The Shaw Rocket Fund is a non-profit organization that funds both English and French Canadian children's television and digital programs. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, it is the largest private funder for Canadian kids' media for independent producers,[1] and is one of Shaw Communications' key programs.

Shaw Rocket Fund logo since 2013.

History

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The Shaw Rocket Fund was created in 1998 (known then as the Shaw Television Broadcast Fund) by Shaw Communications as a private funder of Canadian kids' TV production. In 2004, Agnes Augustin became President & CEO of the Fund. Agnes was previously a Manager and Vice President of Business Affairs for production and distribution companies, Head of Production for CMT, and an independent producer.[2]

Shaw Communications continues to contribute to the Shaw Rocket Fund (over $200 million as of 2019), and the Shaw Rocket Fund has invested over $245 million into 1,003 programs of Canadian kids' content.[3]

The Shaw Rocket Fund is listed as a Certified Independent Production Fund by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Board

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The Shaw Rocket Fund Board consists of five industry professionals.

  • Chair: Christine Shipton, former Senior Vice President of Content for Shaw Media[4]
  • Vice-Chair: Gigi Boyd, a Gemini and Leo award winning Producer ("Elijah")[5]
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Agnes Augustin, Shaw Rocket Fund President & CEO[6]
  • Director: Chethan Lakshman, Vice-President, External Affairs at Shaw Communications[7]
  • Director: Nancy Birnbaum, former CEO of Invest in Kids[8]

Shaw Rocket Prize

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The Shaw Rocket Fund created the Shaw Rocket Prize in 2004 as a way to award high-quality Canadian children's programs.

The Shaw Rocket Prize was an annual award, funded by the Shaw Rocket Fund, presented to one or more Canadian television programs. It started out as one $50,000 prize, awarded to the winning program, but in 2013 it expanded to three $25,000 prizes,[9] awarded to a winner in each of three categories (Preschool, Children ages 6–12 and Youth ages 13–17 & Family).[10] Production companies applied for the Prize by submitting their programs online. Eligible entries are reviewed by an International Jury,[11] made up of four to five industry professionals. Once the jury selected the finalists, another jury, made up of Canadian children, voted online for the winner. Global TV did a segment on the winners in 2014.[12] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau introduced the 2016 winner event with a video message.[13]

International Jury

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Year Jury Members
2005 Deirdre Brennan, Frank Dietz, Michelle Henderson, Bob Higgins, Theresa Plummer-Andrews
2006 Deirdre Brennan, Jennifer Canham, Dea Connick Perez, Frank Dietz, Theresa Plummer-Andrews
2007 Donna Andrews, Malcolm Bird, Dea Connick Perez, Estelle Hughes
2008 Finn Arnesen, Marc Buhaj, Michael Carrington, Frank Dietz, Adina Pitt
2009 Deirdre Brennan, Geoffrey Goodwin, Bob Higgins, Adina Pitt
2010 Jules Borkent, Deirdre Brennan, Rick Clodfelter, Sander Schwartz, David Levine
2011 Tim Brooke-Hunt, Michael Carrington, Joe Godwin, Nicole Keeb, Adina Pitt
2012 Andrew Beecham, Julien Borde, Jules Borkent, Layla Lewis, Larry Schwarz
2013 Evan Baily, Sarah Muller, Adina Pitt, Karen Vermeulen, Brian Wright
2014 Jules Borkent, Stephen Green, David Levine, Cecilia Persson, Alison Stewart
2016 Julien Borde, Jules Borkent, Adina Pitt, Alice Webb

Kids' Jury

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The Shaw Rocket Prize Kids' Jury was made up of children from across Canada. Over the years it evolved, originally beginning with a few select schools, and expanding to include children from all of Canada in the 0-17 age group. Preschoolers 5 and under screened and vote for one of three programs suitable for their age group, as did children aged 6–12 and youth aged 13–17.[14]

