Sarah McLachlan will be given a special award for her humanitarian work, and the band Loverboy will be feted as the latest inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at next year's Junos in Vancouver.

McLachlan has been named as the recipient of the 2009 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award.

She founded the Lilith Fair touring festival in 1997 to showcase and promote women in music, and it also raised more than $7 million for charity after three years.

McLachlan is the spokeswoman for the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and is involved with youth charities to get underprivileged kids music lessons and mentorship. In 2000 she was invested as an officer of the Order of Canada.

McLachlan said she's "honoured and humbled" to receive the award and has always wanted to help others because she's been so blessed in life.

It's the second year for the award, which was given out to country artist Paul Brandt this year.

The award is named in honour of broadcasting pioneer Allan Waters, the founder of CHUM Ltd. The Junos will be held March 29, 2009.