WGC Screenwriting Awards

The WGC Screenwriting Awards (previously Canadian Screenwriting Awards) are administered by the Writers Guild of Canada, and are awarded to the best script for a feature film, television or radio project produced within the Guild's jurisdiction, written by a guild member in good standing, and broadcast or released in North America or screened at a Canadian film festival for the first time in the previous year.

In addition to the film, television and radio categories, special awards presented by the WGC include the Sondra Kelly Award for projects written by women, the Denis McGrath Service Award for distinguished contributions to the organization, and the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize for the best unproduced new screenplay. In 2025, the program also took over administration of the Margaret Collier Award, a lifetime achievement award for television writing previously presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television under the Gemini Awards and the Canadian Screen Awards.

Awards

2006

Children & Preschool — Mary Crawford and Alan Templeton, King: "Stolen Voices"

Comedy & Variety — Brent Butt and Paul Mather, Corner Gas: "Dog River Vice"

Documentary — Robert Duncan, Woodward's: The Competition

Drama, Half-Hour — Susin Nielsen, Robson Arms: "Dancing the Horizontal Mambo"

Drama, One Hour — Susan Coyne, Bob Martin and Mark McKinney, Slings & Arrows: "Steeped in Blood"

Feature Film — Wil Zmak, The Dark Hours

Radio Drama — Jason Sherman, Graf: "Episode 1"

Youth — Jeff Biederman, Life with Derek: "The Party"

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Josh Miller

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Jason Hreno, Two Mountains

Writers Block Award — Fred Yackman

2007

Children & Preschool — Kate Barris, If the World Were a Village

Comedy & Variety — Brent Butt and Kevin White, Corner Gas: "Outside Joke"

Documentary — Barry Stevens, The Bomber's Dream

Drama, Half-Hour — Laura Kosterski, Naked Josh: "Beating the Rap"

Drama, One Hour — Susan Coyne, Bob Martin and Mark McKinney, Slings & Arrows: "That Way Madness Lies"

Feature Film — Sarah Polley, Away from Her

MOW & Miniseries — John W. Doyle and Lisa Porter, Above and Beyond

Radio Drama — Andrew Moodie, Greg Nelson, Adam Pettle and Jason Sherman, Afghanada: "Episode 4"

Youth — Brent Piaskoski, Naturally Sadie: "Rashomon"

Showrunner Award — Brad Wright

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Ryan Redford, Bone

Writers Block Award — Sondra Kelly, Sugith Varughese

2008

Children & Preschool — Kenn Scott, Iggy Arbuckle: "Petition Impossible"

Documentary — Barri Cohen, Toxic Trespass

Drama Series, Half-Hour — Mark Farrell and Robert Sheridan, Corner Gas: "Seeing Things"

Drama Series, One Hour — Denis McGrath and Robert Wertheimer, Across the River to Motor City: "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"

Feature Film — Travis McDonald, Normal

MOW or Miniseries — Ian Weir, Dragon Boys

Radio Drama — Jason Sherman, Adam Pettle and Greg Nelson, Afghanada: "Episode 12"

Variety — Kevin White, Mark Critch, Irwin Barker, Gavin Crawford, Gary Pearson, Jennifer Whalen, Carolyn Taylor, Albert Howell, Dave Nystrom, Geri Hall, Todd Allen and Tim McAuliffe, This Hour Has 22 Minutes: "Season XIV, Episode 17"

Youth — Brent Piaskoski, Naturally Sadie: "In or Out of Africa"

WGC Showrunner Award — Peter Mohan

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Tony Elliott, Stranger Than You

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Allan Magee

WGC Writers Block Award — Jack Blum, Jeremy Hole and Ann MacNaughton

2009

Animation — Shane Simmons, Ricky Sprocket: Showbiz Boy: "The Perfect Family"

Children & Preschool — Christin Simms, Captain Flamingo: "Comic Slip"

Documentary — John Walker, Passage

Episodic, Half-Hour — Brent Butt, Corner Gas: "Full Load"

Episodic, One Hour — Adam Barken, Flashpoint: "Who's George?"

