SOCAN members Arcade Fire won four honours at the 2011 Juno awards, inlcuding Songwriter of the Year. (Photo: Barry Roden, Courtesy of the Juno Awards)

After winning a surprise Album of the Year honour at the Grammy Awards last month, and two Brit Awards as well, SOCAN members Arcade Fire dominated the 2011 Juno Awards with four wins, including Songwriter of the Year – for the songs “Ready To Start,” “We Used to Wait” and “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” from their album The Suburbs. The band was recognized as Group of the Year, and also took home Album and Alternative Album of the Year honours, at the 40th anniversary Juno Awards ceremonies, held March 27 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto (and the night before, during a non-broadcast gala dinner at the Allstream Centre).

“It’s a long way from Sneaky Dee’s, the first place we played in Toronto,” said Arcade Fire singer Win Butler as he accepted the songwriter award, acknowledging the tiny club. Later, the the bandmembers once again thanked their hometown of Montreal, and in the backstage press room, explained that they see their spate of recent awards as providing the freedom to make the music they want to make, in whatever way they choose. "Our favourite thing to do is play music," said bandmember Richard Reed Parry. "The prize is the playing of the music."

SOCAN member composer R. Murray Schafer won Classical Composition of the Year honours for Duo For Violin And Piano, from the album Wild Bird, while fellow members Karkwa took home the Francophone Album of the Year award for Les Chemins de verre. Neil Young, who attended the gala to accept the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, also won Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year, for Le Noise. Justin Bieber won a pair of trophies: the Juno Fan Choice Award, and Pop Album of the Year, for My World 2.0.

For a complete list of winners visit the Junos website.