Tom Jackson to be honoured at Junos

Musician and actor Tom Jackson will receive the 2007 Humanitarian Award during Juno Awards festivities in Saskatoon this spring, organizers announced Tuesday.

The humanitarian honour,from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, recognizes an outstanding artist who has "positively contributed to the social landscape of Canada."

The second annual award, won last year by singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, will be presented at a gala dinner on March 31.

Jackson, whostarred in the CBC-TV drama North of 60 and has recorded several albums as a singer-songwriter,will also be honoured for his charity work with a short segment during the Juno broadcast on April 1.

"Tom Jackson is an outstanding artist whose talent is only exceeded by his incredible charitable endeavours," CARAS president Melanie Berry said in a release."His compassion is contagious and moves us all to give and care for others."

Jackson, born on the One Arrow reserve in Saskatchewan, has helped raise more than $9 million for food banks, family service agencies and disaster relief, according to the CARAS release.

Jacksonfounded the now-defunct Huron Carole Christmas concert series in 1987 to raise money for food banks. He established the Singing for Supper benefits and the Christmas & Winter Relief Association, which helps food banks and family service agencies in Canada.

'I am proud and humbled to be part of a community that acknowledges music as a vehicle of change.' -Musician-actor Tom Jackson

"I could never have imagined the applause, nor expected an award, while standing shoulder to shoulder with the poor in the quest for a better quality of life," Jackson, an officer of the Order of Canada, said in a statement.

"I am proud and humbled to be part of a community that acknowledges music as a vehicle of change."

Promoter Tarlton gets achievementnod

Also to be honoured during the 2007 Junogala and subsequent broadcast is concert promoter and record executive Donald K. Tarlton, who will receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for contributions to the growth of the Canadian music industry.

Artists on Tarlton's Aquarius Records label have included April Wine, Corey Hart, Sass Jordan, Serial Joe and Sum 41. In addition, Tarlton's Donald K Donald (DKD) Productions company has produced and promoted more than 5,000 events, featuring artistsincluding Bryan Adams, David Bowie, Elton John, Kiss, Madonna, Michael Jackson and U2.

Past recipients of the Walt Grealis Award include country artist Ronnie Hawkins, promoter Michael Cohl and last year's winner, True North Records founder Bernie Finkelstein.