Mike Myers delivered an emotional tribute to Canada on Sunday night at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto, thanking his home country for helping shape the career that made him an international comedy star. Accepting the Icon Award, Myers reflected on his Canadian roots and said he would be “nothing” without Canada, becoming visibly moved as he spoke about his parents and the importance they placed on silliness, creativity and humor. The tribute came after Myers had previously become a prominent voice in Canada’s cultural response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about annexing the country, helping fuel a patriotic “elbows up” mood among Canadians.
The Canadian Screen Awards also celebrated a number of television and film winners across the country’s entertainment industry. The romantic hockey drama “Heated Rivalry” emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, taking best drama series, best lead TV drama performer for Hudson Williams, and the audience award, which is voted on by viewers. Sophie Nélisse also won the Radius Award for her role in the series. The show, adapted from Rachel Reid’s “Game Changer” book series, follows the intense romance between hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Creator Jacob Tierney thanked audiences for embracing the series, which has drawn strong reactions for its steamy storytelling and emotional appeal.
In the comedy categories, “North of North,” an Indigenous comedy series set in the Arctic and returning for a second season on CBC and Netflix, won best TV comedy. Co-creators Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok MacDonald said the series was deeply personal and reflected Inuit life, families and community. Anna Lambe won best lead performer in a TV comedy for her role in the series and praised the creators for portraying Inuit people as modern, thriving communities rather than only through a historical lens.
On the film side, the top award for best motion picture went to “Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie,” a mockumentary directed by Matt Johnson about two Toronto musicians who go to extreme lengths to land a club gig. The film also brought Jay McCarrol the award for best performer in a leading comedy role. Johnson used his acceptance speech to joke about the strong presence of Quebec filmmakers in Canadian Screen Awards nominations, suggesting that the province’s voting bloc has long dominated the categories.
Another major film contender, “40 Acres,” a post-apocalyptic thriller starring Danielle Deadwyler, had entered the ceremony with significant momentum after winning nine pre-telecast awards but missed out on the top motion picture prize. Grace Glowicki won best leading actress in a motion picture drama for her work in “Honey Bunch,” a gothic horror thriller from Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli.
The evening also recognized Hazel Mae with the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism. Eugene Levy paid tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara, his longtime collaborator from SCTV, Schitt’s Creek and The Studio, calling her the person he had worked with most over his 50-year career and describing that bond as one of his greatest professional honors.