Feature Film — Don McKellar, Blindness

MOW & Miniseries — Andrew Wreggitt, Mayerthorpe

Radio Drama — Greg Spottiswood, Afghanada: "The Lotus Eater"

Short Film — Kellie Ann Benz, Awkward

Variety — Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford, Kyle Tingley, Jennifer Whalen, Albert Howell, Tim McAuliffe, Dean Jenkinson, Geri Hall and Nathan Fielder, This Hour Has 22 Minutes: "Season XVI, Episode 1"

Youth — Brent Piaskoski, The Latest Buzz: "The Gala Issue"

Showrunner Award — Mark Farrell

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Riley Adams, Cold Rush

Writers Block Award — Karen Walton

2010

Animation — Shelley Scarrow, Total Drama Action: "The Sand Witch Project"

Children & Preschool — Kate Barris, Max & Ruby: "Max Says Goodbye"

Documentary — Robert Lower, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet: 40 Years of One Night Stands

Episodic, Half-Hour — Garry Campbell, Less Than Kind: "The Daters"

Episodic, One Hour — Robert C. Cooper, Stargate Universe: "Time"

Feature Film — Jacob Tierney, The Trotsky

MOW & Miniseries — John Krizanc, The Summit

Radio Drama — Barbara Samuels, Afghanada: "Episode 61"

Short Subject — Jessie Gabe, Being Erica: "Webisodes"

Variety — Ed Macdonald, Mark Critch, Gavin Crawford, Kyle Tingley, Albert Howell, Dean Jenkinson, Joanne O’Sullivan, Tara Doyle, Erik van Wyck, Mike Allison and Joey Case, This Hour Has 22 Minutes: "Season XVII, Episode 6"

Youth — Anita Kapila, How to Be Indie: "How to Be a Mehta"

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Peter Mitchell

Showrunner Award — Heather Conkie

Writers Block Award — Rebecca Schechter

2011

Animation — Karen Moonah, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!: "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Maps"

Children & Youth — Barbara Haynes, The Latest Buzz: "The Extreme Shakespeare Issue"

Comedy — Chris Sheasgreen, Less Than Kind: "Coming Home"

Documentary — Christine Nielsen, The Pig Farm

Drama — Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, Flashpoint: "Jumping at Shadows"

Feature Film — Michael Konyves, Barney's Version

Shorts & Webseries — Lisa Hunter, You Are So Undead

Showrunner Award — Tassie Cameron

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Denise Blinn, 1936

Writers Block Award — Peter Grant

2012

Animation — Darrin Rose, Scaredy Squirrel: "Nothing But the Tooth"

Children & Youth — Alice Prodanou, My Babysitter's a Vampire: "ReVamped"

Comedy — Craig David Wallace, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: "A Farewell to Curtis' Arm"

Documentary — Gary Marcuse, Waking the Green Tiger: A Green Movement Rises in China

Drama — Larry Bambrick, Flashpoint: "Shockwave"

Movies & Miniseries — Bruce Smith, John A.: Birth of a Country

Shorts & Webseries — Patrick Tarr, Murdoch Mysteries: The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs

Showrunner Award — Mark McKinney

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Barbara Samuels

Writers Block Award — Chuck Lazer

2013

Animation — Dan Williams and Lienne Sawatsky, Sidekick: "I, Sidebot"

Children & Youth — John May and Suzanne Bolch, How to Be Indie: "How to Make a Christmas Miracle"

Comedy — Kim Coghill, Less Than Kind: "Jerk Chicken"

Documentary — Mitch Miyagawa, A Sorry State

Drama — Martin Gero, The L.A. Complex: "Down in L.A."

Movies & Miniseries — Andrew Wreggitt, The Phantoms

Shorts & Webseries — Julie Strassman-Cohn and Jill Golick, Ruby Skye P.I.: The Haunted Library: "#Creepy"

Showrunner Award — Mark Ellis, Stephanie Morgenstern

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Adam Garnet Jones, Wild Medicine

Writers Block Award — Anne-Marie Perrotta, Simon Racioppa, Lienne Sawatsky

2014

Animation — Hollis Ludlow-Carroll, Almost Naked Animals: "The Rotation Situation"

Children & Youth — Lisa Hunter, Finding Stuff Out: "Babies and Families" and Cole Bastedo, Mr. Young: "Mr. Love Letter"

Comedy — Marvin Kaye and Chris Sheasgreen, Less Than Kind: "I'm Only Nineteen"

Documentary — Barry Stevens, Sector Sarajevo

Drama — Will Pascoe, Orphan Black: "Variations Under Domestication"

Movies & Miniseries — Elan Mastai, The F Word

Shorts & Webseries — Jill Golick and Julie Strassman, Ruby Skye P.I.: The Haunted Library: "The Final Clue"