Nominees

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Winners in bold

Year Nominees
2005 Degrassi: The Next Generation, Franny's Feet, Poko, Shoebox Zoo
2006 Being Ian, Harry and his Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, Heads Up!, Naturally Sadie, Poko II
2007 Make Some Noise, Hope for the Future, Instant Star, The Snow Queen
2008 Life with Derek S3, Johnny Test S2, Roll Play
2009 Sticks and Stones, Fred's Head, How She Move, Instant Star
2010 Dino Dan, How to be Indie, In Real Life, Jimmy Two Shoes, League of Super Evil
2011 Wingin' It S2, dirtgirlworld, My Babysitter's a Vampire (The Movie), Survive This S2, Wibbly Pig
2012 My Babysitter's a Vampire S1, Justin Time, La Est La Question!, Stella and Sam S2, That's So Weird S3
2013 Preschool: Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood, Bookaboo, Roll Play; Children 6-12: The Next Step, Almost Naked Animals S3, Rocket Monkeys; Youth 13-17: The Phantoms, Animism: The Gods' Lake, Blackbird
2014 Preschool: Justin Time, Peg + Cat, Yup Yups; Children 6-12: Rocket Monkeys, Annedroids, Slugterra; Youth 13-17: If I Had Wings, Japanizi: Going, Going, Gong!, Unsung: Behind the Glee
2016 Preschool: Kate & Mim Mim, Peg + Cat, The Moblees; Children 6-12: Slugterra, Bruno & Boots: Go Jump in the Pool, Snapshots; Youth 13-17: L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, Max & Shred, Snowtime

Winners

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Program Title Production Company Producers
Degrassi: The Next Generation Epitome Pictures Inc.
Being Ian Studio B (Being Ian) Productions Inc. Blair Peters
Make Some Noise Omni Film Productions Ltd Brian Hamilton and Heather Hawthorn-Doyle
Life with Derek S3 Shaftesbury Films Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Daphne Ballon, Laurie McLarty, Jeff Biederman, Suzanne French
Sticks and Stones Cirrus Communications, Dream Street Pictures Inc. Josée Vallée, André Béraud, Richard Speer, Timothy M. Hogan, Rick LeGuerrier
Dino Dan Sinking Ship Entertainment J.J. Johnson, Blair Powers, Matt Bishop
Wingin' It S2 Temple Street Productions Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Frank van Keeken
My Babysitter's a Vampire S1 Fresh TV Inc. Brian Irving
Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood 9 Story Entertainment Vince Commisso, Steven Jarosz, Samantha Freeman Alpert, Kevin Morrison, Angela C. Santomero, Tanya Green, Wendy Harris, Julie Soebekti, Sarah Wallendjack
The Next Step Temple Street Productions Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Frank van Keeken, Laura Harbin, Andrea Boyd, Laurie McLarty, Chloe van Keeken, Rachael Schaefer, Amy Wright, Jay Prychidny
The Phantoms Dream Street Pictures Inc. Timothy Hogan, Rick LeGuerrier
Justin Time Guru Studio Amy Robson, Mary Bredin, Frank Falcone
Rocket Monkeys Breakthrough Entertainment Ira Levy, Joan Lambur, Mark Evestaff
If I Had Wings Really Real Films Cynde Harmon
Kate & Mim Mim DHX Media
Slugterra DHX Media
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Breakthrough Entertainment

International Emmy Kids Awards

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The International Emmy Kids Awards is an annual event in February that recognizes the best in kids' programming around the world. The Shaw Rocket Fund was a presenting partner for five years beginning in 2013.

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References

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  1. ^ "About the Shaw Rocket Fund". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Banff World Media Festival - Agnes Augustin". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Shaw Rocket Fund History". Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Board - Christine Shipton". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Board - Gigi Boyd". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Board - Agnes Augustin". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Board - Chethan Lakshman". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Board - Nancy Birnbaum". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Shaw Rocket Fund". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Shaw Rocket Prize Winners & Finalists". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  11. ^ "International Jury". Shaw Rocket Fund. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Global TV". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Shaw Rocket Prize". Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Shaw Rocket Prize Kids Jury". Retrieved 1 June 2015.