The bulk of the hardware has already been handed out, but Sunday's Juno Awards still look wide open.

Toronto rapper Kardinal Offishall, shown at the 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards, won the Juno for the single of the year for his club anthem Dangerous on Saturday. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)Montreal indie rockers the Stills were the only two-time winners announced at a private dinner ceremony held Saturday, the day before the main show.

Alanis Morissette took pop album of the year for Flavors of Entanglement, Montreal's Sam Roberts took rock album of the year for Love at the End of the World and Coldplay took international album of the year for Viva La Vida.

In the evening's biggest upset, Toronto rapper Kardinal Offishall took single of the year for his slick dance-floor anthem Dangerous, which toppled such big-name competitors as Céline Dion, Michael Bublé and Nickelback.

The Hanna, Alta., rockers led with five nominations going into the Juno Awards, but were shut out in two categories that were awarded Saturday.

But don't count Chad Kroeger and his Nickelback bandmates out just yet. They're still up for the fan choice award, album of the year and group of the year, which will be announced Sunday.

Some of the other marquee nominated names also still hold hope for a glass statuette.

Dion is still up for the fan choice award, while Bryan Adams and k.d. lang are still in the running for artist of the year.

The Stills bag overdue award

The Stills won't see their tally climb any higher — their nominations in alternative album of the year and new group of the year were the only nods they received.

The nomination for new group of the year was a bit strange, given that the band released its debut, Logic Will Break Your Heart, in 2003 — a fact that frontman Tim Fletcher made reference to with an irony-laden acceptance speech.

"When we started this band six months ago, we never thought that things would move so quickly for us," he joked. "And I feel like we're really only getting to know each other.

"Seriously, this is the first award we've ever won, so it's pretty cool. This ensures that we'll continue to work together and keep making music for years to come, so thank you guys very much."

Abbotsford, B.C., pop-punk band Hedley have three of their nominations remaining, while Quebec gypsy jazz outfit Lost Fingers and Montreal rockers Simple Plan have two each.

But if Saturday was any indication, this year's Juno voters were rarely swayed simply by name recognition.

Serena Ryder, a singer/songwriter from Millbrook, Ont., who admitted she was uncomfortable in a fancy dress and "heels that [she] would never really wear," took adult alternative album of the year over better-known artists including Ron Sexsmith, Hawksley Workman and Kathleen Edwards.

"They are amazing musicians and they deserve this just as much or more than I do," she said.

An underdog triumphs

But perhaps no win was more surprising than Kardinal Offishall's.

The veteran MC — who would seem to have rap recording of the year all but wrapped up going into Sunday's show — seemed a severe underdog given that his competitors had won a combined 35 Juno Awards going into the show.

Dangerous, a club-friendly come-on to a nameless femme fatale that features American crooner Akon, hit No. 2 on the Canadian Billboard chart and No. 5 in the United States.

Celebrated artist Buffy Sainte-Marie took the aboriginal album of the year award for Running for the Drum, and said that the multitude of awards she's won in the past didn't make it any less meaningful.

"Gee, I'm very much surprised and grateful," she said backstage afterwards. "I got an Academy award and a Golden Globe and a Gemini and a buncha stuff, but ... the Junos is a big deal in Canada, and the show is seen around the world, so to be acknowledged for the fun I've had is a real treat."

The show featured more flair than might be expected considering it wasn't broadcast on television, but many artists weren't in attendance to claim their awards.

Montreal experimental hip-hop group Beast opened the show with a thumping performance, while Nikki Yanofsky impressed with a lovely medley of God Bless the Child and I Got Rhythm.

The Montreal phenom, 15, dropped vocal jazz album of the year to Molly Johnson but is nominated for new artist of the year at Sunday's ceremony.

Humble, who won for reggae album of the year, provided a touching moment when he fought back tears onstage before thanking the Toronto neighbourhood in which he grew up, Rexdale.

Vancouver-based songstress Sarah McLachlan was honoured with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for her charity work, while cross-town rockers Loverboy were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

In other presentations, Feist's Honey Honey was named video of the year; the Barenaked Ladies, who recently announced the departure of frontman Steven Page, won children's album of the year for Snacktime!. while Doc Walker picked up their first Juno in five tries for country recording of the year.