The Gordon Sinclair Award is a Canadian journalism award, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for excellence in broadcast journalism. Originally presented as part of the ACTRA Awards, it was transferred to the new Gemini Awards in 1986."Canada's new TV award makes debut". Toronto Star, April 22, 1986. During the ACTRA era, the award was open to both radio and television journalists; when it was taken over by the Academy, it became a television-only award.
In the late 1990s, the award transitioned from a competitive award with a shortlist of nominees, which was presented to honour journalism work within the past year, into a lifetime achievement award whose winner was announced in advance of the annual award ceremony.
Since 2013, it has been presented as part of the Canadian Screen Awards.
The award is named in honour of television and radio commentator Gordon Sinclair."That So-and-So Sinclair Is Lovable At Last". The Globe and Mail, May 30, 1970.
A different Gordon Sinclair Award is also presented by Toronto Metropolitan University to graduate students in its journalism school, but has no connection to the Canadian Screen Awards.
Winners ACTRA Awards (1972-1986) 1972 - Pierre Berton"Berton and Bujold win new awards". Toronto Star, April 15, 1972. 1973 - Max Ferguson"Radio gets most awards while TV gets barely a look in". The Globe and Mail, April 30, 1973. 1975 - Jack Webster"Flaws, yes, but ACTRA awards good viewing". The Globe and Mail, April 24, 1975. 1976 - Warner Troyer and Adrienne Clarkson"ACTRA's chubby nymph smiles on 16 winners". Toronto Star, April 22, 1976. 1977 - Judy LaMarsh"ACTRA award goes to CBC Beaverbrook play". The Globe and Mail, April 15, 1977. 1978 - Linden MacIntyre"Opera surprise winner". The Globe and Mail, March 23, 1978. 1979 - Barbara Frum"CBC scores landslide in ACTRA awards". The Globe and Mail, April 5, 1979. 1980 - Ricki Katz and Susan Millican"Drying Up the Streets cleans up on ACTRAs". The Globe and Mail, April 10, 1980. 1981 - Eric Malling"Waxman, Establishment take Actras". The Globe and Mail, April 4, 1981. 1982 - Stephen Lewis"Surprise shut-out of SCTV: Top ACTRA Awards to Cadeau, Missing Kid". The Globe and Mail, May 13, 1982. 1983 - Laurier LaPierre"Air Farce, Billy Bishop big ACTRA winners". The Globe and Mail, April 18, 1983. 1984 - Elizabeth Gray"Popular mini-series dominates ACTRA awards: Empire earns big dividend". The Globe and Mail, April 4, 1984. 1985 - Eric Malling and Hana Gartner"'Chautauqua Girl' captures top Nellie". Montreal Gazette, April 4, 1985. 1986 - Roy Bonisteel"CBC beats private TV journalism". Toronto Star, April 6, 1986.
Gemini Awards (1986-2012) 1986 - Jim Reed and Eric Malling"Anne continues sweep of Gemini awards". The Globe and Mail, December 5, 1986. 1987 - Joe Schlesinger"Schlesinger wins two Geminis". Toronto Star, December 9, 1987. 1988 - no award presented"Nominated for Canadian TV's Best: The Gemini Awards". Toronto Star, October 13, 1988. 1989 - Patrick Watson"CBC hogs Gemini awards". Windsor Star, December 5, 1989. 1990 - Peter Mansbridge"CBC's Love and Hate, Road to Avonlea win five Geminis each". The Globe and Mail, December 5, 1990. 1991 - Pamela Wallin"CBC drama tops Gemini ceremonies". The Globe and Mail, March 9, 1992. 1992 - Linden MacIntyre"Controversial Valour And The Horror and Conspiracy Of Silence lead Geminis". Toronto Star, March 7, 1993. 1993 - Craig Oliver"Tory stories win awards for TV reporter Oliver". Vancouver Sun, March 4, 1994. 1994 - Linden MacIntyre"Due South collars 5 Gemini Awards". Toronto Star, March 6, 1995. 1995 - Brian Stewart"First round of Geminis honors On the Road Again". Ottawa Citizen, March 2, 1996. 1996 - Victor Malarek"Gemini awards honour broadcast journalists". The Globe and Mail, March 1, 1997. 1997 - Linden MacIntyre"Newsroom, Arrow scoop Geminis: Satiric sitcom about TV and a controversial series about doomed fighter pick up five apiece". Montreal Gazette, March 2, 1998. 1998 - Peter Mansbridge"CBC wins big at Geminis for TV journalism". The Globe and Mail, October 3, 1998. 1999 - David Studer"Trudeau show big winner". Toronto Star, October 26, 1999. 2000 - Ron Haggart"2000 Gemini Awards". Toronto Star, October 30, 2000. 2001 - Bill Cunningham"Nuremberg miniseries heads Gemini field with 12 nods". Montreal Gazette, October 27, 2001. 2002 - Dennis McIntosh 2003 - Brian McKenna"Jennifer Dale wins Gemini for contribution to TV". National Post, September 25, 2003. 2004 - Neil Docherty"Canadian TV luminaries to get Gemini awards". Vancouver Sun, November 9, 2004. 2005 - David Halton"Steve Smith, Air Farce, Halton win special Geminis". The Globe and Mail, November 8, 2005. 2006 - Hana Gartner 2007 - Tony Burman"Outstanding Canadians to receive special Geminis". Winnipeg Free Press, October 5, 2007. 2008 - Don Newman"THE BIZ: DEALS AND MOVES IN CANADIAN ARTS". The Globe and Mail, October 8, 2008. 2009 - no award presented 2010 - no award presented 2011 - Lloyd Robertson"Local filmmakers win special Gemini". Winnipeg Free Press, August 11, 2011. 2012 - Laurier LaPierre
Canadian Screen Awards (2013-present) 2013 - W5"Local flavour to Canadian screen award". Calgary Herald, November 6, 2013. 2014 - Ric Esther Bienstock"Screen awards to honour Gross". Calgary Herald, October 23, 2014. 2015 - Mark Starowicz 2016 - Simcha Jacobovici 2017 - Karyn Pugliese"Canadian Screen Awards: Peter Mansbridge, Karyn Pugliese, Margaret Atwood to be honoured". CBC News, October 30, 2017. 2018 - no recipient 2019 - no recipient 2020 - Anton Koschany"Alex Trebek among Canadian Academy special award recipients". CBC News, December 4, 2019. 2021 - no recipient 2022 - Rassi NashalikCorey Atad, "Canadian Screen Award Academy Announces 2022 Special Award Honourees And Changemakers". ET Canada, January 18, 2022. 2023 - Lisa LaFlammeEtan Vlessing, "Ryan Reynolds, Simu Liu, Catherine O’Hara to Receive Honorary Canadian Screen Awards". The Hollywood Reporter, January 18, 2023. 2024 - Paul WorkmanEtan Vlessing, "Devery Jacobs, Lamar Johnson to Receive Honorary Canadian Screen Awards". The Hollywood Reporter, April 4, 2024. 2025 - no recipient 2026 - Hazel MaeNick Logan, "Mike Myers, Hazel Mae among recipients of special 2026 Canadian Screen Awards honours". CBC News, March 4, 2026.
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