Edmonton, AB. April 23, 2009: Neil Young performs at Rexall Place on Thursday night. Sun Media file

Iconic Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young will receive the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarium Award during the March 27 Juno Awards telecast in Toronto, it was announced Wednesday evening.

The award recognizes "a Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada."

"We are thrilled to salute Neil Young's committed and compassionate legacy," said Melanie Berry, president/CEO of the Junos. "As a driving force behind one of music's most successful fundraising events, Farm Aid, and a key participant in Live 8 right here at home, his tenacity and spirit is highly regarded among his peers, and serves as an inspiration to all of us."

In 1985 Young, country music icon Willie Nelson and rocker John Mellencamp co-founded Farm Aid, a benefit concert to help family farmers keep their land. In 1986 he co-founded The Bridge School (and accompanying benefit concert) with wife Pegi Young, to create an organization and school to help educate children with severe speech and physical impairments. Two of the Young family's three children were diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

In 1985 Young joined fellow Canadian musicians in the recording of the song Tears Are Not Enough to help raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. He closed out the Canadian leg of Live 8 in 2005.