Nine Canadian industry icons – including trailblazer Robert Lantos and comic legend Catherine O’Hara – have been inducted into the second annual Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame, organized by Playback.

‘We are very excited to once again be honoring the great people who were instrumental in building the Canadian film and television industry,’ said Playback publisher Peter Vamos, upon unveiling the inductees on April 29.

The Hall of Fame recognizes work in various categories. Robert Lantos, producer and head of Serendipity Point Films, is this year’s ‘industry builder’ inductee, joined by Max Films founder Roger Frappier for his work in feature film, and former CTV boss Trina McQueen, for television.

SCTV great Catherine O’Hara takes the talent spot, while cinéma vérité master Allan King is recognized in the creative category. The four recipients in this year’s pioneer category are the late Izzy Asper, founder of Canwest Global Communications; renowned docmaker Donald Brittain; and Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster, better known as the comedy duo Wayne & Shuster.

The awards will be presented June 25 in Toronto, following the addition on May 22 of this year’s honorees to the online Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame. Playback will also publish a special report on the Hall of Fame on May 26.

The selections follow deliberations by a jury that this year was comprised of: Kevin DeWalt, head of Minds Eye Entertainment; Playback editor Mark Dillon; actor Peter Keleghan; Canadian Film Centre exec director Slawko Klymkiw; producer and Hall of Fame alum Andre Link; producer Bill Niven; publicist and former CHUM exec Mary Powers; Canwest exec Christine Shipton; and director Tim Southam.