The 1st Gemini Awards were held in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

on 4 December 1986 to honour achievements in Canadian television. Gémeaux Award, the French version of the Gemini Awards were held for the first time this year as well. The 1985 television miniseries '' Anne of Green Gables'' was the most prominent winner. English-language television coverage of the ceremonies was originally scheduled for broadcast on CBC Television, but labour disruptions at that network forced the telecast to move to a syndicated arrangement of private television stations including Toronto's Citytv. Unused cable channels in Montreal carried the broadcast in that city. The inaugural Gemini Awards were hosted by Second City Television performers Eugene Levy,

Andrea Martin Andrea Louise Martin (born January 15, 1947) is an American-Canadian actress, singer, and comedian, best known for her work in the television series '' SCTV'' and ''Great News''. She has appeared in films such as '' Black Christmas'' (1974), ''W ...

and Dave Thomas from the

Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre (originally and still colloquially Metro Convention Centre, and sometimes MTCC), is a convention complex located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada along Front Street West in the former Railway Lands in downtown Toronto. ...

Awards

Best Comedy Program or Series

* '' Seeing Things'' * '' Four on the Floor'' * ''

Hangin' In ''Hangin' In'' was a Canadian television sitcom which aired on CBC from 1981 to 1987. It aired briefly on Nickelodeon and in syndication in the United States. Synopsis The show starred Lally Cadeau as Kate Brown, the attractive and charismati ...

Best Documentary, Single Program or Series

* '' Glenn Gould: A Portrait, Parts 1 and 2'' * ''444 Days to Freedom: What Really Happened in Iran'' * ''Karsh: The Searching Eye'' * ''Making Overtures: The Story of a Community Orchestra''

Best Dramatic Series

* ''

Night Heat ''Night Heat'' is a Canadian police crime drama series that aired on both CTV in Canada and CBS in the United States. Original episodes were broadcast from 1985 to 1989. ''Night Heat'' was the first Canadian original drama series that was also ...

'' * ''

The Campbells ''The Campbells'' is a Scottish-Canadian television drama series, produced by Scottish Television and CTV from 1986 to 1990. The series starred Malcolm Stoddard as James Campbell, a Scottish doctor living in 1830s Upper Canada with his three ...

'' * ''

Danger Bay ''Danger Bay'' is a Canadian television series, produced in Vancouver, with first-run episodes broadcast on CBC Television in Canada and The Disney Channel in the United States premiering October 8, 1984. Reruns of the show continued on The Disn ...

Best Dramatic Mini Series

* '' Anne of Green Gables'' * ''

Red Serge The Red Serge refers to the jacket of the dress uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It consists of a scarlet British-style military pattern tunic, complete with a high-neck collar and blue breeches with yellow stripe identifying a ca ...

'' * ''Spearfield's Daughter''

Best TV Movie

* '' Love and Larceny'' * '' The Execution of Raymond Graham'' * '' Tramp at the Door''

Best Short Drama

*''Oakmount High'' *''The Exile'' *'' In This Corner'' *''Undertow''

Best Information Program or Series

* '' The Fifth Estate'' * ''

Canada AM ''Canada AM'' was a Canadian morning television news show that aired on CTV from 1972 to 2016. Its final hosts were Beverly Thomson and Marci Ien, with Jeff Hutcheson presenting the weather forecast and sports. The program aired on weekdays, an ...

'' * '' The Journal'' * '' Live It Up!'' * ''Peter Ustinov's Russia''

Best Children's Series

* ''

Fraggle Rock ''Fraggle Rock'' (also known as ''Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock'' or ''Fraggle Rock with Jim Henson's Muppets'') is a children's musical fantasy comedy puppet television series about interconnected societies of Muppet creatures, created by Jim Hen ...

'' * ''

OWL/TV OWL/TV is a Canadian children's educational television series that aired on CBC, from 1985 to 1990, and then later on CTV, from 1990 to 1994. It focused on nature and science discovery, emphasizing to viewers how they can affect their own envir ...

