Industry heavyweights including veteran stage and screen actor Christopher Plummer, Oscar winner Denys Arcand, and Ted Rogers were inducted into Playback‘s Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame at a glitzy affair Monday in Toronto.

The third annual event, organized by Playback and attended by 250 industry leaders, feted 10 honorees in all — David Cronenberg, former Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television chief Maria Topalovich, distributor Victor Loewy, and broadcaster Patrick Watson were also among the inductees, alongside posthumous honorees actor Chief Dan George, animator Norman McLaren and Ernie ‘Mr. Dressup’ Coombs.

‘I’ve not worked with a director that’s more persistent, more diligent about looking for ways to meet the image and meet the words,’ said actor Viggo Mortensen, who was on hand to introduce Cronenberg, with whom he collaborated on A History of Violence and Eastern Promises.

‘Somehow Viggo has made me feel that I’m about to be bar mitzvah-ed,’ responded Cronenberg in his acceptance speech to laughs from the audience. The director added that the honor, which came with a crystal sculpture, was ‘very touching.’

Academy veteran Topalovich was feted by her friend, host and journalist Ann Medina, who noted, ‘I’m so glad tonight is her night.’ Topalovich paid tribute to her husband, the late Peter Mortimer, as she accepted her sculpture, adding ‘He was my champion.’

Playback special reports editor Suzan Ayscough introduced Arcand, who joked that the win ‘makes me feel very old. Usually when an athlete gets to the Hall of Fame, it meant they stopped playing a long time ago.’

Plummer recited a poem as he received his statue in the talent category, referring to his love of Canada. ‘My heart wasn’t full, until I felt the pull, of that country I so loved,’ he said.

NFB chair Tom Perlmutter accepted the ‘pioneer’ award on McLaren’s behalf. Coombs’ son and daughter were on hand to accept for the late children’s entertainer, while Leonard George, leading a delegation of aboriginal filmmakers, accepted the prize for his father.

The inductees were chosen by a jury of industry professionals including Playback publisher Catherine Bridgman, Halifax Film CEO Michael Donovan, actor Art Hindle, Canadian Film Centre exec director Slawko Klymkiw, CBC Television general manager Kirstine Stewart, Telefilm co-founder Michael Spencer and director Clement Virgo.