ACTIVITY REPORT
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2019
Prepared by Claudia Marcoux Special Events and Communications Youth Media Alliance
June 13, 2019
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 1
English Language Awards of Excellence 2019
A) The Event
1. Goals 2. Preparations 3. The Gala Ceremony 4. Financing 5. Visibility
B) Appendices
1. Examples of the Gala communications (press releases, newsletter, social media, and website pages) 2. Press coverage (partial) 3. List of Gala attendees
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 2 A) THE EVENT
1. Goals
The goal of the Youth Media Alliance (YMA) is to promote youth programming of the highest quality. For over forty-five years, the YMA has bestowed its Awards of Excellence for the best Canadian children’s programming content on all screens. This highly anticipated industry event is the only one of its kind in Canada to specifically reward children's productions. The distinction these awards confer is recognized globally as a stamp of quality, giving the Awards of Excellence added prestige and proving to be a definite asset for visibility.
In addition to the Awards of Excellence, the YMA also offers its members professional training activities such as seminars, conferences, workshops and screenings that allow producers and other creators to update their knowledge of the constantly evolving world of youth programming. Since 2015, the Youth Media Alliance has developed and now offers three scholarships: the YMA Andra Sheffer, the YMA Thérèse-Pinho, the YMA Steven DeNure Scholarships. YMA has also combined forces with WIA Vancouver to launch a new Art Director Master Class initiative.
2. Preparations
The YMA English-language Awards of Excellence 2019 honour the outstanding achievements from the past two years of Canadian television programming, digital content and interactive projects for youth. Moreover, special prizes are awarded to youth programming industry professionals: the Outstanding Achievement Award, the Emerging Talent Award and the new Award of Excellence for Outstanding Youth Performer. The competition was open to all Canadian-made youth productions originally broadcast in English within Canada between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Final applications had to be submitted by Tuesday, March 5 at 3 pm. We received a total of 92 entries.
Advisory Committee Frank Falcone, Guru Studio Sarah Haasz, Cottonwood Media J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment Brandon Lane, Teletoon/Corus Marney Malabar, TVO Marie McCann, CBC Jessica McLaughlin, TVO Michelle Melanson Cuperus, Headspinner Productions Inc. Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos, Consultant / Strategist Jamie Piekarz, JamPie Media Jillianne Reinseth, Entertainment One John Rooney, Johnromedia Kate Sanagan, Sinking Ship Entertainment Travis Williams, Mercury Filmworks Suzanne Wilson, Lambur Productions Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 3
The Awards
Twelve Awards of Excellence were awarded. Based on the YMA’s Statement of Quality, a total of 47 jury members selected 43 nominees in ten categories. Two new categories were added: Award of Excellence, Best Digital First Content and the Award of Excellence, Outstanding Youth Performer. Awarded by a special committee, this new award shines the spotlight on a talented performer under 18 years old who stands out for uniqueness, audacity and positive presence on all platforms. This year the YMA board members decided to present the Outstanding Achievement Award to Fred Penner and the Emerging Talent Award to Rita Claire Mike-Murphy.
The Jury
This year, the president of jury was John Rooney. He has a vast history within Kids television in Canada starting in the late 90’s working with YTV. Rising through the ranks, John became Director of Programming and was instrumental in shaping the Corus Kids & Family brands. John successfully transitioned over to TELETOON and became their Director of Programming responsible for content strategy for all their brands and launching Cartoon Network in Canada. John has recently joined the TAAFI (Toronto Animation Arts Festival International) as Program Director for their recent TAAFI 2019 Festival, a three-day animation festival held in Toronto each year. Currently, John is working as a consultant advising various clients on content strategy, programming, development and curation. John has been a member of the YMA Awards advisory committee for several years.
