WGC Screenwriting Awards
Canadian screenwriting awards
The WGC Screenwriting Awards (previously Canadian Screenwriting Awards ) are administered by the Writers Guild of Canada , and are awarded to the best script for a feature film , television or radio project produced within the Guild's jurisdiction, written by a guild member in good standing, and broadcast or released in North America or screened at a Canadian film festival for the first time in the previous year.
In addition to the film, television and radio categories, special awards presented by the WGC include the Sondra Kelly Award for projects written by women, the Denis McGrath Service Award for distinguished contributions to the organization, and the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize for the best unproduced new screenplay. In 2025, the program also took over administration of the Margaret Collier Award , a lifetime achievement award for television writing previously presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television under the Gemini Awards and the Canadian Screen Awards .
Awards
2006
Children & Preschool — Mary Crawford and Alan Templeton, King : "Stolen Voices"
Comedy & Variety — Brent Butt and Paul Mather , Corner Gas : "Dog River Vice"
Documentary — Robert Duncan, Woodward's: The Competition
Drama, Half-Hour — Susin Nielsen , Robson Arms : "Dancing the Horizontal Mambo"
Drama, One Hour — Susan Coyne , Bob Martin and Mark McKinney , Slings & Arrows : "Steeped in Blood"
Feature Film — Wil Zmak, The Dark Hours
Radio Drama — Jason Sherman , Graf : "Episode 1"
Youth — Jeff Biederman, Life with Derek : "The Party"
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Josh Miller
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Jason Hreno, Two Mountains
Writers Block Award — Fred Yackman
2007
Children & Preschool — Kate Barris, If the World Were a Village
Comedy & Variety — Brent Butt and Kevin White, Corner Gas : "Outside Joke"
Documentary — Barry Stevens , The Bomber's Dream
Drama, Half-Hour — Laura Kosterski, Naked Josh : "Beating the Rap"
Drama, One Hour — Susan Coyne , Bob Martin and Mark McKinney , Slings & Arrows : "That Way Madness Lies"
Feature Film — Sarah Polley , Away from Her
MOW & Miniseries — John W. Doyle and Lisa Porter, Above and Beyond
Radio Drama — Andrew Moodie, Greg Nelson, Adam Pettle and Jason Sherman , Afghanada : "Episode 4"
Youth — Brent Piaskoski, Naturally Sadie : "Rashomon"
Showrunner Award — Brad Wright
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Ryan Redford , Bone
Writers Block Award — Sondra Kelly, Sugith Varughese
2008
Children & Preschool — Kenn Scott , Iggy Arbuckle : "Petition Impossible"
Documentary — Barri Cohen, Toxic Trespass
Drama Series, Half-Hour — Mark Farrell and Robert Sheridan, Corner Gas : "Seeing Things"
Drama Series, One Hour — Denis McGrath and Robert Wertheimer , Across the River to Motor City : "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"
Feature Film — Travis McDonald, Normal
MOW or Miniseries — Ian Weir, Dragon Boys
Radio Drama — Jason Sherman , Adam Pettle and Greg Nelson, Afghanada : "Episode 12"
Variety — Kevin White, Mark Critch , Irwin Barker , Gavin Crawford , Gary Pearson , Jennifer Whalen , Carolyn Taylor , Albert Howell , Dave Nystrom , Geri Hall , Todd Allen and Tim McAuliffe , This Hour Has 22 Minutes : "Season XIV, Episode 17"
Youth — Brent Piaskoski, Naturally Sadie : "In or Out of Africa"
WGC Showrunner Award — Peter Mohan
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Tony Elliott, Stranger Than You
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Allan Magee
WGC Writers Block Award — Jack Blum, Jeremy Hole and Ann MacNaughton
2009
Animation — Shane Simmons, Ricky Sprocket: Showbiz Boy : "The Perfect Family"
Children & Preschool — Christin Simms, Captain Flamingo : "Comic Slip"
Documentary — John Walker , Passage
Episodic, Half-Hour — Brent Butt , Corner Gas : "Full Load"
Episodic, One Hour — Adam Barken, Flashpoint : "Who's George?"
