Cable / Telecom News

Canadian cable honours its own


GRAVENHURST, Ont. – The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association drew a crowd while handing out its annual Galaxi Awards this afternoon at the Taboo Resort in Gravenhurst, Ont.

The presentation kicks off Cable Week at the golf resort which continues for the next two days.

The awards sponsors were law firm Fasken Martineau, the CBC’s Newsworld, Country Canada, RDI, Galaxie and RDI, Telefilm Canada and Deutsche Welle.

The winners are:

Outstanding Achievement
Frederick T. Metcalf Award for Marketing
Habillage 2004: ARTV

William Stanley Thomas Community Involvement Award
* Comsep a rebatir: TV COGECO
* We All Can: Shaw Cablesystems

Omer Girard Award for Community Programming
Truly Local People: TV COGECO
Accepting the aware were (pictured) TV COGECO’s Ron Harrison, Steve Heron, Calvin Killoran, David Feeley, Tim Caddigan, Lori Henry and Scott Meyers. Presenting were RDI’s Gilles Desjardins (left) and Fasken Martineau’s Barbara Miller.

Best Lifestyle and Entertainment – Community Channels
* Molsons Senators Overtime: Rogers Television Ottawa
* Leisure Lookout: Delta Cable Communications

Specialty Services
* Design Rivals: HGTV Canada

Best Information – Community Channels
* Structures: Rogers Television Toronto
* Making of a Guide Dog – BC Guide Dog Services: Delta Cable Communications

– Specialty Services
* Surreal Gourmet: Food Network Canada

Best On-Camera Performance – Community Channels
* Dale Goldhawk: Rogers Television Toronto
* Dan Robertson: EastLink Television

– Specialty Services
* Peter Van Dusen: CPAC

The Cable Television Standards Council also launched a new award this year to honour excellence in customer service. The board picked the best response to a customer service complaint and the inaugural award went to Persona Communications (Western). Presenting the award to Persona’s Charlie Hutchings is CTSF board chair Pamela Dinsmore of Rogers Communications.

Story and photos by Greg O’Brien