Pop singer Avril Lavigne led the first batch of Juno winners Saturday, when she won two awards, including the much-coveted artist of the year honours.

On Saturday night, 31 Juno Awards were handed out at an industry-only ceremony, attended by 1,300 guests.

The remaining eight trophies, including best new artist, best rap recording, and songwriter of the year, were handed out Sunday night at the televised Juno Awards ceremony.

Songstress Lavigne's other award was for best pop album, beating out Celine Dion, Fefe Dobson, Ryan Malcolm and Simple Plan.

Lavigne didn't attend the swanky dinner because she is currently on tour in Southeast Asia.

Saturday night's ceremony was hosted by singer Jann Arden who kept the mood light with cracks about the frigid temperatures in the city also known as Winterpeg.

"When you're from a place where you need to plug in your car, you automatically want to plug in your guitar," she said.

The Toronto-based Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra was also a double award winner.

Other notable awards include: best R&B recording to 16-year-old Keshia Chante for her self-titled debut album; jazz vocal album to Diana Krall; and best rock album of the year to Sum 41 for their CD Chuck

"Thanks to Nickelback for allowing us to win this year," quipped drummer Steve Jocz, referring to previous Junos where they lost to Nickelback.

Seeing stars

On Saturday, fan excitement reached a pre-Junos peak when thousands lined up to meet some of their favourite musical stars.

Singers Susan Aglukark, Sarah Harmer and Jim Cuddy are just some of the stars who arrived early to play in a sold-out charity hockey tournament against the likes of hockey legend Doug Gilmour.

Also on Saturday, an estimated crowd of 3,000 fans descended on the Juno Fan Fare at a University of Winnipeg gymnasium.

Sum 41, Great Big Sea and Billy Talent were among the bands awaiting fans who snaked their way through winding lineups to meet.

"They're awesome," 14-year-old Samantha Eichel told The Canadian Press as she waited for autographs from the band Thornley.

Until now, the Fan Fare event had been held in shopping malls, but organizers opted this time for a more private setting and the opportunity for better control.

"You have a more contained area that you can really work with," president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science Melanie Berry told CP.

"It's a clean slate and you can build the event, whereas in a mall ... you have a template you must work with. You don't want to disrupt business."

The new venue didn't faze local business owners though, as the growing popularity of all the Juno-related events is still proving a boon for the bottom line.

"It's a party group, and they have money to spend," Winnipeg Development Corporation's Chad Horrill said of the crowds who are filling area bars and restaurants.

Saturday night's Juno winners include:

1. International album: American Idiot, Green Day.

2. Francophone album: Marie-Elaine Thibert, Marie-Elaine Thibert.

3. Artist: Avril Lavigne.

4. Instrumental album: Mi Destino/My Destiny, Oscar Lopez.

5. Pop album: Under My Skin, Avril Lavigne.

6. Rock album: Chuck, Sum 41.

7. New group: Alexisonfire.

8. Country recording: One Good Friend, George Canyon.

9. Alternative album: Let It Die, Feist.

10. Vocal jazz album: The Girl In The Other Room, Diana Krall.

11. Contemporary jazz album: New Danzon, Hilario Duran Trio.

12. Traditional jazz album: Vivid: The David Braid Sextet Live, David Braid.

13. Children's album: A Poodle in Paris, Connie Kaldor.

14. Classical album, solo or chamber ensemble: Bach: The English Suites, Angela Hewitt.

15. Classical album, large ensemble or soloist with large ensemble accompaniment: Dardanus/Le temple de la gloire: Music of Jean-Phillippe Rameau, Jeanne Lamon, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.

16. Classical album, vocal or choral performance: Cleopatra, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.

17. Classical composition: The Tents of Abraham, Istvan Anhalt.

18. Dance recording: All Things (Just Keep Getting Better), Wildlife with Simone Denny.

19. R&B/soul recording: Keshia Chante, Keshia Chante.

20. Reggae recording: WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), Sonia Collymore.

21. Aboriginal recording: Taima, Taima.

22. Roots & traditional album, solo: Hopetown, Jenny Whiteley.

23. Roots & traditional album, group: 40 Days, The Wailin' Jennys.

24. Blues album: I'm Just A Man, Garrett Mason.

25. Contemporary Christian/gospel album: Here To Stay, Greg Sczebel.

26. World music album: African Guitar Summit.

27. Producer: Bob Rock.

28. Recording engineer: L. Stu Young.

29. CD/DVD artwork design: Vincent Marcone, It Dreams, Jackalope.

30. Video: B-Boy Stance, k-os.

31. Music DVD: Ron Mann, In Stereovision, Blue Rodeo.

With reports from CTV Winnipeg and The Canadian Press