Toronto, ON—October 10, 2024—Women in Film & Television – Toronto (WIFT+ Toronto) and a dedicated jury of industry executives have named the six recipients to be honoured at the 37th Annual Crystal Awards Gala on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Downtown Toronto.
The Crystal Awards, established in 1988, is WIFT+ Toronto’s annual tribute gala to individuals making significant contributions to the Canadian and International screen-based media industry. Since its inception over three and a half decades ago, more than 180 esteemed individuals have been recognized for their excellence in creativity, innovation, leadership, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of industry creators and leaders.
Honourees of the 2024 Crystal Awards Gala are:
- Creative Excellence – Lesley Barber, Composer
- International Achievement – Adrienne Arsenault, Chief Correspondent, CBC News and Host, The National
- Innovation Trailblazer – Gurbani Marwah, Executive Director, Theatrical Releasing & Film Buying at Cineplex
- Mentorship – Pat DiVittorio, Former VP, Programming, CTV & Specialty, Bell Media
- Outstanding Achievement in Business – Agnes Augustin, President & CEO, Shaw Rocket Fund
- Jury Award of Distinction – Joy Loewen, Vice President, Growth & Inclusion, CMF-FMC
“As we celebrate 40 years of WIFT+ Toronto’s dedication to building a community that is equitable, inclusive, and accessible, it is my absolute pleasure to congratulate this year’s six honourees who are making a difference as individuals in the screen-based media industry by championing these ideals. Our industry has been challenged significantly in the past few years, and we applaud and appreciate our sponsors, partners, industry colleagues and of course, our dedicated members who all play a significant role in maintaining a thriving industry in Canada” said Karen Bruce, Executive Director, WIFT+ Toronto. “I look forward to this year’s Crystal Awards to celebrate the achievements of Adrienne, Agnes, Gurbani, Joy, Lesley, and Pat, all of whom have contributed to improving our industry.”
Honourees are nominated by WIFT+ Toronto members and then selected by a jury of their industry peers. For 2024, the jury was comprised of Margot Daley, Jenn Kuzmyk, and Terry E. Markus.
The 2024 Crystal Awards Gala event is supported by Reception Sponsor, Lionsgate Canada; Supporting Sponsor, Cineplex; Event Sponsors, Blink49 Studios, Netflix, Paramount+ Canada, Telefilm Canada, and WildBrain; Event Supporters, BANFF World Media Festival, Bell Media, Cinespace Studios Toronto, City of Toronto, Gallagher, MAC Cosmetics, Playback, Spin Master Ltd., Take 5 Productions; Design & Production Partner, Big Bang Beige; and Vignette Producer, MEM
CREATIVE EXCELLENCE – LESLEY BARBER
Lesley Barber has scored a string of award-winning and highly acclaimed projects, most notably Kenneth Lonergan’s Oscar-nominated film, “Manchester by The Sea”. Her other credits include “Late Night”, Mindy Kaling’s “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (series), “Mansfield Park”, “Irreplaceable You”, “How To Change The World”, and “You Can Count on Me” amongst others. Most recently Lesley scored “Maybe I Do” starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, and Emma Roberts “Bonjour Tristesse” directed by Durga Chew-Bose, and the Diane Warren Documentary “Relentless”. Current projects include Billy Knight, directed by Alec Roth, starring Al Pacino.
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Class of 2016, Lesley was recently re-elected to represent the Music Branch on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and also serves as the Academy’s Vice President /Membership.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT – ADRIENNE ARSENAULT
Adrienne Arsenault is chief correspondent of CBC News and host of flagship program THE NATIONAL.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Adrienne Arsenault has been a senior correspondent for THE NATIONAL since 1999, deployed to the biggest breaking news stories and investigative stories in Canada and around the world.
Arsenault’s assignments have included disasters, conflicts, politics, sports and human dramas. She won a 2015 International Emmy for her work covering the Ebola crisis. She has covered seven Olympic Games for CBC including Beijing 2022 and Tokyo 2020, as well as the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Her investigative work on security has seen her cross Canada and pursue terror stories across the globe, more recently being dispatched to cover conflict and war in Ukraine, Syria and Mali.
Arsenault began her career at CBC in 1991, as an editorial assistant for The National. Over the years since, her postings have included Vancouver, Washington, Jerusalem and London. Arsenault was named the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s Journalist of the Year. She has won two Gracie awards for outstanding female correspondent, a Monte Carlo Festival award for her coverage of the Zimbabwe election and several Gemini and Canadian Screen Awards. Arsenault has been telling people for years that she has a crush on her job.