The Gala Ceremony
The YMA called upon Robby Hoffman to write and host the Gala awards ceremony. Robby Hoffman is a small ex-Hasidic queer stand-up comedian and writer. She has just come off of writing several seasons on The Chris Gethard Show (2018), was named one of Comedy Central's UP NEXT comedians (2018) on Conan O’Brien’s Comics to Watch list (2018), and recently recorded her first one-hour stand-up comedy TV special for Just for Laughs (2019). Robby’s writing has been on a tear since graduating from McGill University. She started on Playdate (ABC Kids), then Dino Dana (TVO Kids), and Odd Squad (PBS and TVOKids), winners of a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing. She then wrote for CBC's hit primetime show, Workin' Moms and contributed to IFC's Baroness von Sketch Show. She also wrote for and produced Odd Squad’s web series, OddTube (PBS). In recognition of her writing work on Odd Squad, she recently won a Daytime Emmy Award.
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 4 Graphic Design The YMA renewed its partnership with Cabana Séguin for development of the visual signature for the Awards of Excellence. Cabana Séguin designed a visual theme for the Gala, which carries over for the YMA’s next event: the Children Youth and Media Conference to be held from November 13 – 15, 2019.
3. The Gala Ceremony
The Awards of Excellence Gala was held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at CBC Glenn Gould Studio, in Toronto. The evening’s festivities commenced with a cocktail party attended by about 275 guests. Nine talented young performers were invited to present awards on-stage. They have been seen on shows such as Big Top Academy, Dino Dana, Odd Squad or Super Mighty Makers.
From left to right: Ava Ro, Drew Davis, Isaac Kragten, Jaeda Leblanc, Madison Brydges, Michela Luci, Riley O'Donnell, Saara Chaudry and Millie Davis.
Tom Power host of the national arts and entertainment program q on CBC Radio One presented the Outstanding Achievement Award to Fred Penner who couldn’t be at the gala. This was followed by a musical performance by Ken and Ben Whiteley of a medley of the best of Fred Penner songs. YMA’s met with Fred earlier in March and made a video of his acceptance speech prior to the gala.
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 5
Fred Penner Outstanding Achievement Award 2019
A full room with over 275 guests!
Link to Awards of Excellence Gala picture gallery: https://www.ymamj.org/en/galleries/2019-awards-of-excellence-gala/
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 6
Images of the cocktail and reception presented by DHX Media, this year the YMA celebrated its 45th anniversary!
Link to Gala Video: https://www.ymamj.org/en/media-gallery/ Coming Soon! The video of the gala will be posted on YMA’s website in the coming weeks,
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 7 2019 Award of Excellence winners:
Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted and Non-Scripted, Preschool
Dino Dana (A Dino Never Forgets)
Produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment; Aired on TVOKids and Amazon
Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted, Ages 6–9 and 9 +
Odd Squad (There's No O in Obot)
Produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment; Aired on TVOKids and PBS
Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted – Ages 6-9
Raven’s Quest (Madison)
Produced by Apartment 11 Productions; Aired on TVOKids
Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted – Ages 9+
The Mystery Files (The Mystery of Nostra Culpa)
Produced by Apartment 11 Productions; Aired on TVOKids
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 8 Award of Excellence, Best Interactive Content – Preschool
Cutie Pugs Games
Produced by Little Engine Moving Pictures, Sticky Brain Studios, TVOKids, TFO and Radio- Canada
Award of Excellence, Best Interactive Content – Ages 6-9
CBC Kids Olympics
Produced by CBC
Award of Excellence, Best Interactive Content – Ages 9+
CBC Kids News
Produced by CBC
Award of Excellence, Best Digital First Content – All age groups
Miss Persona Season 2
Produced by Nelvana and Balloon House Productions
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 9 Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation – Preschool
True and the Rainbow Kingdom (The Living Sea)
Produced by Guru Studio; Aired on CBC
Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation – Ages 6-9
Total Dramarama (That's a Wrap)
Produced by Elliott Animation; Aired on Cartoon Network and Teletoon
Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation – Ages 9+
The Dragon Prince (Bloodthirsty)
Produced by Bardel Entertainment and Wonderstorm; Streamed on Netflix
(Photo credit: @Kidscreen)
Outstanding Youth Performer
Michela Luci
This new award shines the spotlight on the talent of an outstanding young performer who stands out for her uniqueness, audacity and positive presence on all platforms.
