Znaimer, Brandt score special Juno honours

Canadian broadcasting mogul Moses Znaimer best known as the creative force behind independent TV news network Citytv and Canadian music channel MuchMusic will receive a special honour next spring when Calgary hosts the annual Juno Awards.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences which organizes the annual celebration of the Canadian music industry announced on Monday that Znaimer will receive the 2008 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award during the Juno festivities in April.

Calling Znaimer "a unique force in broadcasting," CARAS president Melanie Berry also hailed his "invaluable" contribution to the Canadian music industry.

Born in Tajikistan, then part of the Soviet Union,to parents who eventually settled in Montreal, Znaimer started out his broadcasting career with the CBC as a host, producer and director. He went on to launch independent Toronto station Citytv in 1972 and the 24-hour music video station MuchMusic in 1984, both under parent company CHUM Limited.

During his approximately 30-yearreign, Znaimer presided over the rise of both stations, as well as the introduction of several new ones, including French-language music channel MusiquePlus, 24-hour news network CablePulse 24 and arts network Bravo.

After stepping down from his leadership post at CHUM, Znaimer has most recently been involved with his private, Toronto-based classical music radio station CFMZ.

CARAS also announced on Monday that country musicstar Paul Brandtwill bethis year's recipient of its relatively new humanitarian award, which "recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist who has positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada."

Previously received by Tom Jackson and Bruce Cockburn, the award has been renamed in honour of late CHUM Limited founder Allan Waters.

The prize recognizes Calgary musician Brandt for his support of a host of charitable causes, ranging from children's hospitals to a fundraising program dedicated to providing safe drinking water to the developing world.

Both Znaimer and Brandt will be feted during a Juno gala dinner in Calgary on April 5, with further tributes to the pair to air during the Juno broadcast the following night.

The 2008 Juno Awards will be presented at Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome on Sunday, April 6.