Brampton’s hometown music star Alessia Cara has been awarded a star on the city’s Arts Walk of Fame, recognizing her achievements and lasting impact on the arts.
Despite freezing temperatures, Cara delivered a high-energy performance as the headliner for Brampton’s New Year’s Eve celebrations on Dec. 31, 2025, drawing large crowds to ring in the new year. During the event, the City of Brampton formally inducted her into the Arts Walk of Fame, naming her the 26th recipient of what Mayor Patrick Brown described as the city’s “highest honour” in the arts.
Born in Mississauga and raised in Brampton, Cara attended Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic Secondary School before launching her professional music career. She gained international recognition with her debut studio album Know-It-All, which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
She has since released several acclaimed albums, including The Pains of Growing, In the Meantime, and Love & Hyperbole. Cara is also widely known for her eight-times-platinum collaboration 1-800-273-8255 with Logic and Khalid. A five-time JUNO Award winner, she made history in 2011 as the first Canadian to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Cara has also represented Canada on major stages, including performing the national anthem during Game 2 of the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series run.
A commemorative plaque honouring Cara will be installed at the Arts Walk of Fame exhibit at The Rose Theatre, alongside tributes to other prominent Brampton artists such as comedian Russell Peters, poet and author Rupi Kaur, actors Alan Thicke and Michael Cera, and film and video producer Julien Christian Lutz, also known as Director X.
In addition to her Brampton recognition, Cara was inducted into the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame in 2022, further cementing her status as one of Canada’s most celebrated contemporary artists.