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 10 Outstanding Achievement Award: Fred Penner
Given for a distinguished career in youth production in Canada, this prestigious prize salutes the individual’s contributions to the industry, leadership skills, ability to innovate and inspire and career-long commitment to young Canadians.
Fred Penner is a gentle man with an undeniable ability to make you feel good about yourself. This musical master brings more than 40 years of commitment, consistency and depth to a career that blends the many genres of performing and communication. Fred continues to grow and create music for his generations of “Fred Heads”.
Emerging Talent Award: Rita-Claire Mike-Murphy
This award is given to a promising professional whose achievements have made her a rising star in children’s programming. This award encourages young creators and broadcast professionals to outdo themselves and, more importantly, to pursue a career in youth production.
In her leading television role, Rita Claire Mike-Murphy is delighting children as host of Anaana’s Tent, an educational and bilingual preschool series on APTN that teaches Inuktitut, the language spoken by the majority of Inuit in Nunavut, to the next generation of Canadian children. Rita Claire was raised in Pangnirtung, a beautiful community on Baffin Island, Nunavut. In addition to her acting ability, she is talented musician who performs under the name Riit, showcasing her unique and beautiful voice.
4. Funding
The Awards of Excellence Gala 2019 were produced thanks to the contributions of our partners and sponsors:
Principal Sponsor CBC Kids (Outstanding Achievement)
Cocktail and Reception Sponsor DHX Media Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 11
Prestige Level Sponsors Canada Media Fund / MADE (Best Interactive Content, Ages 6-9) Shaw Rocket Fund (Emerging Talent) Independent Production Fund (Best Digital First Content, All age groups) Nelvana / Corus (Best Interactive Content, Ages 9+) Sinking Ship Entertainment (Outstanding Youth Performer) 9 Story Media Group (Best Program, Live Action Scripted and Non-Scripted, Preschool 3-5) APTN (Best Program, Animation, Ages 9 +)
Excellence Level Sponsors Apartment 11 Productions (Best Interactive Content, Preschool) CMPA (Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted, Ages 9+) Fresh TV (Best Program, Animation, Preschool 3-5) GURU Studio (Best Program, Animation, Ages 6-9) Landslide Entertainment (Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted, Ages 6-9) Marblemedia (Best Program, Live Action Scripted, Ages 6-9 and 9+)
5. Visibility
2019 Gala Poster
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 12
On-screen slide for all Sponsors
Program Sponsor Page
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 13 B) Appendices
APPENDIX 1
Examples of the Gala communications (Press Releases, Newsletter, Social Media, Website Pages)
Youth Media Alliance Website https://www.ymamj.org/en/awards-of-excellence/
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 14 News Releases https://www.ymamj.org/en/news/
Newsletter example to 900+ Subscribers (MailChimp)
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 15 Facebook Posts (Examples)
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 16 Twitter Posts (Examples)
New YMA Instagram Account for 2019
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 17 APPENDIX 2
