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