And they’re off for 2008 Juno Awards! Nominees who will be vying for Canada’s Music Awards were announced at today’s JUNO Awards media conference held in Toronto at The Fairmont Royal York hotel. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) along with broadcast partner CTV, named this year’s best in the Canadian recording industry, including 2008 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees, Triumph. CTV also revealed the Host of The 2008 JUNO Awards broadcast, international “comic superstar” Russell Peters.

The 2008 JUNO Awards will be celebrated in Calgary, AB, starting April 3rd with a full weekend of JUNO Award events leading up to the awards broadcast on CTV on Sunday, April 6th from the Pengrowth Saddledome.

«Each year we continue to see more artists raising the profile of Canadian music on the international stage - today’s nominees have not only achieved tremendous success in Canada, but worldwide,» said Melanie Berry, President of CARAS. «With such incredible talent represented, it’s going to be a tough one to call - but one thing is for sure, The 2008 JUNO Awards is going to be Canada’s biggest music party of the year!»

Leading the 2008 JUNO Award nominations is international hit-maker, Céline Dion, whose 4X platinum album Taking Chances and No. 1 French album, D’elles, garnered her two nominations in the same category of Album of the Year (sponsored by CRIA), along with nominations for Juno Fan Choice Award (presented by Doritos), Artist of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Francophone Album of the Year.

Avril Lavigne is also up for top honours in the categories of Juno Fan Choice Award (presented by Doritos), Single of the Year, Album of the Year (sponsored by CRIA), Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Her hit single “Girlfriend” became an international sensation spawning versions in German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese.

Feist’s hit song “1234” from her critically acclaimed album, The Reminder, puts her up for five JUNO Award nominations including Single of the Year, Album of the Year (sponsored by CRIA), Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. Her international success has skyrocketed and earlier this year she received four Grammy Award nominations.

No stranger to the JUNO Awards, crooner Michael Bublé will add five more nominations in 2008 to his previous eight nominations and five JUNO Award wins in years’ past. Bublé is nominated for the Juno Fan Choice Award (presented by Doritos), Single of the Year, Album of the Year (sponsored by CRIA), Artist of the Year and Pop Album of the Year for Call Me Irresponsible, which includes the No. 1 hit single, “Everything.”

Artist of the Year nominations go to Avril Lavigne, Céline Dion, Feist, Michael Bublé and Pascale Picard. Lavigne, Dion, Feist and Bublé are also all contending for Album of the Year (sponsored by CRIA).

Rock group Finger Eleven is nominated for three JUNO Awards including Single of the Year for “Paralyzer,” Group of the Year category with Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Hedley and Kaïn; as well as Rock Album of the Year for Them Vs. You Vs. Me.

Breakout artists Belly, Jeremy Fisher, Justin Nozuka, Serena Ryder and Suzie McNeil are nominated for New Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters). Nominees for New Group of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters) include Dragonette, Faber Drive, illScarlett, State of Shock and Wintersleep.

Pop Album of the Year nominations go to Anne Murray for Duets: Friends & Legends, Bedouin Soundclash (Street Gospels), Céline Dion (Taking Chances), Feist (The Reminder) and Michael Bublé (Call Me Irresponsible). U.S. chart-toppers Bon Jovi, Fergie, Josh Groban, Rihanna and Timbaland all received nominations for International Album of the Year.