Heated Rivalry wins big at Canadian Screen Awards, taking top prizes for best dramatic actor and drama series

The fan-favourite hockey drama Heated Rivalry dominated the Canadian Screen awards Sunday, winning the evening’s top prizes including best drama series and best lead performer for Hudson Williams.

The series entered the night riding on a red-hot winning streak after collecting 13 awards from its 18 nominations during Saturday night’s gala for scripted television. It left with a total of 16 Screen Awards in its inaugural season.

Another Canadian juggernaut, the CBC/Netflix Arctic sitcom North of North, won best comedy series and best lead performer for Anna Lambe, adding to the seven awards it snagged during Saturday’s gala including best writing and best supporting performer.

The Nunavut-shot series garnered 20 nominations.

And the acclaimed comedy Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie claimed the night’s top prize of best motion picture, besting R.T. Thorne’s post-apocalyptic thriller, 40 Acres.

Toronto-born musician and composer Jay McCarrol took home the award for best performance in a leading role for the feature film continuation of the cult-classic series. Sunday’s victories brought the movie’s total award count to six, including best supporting performance in a comedy for Matt Johnson, who also directed and co-wrote the film.

Fans lined the red carpet at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto, where the event was held, hoping to catch a glimpse of Heated Rivalry stars Williams and Sophie Nélisse, whose performances have helped turn the series into a worldwide sensation. The show has been steaming up TV screens with its romance between two hockey players played by Williams and Connor Storrie.

Nélisse, who plays Williams’s on-screen girlfriend Rose Landry and who nabbed a Screen Award for best supporting performer on Saturday, was presented with this year’s Radius Award. It’s an honour that recognizes individuals whose work has gained international recognition and contributes to Canada’s global reputation.

Sunday’s gala was hosted by Calgary-born actor, comedian and Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung, who gushed earlier this week about the Canadian content experiencing a wave of mainstream recognition this year.

“There’s so many projects that hit critical mass this year,” Phung told CBC’s Griffin Jaeger at Thursday’s rehearsal. “Eyes are on our industry, eyes are watching our projects, fans have found things they love…. I’m just so excited to be a part of it — and honestly, it’s genuinely an honour to be able to host this night.”

Sunday night’s ceremony also honoured comedian Mike Myers. The Toronto-born star was on hand to receive the Icon Award, recognizing his ongoing contributions to the industry both at home and abroad.

Best known for his career-defining roles in Austin Powers and Wayne’s World, the Saturday Night Live alum also became known recently for popularizing the cultural phrase “elbows up” in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada.

Former on-screen partners and Hollywood heavyweights Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Will Arnett all paid tribute to Myers in a clip played ahead of him receiving his statuette.

An emotional Myers gave credit to his parents during his acceptance speech.

“I want to thank my mum and dad for moving to Canada and for stressing the importance of being silly,” he said while choking back tears. He wrapped his speech by saying, “Canada, I don’t know what to say, dude. I’d literally be nothing without you.”

Myers’s appearance was fitting on a history-making night for the Canadian Screen Awards. For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast across multiple networks and streaming platforms, including CBC, CTV and Global. Organizers billed the expanded broadcast as a celebration of Canadian culture and a show of support for homegrown talent.

Arguably, few artists embodied that homegrown spirit more than Catherine O’Hara. The beloved Canadian actor, who died in March, was honoured during Sunday’s ceremony with a heartfelt tribute from her longtime friend and Schitt’s Creek and SCTV co-star Eugene Levy.

The celebration of O’Hara’s decades-long career also served as the introduction to the evening’s emotional in memoriam segment, featuring a performance by Tia Wood that paid tribute to the artists and industry figures who died over the past year.

Below is a list of the nominees and winners in the major categories presented at Sunday night’s ceremony.

Best Motion Picture

• Jennifer Holness, 40 Acres.
• Ryan Bobkin, Sara Wylie, Sophy Romvari, Blue Heron.
• Hany Ouichoi, The Cost of Heaven | Gagne ton ciel.
• Laurie Pominville, Hany Ouichou, Eric K. Boulianne, Follies | Folichonneries.
• Kim McCraw, Luc Déry, Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers.
• Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.
• Alireza Khatami, Michael Solomon, The Things You Kill.
• Samuel Cohn-Cousineau , Jonathan Frantz, Wrong Husband | Uiksaringitara.
• **WINNER: Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

Performance in a Leading Role, Drama | Meilleure interprétation dans un premier rôle, drame

• Jasmin Geljo, Cat’s Cry.
• Milya Corbeil Gauvreau, Fanny.
• Grace Glowicki, Honey Bunch.
• Nina Kiri, Out Standing.
• Michaela Kurimsky, Sweet Angel Baby.
• Marlene Jewell, There, There.
• Noah Parker, Who by Fire | Comme le feu.
• Theresia Kappianaq, Wrong Husband | Uiksaringitara.
• **WINNER: Grace Glowicki, Honey Bunch.

Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy | Meilleure interprétation dans un premier rôle, comédie

• Eric K. Boulianne, Follies | Folichonneries.
• Catherine Chabot, Follies | Folichonneries.
• France Castel, The Furies | Les Furies.
• Neil Elias, Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers.
• Jay McCarrol, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.
• Patrick Hivon, Peak Everything | Amour Apocalypse.
• Karine Gonthier-Hyndman, Two Women | Deux femmes en or.
• Laurence Leboeuf, Two Women | Deuz femmes en or. 
• **WINNER: Jay McCarol, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

Best Lead Performer, Drama Series

• Supinder Wraich, Allegiance.
• Michelle Morgan, Heartland.
• François Arnaud, Heated Rivalry.
• Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry.
• Kathleen Munroe, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
• Carolina Bartczak, Plan B.
• Melanie Scrofano, Revival.
• Allan Hawco, Saint-Pierre.
• **WINNER: Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry.

Best Lead Performer, Comedy

• Meaghan Rath, Children Ruin Everything.
• Jasmeet Raina, Late Bloomer.
• Mary Walsh, The Missus Downstairs.
• Anna Lambe, North of North.
• Jermaine Richards, The Office Movers.
• Meredith MacNeill, Small Achievable Goals.
• Jennifer Whalen, Small Achievable Goals.
• Anastasia Phillips, The Trades.
• **WINNER: Anna Lambe, North of North

Best Comedy Series

• Children Ruin Everything.
• Late Bloomer.
• Son of a Critch.
• The Trades.
• **WINNER: North of North.

Best Drama Series

• Heated Rivalry.
• Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.
• Plan B.
• Saint-Pierre.
• Wild Cards.
• **WINNER: Heated Rivalry.

Radius Award

Academy Icon Award

Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism

Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award

• Heartland.
• Heated Rivalry.
• Revival.
• **WINNER: Heated Rivalry.

For a complete list of 2026 Canadian Screen Awards winners and nominees, please visit the official site here.