The Canadian Screen Award for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series is an award category, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to honour ensemble performance in comedy programs. Winners and nominees were typically either sketch comedy shows, or the collective cast of a scripted narrative comedy series.
When the Gemini Awards were first introduced in 1986, awards were presented for Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series."Green Gables big Gemini awards winner". Windsor Star, December 5, 1986. However, as Canadian television comedy was dominated in that era primarily by sketch comedy, comedy-drama or stand-up performance shows, rather than traditional sitcoms, comedy performance categories were discontinued after the 2nd Gemini Awards in 1987;Mike Boone, "No drama in Gemini comedy category - no comedy either". Montreal Gazette, December 5, 1989. for the next few years, performances in comedy-drama shows were eligible to be nominated in the drama performance categories, while sketch comedy performers could be nominated for Best Performance in a Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series.
Beginning with the 6th Gemini Awards in 1992, the academy introduced a single award for Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series, whose winners or nominees could be either an individual or an ensemble;"And the nominees are..." Hamilton Spectator, March 7, 1992. separate awards for Best Individual Performance and Best Ensemble Performance were then introduced for the 16th Gemini Awards in 2001."CTV's Nuremberg leads Gemini nominations". The Telegram, September 18, 2001.
After 2010, the Individual Performance category was discontinued; separate categories for Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series were reintroduced, alongside new categories for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as of the 26th Gemini Awards in 2011. The ensemble category was still presented in 2011, but was discontinued when the Gemini Awards transitioned into the Canadian Screen Awards the following year; with the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016, a new category was reintroduced for Individual or Ensemble Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series.
In 2024, the Academy reintroduced a category for Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series, separately from the awards for individual performance and the award for ensemble performance in sketch comedy.
Winners and nominees
2001-2011 Year Actors Series Ref 2001 16th Gemini Awards Dan Lett, Peter Keleghan, Leah Pinsent, Emily Hampshire, Rick Mercer, Jackie Torrens Made in Canada John McKay, "Da Vinci's Inquest and Nuremberg big winners after three-night Gemini fest". Canadian Press, October 29, 2001. Kim Bubbs, George Buza, Wayne Robson, Steve Smith, Peter Keleghan, Bob Bainborough, Jeff Lumby The Red Green Show Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh This Hour Has 22 Minutes Lucy DeCoutere, John Dunsworth, Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, Ardon Bess, Barrie Dunn, Michael Jackson, Jonathan Torrens, Jeanna Harrison, Robb Wells, Patrick Roach Trailer Park Boys 2002 17th Gemini Awards Dan Lett, Peter Keleghan, Leah Pinsent, Rick Mercer, Jackie Torrens Made in Canada Marla Cranston, "Gemini dream: Local TV productions win bushel of awards". Halifax Daily News, November 5, 2002. Colin Mochrie, Greg Thomey, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh This Hour Has 22 Minutes Tony Atherton, "Local TV actors go for Gemini glory". Ottawa Citizen, October 31, 2002. Lucy DeCoutere, John Dunsworth, Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, Ardon Bess, Barrie Dunn, Michael Jackson, Jonathan Torrens, Jeanna Harrison, Robb Wells, Patrick Roach, Sarah Dunsworth, Cory Bowles, Sandi Ross Trailer Park Boys 2003 18th Gemini Awards Colin