We are thrilled to announce the 36th anniversary of the incredible WIFT Toronto Crystal Awards. This year's luncheon gala is set to take place on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2023.
Join us as we celebrate exceptional leaders in the screen-based industry at our brand-new venue, the fabulous Fairmont Royal York Hotel!
The Crystal Awards, established in 1988, is WIFT Toronto’s annual tribute gala to individuals making significant contributions to Canadian screen-based media industry. Since its inception over three and a half decades ago, more than 175 esteemed individuals have been recognized for their excellence in creativity, innovation, leadership, and their commitment to mentoring the next generation of industry creators and leaders.
2023 CATEGORIES & HONOUREES:
Creative Excellence – Marilyn Denis, Radio/Podcast Host
International Achievement – Missy Peregrym, Actress
Mentorship – Margot Daley, Unscripted Producer, Series Producer, Director, and Senior Story Edi
tor
Outstanding Achievement in Business – Victoria Harding, Executive Director, Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario
Jury Award of Distinction – Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada
2023 HOST
We're pleased to share that broadcaster and co-anchor of CP24 Breakfast, Jennifer Hsiung, will be hosting WIFT+ Toronto's 36th Annual Crystal Awards Gala on November 22, 2023, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Downtown Toronto!
2023 SPONSORS & PARTNERS
WIFT Toronto thanks the following 36th Annual Crystal Awards sponsors and partners for their support:
Want to join us in illuminating enterprising and barrier-breaking women in Canada's film, TV and digital media industry? Contact us today to inquire about sponsorship opportunities or table purchases. We look forward to partnering with you!
2023 RECIPIENTS
CREATIVE EXCELLENCE – MARILYN DENIS Marilyn Denis is one of the most fun-loving—and quite honestly, one of the nicest people in broadcasting. In 2023, Marilyn announced she would bid adieu as host of the popular Canadian Screen Award-winning series The Marilyn Denis Show, following 13 incredible seasons on CTV and a 34-year career of daily daytime television. Throughout her years on television, Canada’s Queen of Daytime always placed her fans at the centre of it all, as she provided a unique blend of entertainment and topical lifestyle information to viewers across the country weekday mornings.
Marilyn first began her television career by reporting on sports, weather, and entertainment at CFCN-TV (CTV Calgary) and working as a freelance reporter for TSN. Marilyn also shared hosting duties on Bravo!'s Gemini Award-winning concert series Live at the Rehearsal Hall and was host of the popular daily show Cityline for nearly 20 years.
Formerly co-host of Roger & Marilyn, the veteran radio broadcaster now hosts Marilyn Denis and Jamar, weekday mornings on Toronto’s CHUM 104.5. A dominating presence in Toronto radio and Canadian television, Marilyn’s quick wit, connection with her audience, and charm have made her a much-beloved figure. INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT – MISSY PEREGRYM Having endeared herself with audiences with her feature film debut as the rebellious gymnast star in the film Stick It, Missy Peregrym has continued to develop herself as a successful actress in film and television. Peregrym reminded audiences that she is both tough and vulnerable, starring as rookie cop Andy for six seasons on ABC's successful series, Rookie Blue. Currently, she stars as FBI Special Agent, Maggie Bell, on FBI, Dick Wolfe’s much loved drama series for CBS. Chronicling the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the show, which premiered Fall 2018, the drama continues to be a huge hit for CBS, and has spawned two spin offs.
In 2018, Peregrym reprised her role as a series regular on the Syfy drama, Van Helsing. Peregrym’s character, Scarlett Harker—a woman with a mysterious past who might help turn the tide against the vampires—was introduced in the second season of the vampire cult favorite.
In 2014, Peregrym starred alongside Eric Balfour and Jeff Roup in the adventure thriller, Back Country. Based on a true story, Peregrym portrays Jenn, an urbanite who goes on a camping trip in the woods with her boyfriend and finds themselves in the territory of a predatory Black Bear. The film made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In 2012, Peregrym appeared in Yahoo’s first digitally released movie Cybergeddon, starring as Chloe Jocelyn, an agent investigating a series of seemingly unrelated cyber-attacks. Cybergeddon debuted exclusively in over 25 countries and 10 languages on Yahoo!