Feature Film — Don McKellar , Blindness
MOW & Miniseries — Andrew Wreggitt , Mayerthorpe
Radio Drama — Greg Spottiswood , Afghanada : "The Lotus Eater"
Short Film — Kellie Ann Benz, Awkward
Variety — Mark Critch , Gavin Crawford , Kyle Tingley, Jennifer Whalen , Albert Howell , Tim McAuliffe , Dean Jenkinson, Geri Hall and Nathan Fielder , This Hour Has 22 Minutes : "Season XVI, Episode 1"
Youth — Brent Piaskoski, The Latest Buzz : "The Gala Issue"
Showrunner Award — Mark Farrell
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Riley Adams, Cold Rush
Writers Block Award — Karen Walton
2010
Animation — Shelley Scarrow, Total Drama Action : "The Sand Witch Project"
Children & Preschool — Kate Barris, Max & Ruby : "Max Says Goodbye"
Documentary — Robert Lower, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet: 40 Years of One Night Stands
Episodic, Half-Hour — Garry Campbell, Less Than Kind : "The Daters"
Episodic, One Hour — Robert C. Cooper, Stargate Universe : "Time"
Feature Film — Jacob Tierney , The Trotsky
MOW & Miniseries — John Krizanc , The Summit
Radio Drama — Barbara Samuels, Afghanada : "Episode 61"
Short Subject — Jessie Gabe, Being Erica : "Webisodes"
Variety — Ed Macdonald, Mark Critch , Gavin Crawford , Kyle Tingley, Albert Howell , Dean Jenkinson, Joanne O’Sullivan, Tara Doyle, Erik van Wyck, Mike Allison and Joey Case, This Hour Has 22 Minutes : "Season XVII, Episode 6"
Youth — Anita Kapila, How to Be Indie : "How to Be a Mehta"
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Peter Mitchell
Showrunner Award — Heather Conkie
Writers Block Award — Rebecca Schechter
2013
Animation — Dan Williams and Lienne Sawatsky, Sidekick : "I, Sidebot"
Children & Youth — John May and Suzanne Bolch, How to Be Indie : "How to Make a Christmas Miracle"
Comedy — Kim Coghill, Less Than Kind : "Jerk Chicken"
Documentary — Mitch Miyagawa, A Sorry State
Drama — Martin Gero, The L.A. Complex : "Down in L.A."
Movies & Miniseries — Andrew Wreggitt , The Phantoms
Shorts & Webseries — Julie Strassman-Cohn and Jill Golick, Ruby Skye P.I.: The Haunted Library : "#Creepy"
Showrunner Award — Mark Ellis , Stephanie Morgenstern
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Adam Garnet Jones , Wild Medicine
Writers Block Award — Anne-Marie Perrotta, Simon Racioppa, Lienne Sawatsky
2016
Children — Evan Thaler Hickey, Numb Chucks : "Witless to the Prosecution"
Comedy — Amanda Walsh, Schitt's Creek : "The Cabin"
Documentary — Josh Freed , Deluged by Data
Drama — Russ Cochrane, Orphan Black : "Newer Elements of Our Defense"
Feature Film — James Kee, Sarah Larsen, Doug Taylor and Pascal Trottier , A Christmas Horror Story
MOW & Miniseries — Clement Virgo and Lawrence Hill , The Book of Negroes
Shorts & Webseries — Michael Konyves , Goldfish
Tweens & Teens — Jennica Harper , Some Assembly Required : "Rocket with a Pocket"
Showrunner Award — Frank van Keeken
Sondra Kelly Award — Penny Gummerson
Writers Block Award — Peter Mohan
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Clive Endersby
2018
Best New Series Script — Moira Walley-Beckett , Anne with an E : "I Am No Bird, and No Net Ensnares Me"
Children's — Sean Jara, Mysticons : "Sisters in Arms"
Comedy — Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney , Letterkenny : "Relationships"
Documentary — Mark Leiren-Young , The Hundred-Year-Old Whale
Drama — Aubrey Nealon , Cardinal : "John Cardinal"
Feature Film — Jason Filiatrault, Entanglement
MOW & Miniseries — Sarah Polley , Alias Grace : "Part 5"
Shorts & Webseries — Karen McClellan, Spiral : "The Girl in the Dream"
Tweens & Teens — Matt Kippen, The Stanley Dynamic : "The Stanley Cheer"
Showrunner Award — Michael MacLennan
