In less than two weeks time, the Canadian Screen Awards will recognize the best in Canadian film, television and digital media.
Among the 134 categories, 33 Humber alumni, were nominated in 27 categories.
Guillermo Acosta, Humber’s Dean of Media Arts, says the number of nominees are a great testament to the school’s programs.
Acosta said he wished all the nominees the best of luck.
“I really hope that many of these nominations will materialize in awards that continue to build on a trajectory of success,” said Acosta.
One of those alumni is first time nominee, Meg Banks, a graduate of the Advanced Accelerated Postgraduate Journalism Program in 2011.
“We’re thrilled to be nominated for the special because of how important the story was to all of us,” Banks, whose work on The National’s coverage of the 2018 Vigil for Humboldt is nominated for Best Live News Special, said.
“Going to Humber was on the best decisions I ever made…classes were all 100 per cent focused on the work of journalism,” Banks, now a Lineup Producer for CBC’s the National, said.
Banks said credits working under instructors who were formerly or still in the field as part of her success.
“[They gave] me that drive, the joy you get out of doing the work which…you know got me where I am now,” said Banks.
The 2018 crash of a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, was one that resonated across the country, Banks said.
“Everybody knows somebody who’s in hockey or is involved in sports and some way everybody can sort of put themselves on that bus,” she said.
Banks said the experience of working on this particular story is one that she will carry with her.
“Once in a while is a story that comes along that makes Canada feel really small, like we’re all connected and that’s one of them,” Banks said.
Also nominated is Devon Burns, a graduate of the Film program in 2006. Burns has received 11 nominations and won six of those over the span of his career.
“You put a lot of your heart and your soul into these pieces,” Burns said.
He went on to say that having that work acknowledged by a greater group of peers is exciting.
“It’s exciting to kind of look back on and say, ‘oh how I did that and this what I did this year because I find it all goes in a blur,” Burns, now a freelance cinematographer said.
This year Burns received four nominations: Best Sports Feature Segment for Finding Murph, Best Sports Series or Program for Kevin Stevens – Shattered and two in Best Sports Opening for the 2017 Grey Cup and the 2018 World Cup.
“I did Kevin Stevens [Shattered] first with George Skoutakis, from Sportsnet who really kind of championed the piece and pushed forward the idea of this kind of story is important to tell,” Burns said.
Shattered followed former NHL player Kevin Stevens’ recovery from his concussions and history with addiction. Burns said the piece made an interesting reflection with Finding Murph.
“You see a much more downtrodden person who’s way more in the effects of…what’s happened to him,” Burns said.
Finding Murph is the story of Joe Murphy, the first overall pick in the 1986 NHL draft, and his current struggles with homelessness in Kenora, Ont.
The Canadian Screen Awards will be presented on March 31, 2019 at Sony Centre for the Preforming Arts.