Peregrym, a native of Canada, was honored in 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival as one of Playback's Top Ten to Watch for her accomplishment and talent as an actress. Her title will be remembered in the Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame. Other memorable TV credits include her starring role in The CW's Reaper; the illusive ‘Candace’ in Heroes; and the sarcastic beauty with a troubled family life in the drama Life as We Know It. Peregrym began her career in modeling when she was 18. Her print advertisements soon led to commercials for Mercedes Benz, Sprint Canada, and the Olympics. The campaigns caught the eye of casting directors, and her career quickly transitioned into acting, landing her first television role on the action-drama series Dark Angel and her feature film debut in Stick It. Peregrym lived most of her life in Canada and currently resides in New York where they shoot FBI. Outside of acting, she is a dedicated athlete, wife, and mother. INNOVATION TRAILBLAZER – NEISHAW ALI As a founding Partner, President and Executive Producer of SPIN VFX, Neishaw Ali has been working in the film and television industry for almost 30 years. Her visionary launch of BRIO, a cloud & licensed subscription-based AR, VR & 3D platform, was sold to Adobe in 2022.
Neishaw’s creativity and leadership have produced an expansive body of work including over 150 feature films and 32+ television series. Her television credits include the Emmy Award-winning series Game of Thrones (HBO), Emmy nominated show The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Midnight Mass (Netflix), and Foundation (Apple TV+). Neishaw’s film credits include the Academy Award-winning biopic Spotlight (First Look), Escape Room 2: Tournament of Champions (Columbia Pictures), Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Antman and The Wasp: Quantumania (Marvel), and Big George Foreman (Sony Pictures). Neishaw has a history of supporting the local film and television industry and currently sits on the board of the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and chairs the CFC Programming and Innovation Committee. She is also on the Mayor's Economic Advisory Panel and previously co-chaired the Toronto Film, Television & Digital Media Panel and sits on the board of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Neishaw plays a pivotal role on international film boards and committees, such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Board of Directors and its subcommittees, Visual Effects Society Health & Wellbeing and the Visual Effects Society Education Committee where she initiated a peer-to-peer mentoring program in 2021 which has positively impacted over 300 visual effects artists as of 2023. Neishaw is also a founding partner of sister company Jaxx Creative. MENTORSHIP – MARGOT DALEY Margot is an award-winning Unscripted Producer, Series Producer, Director, and Senior Story Editor with over 30 years of industry experience in Toronto and Vancouver. Beginning her career in news and Current affairs, Margot honed her skills as a chase producer for CTV’s flagship morning series, Canada AM, before branching out into the emerging world of independent television. Over the years, she’s had the privilege of working in virtually every area of the unscripted industry, from development to post and at the broadcaster level as a Production Executive. Her producing and directing experience has taken her across Canada and worldwide, including Vietnam for Global’s series Body and Health, Europe for Kimberly Seldon’s design series Style at Home, and Africa for Discovery Channels series Rogue Nature. During her five years as a Production Executive at Corus, Margot helped to develop and launch several series like Come to Dine with Me Canada, Million Dollar Critic, Game of Homes, and Million Dollar Neighbourhood for W Network and OWN Network Canada. Her most recent credits include series producing the Canadian Screen Award-winning best history doc series Secrets of the Underground Railroad for Science Channel and Discovery Canada, Lead Story Editor for CBC’s premium documentary Enslaved, hosted by Samuel L Jackson, Consulting Producer for CBC’s Black Life and Senior Producer for CBC/BBC’s co-pro music documentary in production, The Big Payback, executive produced by Idris Elba. OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS – VICTORIA HARDING Victoria Harding is the Executive Director of the Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario (DGC Ontario). In this role, Victoria leads a team of employees dedicated to improving the lives of DGC Ontario’s 3,800+ Members, and she acts as Ontario’s Lead Negotiator for the DGC/CMPA Standard Agreement.
Victoria has more than three decades of experience “on the floor” as both a Location Manager and Production Manager. Her direct experience in the industry has informed her labour relations career, given her understanding of the unique challenges faced by film and television professionals. In addition to her career-long commitment to the Directors Guild of Canada, Victoria is also an active and respected member of Ontario's film and television industry. She contributes to the growth and expansion of Ontario's production ecosystem via her work on various committees, advisory panels, and working groups, notably as a Board Member of both FilmOntario and the City of Toronto's Film, Television, and Digital Media Advisory Board.
JURY AWARD OF DISTINCTION – CATHERINE TAIT Catherine Tait was first appointed President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada on April 3, 2018, for a five-year term. She began her mandate on July 3, 2018. On June 1, 2023, her mandate was renewed until January 3, 2025. Catherine is also the Chair of the Global Task Force for Public Media, an initiative of the Public Media Alliance launched in September 2019.
