The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television has chosen the six finalists from among the top-rated Canadian comedy or drama primetime programs to compete for the Royal Canadian Mint Viewers Choice Award. The award will be presented Oct. 30 at this year’s Gemini Awards Gala.

The finalists are: the Nelvana/Silver Light Productions animated comedy series Bob and Margaret (Global tv), the Keatley MacLeod/Alliance Atlantis drama series Cold Squad (ctv), Leopard Productions’ comedy series Comedy Now! (The Comedy Network), the Haddock Entertainment/Barna-Alper Productions drama series DaVinci’s Inquest (cbc), the Air Farce Productions/cbc comedy series Royal Canadian Air Farce (cbc), and the aac/mgm/Showtime/Trilogy drama series The Outer Limits (Global tv).

Royal Canadian Air Farce is also being presented the Earle Grey Award in honor of its body of work and significant contribution to the international profile of Canadian television.

Pat Ferns, president and ceo of the Banff Television Festival, is this year’s recipient of the acct’s Achievement Award for exceptional contribution to the Canadian television industry.

The National Film Board documentary Unwanted Soldier receives the Canada Award, supported by the Multiculturalism Program of Canadian Heritage. The award honors excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada. The doc was written and directed by Jari Osborne and produced by Karen King.

The Awards Gala will be broadcast live on cbc Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. (est) from the John Bassett Auditorium at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Opening Gala (Oct. 28) and Industry Gala (Oct. 29) will air live on Rogers Television at 7 p.m. *

-www.academy.ca