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Sherry White
Sondra Kelly Award — Sarah Dodd
2019
Best New Series Script — Daegan Fryklind, The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco : "Presidio"
Children's — Josh Sager, Jerome Simpson, Wishfart : "I Wear This Hat Ironically"
Comedy — Rupinder Gill , Schitt's Creek : "RIP Moira Rose"
Documentary — Michael McNamara, Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit
Drama — Sarah Dodd, Cardinal: Blackfly Season : "Red"
Feature Film — Jeremy Boxen, 22 Chaser
MOW & Miniseries — Tim McKeon , Odd Squad: World Turned Odd
Shorts & Webseries — Alex Epstein and Lisa Hunter, We’ve Come to the End of Our Time
Tweens & Teens — Cole Bastedo, Star Falls : "The Picnic Auction"
Sondra Kelly Award — Jinder Oujla-Chalmers
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Pat Holden, Mirsada and Amir Kahnamouee, Harbour House
Showrunner Award — Emily Andras
McGrath Service Award — Bruce Smith
2020
Children — Mark Steinberg, Hotel Transylvania: The Series : "Better Know Your Mavis"
Comedy — Jann Arden and Jennica Harper , Jann : "The Big House"
Documentary — Nance Ackerman, Ariella Pahlke and Teresa MacInnes, Conviction
Drama Series — Noelle Carbone, Coroner : "All's Well"
Feature Film — Laura Phillips, Sweetness in the Belly
MOW & Miniseries — David Elver and Andrea Stevens, Thicker Than Water
Preschool — J. J. Johnson , Christin Simms and Amish Patel, Dino Dana : "Dino Prints"
Shorts & Webseries — Fab Filippo , Save Me : "Birdie's End"
Tweens & Teens — Emma Campbell, Creeped Out : "The Takedown"
Sondra Kelly Award — Cynthia Knight
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Nathalie Younglai
Showrunner Award — Dennis Heaton
2021
Children — Mark De Angelis, Odd Squad Mobile Unit : "Slow Your Roll"
Comedy — Daniel Levy , Schitt's Creek : "Happy Ending "
Documentary — Jonny Harris , Fraser Young , Graham Chittenden and Steve Dylan , Still Standing : "Rankin Inlet"
Drama — Michelle Latimer , Tony Elliott and Penny Gummerson, Trickster : "Episode 105"
Feature Film — Tracey Deer and Meredith Vuchnich , Beans
MOW & Miniseries — Becky Southwell and Dylan Neal, Gourmet Detective: Roux the Day
Preschool — J. J. Johnson , Dino Dana : "The Sound of Dinosaurs"
Shorts & Webseries — Simone Swan and The Affolter Brothers , Try to Fly
Tweens & Teens — Joseph Mallozzi and R. T. Thorne , Utopia Falls : "The World Is Yours"
Sondra Kelly Award — Kate Hewlett
Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Travis McDonald, Magnificent
Showrunner Award — Morwyn Brebner
2023
Children's — Christine Mitchell, The Guava Juice Show : "Adventure 9000"
Comedy — Kurt Smeaton , Children Ruin Everything : "Road Trip"
Documentary — Jason Sherman , My Tree
Drama — Marsha Greene , The Porter : "Episode 104"
Feature Film — Clement Virgo , Brother
MOW & Miniseries — David Elver, Written in the Stars
Preschool — Ben Joseph and Mike D'Ascenzo, Dino Ranch : "Wings Over Dino Ranch"
Shorts & Webseries — Darrin Rose , Second Life
Tweens & Teens — Veronika Paz, Astrid and Lilly Save the World : "One Rib"
Sondra Kelly Award — Laura Good
Jim Burt Award — Adrian Morphy, The 300 Year Old Man
Showrunner Award — Susin Nielsen
2025
Children's — Mike Girard, Open Season: Call of Nature : "Cash Camp Pt. 1 & 2"
Comedy — Jagjiwan Sohal, Late Bloomer : "The Turban"
Drama — Michael Konyves , Wild Cards : "The Infinity Thief"
Documentary — Heath Affolter , Nathan Affolter , Thomas Affolter and Jon Affolter , Altona
Feature Film — Jason Buxton , Sharp Corner
MOW & Miniseries — Keri Ferencz, Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers
Preschool — Shelley Hoffman and Robert Pincombe, Luna, Chip & Inkie Adventure Rangers Go : “Lights, Camera, Save Eagle Creek!”