Mochrie, Greg Thomey, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh This Hour Has 22 Minutes "The Gemini Award winners". Peterborough Examiner, October 21, 2003. Jeff Clarke, Katherine Ashby A Guy and a Girl "The Academy announces the 18th Annual Gemini Award nominees". Canada NewsWire, September 9, 2003. Hélène Joy, Rick Roberts, Stewart Francis, Timm Zemanek, Robin Brûlé, Sugith Varughese, Matthew Ferguson An American in Canada Dan Lett, Peter Keleghan, Leah Pinsent, Rick Mercer, Jackie Torrens Made in Canada Lucy DeCoutere, John Dunsworth, Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, Barrie Dunn, Michael Jackson, Jonathan Torrens, Robb Wells, Patrick Roach, Sarah Dunsworth, Cory Bowles, Elliot Page, Shelley Thompson, Sam Tarasco Trailer Park Boys 2004 19th Gemini Awards Dan Lett, Peter Keleghan, Leah Pinsent, Rick Mercer, Jackie Torrens Made in Canada: "The Last Show"| J. Kelly Nestruck, "Hard drama, hosers at Geminis". Montreal Gazette, December 14, 2004. |- | Brent Butt, Janet Wright, Tara Spencer-Nairn, Nancy Robertson, Eric Peterson, Gabrielle Miller, Fred Ewanuick, Lorne Cardinal | Corner Gas: "Face Off" | rowspan=4| "2004 Gemini Awards top-category nominees". Montreal Gazette, December 11, 2004. |- | Rebecca Northan, Paul O'Sullivan, Debra McGrath, Lisa Merchant, Peter Oldring | The Joe Blow Show |- | Shaun Majumder, Greg Thomey, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh, Mark Critch | This Hour Has 22 Minutes |- | Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, Jonathan Torrens, Cory Bowles, Lucy DeCoutere, Barrie Dunn, John Dunsworth, Sarah Dunsworth, Jeanna Harrison, Tyrone Parsons, Patrick Roach, Mike Smith, Shelley Thompson, Michael Jackson | Trailer Park Boys: "If I Can't Smoke and Swear I'm Fucked" |- | rowspan="6" align="center"| 2005 20th Gemini Awards |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | Barrie Dunn, Shelley Thompson, Patrick Roach, Garry James, Tyrone Parsons, Jonathan Torrens, Jeanna Harrison, John Paul Tremblay, Sarah Dunsworth, Lucy DeCoutere, Cory Bowles, John Dunsworth, Mike Smith, Robb Wells, Michael Jackson| Trailer Park Boys: "Working Man"| "Eleventh Hour wins drama Gemini". Waterloo Region Record, November 21, 2005. |- | Rick Green, Ron Pardo, Janet van de Graaf, Bob Bainborough, Teresa Pavlinek | History Bites: "Elizabeth & Mary/Queen Takes Queen, Checkmate" | rowspan=4| John McKay, "Cancelled drama series leads Gemini nominations". St. Catharines Standard, October 12, 2005. |- | Gord Robertson, James Rankin, Bob Martin, Dan Redican, Bruce Hunter | Puppets Who Kill: "Buttons on a Hot Tin Roof" |- | Martin Huisman, Louis Philippe Dandenault, Richard Jutras, Annie Bovaird, Paula Boudreau, Alain Goulem, Tracey Hoyt, Kate Greenhouse, Ryan Tilson, Christian Potenza, Cas Anvar, Victor Chowdury, Dean McDermott, Swikriti Sarkar | The Tournament: "Saturday at the Tournament" |- | Shaun Majumder, Cathy Jones, Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford | This Hour Has 22 Minutes |- | rowspan="6" align="center"| 2006 21st Gemini Awards |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | Shaun Majumder, Cathy Jones, Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford| This Hour Has 22 Minutes Stephanie Levitz, "Corner Gas, Slings and Arrows find fortune at Gemini Awards". Whitehorse Star, November 6, 2006. Eric Peterson, Brent Butt, Lorne Cardinal, Gabrielle Miller, Janet Wright, Tara Spencer-Nairn, Fred Ewanuick, Nancy Robertson Corner Gas: "Merry Gasmas" Alex Strachan, "Gemini rule: Voters can be fickle". Ottawa Citizen, November 4, 2006. Luba Goy, Alan Park, Jessica Holmes, Craig Lauzon, Don Ferguson, Roger Abbott Royal Canadian Air Farce Laurie Elliott, Rick Green, Patrick McKenna, Wayne Robson, Steve Smith, Bob Bainborough, Jeff Lumby The Red Green Show: "Do As I Do" Ari Cohen, Louis Philippe Dandenault, Richard Jutras, Paula Boudreau, Alain