Ajax pop-punk band inducted into DREAMS! music hall of fame

Pop punk icons Sum 41, which closed out their three decade long career with a final performance at the 2025 JUNOs is the latest inductee into the DREAMS! Music Awards 2026 Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame, which celebrates musicians with a connection to Durham Region.

DREAMS! (Durham Regional Excellence in Arts, Music & Sound) is a not-for-profit regional organization dedicated to celebrating, connecting, and strengthening the local music ecosystem across the region.

It was formerly known as the Oshawa Music Awards and the Hall of Fame announcement was made Monday at the Biltmore Theatre in Oshawa.

Sum 41 band members grew up in Ajax and still live in Durham, with the band inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame last year. They join previous inductees Mars Bonfire of Steppenwolf, Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo, Hip Hop pioneer Ivan Berry of Beat Factory Records and 70s soft rock band Wednesday, among others.

Paul Andrew Smith and Mike O’Neill of Wednesday (inducted in 2022) were on hand to welcome Sum 41 to the Hall of Fame, and three local acts, Candace & Michael, Will Gillespie and Jules McCools performed covers of Sum 41 songs.

The rest of the DREAMS! Music Awards will be held September 18 at the Biltmore.