Canadian director Anne Wheeler (pictured right) will be among four special awards recipients at the Directors Guild of Canada’s annual gala this fall.

Wheeler will be given the DGC’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her many accomplishments. The award recognizes a director’s full body of work, and for Wheeler, that includes directing over 40 feature films and a long list of TV episodes. Especially active in feature film in the 70s and 80s, Wheeler’s credits on the big screen include Bye Bye Blues and Cowboys Don’t Cry. Recently, she’s directed a raft of popular TV series, including episodes of Reign, Heartland, The Romeo Section and the upcoming Private Eyes.

Also being recognized with special awards are Manny Danelon, who will receive the Don Haldane Distinguished Service Award and veteran TV executive Trina McQueen, who is no stranger to the awards stage, having received special recognitions from everything the Canadian Broadcasters Hall of Fame to the Order of Canada and our own Playback Canadian Film & Television Hall of Fame. McQueen is being on honoured this fall with the DGC’s Honourary Life Member Award.

Danelon, on the other hand, is a production manager who has been a DGC for over 20 years. He planned the very first DGC awards in 2002 and works on local and national committees for the organization.

The DGC has also announced a new award, the DGC Discovery Award, granted to “the director of a feature film that reflects a bold, new cinematic voice.” The recipient of that honour will be revealed at the fall gala.

The DGC awards will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 at The Carlu in Toronto.