The artistic theme of the 2009 Juno Awards evening was truly 'West Coast' as almost everyone commented on the herbal decor of the set, "to celebrate, we'll smoke the stage," noted Nickelback's Chad Kroeger upon accepting one of three of their Junos. Some say the stage looked like something out of Alice in Wonderland however Executive Producer John Brunton said the theme was to represent the natural beauty that surrounds Vancouver, while mixing with its glass archetecturural elements.

Outside of GM Place the green theme continued as one of the largest Juno afterparties was also a benefit for the David Suzuki Foundation, which focuses on sustainability, climate change, and clean energy education. Vancouver Fashion Week was running in tandem with Juno Fest all and merged its closing gala with this Junos celebration, dubbing it "Fashion vs Rock". Along with Music from Sea to Sky and with help from recording artist K-OS , who had been milling seen at Fashion Week for several days, the fundraiser was the place to be on Sunday night.

David Suzuki, voted one of the Greatest Canadians of all time, was on hand to give a quick talk and thank some of the musicians who have supported the organization over the years such as Sam Roberts, Sarah Harmer, 54:40, Bruce Cockburn, Nelly Furtado, and many more. K-OS himself also participated in the David Suzuki Nature Challenge, which helps individuals make sustainable decisions about our their homes, the food they eat, and how they get around.

The evening was hosted by The Hour's George Stroumboulopoulos and Juno stars were spotted filtering in among the crowd all evening, including winners for Childrens Album of the Year, the Barenaked Ladies, members of Broken Social Scene, and Bedouin Soundclash.

Combining talent with important causes is always a great idea and Vancouver is the ultimate home for this activity, excitement, and awareness-building. One can all only imagine what things are going to be like in 2010 when that Olympic torch is lit to kick off two amazing weeks of festivities on much larger scale.