Junos to recognize Cockburn with first humanitarian prize

Canadian musician and activist Bruce Cockburn has been named the first recipient of a new Humanitarian Award by Juno organizers.

The Ottawa-born singer, songwriter and guitarist will be honoured with the new prize at a March 31 reception in Halifax as well as two days later during the Juno Awards broadcast on April 2.

The goal of the fledgling award is to honour "the positive social, environmental and humanitarian contributions made by Canadian artists," the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said in a statement Thursday.

"We are honoured to celebrate Mr. Cockburn and his contribution to the improvement of the human condition," said academy president Melanie Berry.

Saying he was touched to be the award's first recipient, Cockburn added that he hopes the new prize "will inspire as many artists as possible to participate fully in the global community."

Invested as an officer of the Order of Canada in 2003, Cockburn is also a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award and was inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.

In addition to writing and performing socially conscious songs — such as If I Had A Rocket Launcher — for more than three decades, Cockburn has been involved with or a supporter of a host of groups, including the Unitarian Service Committee, OXFAM, Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International.

In addition to being a frequent performer at benefit concerts, including Live 8 and Music Without Borders, Cockburn has lobbied against landmines and campaigned alongside First Nations groups over Aboriginal issues.