Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Superfans screamed in adoration as hitmakers Alanis Morissette and Bryan Adams were ushered into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame on Saturday in a star-packed celebration.
Some of the country's best-known musicians gathered to honour the pair, along with fellow 2022 songwriting inductees Jim Vallance, Daniel Lavoie and David Foster at Toronto's Massey Hall.
And throughout the night, a theme of collaboration emerged as several creators explained that songwriting was rarely a practice done alone.
In the case of Adams, his longtime friend and oft writing partner Vallance wasn't just acknowledged for his contributions, he was a fellow inductee, which left Adams feeling chuffed.
"Songwriting for me has always been a team effort," he explained while accepting his honour
"And the thing that makes me most happy about tonight ... is seeing my great friend Jim Vallance be properly honoured."
Vallance met Adams at a Vancouver musical instrument shop in 1978, which marked the start of a fruitful partnership.
Morissette took a moment during her acceptance speech to recognize the mentors that helped elevate her early career, including American songwriter Glen Ballard who co-wrote on her career-defining "Jagged Little Pill" album.
"The best part about songwriting for me is being in a room and feeling safe," she said of her experience.
"When I write it, it's for me," she added. "But then when I share it, it's yours, it's for everyone else to interpret."
Her influence was felt throughout the night as generations of female artists spoke about Morissette's influence on them.
The most touching was 19-year-old American pop singer and actress Olivia Rodrigo, who spoke about how Morissette changed her life with both her music and her mentorship. The two first met on a Rolling Stone photo shoot last year.
"Even more than your long list of musical achievements, I look up to your character and kindness most of all," Rodrigo told her.
"I'll carry the advice that you've given me for my whole life."
Before the speeches began, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame event opened with a performance by Deborah Cox, who brought the house down with a rendition of Foster's "I Have Nothing," written for Whitney Houston on "The Bodyguard" soundtrack.
It earned the Toronto singer an extended standing ovation -- the first of many for the performers who each offered shining takes on a variety of the honouree's songs.
For Morissette, Grammy winner Alessia Cara pulled out a harmonica to carry "Hand it My Pocket" to its powerful finish, a last-minute touch that she added during soundcheck.
Serena Ryder channelled her own angst in a rendition of "You Oughta Know" that saw her bounding across the stage as she belted out the lyrics.
"How do you do that every night?" a bewildered Ryder posed to Morissette, who was seated in the audience.
Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger gave his fist-pumping interpretation of Adams and Vallance's "Summer of '69," while a medley of "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" and "Straight from the Heart" by Corey Hart left some women shouting his name as often as they were cheering for Adams.
"The Canadian industry, music and so many people made a big fuss about you and I being these rivals," Hart told Adams from the stage.
"I don't know, maybe there was a tiny shred of truth to that, but I can tell you tonight ... that from day one I already had the deepest respect and admiration for you, sir."
Songwriter Daniel Lavoie rounded out the inductees. He was honoured for rising from roots in Dunrea, Man. to becoming one of the most prominent French-Canadian writers, working with Celine Dion, Luce Dufault, Roch Voisine and Lara Fabian.
The evening closed with another of Foster's songs leaving an emotional impact on the crowd.
Generations of Canadian stars, including Andy Kim, JP Saxe, Charlotte Cardin, and Divine Brown, gathered on the stage to offer a new take on his 1985 charity single "Tears Are Not Enough," originally performed by a supergroup known as Northern Lights.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2022.
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.