As President and CEO, Catherine is responsible for overseeing the management of CBC/Radio-Canada to ensure that Canada's national public broadcaster can deliver on the various aspects of its mandate and continue to offer Canadians a broad spectrum of high-quality programming that informs, enlightens, and entertains, and that is created by, for and about Canadians.
Prior to her appointment, Catherine co-founded New York-based Duopoly Inc., an independent film, television, and digital content company, which she led as President from 2002 to 2018. She also co-founded iThentic, a digital content company, in 2006 and Hollywood Suite in 2010, a broadcasting company in Canada. Catherine was also previously the President and COO of Salter Street Films from 1997 to 2001. She has experience working for the Government of Canada as Director and Cultural Attaché with the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, and as Manager of Policy and Planning for Telefilm Canada where her passion for Canadian film and television content was ignited. She’s been a member of a number of industry-specific boards including Comweb Group, DHX Media LTD, Hollywood Suite (which she co-founded), iThentic Inc, eOne Entertainment, CHUM Ltd, Aliant Inc, Rogers Mobile Film Fund and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association.
Catherine holds a Diplôme d’Études Approfondies, Communications Theory from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas (1983), a Master of Science from Boston University’s School of Public Communication (1982), and a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Toronto (1979). Catherine was named Playback's Executive of the Year in 2019 and Woman of the Year 2021-2022 by Women in Communications and Technology.
Honourees are nominated by WIFT+ Toronto members and then selected by a jury of their industry peers. For 2023, the jury comprised of Susan Alexander, Gloria Ui Young Kim, and Jane Tattersall.
2023 HOST
We're pleased to share that broadcaster and co-anchor of CP24 Breakfast, Jennifer Hsiung, will be hosting WIFT+ Toronto's 36th Annual Crystal Awards Gala on November 22, 2023, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Downtown Toronto!
At CP24 Breakfast, Jennifer Hsiung helps viewers in Toronto and the GTHA begin their day, weekdays from 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM ET. With more than a decade of international broadcasting experience, the Toronto native first joined CP24 in September 2020, and soon became a fill-in anchor on CP24 Breakfast. She officially joined the team on a full-time basis in November 2021. Hsiung has covered a wide range of breaking news stories both at home and abroad—including the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Presidential election followed by the January 6th Capitol Hill riots, and the war in Ukraine. She has also interviewed numerous political figures and celebrities during her time at CP24.
In 2008, Hsiung left Toronto for Beijing. She appeared as both a sports anchor and entertainment host for the English-language network of the world’s largest broadcaster, China Central Television. At the age of 23, she became the station’s youngest sports anchor, and in the summer of 2008, she covered the country's first-ever Olympic Games. Over her career, she has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the world's most famous sports and entertainment figures, such as Kobe Bryant, Yao Ming, Sandra Oh, Jessica Alba, and American-born Chinese “King of Pop” Wang Leehom.
WIFT Toronto thanks the following 36th Annual Crystal Awards sponsors and partners for their support:
Individual Seat (Members Presale) - $300.00 plus tax (rate increases after Member presale)
Individual Seats (For Members after presale) - $325.00 plus tax
Individual Seat (Non-Members) - $425.00 plus tax
Table (10 Seats) - $3,700.00 plus tax
* IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are buying seats for others, please be sure to purchase them at the correct price level. All tickets purchased for Non-Members under the “Member” price tier are subject to be canceled. If you are unsure of your guest’s membership status, please ask them before buying your seats or contact membership@wift.com.
If you have issues with registration, please get in touch with Venessa Harris, Administrative Assistant, at vharris@wift.com.
Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members can still purchase tickets at a discounted rate after the advance member presale using the code below, but the rate will be increased slightly to $325 plus tax.
In fairness to your fellow Members, please do not share this code with others. All member tickets will be verified.
"Listening to all those who came before me has given me the strength to continue to challenge the status quo,
and put my own voice on things"
-maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and 2019 Crystal Awards Special Jury Award of Distinction honouree
CREATIVE EXCELLENCE: Presented to a woman in recognition of dynamic quality of her work in screen-based media. Her recent work has gained national and/or international attention in the previous year, and has established a standard for those working in the industry. Past winners include Sarah Polley, Jennifer Holness, Mary Young Leckie, Edwina Follows, Mary Harron, Christina Piovesan, Sally Catto, Semi Chellas, and Sarah Polley.
