The Gemini Special Awards, honoring outstanding individuals in the fields of broadcast journalism, writing, creative excellence and technical achievement, will be handed out at the Documentary, News and Sports Gala and the Industry Gala on Dec. 11 and 12, respectively.

Broadcast journalist Neil Docherty will receive the Gordon Sinclair Award, which acknowledges exceptional work in Canadian television journalism. Docherty has coproduced several documentaries for CBC’s the fifth estate, including the 2003 award-winning A Toxic Company. He is also nominated for a Gemini for best direction for his latest film, Dead in the Water.

Screenwriter and producer Wayne Grigsby (North of 60, Trudeau) will receive the Margaret Collier Award for an exceptional body of work as a writer, and for his contribution to Canadian television. Grigsby previously won a Gemini in 1988 for the drama And Then You Die.

The Canada Award, honoring excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada, will be presented to the film Cosmic Current. Directed by Anand Ramayya and produced by Joe MacDonald, Cosmic Current follows a life-changing pilgrimage by Ramayya’s family to Tirupati, India, to pray for his mother’s health.

The Outstanding Technical Achievement Award will be presented to Majestic, Canada’s first multi-format high-definition production mobile unit. Invented and developed by Dome Productions, the Majestic provides both HD and SD mobile programming production facilities.

-www.geminiawards.ca