'' * ''

Today's Special ''Today's Special'' is a Canadian children's television program produced by Clive VanderBurgh at TVOntario, originally broadcasting 120 episodes from 1981 to 1987. Much of the series was set in a department store, based on Simpson's then-flags ...

'' * '' Wonderstruck''

Best Writing in a Dramatic Program

Donald Brittain Donald Code Brittain, (June 10, 1928 – July 21, 1989) was a film director and producer with the National Film Board of Canada. Career ''Fields of Sacrifice'' (1964) is considered Brittain's first major film as director. His other notable ...

and Richard Nielsen, '' Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks'' * Tim Dunphy and Peter Mohan, ''

'' *

Yan Moore Yan Moore (born February 6, 1953) is a Canadian television writer and producer. He is best known as a writer for '' Degrassi Junior High'', ''Degrassi High'' and '' Degrassi: The Next Generation''. He was also the creator and producer of the Canad ...

, ''

The Kids of Degrassi Street ''The Kids of Degrassi Street'' is a Canadian children's television series and the first in the ''Degrassi'' franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. It follows the lives of a group of children living on De Grassi Street in Toronto. It ...

'' (episode "Griff Gets a Hand") *

Judith Thompson Judith Clare Thompson, OC (born September 20, 1954) is a Canadian playwright who lives in Toronto, Ontario. She has twice been awarded the Governor General's Award for drama, and is the recipient of many other awards including the Order of Canad ...

, '' Turning to Stone'' * Pete White, '' Striker's Mountain''

Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series

* '' Seeing Things'' * '' The Bestest Present'' * '' The Canadian Conspiracy'' * ''Toller Cranston's True Gift of Christmas''

Best Direction in a Dramatic Series

, '' Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks'' *

Mario Azzopardi Mario Philip Azzopardi (born 19 November 1950) is a Canadian-Maltese television and film director and writer. Early life and emigration Azzopardi was born in Siggiewi, Malta, and was educated at St Aloysius' College ( Birkirkara, Malta), and the ...

, ''

'' *

Allan Kroeker Allan Kroeker (born April 10, 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for '' Star Trek: Deep ...

, '' Tramp at the Door'' * Kevin Sullivan, '' Anne of Green Gables'' * Marc Voizard, ''Blue Line''

Best Direction in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series

* Robert Boyd, '' The Canadian Conspiracy'' * David Acomba, ''Toller Cranston's True Gift of Christmas'' * Ron Meraska, ''

The S and M Comic Book ''The S and M Comic Book'' was a Canadian series of four sketch comedy specials, that aired on CBC Television in 1986 and 1987."Newfoundlanders go national in a big way". '' Broadcast Week'', March 29, 1986. Starring Greg Malone and Tommy Sexton, ...

'' * Peter Thurling, ''Floating Over Canada'' * Eric Till, ''

'': "The Perfect Blue Rollie"

Best Direction in a Documentary Program or Series

* Larry Weinstein, ''Making Overtures: The Story of a Community Orchestra'' * Les Harris, ''444 Days to Freedom: What Really Happened in Iran''

Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Role in a Comedy Series

Louis Del Grande Louis Del Grande (born March 23, 1943) is a Canadian-American television writer and actor. He is best known for starring in the Canadian mystery/comedy series '' Seeing Things''. Early life Del Grande was born and raised in Union City, New Jersey ...

, '' Seeing Things'' *

Don Adams Donald James Yarmy (April 13, 1923 – September 25, 2005), known professionally as Don Adams, was an American actor. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the television situation comedy '' G ...

, '' Check it Out'' * David Eisner, ''

Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Series

Robert Clothier Robert Allan Clothier, DFC (October 21, 1921 – February 10, 1999) was a Canadian stage and television actor most famous for his role as Relic on the CBC television series, ''The Beachcombers''. Biography Like many of his contemporaries, ...

, ''

The Beachcombers ''The Beachcombers'' is a Canadian comedy-drama television series that ran on CBC Television from October 1, 1972, to December 12, 1990. With over 350 episodes, it is one of the longest-running dramatic series ever made for English-language Canad ...

'' *

Scott Hylands Scott Hylands Douglas (born 1943) is a Canadian actor who has appeared in movies, on television, and on the stage. Because of his longevity and versatility, critics have called him "one of Canada's greatest actors." Early years Hylands was born ...

