APTN Corporate Awards & Recognitions

Ongoing Recognitions

Canada’s Top Employers for Young People
Since 2017
This designation distinguishes employers that offer the nation’s best workplaces and programs for young people who are launching their careers.  

Canada’s Top 100 Employers
Since 2013
Recognizes employers with exceptional human resources programs and forward-thinking workplace policies.   

Manitoba’s Top 30 Employers
Since 2009
Acknowledges employers in the province who pride themselves in offering innovative programs and exceptional workplaces. 

Specific Year Awards

Desautels Management Achievement Award  

2022  

This award celebrates industry leaders who demonstrate a career of great achievement and commitment to the future of responsible business. Awarded to APTN CEO Monika Ille. 

Playback Executive of the Year   

2022  

This distinction recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective sectors. APTN CEO Monika Ille was named Executive of the Year for keeping the network adaptable while successfully leading it through modernization and its mandate to represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. 

The Chamber, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Spirit of Winnipeg Award
2018
This award recognizes an outstanding effort and commitment to making Winnipeg a better, more prosperous community through corporate leadership and social responsibility.   

One of Canada’s Best Workplaces for Employees Living with Arthritis
2017
Arthritis Experts Consumers recognition to organizations that apply best arthritis strategies and practices in the workplace. 

Manitoba Tourism Awards
2014 & 2016
Indigenous Tourism Award for APTN Indigenous Day Live. 

Canada’s Outstanding Employer Award from The Learning Partnership
2013-2015
For participating in the Take Our Kids to Work™ Program.   

Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ – Waterstone Human Capital
2014, 2020, 2021
For enhancing performance and sustaining a competitive advantage.   

Signature Award in Self Promotion – Where We Connect Campaign
2014
Showcases the best advertising, marketing and design produced in Manitoba.   

Top 7 Intelligent Communities of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum
2014
APTN mentioned as a contributing factor to the City of Winnipeg being shortlisted. 

 

APTN News Awards & Recognitions

Amnesty International Media Awards
2020
Long-Form Video 

APTN Investigates – journalist Trina Roache for her investigation titled Law of the Land 

2019 

Human Rights Reporting Video 

APTN Investigates – journalist Holly Moore for The Cure Was Worse 

2012
Online Award
APTN Investigates – executive producer Paul Barnsley and senior researcher/writer Kathleen Martens for Residential School Lawyers 

2010
Audio/Video Report Award
APTN Investigates – reporter Tina House for Missing Women 

Atlantic Journalism Awards

2024 

Breaking News/Spot News: Television – Bronze 

Mi’kmaw Lobster Theft (Angel Moore – Halifax, N.S.) 

Enterprise Reporting – Silver 

NCNS Identity Fraud (Angel Moore – Halifax, N.S.) 

2023
Breaking News/Spot News: Television – Gold
Mi’kmaw Fishery (Angel Moore, Trina Roache, Paul Poirier – Halifax, N.S.) 

2019 

Video Journalist – Gold 

Trina Roache 

Feature Television – Gold 

History Decolonized (Trina Roache) 

Enterprise Reporting – Silver 

Eastern Metis (Justin Brake) 

Beyond Borders ECPAT Canada Media Awards

2017 

English Electronic 

APTN/CBC – Rebecca Gibson, Kyle Irving, Lisa Meeches, Jacquie Black for Taken – Cherisse Houle 

2016
English Electronic
APTN National News – Cullen Crozier for Forgotten Survivors 

Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) Awards
2021 

Freedom of Information Journalism category 

APTN Investigates – Surviving Day Schools (Brittany Guyot, Kathleen Martens)

2020 

Broadcast News category
APTN Investigates – Writing Home / Carving Home (Holly Moore, Brittany Guyot)

2019
Open Broadcast Feature category
APTN Investigates – Broken Circle (Cullen Crozier, Brittany Guyot, Holly Moore)

2018 

Open Broadcast News category 

APTN National News – Unist’ot’en (Laurie Hamelin, Kathleen Martens) 

2017
Charles Bury Award
CAJ’s highest recognition award recognizes Karyn Pugliese, APTN executive director of news and current affairs, APTN National News, and APTN Investigates as significant contributors to Canadian journalism 

Daily Excellence category
APTN National News – Three First Nations girls died in Ontario group homes in last 6 months (Kenneth Jackson) 

Journalists for Human Rights/CAJ Emerging Indigenous Journalist Award
APTN National News for Doctors Tell Thunder Bay Woman Hit by Trailer Hitch That She Has Just Weeks to Live (Willow Fiddler) 

