# Gemini Awards

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; 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.
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 first annual Canadian Screen Awards were held on 4 March 2013.

## Award categories

* Best News Information Series
* Best News Magazine Segment
* Best News Special Event Coverage
* Best Reportage
* Best Newscast
* Gemini Humanitarian Award
* Best Sports Play-by-Play or Analyst
* Best Live Sporting Documentary's Best Direction in a Live Sporting Event
* Best Sports Program or Series
* Outstanding Technical Achievement Award
* Best Writing in an Information or Series
* Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series
* Best Photography in Information Program or Series
* Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
* Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
* Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
* Academy Achievement Award
* Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
* Best Biography Documentary Program
* Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series
* Best History Documentary Program
* Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series
* Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism
* Best Direction in a Documentary's Program
* Best Direction in a Documentary Series
* Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series
* Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series
* Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series
* Best Documentary Series
* Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
* Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
* Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
* Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series
* Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series
* Best Original Music Score for an Animated Program or Series
* Best Animated Program or Series
* Best Pre-School Program or Series
* Most Popular Website
* Canada Award
* Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Dramatic Program or Series
* Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Segment
* Best Direction in a Lifestyle/Practical Information Program or Series
* Best Cross Platform Project
* Best General/Human Interest Series
* Best Host in a Lifestyle/Practical Information, or Performing Arts Program or Series
* Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Series
* Best Host or Interviewer in a General/Human Interest or Talk Program or Series
* Best Talk Series
* Best Reality Program or Series
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series
* Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
* Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
* Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series
* Best Sound in a Dramatic Series
* Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or Series
* Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series
* Best Sound in a Comedy, Variety, or Performing Arts Program or Series
* Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
* Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
* Best Direction in a Variety Program or Series
* Best Direction in a Performing Arts Program or Series
* Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series
* Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series
* Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series
* Best Individual Performance in a Comedy Program or Series
* Best Music, Variety Program or Series
* Best TV Movie
* Best Achievement in Make-Up
* Best Costume Design
* Best Achievement in Casting
* Best Visual Effects
* Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series
* Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series
* Earle Grey Award
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
* Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
* Best Sound in a Dramatic Program
* Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role Dramatic Series
* Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic Series
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
* Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
* Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast
* Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
* Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
* Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series
* Best Comedy Program or Series
* Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
* Best News Anchor
* Best Dramatic Mini-Series
* Best Dramatic Series
* Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series
* Viewers' Choice Award (Viewer's Choice Award for Lifestyle Host Gemini)
* Best Music Video

### 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

| # | Year | Date | Best Dramatic Series | Best Comedy Series | City | Venue | Host(s) | Broadcaster |
| 1st | 1986 | 4 December | Night Heat | Seeing Things | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas | syndicated |
| 2nd | 1987 | 8 December | Night Heat | Seeing Things | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Steve Smith | CBC |
| 3rd | 1988 | | Degrassi Junior High | None | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Steve Smith | CBC |
| 4th | 1989 | | Degrassi Junior High | CODCO | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Martin Short | CBC |
| 5th | 1990 | | E.N.G. | Material World | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Ralph Benmergui | CBC |
| 6th | 1992 | | E.N.G. | CODCO | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Cynthia Dale and Ralph Benmergui | CBC |
| 7th | 1993 | | E.N.G. | The Kids in the Hall | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Sara Botsford and Greg Malone | CBC |
| 8th | 1994 | 6 March | E.N.G. | The Kids in the Hall | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Valerie Pringle and Albert Schultz | CBC |
| 9th | 1995 | 5 March | Due South | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Paul Gross and Tina Keeper | CBC |
| 10th | 1996 | 3 March | Due South | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Albert Schultz | CBC |
| 11th | 1997 | 6 June | Due South | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Albert Schultz | CBC |
| 12th | 1998 (1) | 1 March | Traders | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Cathy Jones and Steve Smith | CBC |
| 13th | 1998 (2) | 4 October | Traders | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Ronnie Edwards and Kenny Robinson | CBC |
| 14th | 1999 | 7 November | Da Vinci's Inquest | Made in Canada | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Rick Mercer | CBC |
| 15th | 2000 | 30 October | Da Vinci's Inquest | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | John Bassett Theatre | Steve Smith | CBC |
| 16th | 2001 | 29 October | Da Vinci's Inquest | Made in Canada | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Mike Bullard | CBC |
| 17th | 2002 | 4 November | Da Vinci's Inquest | An American in Canada | Toronto, Ontario | Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Seán Cullen | CBC |
| 18th | 2003 | 20 October | The Eleventh Hour | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | John Bassett Theatre | Seán Cullen | CBC |
| 19th | 2004 | 13 December | Da Vinci's Inquest | Trailer Park Boys | Toronto, Ontario | John Bassett Theatre | various presenters | CBC |
| 20th | 2005 | 19 November | The Eleventh Hour | Corner Gas | Toronto, Ontario | John Bassett Theatre | various presenters | Global |
| 21st | 2006 | 4 November | Slings & Arrows | Corner Gas | Richmond, British Columbia | River Rock Casino Resort | various presenters | Global |
| 22nd | 2007 | 28 October | Slings & Arrows | Corner Gas | Regina, Saskatchewan | Conexus Arts Centre | George Stroumboulopoulos | CBC |
| 23rd | 2008 | 28 November | Intelligence | This Hour Has 22 Minutes | Toronto, Ontario | The John Bassett Theatre | Jason Priestley | Showcase, E! |
| 24th | 2009 | 14 November | Flashpoint | Rick Mercer Report | Calgary, Alberta | Stampede Corral | Ron James | Showcase, Global |
| 25th | 2010 | 13 November | The Tudors | Less Than Kind | Toronto, Ontario | Winter Garden Theatre | Cory Monteith | Showcase, Global |
| 26th | 2011 | 7 September | The Borgias | Rick Mercer Report | Toronto, Ontario | Canadian Broadcasting Centre | Russell Peters | CBC |