Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Crystal Awards, our 25th anniversary year!

Tara Ellis | Creative Excellence Award

Senior Director, Original Drama Content, Shaw Media
Tara Ellis is a veteran of the Canadian television industry in the areas of programming, acquisitions, production and scheduling. In her current role, Tara oversees original scripted drama and comedy programming for Global, Showcase and History Television. She has been instrumental in the development and production of such standout original series and co-productions as Rookie Blue, Combat Hospital, Bomb Girls, Lost Girl, Continuum and The Kennedys.

At Alliance Atlantis, Tara served as VP of Content for Showcase, where she led acquisitions, original production, and scheduling. She also spent time at the CBC as a Production Executive in the Movies & Mini-Series unit and programmer of Canadian shorts and features, giving many industry professionals their first shot behind and in front of the camera. The Globe & Mail has named Tara one of the 40 Most Influential People in Canadian Television for her efforts in bringing new talent to Canadian airwaves.

The Creative Excellence Award recognizes a woman for the dynamic quality of her work in screen-based media, which has received national and/or international attention in the previous year and sets a standard for screen-based professionals.

Susan Ross | Mentorship Award

Consultant and Partner, ISM Access
Susan Ross is a Consultant and Partner at ISM Access, a marketing and content development firm. She is also an Instructor at Ryerson University’s RTA School of Media and a member of the Board of Governors of Humber College. An accomplished media executive, Susan was most recently Executive Vice President and General Manager, Specialty and Pay TV for Corus Entertainment, overseeing the operation of 10 channels. Prior to this she was VP and GM of Children’s Television for Corus.

Susan is a former WIFT-T Board Chair and a past board member of Concerned Children’s Advertisers, Youth Media Alliance, and the Canada Media Fund. She received the Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) Woman of the Year Award in 2004 and the Youth Media Alliance Outstanding Achievement Award in 2007. She continues to mentor women in the media industry through her involvement with Work In Culture and CWC mentorship programs.

The Mentorship Award recognizes a woman or man who has made an outstanding contribution to building women’s careers in screen-based media and/or assists female entrepreneurs in growing their own media companies.

Anne Marie La Traverse | Outstanding Achievement Award

President, Pink Sky Entertainment
Anne Marie La Traverse is an independent producer who has amassed an extensive list of credits during her 20-year career in television. Her most recent production, Flashpoint, has garnered ratings and critical success domestically and internationally, and was the first Canadian series in 15 years to find an American network home (CBS).

A bilingual native of Montréal, Anne Marie practiced law for four years before joining Atlantis Films in 1991. Over the next 12 years at Alliance Atlantis, she developed and produced over 100 hours of award-winning big-budget movies and series, many of them sophisticated co-productions with international partners. In 2003, Anne Marie founded her own production company, Pink Sky Entertainment. Under the Pink Sky banner, she has produced three television movies and five seasons of Flashpoint. She has received four Gemini Awards for her productions. Anne Marie lives in Toronto with her children, Justin and Elodie.

The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes a woman who has made a major contribution to screen-based media through the consistent quality of her work. Through personal example and leadership, she has inspired and set standards for screen-based media professionals.

Mary Ellen Carlyle | Special Jury Award of Distinction

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dome Productions
Mary Ellen Carlyle oversees the administration and operations of Dome Productions, a leader in providing comprehensive production and distribution services and facilities to national and international clients. She was appointed SVP and GM in 2001 after previous roles as VP of Production Services, Director of Mobile and Stadium Operations, and Event Production Manager responsible for the operation of Canada’s first HDTV Mobile. She has been with Dome since its inception in 1989.

Mary Ellen has extensive experience with host broadcast events, including as Project Manager for the G8/G20 Summits (Muskoka/Toronto) 2010, Francophonie Summit 2008, the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2005, the G8 Summit 2002, Summit of the Americas 2001, The International Conference on War-Affected Children 2000, and the General Assembly of the Organization of American States 2000. She began her career as a Technician with TSN and was a member of the TSN 1988 Olympic Team.

The Special Jury Award of Distinction recognizes a woman who is a trailblazer in the screen-based industry. The winner is dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse, and active creative community. The accolade is awarded periodically at the discretion of the jury.

Sarah Gadon | International Achievement Award

Actress
Toronto-born Gadon has gained international attention with major roles in such films as David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method and Cosmopolis, Mary Harron’s The Moth Diaries and Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral. Earlier this year, she was an inaugural recipient of the Birks Canadian Diamond at the 65th Cannes Film Festival and awarded the Playback Breakout Award in relation to Playback’s 6th annual Canadian Film & Television Hall of Fame.

On the small screen, Gadon portrays Philippa in World Without End, the miniseries based on the best-selling novel by Ken Follett. In 2013, she will appear in Denis Villeneuve’s An Enemy alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Mélanie Laurent, as well as in the period drama Belle from UK director Amma Asante alongside Emily Watson and Tom Wilkinson. 2013 will also witness her directorial debut with a half-hour episode in the six-part documentary series Reelside (Fifth Ground Entertainment) which will premiere on Movie Central and The Movie Network. Gadon is also pursuing a degree in Cinema Studies at the University of Toronto.

The International Achievement Award is presented to a Canadian woman working in screen-based media (film, television and/or digital media) for her significant and well recognized body of work in Canada and abroad.