Celebrating the year’s best in Canuck English-language TV, The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television hosted its 24th Annual Gemini Awards gala this week, which gave props to several players in the kids and toon categories. Toronto-based prodco Shaftesbury took home the award for best children’s or youth fiction program or series for Life with Derek and the show’s star, Michael Seater, also got a nod for best performance in a children’s or youth program or series.

Best animated program or series went to another Toronto-based studio, Cuppa Coffee and Canuck broadcaster, Teletoon, for Life’s a Zoo.tv and local pubcaster TVOntario scored with its in-house series Mark’s Moments for the best children’s or youth non-fiction program or series.

Best pre-school program or series was awarded to Kids’ Canada (CBC) and best writing in a children’s or youth program or series was scooped up by Steven Westren for his work on My Friend Rabbit (Nelvana).

Eps of Degrassi: The Next Generation 8 (Epitome Pictures) and Rollbots (Amberwood Entertainment) both took home best direction awards and Mystery Hunters (Apartment 11 Productions) and Atomic Betty (Breakthrough Entertainment) also took home statuettes for best host and best performances, respectively.