Canada’s Youth Media Alliance (YMA), which recognizes the importance of television and interactive contents for Canadian kids, is launching its 2011 English-language Awards of Excellence.

The competition is open to all Canadian-made, youth-oriented productions originally broadcast or released online in English between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010. Programs and interactive content must be submitted by February 21 and awards will be presented in Toronto on June 2.

A total of 15 awards will be handed out, including the grand prize for the most outstanding television production in the past two years, along with the awards for emerging talent and lifetime achievement. This year the Alliance is also introducing a new interactive award: Best Original Interactive Content, which includes any web and/or mobile content not tied to a kids’ TV show. The interactive content judges will be looking at such aspects as ease of navigation, design, safety of content, as well as effective and innovative use of technology.