Hudson Williams and Heated Rivalry Win Big at Canadian Screen Awards as François Arnaud Accepts Peabody Award for the Show the Same Night

At the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto, the cast and team behind Heated Rivalry gathered for a celebratory night that capped off a major awards run for the series. Hudson Williams and Sophie Nélisse reunited on the red carpet at CBC Broadcast Centre on Sunday, May 31, alongside co-stars Robbie GK, Nadine Bhabha and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, as well as creator, writer and director Jacob Tierney, producer Brendan Brady, and author Rachel Reid with her husband, Matt. Hudson’s parents and girlfriend, Katelyn Larson, also attended, while Harrison Browne, who played Connors in season one, was present but not pictured.

The series continued its strong showing after sweeping the Scripted Television Awards ceremony the night before. At the Canadian Screen Awards, Heated Rivalry won Best Drama Series and the fan-voted Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award. Hudson Williams also earned Best Lead Performer, Drama Series, marking his first major award win. His acceptance speech highlighted the people behind his success, including the show’s crew, Crave, his parents, his girlfriend and co-star Connor Storrie, who was absent because he was filming his upcoming movie Turpentine in Atlanta.

Williams delivered a playful tribute to Storrie during his speech, saying he would share the award with him and joking about social media comments referencing Storrie’s “yearning bottom eyes.” He said that without Storrie’s character dynamic opposite his own, his performance would not have been as strong. His remarks drew attention for their mix of humor, affection and gratitude, underscoring the chemistry that helped define the series.

Sophie Nélisse also received special recognition during the ceremony, earning the Radius Award, which was presented to her by Williams. The cast and crew of Heated Rivalry completed a clean sweep at the Canadian Screen Awards, winning every category for which they were nominated. The result confirmed the series as one of the evening’s biggest winners and added to its momentum following its earlier wins at the Scripted Television Awards.

At the same time, Francois Arnaud was in Los Angeles for the 2026 Peabody Awards, where he appeared on stage to accept honor for Heated Rivalry alongside Bell Media executive Rachel Goldstein-Couto. The separate appearance highlighted the show’s growing profile beyond Canada, with recognition arriving from multiple major industry events on the same night.

The red carpet photos captured a celebratory reunion for the ensemble, with the cast, creators and family members gathered to mark a landmark moment for the series. For Williams, Nélisse and the rest of the Heated Rivalry team, the evening represented both critical acclaim and a milestone of visibility, as the show continued its award-season success across television and cultural honors.