TORONTO - Arcade Fire won a leading four trophies -- including album of the year -- while rock legend Neil Young claimed the prize for artist of the year and 17-year-old teen-pop titan Justin Bieber won the first two Juno Awards of his career at a 40th-anniversary bash Sunday that looked to the past as well as the future.

But the news wasn't as good for 24-year-old rapper Drake, who hosted the hometown Juno hullabaloo with energetic panache and entered the weekend with a leading six nominations, but wound up heading home empty-handed.

Arcade Fire -- the fiercely independent Montreal rockers whose cerebral, orchestral rock has helped them gradually build a devoted following -- stunned the music world six weeks ago by claiming the award for album of the year at the Grammys.

Then, Texas-born frontman Win Butler fell to his knees out of shock. On Sunday, the band was more subdued but still seemed touched.

"We're truly overwhelmed," said the band's gangly multi-instrumentalist, Richard Reed Parry. "Thank you everybody. Thank you to Montreal, our home where we all live, and thanks to Toronto.

"Toronto is one of the first places we had, like, really exciting shows and felt like something crazy might be about to happen.

"And something did. So thanks for being there with us."

Young, meanwhile, had already put in his first appearance at the Junos in 29 years earlier in the weekend when he claimed the trophy for adult alternative album of the year at a dinner gala Saturday where the bulk of the Junos were handed out.

Still, the 65-year-old -- who was also honoured with an award for his philanthropy on Sunday -- seemed genuinely tickled as he climbed the stage to claim the prize for artist of the year.

"What year is this?" he said, with a mystified smile on his face. "Man, I am totally surprised. Arcade Fire, what a great performance that was, what a great group. Justin Bieber -- what can you say? I mean, this guy's sensational. And the other artists are all wonderful.

"It's just totally incomprehensible that I'm here. But it's a great honour. Thank you very much everybody. I really appreciate it. O Canada!"

Unfortunately for millions of his tween devotees watching at home, Bieber -- that platinum-selling, pint-sized pop crooner from Stratford, Ont. -- couldn't appear in person to collect his first two Juno trophies due to a scheduling demand overseas.

His fresh face -- ratings gold for CTV, of course -- still surfaced several times during the two-and-a-half hour broadcast, however, as he accepted his awards via video messages.

"I want to thank everybody so much for believing in me," said Bieber, captured onstage in an empty arena. "Most of all, I want to thank my mom for raising me in Canada. I want to thank my dad, I want to thank my little brother and sister -- because, you know, they're so cute and just so lovable."

"I love everybody, my grandma and grandpa. You guys are amazing. Go Leafs go."

While Drake might have been disappointed by his award take, he put in a solid showing as a host -- showcasing his comedic chops with an admirable performance as the straight man in skits with CTV news anchor Lloyd Robertson (they had a date to play "Call of Duty") and Bieber, who joined Drake via video for a funny duet of Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You."

"You, my friend, have the voice of a young rabbi," Drake told Bieber.

He then appeared looking dapper in a tux and rapped over the "Hockey Night in Canada" theme song, briefly sang a few verses of Snow's "Informer" (a '90s hit that has not aged well) and even serenaded Shania Twain with a brief song that included the line "You're from Timmins, and I'm from Toronto/ You worked at McDonalds, and I eat at McDonalds."

"I'm dying to make you feel like a woman, baby," he said afterwards as Twain -- seated next to her husband, Frederic Thiebaud -- shook with laughter.

Later, he went to a retirement home and quizzed seniors on their Canadian hip-hop knowledge before dancing with them and popping champagne bottles.

Ever the pro, Drake didn't betray any frustration by his non-existent award tally, continuing to put in an entertaining performance even as he watched a stream of other artists happily claim the awards for which he was nominated.

He did, however, indulge in one slightly sarcastic reference to his lack of recognition when he congratulated Arcade Fire on their impressive award haul.

"I hear those are actually pretty heavy when you get to hold one in person," he lamented slyly.

He did win two trophies last year -- new artist of the year and rap recording of the year -- but that was prior to the release of his smash debut, "Thank Me Later," so it seemed 2011 was destined to be his year, particularly given the fact that he earned the hosting gig.

But there was a clear omen that Juno voters might not have been as charmed by the telegenic rapper-crooner as the record-buying public as early as Saturday, when the talented and critically acclaimed but comparatively low-profile London, Ont., hip-hopper Shad upset Drake to win rap recording of the year.

As a small consolation, the star-studded charity remix of K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" -- which featured Drake and Bieber, as well as Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne and dozens more artists -- won the award for single of the year on Sunday.

"This is enormous, and it's incredible," said K'naan, who was born in Somalia but grew up in Toronto, before musing on why his tune sat atop the heap.

"I think the reason this song won is maybe that all the artists who were also nominated were also on the song. So it's a way to kind of make it all work for everyone."

The evening's other trophy, new artist of the year, went to London, Ont., singer/songwriter Meaghan Smith -- and if there was an award for the most gobsmacked winner, she would have taken that too.

The 40th anniversary celebration of the Junos -- which began back on Feb. 23, 1970 as an informal, non-televised dinner gala in Toronto and have evolved into a glitzy broadcast bonanza -- promised to celebrate Canadian music's storied past as well as its future.

Presenters included Randy Bachman, Buffy Sainte Marie and Robbie Robertson, and a tribute to the hit tunes of Junos past, during which a large cast of performers -- including Jim Cuddy, Sarah Harmer and the Barenaked Ladies' Kevin Hearn -- joined forces for a medley of covers of classic Canuck compositions including Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind," Young's "Old Man" and the Band's "The Shape I'm In."

But few of the marquee legacy talent present for Sunday's extravaganza actually took to the stage to actually perform, with the Junos instead skewing toward a more youthful -- if lower-wattage -- lineup.

Sure, nine-time Juno winner McLachlan took the stage for a performance of "Loving You is Easy" (though the chanteuse came up empty on her three nominations), as did this year's Juno darlings, Arcade Fire (who put in a rousing performance of the towering "Rococo"), and multi-platinum country-pop crossover artist Johnny Reid.

Otherwise? Many of the performers -- a list that included melodic Toronto rockers Tokyo Police Club, Montreal electro-funk duo Chromeo and upstart rock-rap group Down With Webster -- might have been unrecognizable to many viewers at home.

But the evening received a jolt of star power with an appearance from beloved country icon Twain.

The 45-year-old Timmins, Ont., native was ushered into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with an introduction speech from Bryan Adams, who called Twain a "Canadian treasure," and video testimonials from Taylor Swift and Anne Murray.

Then, Twain gave an emotional (and fitting) take on the meaning of the Junos, as the awards celebrated 40 years.

"Thank you so much," said the singer, clad in a sparkling sleeveless gown. "I really am turning into such a sap. But this is just a very beautiful moment for me. I'm really so proud of Canada's talent. I sit here tonight in the audience, and I watch these amazing artists up here on the stage, world-class talent, songwriters, singers, performers -- we should be proud of these people. They're just blowing me away.

"I guess, I have more pride in what the country has created musically than I (have) even (in) my own success. Honestly, I'm just more proud to be from Canada, and to be part of everything that's happening here musically.

"This is a beautiful country. ... I feel like I should just be wearing the Canadian flag tonight to be honest with you. I would love that."