Press Coverage (partial)
1. Specific press coverage for John Rooney (Jury President)
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 18 2. Specific press coverage for Fred Penner (Outstanding Achievement Award) and Rita-Claire Mike-Murphy (Emerging Talent Award)
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 19
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 20
3. Show Host Robby Hoffman
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 21 4. Awards of Excellence Nominees and Winners
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 22 APPENDIX 3
List of Gala Attendees
First Name Last Name Business / Affiliation Andrew Addison CMPA - Sponsor PE19 Emily Agard Bristow Global Media Ashley Amar Taqqut Lisa Amato Shaw Rocket Fund - Sponsor Jaypeetee Arnakak Inhabit Education Danielle Audette APTN - Gala Sponsor Agnes Augustin Shaw Rocket Fund - Sponsor Michelle Awad 9 Story Media Group - Sponsor Catherine Baird Ben McEvoy Guest Claire Barclay Sinking Ship Entertainment Claudia Barrios Jury Member Gitte Barrow Nelvana Leila Basen Apartment 11 Productions Hans Bathija Jury Member Liana Bdewi LITTLE ENGINE Dave Beatty Secret Sauce Entertainment Inc. Marie-Claude Beauchamp Carpediem Film & TV Inc. Camille Beaudoin Jury Member Judith Beauregard Tobo - YMA Co-Chair and Gala Host Mary Beldowski Sinking Ship Entertainment Eric Beldowski Sinking Ship Entertainment Viggo Bertrand Volunteer Stephanie Betts DHX Media Mark Bishop marblemedia Matt J. R. Bishop Sinking Ship - Sponsorship Brenda Bisner Grand Jury Cara Bleskie Nelvana - PE19 Sponsor Davian Bobrowska Nelvana Sasha Boersma Sticky Brain Studios Lioz Bouganin Landslide Entertainment Daniel Bouré Jury Member Chantal Bowen Youth Media Alliance Catherine Branscome BRANSCOME INTERNATIONAL Mary Bredin Jury Member Todd Brian DHX Media Julie Bristow Bristow Global Media Ted Brunt Sticky Brain Studios Steve Brydges +1 guest Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 23 Madison Brydges Gala Host Campbell Bryer Nelvana Blayne Burnside Entertainment One Tara Campbell Entertainment One Mark Cautillo Sinking Ship Entertainment Jordan Cavallo Distribution 360 Saara Chaudry Youth Performer - Presenter Suzy Chouieri LITTLE ENGINE Lisa Cinelli CBC - Principal Sponsor Daniel Clermont Nelvana Sherri Cohen LITTLE ENGINE Sandra Collins CMF - Sponsor PE19 Sean Connolly Bristow Global Media Laurence Corman Difuze Victoria Coulthart Jury Member Darren Cranford Jury Member Mary Darling Jury Member Drew Davis Gala Host Millie Davis Youth Performer - Presenter Megan Davis Youth Performer - Guest Melanie Davis LITTLE ENGINE Mark De Angelis Sinking Ship Entertainment Carla De Jong Sinking Ship - Sponsorship Annick De Vries Kondolole Films inc Kim Dent Wilder Jury Member Jain Dickson TV Production Marcia Douglas CMPA - Sponsor PE19 Erin Dunlop Inhabit Education Andrew Ebert Sinking Ship Entertainment Clint Eland Mercury Filmworks Kelsey Espensen marblemedia Vanessa Esteves Nelvana - PE19 Sponsor Lisa Fender CBC - Principal Sponsor Daniel Fernandes Sinking Ship Jonathan Finkelstein Apartment 11 Productions Mario Forero Kinematiko Media Inc Sairi Forest Nelvana Karen Fowler Guest Gavin Freisen Sinking Ship Entertainment Lucy Fricano Youth Performer - Guest Amanda Fruci Youth Performer guest Ray Gaffoor CMF Guest - Sponsor PE19 Mike Geiger Amimation