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Susin Nielsen

Showrunner Award — Peter Mitchell

Writers Block Award — Maureen Parker

2015

Animation — Simon Racioppa and Richard Elliott, Fangbone!: "The Warbrute of Friendship"

Children & Youth — Melody Fox, The Haunting Hour: The Series: "Mrs. Worthington"

Comedy — Andrew De Angelis, Mr. D: "Old School"

Documentary — Michael McNamara, The Cholesterol Question

Drama — Tony Elliott, Orphan Black: "Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est"

Movies & Miniseries — Nicolas Billon, Elephant Song

Shorts & Webseries — Jason Leaver, Out with Dad: "Outed"

Showrunner Award — Bruce Smith

Sondra Kelly Award — Alison Lea Bingeman

Writers Block Award — Denis McGrath

2016

Children — Evan Thaler Hickey, Numb Chucks: "Witless to the Prosecution"

Comedy — Amanda Walsh, Schitt's Creek: "The Cabin"

Documentary — Josh Freed, Deluged by Data

Drama — Russ Cochrane, Orphan Black: "Newer Elements of Our Defense"

Feature Film — James Kee, Sarah Larsen, Doug Taylor and Pascal Trottier, A Christmas Horror Story

MOW & Miniseries — Clement Virgo and Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes

Shorts & Webseries — Michael Konyves, Goldfish

Tweens & Teens — Jennica Harper, Some Assembly Required: "Rocket with a Pocket"

Showrunner Award — Frank van Keeken

Sondra Kelly Award — Penny Gummerson

Writers Block Award — Peter Mohan

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Clive Endersby

2017

Best New Series Script — Alexandra Zarowny, Wynonna Earp: "Bury Me with My Guns On"

Children's — Tim McKeon, Odd Squad: "Drop Gadget Repeat"

Comedy — Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney, Letterkenny: "Super Soft Birthday"

Documentary — John Walker, Quebec My Country Mon Pays

Drama — Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, X Company: "August 19th"

Feature Film — Sherry White, Maudie

MOW & Miniseries — Adam Barken, Bruno & Boots: Go Jump in the Pool

Tweens & Teens — Ian MacIntyre, Degrassi: Next Class: "#TeamFollowBack"

Sondra Kelly Award — Diana Frances

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Daniel Whidden, Valhalla

Showrunner Award — Aaron Martin

Denis McGrath Award — Andrew Wreggitt

2018

Best New Series Script — Moira Walley-Beckett, Anne with an E: "I Am No Bird, and No Net Ensnares Me"

Children's — Sean Jara, Mysticons: "Sisters in Arms"

Comedy — Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney, Letterkenny: "Relationships"

Documentary — Mark Leiren-Young, The Hundred-Year-Old Whale

Drama — Aubrey Nealon, Cardinal: "John Cardinal"

Feature Film — Jason Filiatrault, Entanglement

MOW & Miniseries — Sarah Polley, Alias Grace: "Part 5"

Shorts & Webseries — Karen McClellan, Spiral: "The Girl in the Dream"

Tweens & Teens — Matt Kippen, The Stanley Dynamic: "The Stanley Cheer"

Showrunner Award — Michael MacLennan

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Sherry White

Sondra Kelly Award — Sarah Dodd

2019

Best New Series Script — Daegan Fryklind, The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco: "Presidio"

Children's — Josh Sager, Jerome Simpson, Wishfart: "I Wear This Hat Ironically"

Comedy — Rupinder Gill, Schitt's Creek: "RIP Moira Rose"

Documentary — Michael McNamara, Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit

Drama — Sarah Dodd, Cardinal: Blackfly Season: "Red"

Feature Film — Jeremy Boxen, 22 Chaser

MOW & Miniseries — Tim McKeon, Odd Squad: World Turned Odd

Shorts & Webseries — Alex Epstein and Lisa Hunter, We’ve Come to the End of Our Time

Tweens & Teens — Cole Bastedo, Star Falls: "The Picnic Auction"

Sondra Kelly Award — Jinder Oujla-Chalmers

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Pat Holden, Mirsada and Amir Kahnamouee, Harbour House

Showrunner Award — Emily Andras

McGrath Service Award — Bruce Smith

2020

Children — Mark Steinberg, Hotel Transylvania: The Series: "Better Know Your Mavis"