*NEW in 2023* INNOVATION TRAILBLAZER AWARD: New in 2023, this award honours individuals who demonstrate forward-thinking leadership, creativity, and originality in pushing the boundaries of their respective field(s). For example, this could be a leader that: embraces or develops new technologies; is a pioneer around their approach to storytelling; champions equity, diversity and/or inclusion; creating or inventing new ways to build a more sustainable industry —essentially someone that has or is doing groundbreaking work that pushes the innovation in our industry forward.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: This award is presented to an individual in recognition of their significant and well-renowned body of work not only in Canada but across the globe.
This award honours a Canadian whomay have started their career in this country, but their talent has achieved exemplary success on the world stage. In the past 36 years of the Crystal Awards, the International Achievement has only been given out 12 times. Past winners include Esta Spalding, Anne Dorval, Mia Krishna, Sarah Gadon, Samantha Bee, Shirley Douglas, Catherine O'Hara, and Sandra Oh.
MENTORSHIP: Presented to a woman or man who has made an outstanding contribution to the building of women's careers in the screen-based media industry. She or he vocally supports the advancement of women, offers guidance and support to emerging professionals, and assists women entrepreneurs in growing their own companies. Past winners include Frances-Anne Solomon, Anita Lee, Alison Duke, Zoe Dirse, Karen Walton, Ken Dhaliwal, Deborah Osborne, Corrie Coe, Lalita Krishna, and Frances-Anne Solomon.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS: Presented to a woman who—through the consistent quality of her work—has made a major contribution to the screen-based media industry as a leader in enterprise development. She has built a culture of excellence; inspiring her colleagues to push the boundaries of innovation. Past winners include Jocelyn Hamilton, Beth Janson, Tammy Frick, Grace-Carnale Davis, Mary Bredin, Tracey Pearce, Lisa Olfman, Joy Rosen, Barbara Bowlby, and Jocelyn Hamilton.
SPECIAL JURY AWARD OF DISTINCTION: This additional award may be distributed at the discretion of the jury. The award is presented to a woman who has built a legacy as a ground-breaking force in our industry and whose life's work is dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse, and active creative community. Past winners include: Christa Dickenson (Telefilm Canada), Dr. Shirley Cheechoo (Weengushk Film Institute), maxine bailey (TIFF), Karen Thorne-Stone (Ontario Creates), Tonya Williams (ReelWorld Film Festival), Pat Ellingson (formerly, TVO), Susan Cavan (Accent Entertainment), and Trina McQueen (broadcasting industry pioneer), Christa Dickenson (President & CEO at CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel / Chaîne d'affaires publiques par câble)
Nominations for the 2023 Crystal Awards are NOW CLOSED.
WIFT Toronto Members are invited to nominate exceptional leaders in their sphere who have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the screen-based industry, for a 2023 Crystal Award.
Crystal Award recipients are selected by an independent jury of past Crystal Awards recipients. Please review this list before submitting your nomination. Previous winners can be nominated again; however, preference will be given to first time nominees (recipients within the past 5 years are not eligible)
Email the following documents in PDF format to Venessa Harris at vharris@wift.com (reference :2022 Crystal Award Nomination” in the subject line):
Maximum one-page summary of the nominee’s three most significant contributions to the screen-based industry— film, television and/or digital media
Maximum 500-word Bio of nominee
Minimum of two (2), maximum of five (5) personal testimonial letters outlining the impact of the nominee on those individuals' careers (these letters should not be from the individual submitting application).
Please submit your files in PDF format and name them in the following template order:
CRYSTAL2023 - Full Name of nominee - Bio.pdfExample:
CRYSTAL2023 - Jane Talent - Contributions.pdf
CRYSTAL2023 - Jane Talent - Bio.pdf
CRYSTAL2023 - Jane Talent - Testimonial1.pdf
Clearly state at the beginning of your email in which category you are submitting your candidate.
Categories include:
Outstanding Achievement In Business
Creative Excellence Award
Mentorship Award
Innovation Trailblazer Award
Special Jury Award of Distinction
Deadline for Nominations: Friday September 8, 2023 @5 PM EDT
Questions? Please contact Venessa Harris, Administrative Assistant, at vharris@wift.com
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Karen Bruce, Executive Director, at kbruce@wift.com
NOMINEE ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST
Please review carefully before submitting your nomination.
Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant, or Permanent Resident
Minimum 10 years in the screen-based industry (film, television and/or digital media)
Current WIFT Toronto Board Members are not eligible for nomination
Recipients within the past five years are not eligible for nomination
NOTE
You must be a WIFT Toronto member in good standing to nominate an individual for a Crystal Award; however, the person being nominated does not have to be a current WIFT Toronto member. Candidates may only be nominated in one category.
