The Margaret Collier Award is a lifetime achievement award, presented to a Canadian writer for their outstanding body of work in film or television. Formerly presented as part of the Gemini Awards, it became part of the Canadian Screen Awards in 2013.Tony Atherton, "Viewer curiosity behind Geminis success story". Ottawa Citizen, March 3, 1996. It can be presented to an individual writer or writing team. As of 2025, administration of the award has been transferred to the Writers Guild of Canada as part of its WGC Screenwriting Awards program.Nicholas Sokic, "Andrew Wreggit to receive WGC’s Margaret Collier Award". Playback, March 18, 2025.
The award is named in honour of Margaret Collier, the longtime executive director of ACTRA's chapter for television writers.Susan Ferrier Mackay, "Formidable ACTRA official Margaret Collier advocated for writers for film, TV and radio". The Globe and Mail, May 12, 2021.
Past recipients
Gemini Awards 1986 - Charles E. Israel 1987 - Grahame WoodsJohn Haslett Cuff, "Seeing Things, Night Heat top Gemini nomination list". The Globe and Mail, October 22, 1987. 1988 - M. Charles Cohen 1989 - Donald Brittain 1990 - Ted Allan 1992 - Harry Rasky 1993 - George R. Robertson 1994 - Alex Barris 1995 - Timothy Findley 1996 - Anna Sandor"Awards honour contributions in TV". The Globe and Mail, February 21, 1996. 1998 - Douglas BowieMike Boone, "Newsroom, Arrow scoop Geminis: Satiric sitcom about TV and a controversial series about doomed fighter pick up five apiece". Montreal Gazette, March 2, 1998. 1998 - Frank Shuster, Johnny Wayne for their collaborations as Wayne & Shuster. Frank Shuster accepted the award as Wayne had died in 1989. 1999 - Suzette Couture 2000 - Rob Forsyth 2001 - David Barlow 2002 - Patrick Watson 2003 - Charles Lazer 2004 - Wayne Grigsby 2005 - not presented 2006 - Pete White 2007 - Susan Marcus, Chris Clark, Lilly Barnes, Joy Simons-Newall 2008 - David Cole 2009 - Barbara Samuels 2010 - Donald Martin 2011 - Bob Carney
Canadian Screen Awards 2013 - Heather Conkie 2014 - Semi Chellas 2015 - Tassie Cameron 2016 - Karen Walton"'22 Minutes,' Ivan Fecan to receive special Canadian Screen Awards". Toronto Star, November 10, 2015. 2017 - Denis McGrath"Canadian Screen Awards: Peter Mansbridge, Karyn Pugliese, Margaret Atwood to be honoured". CBC News, October 30, 2017. 2018 - Brad Wright 2019 - David ShoreCorey Atad, "Alex Trebek, David Suzuki, Dan Levy And More Among 2020 Canadian Screen Awards Special Honourees" . ET Canada, December 4, 2019.
WGC Screenwriting Awards 2025 - Andrew Wreggitt 2026 - Ian WeirJamie Casemore, "WGC honours Simon Barry with Showrunner Award". Playback, April 28, 2026.
See also Canadian television awards
References