, ''

'' *

Malcolm Stoddard Malcolm Stoddard (born 20 July 1948) is a British actor who has appeared in films and television. Early life He attended the all-male grammar school Chichester High School For Boys. Career His TV credits include '' The Voyage of Charles Darwin' ...

, ''

'' *

Jeff Wincott Jeffrey Wincott (born 8 May 1956) is a Canadian actor and martial artist best known for his lead role in the television series ''Night Heat.'' Wincott was also the star of several martial arts films in the 1990s. In 1996 he was named one of the ...

, ''

Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Single Dramatic Program or Miniseries

August Schellenberg August Werner Schellenberg (July 25, 1936 – August 15, 2013) was a Canadian actor. He played Randolph in the first three installments of the ''Free Willy'' film series (1993–1997) as well as characters in ''Black Robe'' (1991), '' The New Wor ...

, ''The Prodigal'' *

Maury Chaykin Maury Alan Chaykin (July 27, 1949 – July 27, 2010) was an American–Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of detective Nero Wolfe, as well as for his work as a character actor in many films and television programs. Personal lif ...

, '' Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks'' *

Jeff Fahey Jeffrey David Fahey (, born November 29, 1952) is an American film and television actor. He has portrayed Captain Frank Lapidus on the ABC series ''Lost'' and the title role of Deputy Marshal Winston MacBride on ''The Marshal''. Early life an ...

, '' The Execution of Raymond Graham'' *

Ed McNamara Ed McNamara (21 June 1921 – 11 October 1986) was a Canadian film actor."Ed McNamara"
'' ...

, ''The Prodigal'' * Ed McNamara, '' Tramp at the Door''

Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Role in a Comedy Series

* Martha Gibson, '' Seeing Things'' *

Lally Cadeau Lally Cadeau (born Alice Mary Cadeau, 10 January 1948) is a Canadian stage, television, film, and radio actress. Life and career Alice Mary Cadeau was born in Burlington, Ontario, the youngest child and only daughter of a once-aspiring actres ...

, ''

'' *

Janet-Laine Green Janet-Laine Green (born December 31, 1951) is a Canadian actress, director, producer and teacher, active for over 25 years. Best known for her roles in ''She's the Mayor'', '' Seeing Things'' and '' This is Wonderland'', this Toronto-based film a ...

, '' Seeing Things''

Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Series

Marnie McPhail Marnie McPhail Diamond is an American actress and musician who is well known for playing Maria Wong in '' Braceface'', Annie Edison in ''The Edison Twins'', and Peaches in ''JoJo's Circus''. Personal life McPhail was born and raised in Columbu ...

, ''

The Edison Twins ''The Edison Twins'' is a Canadian children's television program which ran for six seasons on CBC Television from March 3, 1984 to December 17, 1986. The Disney Channel also picked up the rights in the mid-1980s. Six seasons were produced by Ne ...

'' *

Jennifer Dale Jennifer Ciurluini (born January 16, 1956 in Toronto), known professionally as Jennifer Dale, is a Canadian actress. Biography She is the sister of Canadian actress Cynthia Dale. From 1980 to 1986 she was married to Robert Lantos; they have t ...

, ''

'' * Susan Walden, ''

Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Single Dramatic Program or Miniseries

Megan Follows Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows (born March 14, 1968) is a Canadian-American actress and director. She is known for her role as Anne Shirley in the 1985 Canadian television miniseries '' Anne of Green Gables'' and its two sequels. From 201 ...

, '' Anne of Green Gables'' *

Kim Braden Kim Braden (born November 1948) is a British-born U.S.-based former actress. Biography Braden is a daughter of the actor and broadcaster Bernard Braden and the actress Barbara Kelly, both originally from Canada. Braden came to prominence in ...

, ''Spearfield's Daughter'' *

Nicky Guadagni Nicky Guadagni (born August 1, 1952) is a Canadian actress who has worked on stage, radio, film and television. Life and career Originally from Montreal, Nicky Guadagni majored in drama at Dawson College and went on to train at the Royal Academ ...

