Lopii Productions, marblemedia and Sinking Ship Entertainment led the honourees at the Youth Media Alliance’s (YMA) 2023 Awards of Excellence.

The in-person awards gala on Wednesday (May 31) at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio honoured outstanding achievements in Canadian children’s and youth content, with actors Anisha Joshi and Mercedes Gaztambide, hosts of CBC web series Street Cents, serving as MCs.

All-Round Champion, marblemedia’s unscripted competition series, won the Grand Prize and the Outstanding Youth Performer or Ensemble award, while Lopii Productions scored back-to-back wins in the Live Action, Non-Scripted categories for The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy (preschool 3-5) and My Home, My Life! (ages 6-9). TVOKids’ Know Brainers won in the 9+ age group for the live action non-scripted category.

Two special honours went to Marilyn Kynaston (Outstanding Achievement Award) and Joan Digba (Emerging Talent Award).

Kynaston, a veteran distribution executive who recently retired from Sinking Ship, was lauded for her leadership and years of contribution to the industry. She began her career at Forefront Entertainment before setting up Picture Box Distribution with longtime business partner and close friend Kate Sanagan.

Digba, an associate producer at Sinking Ship, was recognized for her talent in storytelling. She has worked on series like Aunty B’s House from Headspinner Productions and Sinking Ship’s Beyond Black Beauty.

The awards for Best Program, Live Action Scripted went to Miss Persona (preschool 3-5; Balloon House Productions), Endlings (6-9; Sinking Ship), and Take Note (9+; Lambur Productions). Best Program, Animation went to Lucas the Spider (3-5; Fresh TV, Wexworks Media) and Daniel Spellbound (6+; Industrial Brothers, Boat Rocker Media).

Run Jump Play, the 2D-animated series from Imagine Create Media, won Best Program, Short-Form Content (ages 6+) category. Producer Sabine Daniel took home a Best Podcast award for The Incredible Story of Afro-Canadians, which examines the legacy of Black Canadians throughout history.

A full list of winners is available on the YMA website.

A version of this story originally appeared in Kidscreen