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Further to previous messages and your ongoing interest in our bid to bring Canada's JUNO Awards to Greater Victoria, it is with some regret that we inform you that the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has decided to award the 2014 event to Winnipeg.

While we are disappointed with the decision, we want to congratulate Winnipeg and we know they will do a great job.

While we wish we could tell you the reasons why Greater Victoria was not chosen by CARAS, they made the decision without visiting Victoria or meeting with our team.  In the coming days, we will attempt to gain a better understanding of CARAS’ selection process and the reasons for their decision.  However, they have been very complimentary about the quality of our bid and community support.

A decision to prepare a Greater Victoria bid for 2015 or 2016 will depend on the results of this discussion with CARAS and if we receive continuing support from our provincial and municipal government partners.

By Mike Devlin And Rob Shaw, Times Colonist

Province commits $1.5 million if 2014 event is awarded here

The B.C. government has committed $1.5 million in an effort to bring the Juno Awards to Greater Victoria in 2014.

Ida Chong, B.C. minister of community, sport and cultural development, made the commitment Monday - a critical part of the bid process. The government money would pay for about half the cost of the music awards show if it is staged in the capital city.

"The province is fully supporting the bid to host the Junos in 2014 here in Victoria," Chong said.

A $50,000 grant from the province will support Greater Victoria's bid to host the 2014 Juno Awards.

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA, made the announcement last week after the Capital Region Music Awards Society completed its rounds asking municipal councils for financial support.

Five separate councils, including the City of Victoria and Saanich, approved funding in support of the bid to host the awards gala at the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre and related events at other venues around the region.