Goulem, Tracey Hoyt, Kate Greenhouse, Christian Potenza, Cas Anvar, Swikriti Sarkar The Tournament: "The Warrior Women" 2007 22nd Gemini Awards Brent Butt, Lorne Cardinal, Fred Ewanuick, Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Nancy Robertson, Tara Spencer-Nairn, Janet Wright Corner Gas: "Gopher It"| Alex Strachan, "Slings and Arrows wins in afterlife; Best drama, acting prizes. Corner Gas fills up with trophies for comedy series, ensemble performance". Montreal Gazette, October 29, 2007. |- | Roman Danylo, Aurora Browne, Jennifer Goodhue, Albert Howell, Terry McGurrin, Jennifer Robertson, Ian Sirota, Winston Spear, Gavin Stephens | Comedy Inc. | rowspan=5| Patricia Robertson, "The Hour has come for the Geminis". The Globe and Mail, October 27, 2007. |- | Christopher Bolton, Stephen Amell, Oliver Becker, Inga Cadranel, Louis Di Bianco, Carlos Diaz, Matt Gordon, Gabriel Hogan, Mayko Nguyen, Pascal Petardi, Joe Pingue, Jeff Pustil, Philip Riccio, Maria Vacratsis, Jeremy Wright | Rent-a-Goalie |- | Roger Abbott, Penelope Corrin, Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, Jessica Holmes, Craig Lauzon, Alan Park | Royal Canadian Air Farce |- | Cathy Jones, Shaun Majumder, Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford | This Hour Has 22 Minutes |- | Rob deLeeuw, Kaela Bahrey, Karen Cliche, Ellen David, Trevor Hayes, Kathleen Robertson, Nobuya Shimamoto, Matt Silver, James A. Woods, Nicolas Wright | The Business: "Check Please" |- | rowspan="6" align="center"| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | Inessa Frantowski, Brooks Gray, Andy King, Rebecca McMahon, Leo Scherman, Morgan Waters| Cock'd Gunns: "A Taste of Success"| Cassandra Szklarski, "'Durham County,' 'The Englishman's Boy' win big at Gemini Awards". Canadian Press, November 28, 2008. |- | Fab Filippo, David Alpay, Jennifer Baxter, Mike Beaver, Robin Brûlé, Jayne Eastwood, Ennis Esmer, Brandon Firla, Ron Gabriel, Peter Keleghan, Arnold Pinnock, Aron Tager | Billable Hours: "Monopoly Man" | rowspan=4| "Full list of Gemini Award nominees". Winnipeg Free Press, August 26, 2008. |- | John Catucci, David Mesiano | Canadian Comedy Awards: Best of the Fest 2007 |- | Stephen Amell, Oliver Becker, Michael Bodnar, Christopher Bolton, Sarain Boylan, Inga Cadranel, Louis Di Bianco, Carlos Diaz, Matt Gordon, Gabriel Hogan, Mayko Nguyen, Pascal Petardi, Joe Pingue, Jeff Pustil, Philip Riccio, Maria Vacratsis, Jeremy Wright | Rent-a-Goalie: "Domi Daze" |- | Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford, Geri Hall, Cathy Jones | This Hour Has 22 Minutes |- | rowspan="6" align="center"| 2009 24th Gemini Awards |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | Steve Cochrane, Kevin Ellis, George Komorowski, Adriana Maggs, Joel Stewart, Steven Morana, Paul Snepsts, Jordan McCloskey, Phyllis Ellis| Three Chords from the Truth: "Tommy's Label Showcase"| Shannon Montgomery, "'Flashpoint' takes top honours at 2009 Gemini Awards celebrating top Canadian TV". Canadian Press, November 15, 2009. |- | Fab Filippo, Jennifer Baxter, Mike Beaver, Robin Brûlé, Jayne Eastwood, Brandon Firla, Ron Gabriel, Peter Keleghan, Arnold Pinnock, Aron Tager | Billable Hours: "A Manson for All Seasons" | rowspan=4| "Gemini nominees". Toronto Star, August 26, 2009. |- | Ordena Stephens, Trey Anthony, Daniel J. Gordon, Eli Goree, Ngozi Paul | Da Kink in My Hair: "Black Cake, White Cake" |- | Oliver Becker, Michael Bodnar, Christopher Bolton, Sarain Boylan, Inga Cadranel, Louis Di Bianco, Carlos Diaz, Mark-Cameron Fraser, Matt Gordon, Gabriel Hogan, Mayko Nguyen, Pascal Petardi, Joe Pingue, Jeff Pustil, Simon Reynolds, Philip Riccio, Maria Vacratsis, Jeremy Wright | Rent-a-Goalie: "Ham in a Pram" |- | Shaun Majumder, Gavin Crawford, Mark Critch, Geri Hall, Cathy Jones | This Hour Has 22 Minutes |- | rowspan="4" align="center"| 2010 25th Gemini Awards |- style="background:#FAEB86;"