(January 17, 2018 – Toronto, ON) When it comes to any part of the government or any government-funded entity like the CBC, you’ll often hear people say, in a derogatory way, something like “Your tax dollars at work.” By any measure, CBC is spending those precious funds very well when judged by those who should know, members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television who have bestowed 210 Canadian Screen Awards nominations on the public broadcaster, up from 193 last year.
Here’s a quick look at just some of those nominations:
In the Drama category, CBC shows have a total of 89 nominations. They include Anne (13), Alias Grace (11), Murdoch Mysteries: Once Upon A Murdoch Christmas (4), Pure (3), X-company (3) and Gord Downie’s The Secret Path (2).
Nominations in Comedy include Kim’s Convenience (12), Schitt’s Creek (11), Baroness Von Sketch Show (6), Workin’ Moms (5), Rick Mercer Report (5), This Hour Has 22 Minutes (4), Mr. D (3) and Michael: Every Day (1).
CBC News received 30 nominations in 16 network and local categories, while CBC Sports garnered eight nominations including a Best Sports Host nomination for Scott Russell. It had been previously announced that former CBC News
![Rick Mercer, actor, host,](http://www.northernstars.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Rick_Mercer-350-2015csa.jpg)
Photo © 2015 by Ralph Lucas. Used with permission.
chief correspondent and The National anchor Peter Mansbridge will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award and satirical sketch comedy series Rick Mercer Report, now in its final season, will be given an Academy Icon Award for its ongoing contribution to the media industry in Canada and globally.
CBC-supported Canadian feature films received 19 nominations including Maudie (7), The Breadwinner (6), The Man Who Invented Christmas (3), Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 (2) ) and a nomination for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Tzi Ma of Meditation Park, one of the first recipients of the CBC Breaking Barriers Film Fund.
So next time you hear someone say something about CBC and taxes, you’ll be able to remind them just how well that money is being spent. The 2018 Canadian Screen Awards will be broadcast live on CBC on Sunday, March 11 at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. AT and 9:30 p.m. NT). Click here for a full list of nominations for television.