Shawn Mendes the biggest winner as bulk of Juno Awards handed out Saturday

He wasn't actuallyin the room, but it was all about Shawn Mendes at the Junos gala Saturday night in London, Ont.

The pop star nominated for the most awards this yearwas also the night's biggest winner, picking upfour prizes: artist, songwriter and pop album of the year, plus single of the year forIn My Blood.

And he's still up for two more Sunday: fan choice and album.

• Catch up withall the gala winners in our live blog

His wins made for a predictable pattern onwhat gala host BenKowalewiczcalled"music's longest night." (The actual runtime was just over three hours.)

Thirty-eight prizes, the bulk of the Junoshardware, were handed out, given to ahealthy mix of industry veterans like Michael Bubl(adult contemporary album)and Colin James (blues album) andnewcomers like Oshawa, Ont.'s Dizzy (alternative album) and London's own Loud Luxury (dance recording).

The DJ duo, who now live in Los Angeles,met at Western Universityand will perform on Sunday's big show. The group's Joe Depace talked about being born at a hospital not far from the gala site.

"This is an extremely crazy full-circle moment for us," he told reporters.

"We wouldn't be able to do it if we didn't have such a beautiful and incredible scene [here] available to us. That's what pushed us forward," addedAndrew Fedyk, the duo's other half.

Bubl made a surprise appearance to present David Foster with the humanitarian award for his foundation's charitable efforts.The two goofed around and laid on the love for each other, with Foster retelling reporters how the two met whileBubl was singing at the wedding of Ontario MPP Caroline Mulroney.

Foster seemed to begenuinelyhumbled by the honour.

"It's like a funeral when I'm alive."

'Our music is not niche'

In one of the evening's most passionate speeches,winner Jeremy Dutcher honouredhis fellow Indigenous albumnominees and scoldedPrime Minister Justin Trudeau. He told music industry members gathered in the roomthey could dobetter when it comes toreconciliation.

"Our music is not niche, our music is saying something," he said.

Thosethoughts were then cut-off by his own music. Dutcher was allowed to finish his speech an hour later after a chance run-in with Arkells, who won best rock album forRally Cry.

As the band mounted the stage to accept the night's final prize, they brought along Dutcher, who capped off the evening.

"This is what holding space looks like," he told the band.

Frontman Max Kerman explained backstage how it happened. He was going to the washroom and ran into Dutcher, who told him what table he was sitting at.

"When our name was called, I found him and I just grabbed him. He was a little startled," he said. "He said something that we could only dream of relaying."

The night's other prominent winners included:

• Breakthrough group: The Washboard Union.
• Adult alternative album: Bahamas,Earthtones.
• Metal/hard music album: Voivod, The Wake.
• Rap recording: Tory Lanez, LoVE me NOw.
• Electronic album: Milk & Bone, Deception Bay.
• Producer of the year:Eric Ratzfor Arkells'Rally Cry.
• Video of the year: Ali Eisner for Bahamas'No Depression.

The return of Corey Hart

The galasetthe stage for the Sunday's Juno Awards, the week's marquee event at London's sold-out Budweiser Gardens.

With the bulk of the awards already handed out, Sunday's showlargely consists of musical performances, including the return of Corey Hart, who has not performedon television in more than 20 years. He will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

It marks a monumental moment for the '80sheartthrob, who met his wife while presenting together at a previous Junos. She will be in the audience Sunday.

Host Sarah McLachlan, Dutcher, Arkells, Bahamas, Coeur de Pirateand The Reklawswill also perform, though Canada's most popular talent, such asMendes, The Weeknd andAlessia Caraall nominated multiple times this year are not expected to attend. Mendes will perform via video from Europe, where he's on tour.

And then, there's the six remaining awards to hand out: group, album, breakthrough artist, R&B/soul recording, country album and fan choice.

The show will be broadcast live on CBC-TV, CBC Radio, CBC Gem and globally oncbc.ca/junosbeginning at 8 p.m. ET.