The inaugural season of Heated Rivalry emerged as the biggest winner at the Canadian Screen Awards on Sunday, taking home some of the ceremony’s most prestigious honours. The hit hockey romance drama won Best Drama Series, while its star Hudson Williams secured the award for Best Lead Performer.
The show’s success capped off an impressive weekend. After collecting 13 awards from 18 nominations during Saturday’s scripted television gala, Heated Rivalry added three more trophies on Sunday, bringing its total haul to 16 awards for its debut season.
North of North Wins Top Comedy Honours
Another standout of the evening was North of North, the CBC and Netflix comedy set in the Arctic. The series won Best Comedy Series, while its lead star Anna Lambe was recognized as Best Lead Performer in a comedy.
The Nunavut-filmed sitcom entered the awards season with 20 nominations and had already claimed seven trophies on Saturday, including awards for writing and supporting performance.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie Takes Best Picture
In the film categories, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie was crowned Best Motion Picture, beating out competitors including 40 Acres.
Toronto-born musician and composer Jay McCarrol won Best Leading Performance for his work in the film adaptation of the cult comedy series. The movie finished the awards season with six wins overall, including Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy for Matt Johnson, who also directed and co-wrote the project.
Fans Turn Out for Heated Rivalry Stars
The red carpet outside Toronto’s CBC Broadcast Centre was packed with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Sophie Nélisse. Their performances have helped turn the series into an international hit, thanks to its central romance storyline involving two hockey players portrayed by Williams and Connor Storrie.
Nélisse, who plays Rose Landry in the series, had already won Best Supporting Performer during Saturday’s ceremony. On Sunday, she was also honoured with the Radius Award, which recognizes Canadian artists whose work has achieved global reach and elevated Canada’s profile internationally.
Andrew Phung Celebrates a Breakthrough Year for Canadian Content
This year’s ceremony was hosted by Andrew Phung, best known for his role in Kim’s Convenience.
Ahead of the event, Phung expressed excitement about the growing international recognition of Canadian productions, noting that several homegrown projects had broken through to mainstream audiences and attracted passionate fan followings around the world.
Mike Myers Receives the Icon Award
One of the night’s most emotional moments came when legendary comedian and actor Mike Myers received the Canadian Screen Awards’ Icon Award.
The Toronto native, celebrated for iconic franchises such as Austin Powers and Wayne’s World, was honoured for his lasting contributions to the entertainment industry both in Canada and internationally.
Before accepting the award, tributes from fellow stars including Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Will Arnett were shown.
During an emotional acceptance speech, Myers thanked his parents for bringing the family to Canada and encouraging creativity and humour throughout his upbringing. He also paid tribute to Canada, crediting the country for shaping his career.
A Historic Night for the Awards
This year’s Canadian Screen Awards marked a significant milestone. For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast simultaneously across multiple major networks and streaming platforms, including CBC, CTV and Global.
Organizers described the expanded broadcast as a celebration of Canadian culture and a showcase for the country’s growing creative influence.
Catherine O’Hara Remembered in Emotional Tribute
The ceremony also took time to honour the legacy of beloved Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara, who passed away in March.
Her longtime friend and collaborator Eugene Levy introduced a heartfelt tribute celebrating her decades-long career, including their work together on Schitt’s Creek and SCTV.
The tribute served as a lead-in to the evening’s in memoriam segment, which featured a performance by Tia Wood honouring artists and industry figures who passed away over the past year.
The night ultimately celebrated not only the year’s biggest winners but also the growing global impact of Canadian film and television.
Best Motion Picture
Jennifer Holness, 40 Acres
Ryan Bobkin, Sara Wylie, Sophy Romvari, Blue Heron
Hany Ouichoi, The Cost of Heaven | Gagne ton ciel
Laurie Pominville, Hany Ouichou, Eric K. Boulianne, Follies | Folichonneries
Kim McCraw, Luc Déry, Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers
Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
Alireza Khatami, Michael Solomon, The Things You Kill
Samuel Cohn-Cousineau , Jonathan Frantz, Wrong Husband | Uiksaringitara
**WINNER: Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
Performance in a Leading Role, Drama | Meilleure interprétation dans un premier rôle, drame
Jasmin Geljo, Cat’s Cry
Milya Corbeil Gauvreau, Fanny
Grace Glowicki, Honey Bunch
Nina Kiri, Out Standing
Michaela Kurimsky, Sweet Angel Baby
Marlene Jewell, There, There
Noah Parker, Who by Fire | Comme le feu
Theresia Kappianaq, Wrong Husband | Uiksaringitara
**WINNER: Grace Glowicki, Honey Bunch
Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy | Meilleure interprétation dans un premier rôle, comédie
Eric K. Boulianne, Follies | Folichonneries
Catherine Chabot, Follies | Folichonneries
France Castel, The Furies | Les Furies
Neil Elias, Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers
Jay McCarrol, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
Patrick Hivon, Peak Everything | Amour Apocalypse
Karine Gonthier-Hyndman, Two Women | Deux femmes en or
Laurence Leboeuf, Two Women | Deuz femmes en or
**WINNER: Jay McCarol, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
Best Lead Performer, Drama Series
Supinder Wraich, Allegiance
Michelle Morgan, Heartland
François Arnaud, Heated Rivalry
Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry
Kathleen Munroe, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent
Carolina Bartczak, Plan B
Melanie Scrofano, Revival
Allan Hawco, Saint-Pierre
**WINNER: Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry
Best Lead Performer, Comedy
Meaghan Rath, Children Ruin Everything
Jasmeet Raina, Late Bloomer
Mary Walsh, The Missus Downstairs
Anna Lambe, North of North
Jermaine Richards, The Office Movers
Meredith MacNeill, Small Achievable Goals
Jennifer Whalen, Small Achievable Goals
Anastasia Phillips, The Trades
**WINNER: Anna Lambe, North of North
Best Comedy Series
Children Ruin Everything
Late Bloomer
North of North
Son of a Critch
The Trades
**WINNER: North of North
Best Drama Series
Heated Rivalry
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent
Plan B
Saint-Pierre
Wild Cards
**WINNER: Heated Rivalry
Radius Award
Sophie Nélisse
Academy Icon Award
Mike Myers
Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism
Hazel Mae
Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award
Heartland
Heated Rivalry
Revival
**WINNER: Heated Rivalry
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. He holds CAVCO Personnel Number SINH0106. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
