Night one of the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards saw CBC take an early lead with 11 wins at the News, Entertainments and Sports Awards.

The kick-off ceremony for Canadian Screen Week took place on Tuesday (May 28) evening. Of the total 11 awards for CBC, seven were in the news and sports categories, including Best News Anchor, National for CBC News’ The National anchor Adrienne Arsenault (pictured).

CBC also picked up honours for two of its awards show broadcasts. The 2023 Legacy Awards from the Black Academy won Best Live Entertainment Special, while the 2023 Juno Awards won Best Host, Live Entertainment Special for host Simu Liu. Both shows are produced by Toronto’s Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company).

Rounding out the awards for CBC programs are This Hour Has 22 Minutes: This Special Has 30 Years with Best Variety or Entertainment Special and the CBC Gem series Here & Queer winning Best Web Program or Series, Non-Fiction.

Bell Media network programming won eight awards on night one, including Best National Newscast for CTV National News with Omar Sachedina as one of three awards for CTV News.

TSN picked up five awards for its sports coverage, including a double win for Best Live Sports Event for the 2022 Grey Cup and the 2023 IIHF World Junior Gold Medal Game.

The now-cancelled Entertainment Tonight Canada picked up two awards in the evening: Best Entertainment News Program or Series and Best Live Production, Social Media for ET Canada Live. The awards were one of three for Corus Entertainment, as well as Best Live News Special for Global News’ coverage of the 2023 Alberta provincial election.

Citytv’s VeraCity: Indigiqueer (Wookey Films) won Best Host or Interviewer, News or Information for Sarain Fox. Fellow Rogers Sports & Media network Sportsnet picked up three awards for its sports coverage, including Serge Ibaka’s How Hungry Are You?, featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo, winning Best Sports Program or Series.

Rounding out the winners of the evening were Jen Pogue, earning Best Host, Web Program or Series for the Fibe TV1 lifestyle series County Blooms (JPO & Co Entertainment, Federgreen Entertainment), and APTN Investigates, picking up Best News or Information Series and Best Photography, News or Information.

The second day (May 29) of the Canadian Screen Awards will see the Television Craft Awards and the Television Program and Performance Awards handed out. The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards Gala takes place on Friday (May 31).

Photo by George Pimentel