Last night, the 2010 Polaris Music Prize was handed out to the first Francophone band in the award’s history, for the group’s album, Les Chemins de Verre.

The ceremony was held in Toronto at the Masonic Temple’s Concert Hall and the prize is sponsored by the Government of Canada, Sirius Satellite Radio, and The Drake Hotel, among others.

Formed in 1998 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Karkwa is an indie rock five-piece who have released four records to date. Their most recent, Les Chemins de Verre, was up against nine other Canadian titles released in the last year, and all the bands who were in the running performed at the gala event. Hosted by CBC Radio 3’s Grant Taylor and MuchMusic’s Sarah Taylor, the ceremony was also broadcast live via CBC Radio 3 and on Sirius Satellite Radio.

The Polaris Music Prize is the Canadian equivalent to the United Kingdom’s Mercury Prize, an annual music prize awarded to best album. The best full-length Canadian album is chosen based on artistic merit, without taking into account sales, genre or record label.

The first Polaris Prize was given out in 2006 and includes a monetary compensation of $20, 000 (CDN) every year.