TORONTO — A Prime Video docuseries on the Tragically Hip has nabbed a leading seven wins at the Canadian Screen Awards.
“The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal” from Amazon Prime Video Canada dominated a Friday evening bash for documentary, factual, lifestyle and reality categories – one of several weekend galas to celebrate the best in homegrown film, television and digital media.
Trophies for the four-part docuseries included best biography or arts documentary series and best director for Michael Downie, brother of the band’s late frontman Gord Downie.
Crave's drag queen competition series “Canada’s Drag Race” ruled five categories, including best host for Brooke Lynn Hytes, Brad Goreski and Traci Melchor.
A best sound prize for “Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. The World” handed the franchise an additional trophy.
Earlier in the day, a gala for news, entertainment and sports programming gave CBC's long-running satirical comedy “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” four awards – best program, writing, direction and performance.
The afternoon bash also named singer Nelly Furtado best host of a live entertainment special for steering the 2024 Juno Awards, in which the “I’m Like a Bird” songstress performed a medley of her hits. The show also won best live entertainment special.
The title for best national newscast went to CTV News’ “National News with Omar Sachedina,” best news or information series went to CBC’s “The Fifth Estate,” and best talk or entertainment news series went to CTV’s "The Good Stuff with Mary Berg.”
Berg picked up two more wins Friday night when she nabbed best host for her CTV Life Channel show "Mary Makes It Easy," which also collected best lifestyle series.
Best news anchor went to Adrienne Arsenault for her work on CBC’s “The National,” best national reporter went to Jeff Semple of “Global National,” and best local reporter went to CBC Indigenous’s Jackie McKay.
Two galas on Saturday will cover the bulk of awards in the film and television categories.
Marquee categories for top winners, including best film and best TV drama and comedy, will be announced Sunday and broadcast by CBC.
At the afternoon gala on Friday, TSN’s coverage of the 2024 Copa America earned three wins — for best sports program, opening and host, for James Duthie.
CBC’s extensive coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics nabbed two awards. The public broadcaster picked up best sports play-by-play for Mark Lee, and later in the night won best original music among factual, lifestyle, reality and entertainment categories.
Best local news cast and local news anchor went to “Global BC News Hour” and its deskers Chris Gailus and Sophie Lui.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