Comedy — Jann Arden and Jennica Harper, Jann: "The Big House"

Documentary — Nance Ackerman, Ariella Pahlke and Teresa MacInnes, Conviction

Drama Series — Noelle Carbone, Coroner: "All's Well"

Feature Film — Laura Phillips, Sweetness in the Belly

MOW & Miniseries — David Elver and Andrea Stevens, Thicker Than Water

Preschool — J. J. Johnson, Christin Simms and Amish Patel, Dino Dana: "Dino Prints"

Shorts & Webseries — Fab Filippo, Save Me: "Birdie's End"

Tweens & Teens — Emma Campbell, Creeped Out: "The Takedown"

Sondra Kelly Award — Cynthia Knight

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Nathalie Younglai

Showrunner Award — Dennis Heaton

2021

Children — Mark De Angelis, Odd Squad Mobile Unit: "Slow Your Roll"

Comedy — Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek: "Happy Ending"

Documentary — Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Graham Chittenden and Steve Dylan, Still Standing: "Rankin Inlet"

Drama — Michelle Latimer, Tony Elliott and Penny Gummerson, Trickster: "Episode 105"

Feature Film — Tracey Deer and Meredith Vuchnich, Beans

MOW & Miniseries — Becky Southwell and Dylan Neal, Gourmet Detective: Roux the Day

Preschool — J. J. Johnson, Dino Dana: "The Sound of Dinosaurs"

Shorts & Webseries — Simone Swan and The Affolter Brothers, Try to Fly

Tweens & Teens — Joseph Mallozzi and R. T. Thorne, Utopia Falls: "The World Is Yours"

Sondra Kelly Award — Kate Hewlett

Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize — Travis McDonald, Magnificent

Showrunner Award — Morwyn Brebner

2022

Children's — Lakna Edilima, Odd Squad Mobile Unit: "H2 Oh No"

Comedy — Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, Sort Of: "Sort of Gone"

Drama — Tassie Cameron and Sherry White, Pretty Hard Cases: "Bananas"

Feature Film — Michael McGowan, All My Puny Sorrows

MOW & Miniseries — James Phillips, As Gouda As It Gets

Preschool — Michael Foulke, Elinor Wonders Why: "Olive's Tree"

Shorts & Webseries — Maddi Patton, My Pride: The Series: "Fire"

Tweens & Teens — Amanda Joy, The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker: "Joy"

Sondra Kelly Award — Carolyn Saunders

Alex Barris Mentorship Award — Matt Huether

Denis McGrath Award — Michael Amo

Showrunner Award — Anthony Q. Farrell

2023

Children's — Christine Mitchell, The Guava Juice Show: "Adventure 9000"

Comedy — Kurt Smeaton, Children Ruin Everything: "Road Trip"

Documentary — Jason Sherman, My Tree

Drama — Marsha Greene, The Porter: "Episode 104"

Feature Film — Clement Virgo, Brother

MOW & Miniseries — David Elver, Written in the Stars

Preschool — Ben Joseph and Mike D'Ascenzo, Dino Ranch: "Wings Over Dino Ranch"

Shorts & Webseries — Darrin Rose, Second Life

Tweens & Teens — Veronika Paz, Astrid and Lilly Save the World: "One Rib"

Sondra Kelly Award — Laura Good

Jim Burt Award — Adrian Morphy, The 300 Year Old Man

Showrunner Award — Susin Nielsen

2024

Children's — Lienne Sawatsky, Pinecone & Pony: "Hero Soup"

Comedy — Enuka Okuma, Workin' Moms: "It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere"

Drama — Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Little Bird: "Bineshi Kwe"

Feature Film — Dan Gordon, Irena's Vow; Jonas Chernick and Diana Frances, The Burning Season

MOW & Miniseries — Marie Clements, Bones of Crows: "To Be Here"

Preschool — Suzanne Bolch and John May, Superbuns: "The Sweet Sound of Christmas"

Shorts & Webseries — Ravi Steve Khajuria, I Will Bury You: "Depression"

Tweens & Teens — Jeff Detsky, Popularity Papers: "Pain in the Bat Mitzvah"

Sondra Kelly Award — Meredith Vuchnich

Alex Barris Award — Ben Joseph

Denis McGrath Award — Alex Levine

Showrunner Award — Mark Haroun

2025

Children's — Mike Girard, Open Season: Call of Nature: "Cash Camp Pt.