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 24 Alex Gordon Sinking Ship Entertainment Angela Hanna Goulene Jury Member Tanya Green Sinking Ship Entertainment Alan Gregg Entertainment One Alexis Grieve Youth Performer guest Jason Groh Nelvana Benoit Gudbout Carpediem Film & TV Inc. Sarah Haasz Advisory Committee PE19 Beverley Haffner CBC - Principal Sponsor Laurie Handforth Nelvana Laura Harbin Shaftesbury Christopher Harris Super Sonics Post Production Marc Hartlen Nelvana - PE19 Sponsor John Hazlett Wishfart Productions Michael Hefferon Mainframe Studios Michael Hirsh WOW! Unlimited Media Stephen Hodges Relish Interactive Inc. Robby Hoffman Gala Host Tristan Homer Entertainment One Adam Hopwood Mathias Horhager Animation Matt Hornburg marblemedia Emily Houghton CBC - Principal Sponsor Kirsten Hurd TVO Monika Ille APTN - Gala Sponsor Sarah Imrisek Sinking Ship Entertainment Andy Ingram LITTLE ENGINE Monica Ittusardjuat Inhabit Education Paul Jobin CBC - Principal Sponsor Michelle Junkin Guru - Sponsor PE19 Vadim Kapridov 9 Story Media Group - Sponsor Tanya Kelen Kat Kelly Hayduk Turtlebox Productions Andronika Kelso Grand Jury Andronika Kelso + 1 guest Guest Maria Kennedy LITTLE ENGINE Hyunjoo Kim Jury Member Tatiana Kober Bejuba! Leo Kouvaris Sinking Ship Entertainment Ken Kragten Sinking Ship Entertainment Bonnie-Jean Kragten Youth Performer - Guest Isaac Kragten Youth Performer - Presenter Fabienne L'Abbé Groupe Média TFO
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 25 Roohi Eleanor Lakra Volunteer Marianne Lambert TVO Marie-France Landry Jury Member Brandon Lane Advisory Committee PE19 Robert Laughlin marblemedia Mindy Laxer Apartment 11 Productions Helen Lebeau Jury Member Jaeda Naomie LeBlanc Gala Host 2019 John Lei Madeleine Levesque Producer Jessica Liadsky Entertainment One Emma Lichti Sinking Ship Entertainment Chantal Ling Mercury Filmworks Trent Locke Portfolio Entertainment Anne Loi DHX Media Guillaume Lonergan Apartment 11 Productions Rennata Lopez Jury Member Georgina López Lopii Productions Inc. Raquel Lopez Bouganin Landslide Entertainment Maria Lozano Kinematiko Media Inc Jenny Lu Jury Member Michela Luci Youth Performer - Presenter Dan Lyon CMF Guest - Sponsor PE19 Erin Mackie Guru - Sponsor PE19 Danielle Mahaffey Brown Bag Films Marney Malabar TVO - Advisory Committee Ellen Manney Ken Whiteley's guest +1 Veronica Manzerolle Jury Member Claudia Marcoux Youth Media Alliance Lisa Marinelli TVO (ticket from Pat Burns, Leap2ns) Ben Mazzotta LITTLE ENGINE Jennifer McCann Shaftesbury Marie McCann CBC - Principal Sponsor Megan McChesney CBC - Principal Sponsor Ben McEvoy Grand Jury Tom McGillis FRESH TV Carly McGowan IPF - Sponsor PE19 Sasha McIntyre Jury member Jessica McLaughlin TVO - Advisory Committee Kayla McNally Boat Rocker Media Michelle Melanson Headspinner Productions Inc. Andrée Anne Metcalfe Jury Member Marlo Miazga Bristow Global Media
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 26 Rachel Michael Vicky Middleton Industrial Brothers Jeanne Mike Rita Claire Mike-Murphy Guest Rita Claire Mike-Murphy Emerging Talent Award Angelique Millar-Stelnick LITTLE ENGINE Lawrence Mirkin Portfolio Entertainment Francis Mitchell Riverbank Pictures Christine Mitchell Wishfart Productions Atoosa Mohajer Entertainment One Scott Montgomery Sinking Ship Entertainment Diana Moore Keoni Morency-Lee Apartment 11 Productions Marie Morency-Lee Apartment 