Industry heavyweights Allan King, Eric Peterson, Susan Hay and Barbara Samuels will be feted with special Gemini Awards this year for exceptional contribution to the television industry.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television on Thursday unveiled the winners of its special honors, which also include Rezolution Pictures and the National Film Board for the documentary Club Native.

Legendary documentarian King, who passed away this summer of brain cancer, receives the Academy’s achievement award for ‘exceptional, outstanding or ongoing contribution to the television industry.’ His resume includes such works as Warrendale, A Married Couple, Dying at Grace and EMPz 4 Life. King was inducted into Playback‘s Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame last year.

Though he’s best known as the grouchy father Oscar to Brent Butt’s Brent Leroy on Corner Gas, Peterson is acknowledged for his larger body of work, which also includes series such as Street Legal, This Is Wonderland and Slings and Arrows. Peterson will pick up the Earle Grey award for ‘significant contribution to the international profile of Canadian television.’

Veteran broadcaster Hay is recognized with the Gemini Humanitarian Award for her public service outside the industry, while screenwriter Samuels receives the Margaret Collier prize for her body of work in Canadian television. Samuels’ credits include Mount Royal, The Jim Henson Hour, E.N.G. and Chasing Freedom.

The Canada Award recipient Club Native is honored for programming that reflects the ‘racial and cultural diversity of Canada.’ The doc examines the history and present-day reality of aboriginal identity.

The Geminis will be handed out over multiple nights, with industry galas taking place Oct. 19 and 20 in Toronto, while the broadcast gala is set for Nov. 14 from Calgary. It will air on Global and Showcase.