Short Films — Joel Buxton, Let Me In
Webseries — Brendan Halloran, Space Janitors : "Clones War"
Tweens & Teens — Evany Rosen , Davey & Jonesie's Locker : "Orange Is the New Snack"
Sondra Kelly Award — Leah Johnston
Jim Burt Award — Faisal Lutchmedial
Showrunner Award — Matt Schiller
Margaret Collier Award — Andrew Wreggitt
2026
Children's — Emer Common, Lana Longbeard : "Lana the Something Super Great and Totally Awesome"
Comedy — Garry Campbell, North of North : "Dumpcano"
Drama — Corey Liu, Family Law : "Play It Straight"
Documentary — Brishkay Ahmed , In the Room
Feature Film — Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli , Honey Bunch
Preschool — Katherine Sandford, Mittens & Pants : "Pants in the Box"
Short Films — Jason Filiatrault, Now, I Am a Bear
Webseries — Kaveh Mohebbi, 18 to 35 : "Buck Mustang"
Tweens & Teens — Laura Good, Bet : "The Hunt"
McGrath Service Award — Jeremy Boxen
Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Lawrence S. Mirkin
Showrunner Award — Simon Barry
Margaret Collier Award — Ian Weir
References
↑ Wheeler, Brad (April 26, 2017). "Letterkenny, X Company among WGC Screenwriting Awards winners" . The Globe and Mail .
1 2 Nicholas Sokic, "Andrew Wreggit to receive WGC’s Margaret Collier Award" . Playback , March 18, 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Screenwriting award winners" . Playback , May 1, 2006.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Away from Her, Afghanada earn scriptwriting awards" . CBC News , April 24, 2007.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Etan Vlessing, "Writers hand awards to Corner Gas, Motor City" . Playback , April 28, 2008.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Corner Gas, 22 Minutes pick up TV screenwriting honours" . CBC News , April 20, 2009.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Diane Wild, "WGC Screenwriting Award winners announced" . TV, eh? , April 19, 2010.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Konyves wins screenwriting award for Barney's Version" . CBC News , April 11, 2011.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Danielle Ng See Quan, "Scribes exchange pens for prizes at WGC Screenwriting Awards" . Playback , April 24, 2012.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Danielle Ng See Quan, "LTK, L.A. Complex scribes win at WGC screenwriting awards" . Playback , April 22, 2013.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Julianna Cummins, "The F Word, Orphan Black win at WGC awards" . Playback , April 29, 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Filipe Dos Santos, "Tony Elliot, Jason Leaver among WGC Award winners" . Playback , April 28, 2015.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Craig Takeuchi, "Writers Guild of Canada awards top Canadian screenwriters of 2016" . The Georgia Straight , May 5, 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Yeo, Debra (April 25, 2017). "Letterkenny and X Company take Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards" . Toronto Star .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lauren Malyk, "Polley, Filiatrault, Nealon among WGC Awards winners" . Playback , May 1, 2018.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Connie Thiessen, "Writers behind Schitt’s Creek, Cardinal, among winners at WGC Screenwriting Awards" . Broadcast Dialogue , April 30, 2019.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Kelly Townsend, "WGC virtually honours Dennis Heaton with showrunner award" . Playback , April 28, 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Musthafa Azeez, "Schitt’s Creek and Trickster win big at WGC Screenwriting Awards" . The Globe and Mail , April 27, 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Greg David, "WGC Screenwriting Awards 2022 winners announced" . TV, eh? , April 25, 2022.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Connie Thiessen, "Family Law showrunner Susin Nielsen among winners at WGC Screenwriting Awards" . Broadcast Dialogue , April 25, 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Greg David, "2024 WGC Screenwriting Awards winners announced" . TV, eh? , May 14, 2024.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Greg David, "2025 WGC Screenwriting Awards Winners Announced" . TV, eh? , April 29, 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Jamie Casemore, "WGC honours Simon Barry with Showrunner Award" . Playback , April 28, 2026.