11 Productions Elize Morgan Jury Member Rick Morrison Jury Member Peter Moss Drew Mullin CBC - Principal Sponsor Nneka Myers Nelvana Lily Nguyen Nelvana Holly Nichols Entertainment One Brenda Nietupski Jury Member Nadine Noncent LeBlanc Gala Host 2019 +1 Guest Bailey Northcott Nelvana - PE19 Sponsor JF O'Bomsawin APTN - Gala Sponsor Maria O'Donnell +1 guest Riley O'Donnell Gala Host Linda O'Shaughnessy APTN - Gala Sponsor Dave Padbury Guru - Sponsor PE19 Renée Paradis Groupe Média TFO Ajeeth Parkal marblemedia Duriya Patel Youth Performer - Guest Latoya Patterson Headspinner Productions Paul Pattison Relish Interactive Inc. Kelly Payne Jury Member Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos Jury Member Anne-Marie Perrotta Jury Member Kimberly Persona Balloon House Productions Inc. Jennifer Pertsch FRESH TV Emmanuelle Petrakis CMF - Sponsor PE19 Jamie Piekarz JamPie - Advisory Committee Victoria Pike Distribution 360 Robert Pincombe Developer-Content Creator-SE Tania Pinto
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 27 Joel Pinto Brunico Phyllis Platt Tom Power CBC - Gala Host Blair Powers Sinking Ship - Sponsorship Alice Prodanou Fresh TV Inc. Sacha Raposo Jury Member Jillianne Reinseth Advisory Committee Leisha-Marie Ridell Sinking Ship Entertainment Tom Ro +1 guest Ava Ro Gala Host Mia Rodak CBC - Principal Sponsor John Rooney President of Jury Joy Rosen Portfolio Entertainment Michelle Runowski CBC - Principal Sponsor Ronald Ruslim Sinking Ship Entertainment Brigitte Sachse LITTLE ENGINE Martin Sal Jury Member Kate Sanagan Sinking Ship - Advisory Committee Shaleen Sangha Boat Rocker Media Fiona Savage Super Sonics Post Production Nicolas Savoie Difuze Lienne Sawatsky Wishfart Productions Josh Scherba DHX Media Matt Schiller Apartment 11 Productions Pilar Segura Jury Member Tammy Semen Industrial Brothers Avital Shalev Volunteer Mark Shapland IPF - Sponsor PE19 Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy marblemedia Andra Sheffer IPF - Sponsor PE19 Steven Sherman Sinking Ship Entertainment Bonita Siegel Grand Jury Christin Simms Sinking Ship - Sponsorship Pam Slavin Nelvana Steve Sloan marblemedia Steve Sloan marblemedia Amanda Smith Writer Julie Soebekti 9 Story Media Group - Sponsor Ali Spizarsky Distribution 360 Julie Stall Secret Sauce Entertainment Inc. Delia Stammer Bonita Siegel Guest (Grand Jury) Eric Steinhart Animation Marty Stelnick Writer/Music Composer/Puppeteer
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 28 Roslyn Stockton Sinking Ship Entertainment Paul Stoica Jury Member Sharon Summerling marblemedia Sonya Suraci Jury Member Duana Taha Flex Productions Jon Taylor IPF - Sponsor PE19 Adrian Thatcher Nelvana Ryan Tuchow Kidscreen Elizabeth Turnbull Sinking Ship Entertainment Stephen Turnbull Sinking Ship Entertainment Anthony Valenti marblemedia Audrey Velichka Boat Rocker Media Caroline Voitovici Jury Member Elaine Waisglass Carly Watt CBC - Principal Sponsor Rich Weston 9 Story Media Group - Sponsor Ken Whiteley Musician Ben Whiteley Musician Jermaine Williams Sinking Ship Entertainment Travis Williams Grand Jury Daniel Williams Wishfart Productions Heather Wilson Industrial Brothers Ron Wilson Nelvana Suzanne Wilson Advisory Committee PE19 Lisa Wisniewski CBC - Principal Sponsor Jinny Wong LITTLE ENGINE Randi Yaffa Entertainment One
Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 29