The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's English-language television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United States and the BAFTA Television Awards in the United Kingdom. First held in 1986 to replace the ACTRA Award, the ceremony celebrated Canadian television productions with awards in 87 categories, along with other special awards such as lifetime achievement awards. The Academy had previously presented the one-off Bijou Awards in 1981, inclusive of some television productions.
The awards' name was an allusion to Castor and Pollux, a mythological pair of twins;"Nellie award is reborn under the sign of Gemini". The Globe and Mail, April 22, 1986. this was in reference to Canada's linguistic duality of English and French, with the Academy's separate awards presentation for French-language television production named the Gémeaux Awards. The statuette, designed by Toronto artist Scott Thornley, evoked twins through a design that essentially created two faces at the front and back of the statuette.Sid Adilman, "Canada's new TV award makes debut." Toronto Star, April 22, 1986.
In April 2012, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced that the Gemini Awards and the Genie Awards would be discontinued and replaced by a new award ceremony dedicated to all forms of Canadian media, including television, film, and digital media, dubbed the "Canadian Screen Awards." The inaugural Canadian Screen Awards were held on 4 March 2013.
Award categories
Special awards Academy Achievement Award - general lifetime honour, inaugurated in 1996 Donald Brittain Award - for the best political or social documentary Canada Award - began in 1988 as the Multiculturalism Award, this is award "honours excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada." Margaret Collier Award - lifetime writing honour John Drainie Award - broadcasting, not necessarily awarded every year Humanitarian Award - inaugurated in 2001, recipients to date: (2001) Donald Martin (2002) Wendy Crewson (2003) Max Keeping (2004) George R. Robertson (2005) Royal Canadian Air Farce Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism - for television journalists who make outstanding contributions
Dates and locations
#YearDateBest Dramatic SeriesBest Comedy SeriesCityVenueHost(s)Broadcaster1st19864 DecemberNight HeatSeeing ThingsToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreEugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomassyndicated2nd19878 DecemberNight HeatSeeing ThingsToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreSteve SmithCBC3rd1988Degrassi Junior HighNoneToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreSteve SmithCBC4th1989Degrassi Junior HighCODCOToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreMartin ShortCBC5th1990E.N.G.Material WorldToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreRalph BenmerguiCBC6th1992E.N.G.CODCOToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreCynthia Dale and Ralph BenmerguiCBC7th1993E.N.G.The Kids in the HallToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreSara Botsford and Greg MaloneCBC8th19946 MarchE.N.G.The Kids in the HallToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreValerie Pringle and Albert SchultzCBC9th19955 MarchDue SouthThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentrePaul Gross and Tina KeeperCBC10th19963 MarchDue SouthThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreAlbert SchultzCBC11th19976 JuneDue SouthThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreAlbert SchultzCBC12th1998 (1)1 MarchTradersThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreCathy Jones and Steve SmithCBC13th1998 (2)4 OctoberTradersThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreRonnie Edwards and Kenny RobinsonCBC14th19997 NovemberDa Vinci's InquestMade in CanadaToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreRick MercerCBC15th200030 OctoberDa Vinci's InquestThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioJohn Bassett TheatreSteve SmithCBC16th200129 OctoberDa Vinci's InquestMade in CanadaToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreMike BullardCBC17th20024 NovemberDa Vinci's InquestAn American in CanadaToronto, OntarioMetro Toronto Convention CentreSeán CullenCBC18th200320 OctoberThe Eleventh HourThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioJohn Bassett TheatreSeán CullenCBC19th200413 DecemberDa Vinci's InquestTrailer Park BoysToronto, OntarioJohn Bassett Theatrevarious presentersCBC20th200519 NovemberThe Eleventh HourCorner GasToronto, OntarioJohn Bassett Theatrevarious presentersGlobal21st20064 NovemberSlings & ArrowsCorner GasRichmond, British ColumbiaRiver Rock Casino Resortvarious presentersGlobal22nd200728 OctoberSlings & ArrowsCorner GasRegina, SaskatchewanConexus Arts CentreGeorge StroumboulopoulosCBC23rd200828 NovemberIntelligenceThis Hour Has 22 MinutesToronto, OntarioThe John Bassett TheatreJason PriestleyShowcase, E!24th200914 NovemberFlashpointRick Mercer ReportCalgary, AlbertaStampede CorralRon JamesShowcase, Global25th201013 NovemberThe TudorsLess Than KindToronto, OntarioWinter Garden TheatreCory MonteithShowcase, Global26th20117 SeptemberThe BorgiasRick Mercer ReportToronto, OntarioCanadian Broadcasting CentreRussell PetersCBC
See also
Canadian television awards
References
External links Official website (archived):