Shaftesbury Films and CBC fared well at the first round of this year’s Gemini Awards – scoring highly in the drama and talk categories, respectively – though the pubcaster saw its would-be sweep of the news and doc honors spoiled by Global.

The three nights of industry awards, held in Toronto Oct. 15-17, ahead of the Oct. 28 televised gala in Regina, opened with the news, doc and sports awards, which – with CTV still sitting out in protest – were dominated by the Ceeb, though Global managed wins in high-profile categories including best documentary series for Global Currents and best newscast for Global National with Kevin Newman. Global beat out CBC News: The National and CityNews at Six on Citytv Toronto for its first win in the newscast category. Newman was also up for best anchor to be handed out in Regina, though Playback went to press before the big night.

CBC’s the fifth estate nabbed three prizes, including best news series and host for Gillian Findlay for the episode ‘Luck of the Draw,’ the news magazine’s noted lottery expose.

Over in sports, CTV sister TSN won hardware in two categories for its NHL on TSN, which nabbed sports commentary program and game analyst prizes for Pierre McGuire. Meanwhile, Hockey Night in Canada’s coverage of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals garnered three prizes for CBC, including best play-by-play for veteran sportscaster and first-time winner Bob Cole.

CBC’s The Hour came out on top the following night, making off with wins for best talk series and host for George Stroumboulopoulos. The prizes for lifestyle, children’s and youth programs also handed repeat wins to Skyland for best animated series and original score; and first-ever juried wins to CityLine on Citytv. The long-running morning talk show won for best lifestyle/practical information show, and received best host honors for Marilyn Denis.

Denis surprised the crowd by announcing that this will be her final year on CityLine. ‘I have grown so much with this group of women and two men,’ she said upon accepting her best host prize, nodding to her people in the crowd from the former CHUM. ‘Thank you so much for watching, and if you didn’t, you’d better hurry because there’s not much time!’

Shaftesbury then stampeded through the acting categories on the strength of the likes of ReGenesis and The Robber Bride.

Wendy Crewson won best supporting actress in a dramatic series for her work on ReGenesis – her fifth juried Gemini prize – while cast mates Stephen Amell and Ingrid Kavelaars each picked up best guest roles. Robber Bride stars Shawn Doyle and Mary-Louise Parker won best performance statuettes for their leading roles in a dramatic program or miniseries, while Jonathan Scarfe of Above and Beyond – a copro by Shaftesbury and Pope Productions – grabbed best supporting actor.

On stage, Crewson thanked Shaftesbury chair and co-CEO Christina Jennings, ‘who keeps half this room employed,’ she quipped, getting a laugh.

Street-gang stories also took home hardware. The Toronto-set Doomstown won three statuettes, including best TV movie for producers Pierre Sarrazin, Suzette Couture and Susan Murdoch, while the Vancouver gang tale Dragon Boys nabbed two, including best TV miniseries for creators Michael Chechik, Howard Dancyger and Ian Weir.

Weir also won best writing for Dragon Boys, which aired on CBC. CTV’s Doomstown garnered best direction for Sudz Sutherland, while actress Yanna McIntosh was honored for her featured supporting role.

Notable lone statuette winners include Vancouver’s Stargate Atlantis ‘No Man’s Land’ for best visual effects; Rick Mercer Report for best direction in a comedy series (for Henry Sarwer-Foner); and best direction in a performing arts program or series for When Moses Awoke (for Seth-Adrian Harris).

Season three of the defunct favorite Slings & Arrows (The Movie Network/Movie Central) was shut out except for Stephen Ouimette’s prize for best supporting actor in a drama series.

See www.geminiawards.ca for a full list of the winners.

With files from Sean Davidson and Suzan Ayscough