, '' Turning to Stone'' *

Elizabeth Shepherd Elizabeth Shepherd (born 12 August 1936) is an English character actress whose long career has encompassed the stage and both the big and small screens. Her television work has been especially prolific. Shepherd's surname has been variously ren ...

, ''The Cuckoo Bird''

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor

Richard Farnsworth Richard William Farnsworth (September 1, 1920 – October 6, 2000) was an American actor and stuntman. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award: in 1978 for Best Supporting Actor for ''Comes a Horseman,'' and in 2000 for Best Actor in '' T ...

, '' Anne of Green Gables'' * Bernard Behrens, '' Turning to Stone'' *

Thomas Peacocke Charles Thomas Peacocke CM, (March 31, 1933 – November 2022) was a Canadian actor. He won the Genie Award for Best Actor at the 2nd Genie Awards in 1981, for his role in ''The Hounds of Notre Dame''.Jay Scott, "Les Bons débarras sweeps the Gen ...

, ''Oakmount High'' *

Douglas Rain Douglas James Rain (March 13, 1928 – November 11, 2018) was a Canadian actor and narrator. Although primarily a stage actor, he is perhaps best known for his voicing of the HAL 9000 computer in the film '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'' (1968) and i ...

, '' Love and Larceny'' * R. H. Thomson, '' Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga of Hal C. Banks''

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress

* Colleen Dewhurst, '' Anne of Green Gables'' * Anne Anglin, '' Turning to Stone'' * Sharry Flett, ''The Suicide Murders'' *

Jackie Richardson Jackie Richardson (born January 4, 1947) is a Canadian singer and actress. Richardson is known for her screen roles in '' Turning to Stone'', ''The Gospel According to the Blues'', '' The Doodlebops'', and '' Sins of the Father''. She is also kn ...

, '' Turning to Stone''

Best Performance by a Broadcast Journalist

Eric Malling Eric Malling (September 4, 1946 – September 28, 1998) was a Canadian television journalist. Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan to Danish immigrant John Malling Sorensen. Malling was the only son of a butcher. He graduated from the University ...

, '' The Fifth Estate'' * Jim Reed, ''

W-FIVE ''W5'' is a Canadian news magazine television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication Media (communication), medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the m ...

'' *

Joe Schlesinger Josef Schlesinger, (May 11, 1928 – February 11, 2019) was a Canadian foreign correspondent, television journalist, and author. Early life and career Schlesinger was born to a devout Jewish family in Vienna, Austria, on May 11, 1928. He was ra ...

, '' The National''

Best Performance by a Host or Interviewer

* David Suzuki, ''

The Nature of Things ''The Nature of Things'' (also, ''The Nature of Things with David Suzuki'') is a Canadian television series of documentary programs. It debuted on CBC Television on 6 November 1960. Many of the programs document nature and the effect that hu ...

'' * Linda MacLennan, ''

'' * Bill Paul, ''

Marketplace A marketplace or market place is a location where people regularly gather for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other goods. In different parts of the world, a marketplace may be described as a '' souk'' (from the Arabic), ' ...

'' *

Valerie Pringle Valerie Pringle ( née Whittingham, born 5 September 1953) is a Canadian television host and journalist, hosting the Canadian edition of ''Antiques Roadshow'' on CBC since 2006. Pringle was born in Windsor, Ontario. Pringle began her career in ...

, ''

Midday Noon (or midday) is 12 o'clock in the daytime. It is written as 12 noon, 12:00 m. (for meridiem, literally 12:00 noon), 12 p.m. (for post meridiem, literally "after noon"), 12 pm, or 12:00 (using a 24-hour clock) or 1200 (military time). Solar ...

'' * Peter Ustinov, ''Peter Ustinov's Russia''

TV Guide's Most Popular Program Award

* '' Anne of Green Gables''

Earle Grey Award

Ed McNamara Ed McNamara (21 June 1921 – 11 October 1986) was a Canadian film actor."Ed McNamara"
'' ...

References

{{Gemini Awards 01 Gemini Awards, 1986 Gemini Awards, 1986