The 8th ACTRA Awards were presented on April 4, 1979."CBC sweeps ACTRA Awards". North Bay Nugget, April 5, 1979. The ceremony was hosted by Gordon Pinsent for television categories, and Don Harron for radio categories.
Television Best Television Program Earle Grey Award A Gift to Last"List of winners". North Bay Nugget, April 5, 1979. The Champions"Front-runners picked for ACTRA Awards". Montreal Star, March 24, 1979. Tyler Helen Burns, Catsplay Robin Gammell, The Jesus Trial R. H. Thomson, Tyler Best Continuing TV Performance Best Supporting TV Performance Gordon Pinsent, A Gift to Last Ruth Springford, A Gift to Last Al Waxman, King of Kensington Murray Westgate, Tyler Donald Davis, The Newcomers: "1832" Moya Fenwick, Catsplay Best TV Variety Performance Best Television Host Brian McKay, Clowns Patsy Gallant, The Patsy Gallant Show Rich Little, Rich Little's Christmas Carol Roy Bonisteel, Man Alive Hana Gartner, Take 30 Brian Linehan, City Lights Best Television Public Affairs Broadcaster Best Children's Television Program Eric Malling, The Fifth Estate: "Law for Sale" Roy Bonisteel, Man Alive Adrienne Clarkson, The Fifth Estate Pencil Box Encounter with Orion The Friendly GiantThe initial Canadian Press article reporting the winners erroneously identified The Friendly Giant as a co-winner in this category alongside Pencil Box; however, a correction was subsequently published indicating that Pencil Box was the sole winner. Best Writing, Television Drama Best Writing, Television Comedy/Variety Roy MacGregor, Tyler Carol Bolt, One Night Stand Charles Israel and George Ryga, The Newcomers: "1927" Jeri Craden, Rob Iscove and Peter Mann, Clowns Benjamin Gordon and Lorne Frohman, The Rimshots Johnny Wayne, Frank Shuster, Ted Lonsdale and Kate Lonsdale, Wayne and Shuster Best Writing, Documentary John Kastner, The Fifth Estate: "Four Women" Eric Malling, The Fifth Estate Harry Rasky, The Peking Man
Radio Best Radio Program Best Radio Host The Other Self Signature: "McCarthyism and the Arts" Sunday Morning: "Operation White Knight" Warren Davis, Panning for Gold Don Harron, Morningside Betty Kennedy, The Betty Kennedy Show Best Radio Actor Best Radio Variety Performance Ruth Springford, The Other Self Marilyn Lightstone, The Other Self Florence Paterson, A Place to Come Back To Gay Claitman, Robert Cameron and Nancy White, Lies My Mother Told Me Dave Broadfoot, Royal Canadian Air Farce Nancy White, Sunday Morning Best Radio Public Affairs Broadcaster Best Writing, Radio Drama Terence McKenna, Sunday Morning: "Regina v Roberts" Arthur Cole, Gordon Sinclair and Betty Kennedy, Let's Discuss It Barbara Frum and Alan Maitland, As It Happens Tom Gallant, Darlin' Dolly Margaret Atwood, Estelle Marian Waldman, Beth and Rosamund Best Writing, Radio Variety Best Writing, Radio Documentary Gay Claitman and Nancy White, Lies My Mother Told Me Roger Abbott, Dave Broadfoot, Martin Bronstein, Don Ferguson and John Morgan, Royal Canadian Air Farce W.O. Mitchell, Live at the St. Lawrence Terence McKenna and Stuart McLean, Sunday Morning: "Operation White Knight" Robert Harris and Bob McKeown, Muhammad Ali Rob Lucy and Jay Mowat, Albert Establishment
Journalism and special awards Gordon Sinclair Award Foster Hewitt Award Barbara Frum, As It Happens Robert Cooper, Ombudsman John Robertson and Mike Allder, 24 Hours Brian Williams Ernie Afaganis Dave Hodge John Drainie Award Ruth Springford
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