If you’ve ever taken the ferry over to Victoria and driven down Gorge Road East, you’ve passed through the literal roots of one of the biggest pop icons on the planet. Long before she was winning Grammys/Junos and releasing World Cup theme songs, Nelly Furtado was a student at Mount Douglas Secondary and working with her mom at the Robin Hood Inn and Suites.
On March 29, 2026, Nelly finally took her rightful place in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards. It was a massive night, made even crazier when Drake showed up on the big screen to deliver a surprise tribute, calling her a pioneer for every Canadian artist who came after her.
“You are our North star. The proof that it was possible. The Portuguese princess who could go from spitting 16, to dropping Man eater and Promiscious” Said Drake.
Throughout the night you could see how much this moment meant to Nelly and how proud she is to be a Canadian Musician. In her acceptance speech she stayed true to herself acknowledging the importance of growing up in Canada and how it has influenced her.
“Canada’s always cared about art and culture. I am a product of that. I’m just really proud to be Canadian. I live in Canada, I make my music in Canada, and I work with Canadians, because I truly believe in the Canadian dream.”
For a lot of young adults in BC today, Nelly was who we grew up with. Her biggest album “Loose” released in 2006 and was a hiphop anthem right away. Nelly is the ultimate proof that you don’t have to change your DNA to make it big. You can come from a working class family in Victoria, maintain your heritage, and still become a global force. Every time I hear “I’m Like a Bird” or “Maneater,” I don’t just think of a pop song, I think of that unique West Coast energy that refuses to be put in a box.
Her induction also came with a huge exhibition at the National Music Centre, featuring her original lyric sheets and stage outfits. It’s a literal timeline of her journey from the Island to the world stage. It’s a reminder to every young creative in BC and Canada that music history isn’t just something that happens in big music cities like LA or New York. Rather it can start on the streets we drive past every single day.