INNOVATION TRAILBLAZER – GURBANI MARWAH
Gurbani Marwah is a recognized figure in the film exhibition industry, currently serving as the Executive Director of Theatrical Releasing & Film Buying at Cineplex. With over a decade of experience, Gurbani has established herself as a transformative force in how cinema is experienced and appreciated across Canada and beyond.
In her role, Gurbani manages critical relationships with film studios in both Canada and the United States, representing Cineplex in the dynamic global film industry. In addition to being a film buyer and programmer, her expertise spans strategic release planning, film prioritization, film festival management, talent premieres, and national film promotion. Her innovative approach has redefined audience engagement and content visibility, setting new benchmarks for how films are introduced and celebrated.
A committed advocate for diversity and representation, Gurbani operates under the belief that “every film has an audience.” This value drives her work, ensuring that a wide array of stories and voices are represented in the Canadian marketplace. In an industry historically dominated by men, Gurbani has been a remarkable champion for women, advocating for their inclusion and influence in decision-making processes.
Gurbani’s leadership extends beyond her direct responsibilities. She has been a role model and mentor to numerous women and emerging young professionals in the film industry, fostering a more inclusive environment and providing invaluable guidance. Her impact on the industry is profound, inspiring others to pursue excellence and push for greater equity.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts and Thesis from McGill University, in Film Theory and Philosophy. Gurbani’s commitment to the arts and industry is further demonstrated by her active involvement with several prestigious organizations. She serves on the boards of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, Crow’s Theatre, Film Row, the Membership Committee for the National Association of Theatre Owners, the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Innovation Circle, and the Woodgreen Foundation – highlighting her dedication to nurturing the arts and supporting diverse artistic initiatives.
MENTORSHIP – PAT DIVITTORIO
As Vice-President, Programming, CTV and Specialty; GM Discovery Networks, Pat DiVittorio was responsible for linear and digital content strategy for CTV, CTV2, ctv.ca and Bell Media entertainment specialty channels. She also played a key role in the direction and implementation of new initiatives to drive the business forward as the media landscape continues to evolve. In addition, DiVittorio played a key role in the strategy and execution of original content for these channels in Canada and in the international market including sales of Bell Media commissioned originals as well as in-house produced content.
In November 2019, DiVittorio was appointed to the Content Advisory Board for The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF). In 2015, DiVittorio was awarded the Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) Mentor of the Year Award. She is a member of Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Previously, DiVittorio served on the board of directors for Women in Film and Television –Toronto (WIFT+).
In May 2019, DiVittorio participated in Rotman School of Management’s initiative for women in business, The Judy Project, one of Canada’s leading executive forums for women. In 2017, she attended Harvard Law School’s Negotiation and Leadership Program. DiVittorio holds a double honours degree in Mass Communications and Sociology from York University.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS – AGNES AUGUSTIN
As President & CEO Since 2004, Agnes Augustin has proudly overseen the Shaw Rocket Fund and its commitment to championing Canadian children’s programming, helping showcase our great Canadian kids content on the world stage by driving the Fund’s investment practices and spearheading various initiatives to support the industry, such as the much-celebrated Shaw Rocket Prize. Prior to joining the Shaw Rocket Fund, Agnes held various positions in production and distribution including Vice President of Business Affairs, Head of Production for CMT, and was an independent producer.
JURY AWARD OF DISTINCTION – JOY LOEWEN
Joy is a media screen executive who believes in the transformative power of stories and the creators who make them.
She has worked as a broadcast and festival programmer at WTN (now W Network), CBC and the Gimli Film Festival. Prior to joining the Canada Media Fund in May, Joy was CEO of the National Screen Institute where she pioneered over 20 programs, rejuvenating its legacy.
As Vice President, Growth & Inclusion at the CMF, Joy is responsible for the development and implementation of the CMF’s inclusion and growth strategies.
Her innovative spirit earned her Playback Canada’s Changemaker of the Year award in 2023 and a 2024 EXNW Global Connector Award.
Women in Film and Television Toronto is a member-based, not-for-profit organization made up of passionate individuals who are dedicated to the education, engagement, and empowerment of all individuals at every stage of their careers in the screen-based media industry. It is WIFT+ Toronto’s mission to build and advance the careers of its members by providing professional development, peer support, and mentorship in collaboration with industry partners.
For more information, images, and interview requests please contact:
Abigail Brockhouse
Manager, Membership and Engagement
WIFT+ Toronto