Journalists for Human Rights/CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting
APTN Investigates for Against Their Will (Cullen Crozier) 

Open Broadcast News category 

APTN Investigates – Truth? Or reconciliation? (Kathleen Martens, Paul Barnsley, Holly Moore)

2015 

Communications Workers of America Canada Award/CAJ Award for Labour Reporting
APTN Investigates – Hurting for Work (Melissa Ridgen)  

Journalists for Human Rights/CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting
APTN National NewsA Soldier Scorned (Dennis Ward, Murray Oliver) 

2014 

Journalists for Human Rights/CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting 

APTN National News – Outside the Circle (Trina Roache) 

Canadian Hillman Prize
2023 

Honourable Mention – APTN Investigates/Global News – Andrew Russell, Carolyn Jarvis, Michael Wrobel, and Kenneth Jackson for Profiting Off Kids 

2021 

Honourable Mention – APTN Investigates – Kenneth Jackson and Cullen Crozier for The Death Report 

2017
Honourable Mention – APTN Investigates – Jorge Barrera, Mark Blackburn and Francine Compton for Quest for Innocence 

Canadian Screen Awards (CSA)

2024 

Best News or Information Series 

APTN Investigates 

Best Photography, News or Information 

APTN Investigates, “Reawakening the Mountains” (Rob Smith) 

2023  

Best News or Information Program  

APTN Investigates, “In Plain Sight” (Kenneth Jackson and Cullen Crozier) 

2022  

Best National Reporter  

Tina House, APTN National News  

Best News or Information Series   

APTN Investigates  

Best News or Information Segment  

APTN Investigates, “The Death Report” (Kenneth Jackson and Cullen Crozier) 

2021
Best News or Information Segment 
APTN Investigates, “Writing Home” (Holly Moore and Brittany Guyot)

2018
Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism
Karyn Pugliese, APTN’s former executive director of news and current affairs, for her exceptional contribution to Canadian television journalism 

Best News or Information Segment
APTN Investigates, “Against Their Will” (Cullen Crozier, Holly Moore and Paul Barnsley) 

The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (CCWPF) Annual Press Freedom Awards
2020
Awarded to APTN journalist and producer Kenneth Jackson 

2018
The Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom recognizes The Independent and Justin Brake’s commitment to telling the story of the development of the controversial Labrador-based hydroelectric project Muskrat Falls 

J-Source Awards
2012 

J-Source Canadian Newsperson of the Year Award
APTN National News – web journalist Jorge Barrera for his multi-platform reporting on the Idle No More movement 

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) Awards
2016
JHR Lifetime Achievement Human Rights Reporting Award
APTN Investigates — executive producer Paul Barnsley 

Michener Awards
2020 

Michener Award
APTN News and APTN Investigates, “Death by Neglect” (Kenneth Jackson and Cullen Crozier) 

Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA), formerly known as Native American Journalist Association (NAJA), Awards
2024 

Multimedia – Best Multimedia – First Place
APTN Investigates – Brittany Guyot for Inside Series: 2180 Days 

2023 

Elias Boudinot Free Press Award 

APTN News 

Print / Online – Best Feature Story – First Place
APTN News – Danielle Paradis for
‘It was not about religion’: Littlechild defends gifting headdress to Pope Francis 

TV – Best Feature Story – Second Place 

APTN National News – Leanne Sanders for Missing in Well 

TV – Best News Story – Third Place 

APTN National News – Sav Jonsa for Métis citizenship cards not accepted as I.D. at Manitoba Liquor Marts, APTN finds 

TV – Best Newcast – Third Place 

APTN National News – Cheryl McKenzie, Dennis Ward, Darrell Stranger, Leanne Sanders, Savannah Kelly 

2022 

Medill Milestone Achievement Award
APTN National News Cheryl McKenzie 

Multimedia – Best Multimedia – First Place
APTN Investigates – Cullen Crozier and Kenneth Jackson for In Plain Sight 

Print / Online – Best Feature Story – Second Place
APTN News – Brett Forester for Death By a Thousand Cuts 

TV – Best News Story – First Place
APTN National News – Angel Moore for Fishers plan to keep fishing despite DFO harassment
TV – Best News Story – Third Place 

APTN National News – Priscilla Wolf for Muskowekwan Nation searches residential-school 

TV – Best Newscast – First Place
APTN National News – Cheryl McKenzie, Holly Moore, Ken Welsh, Derek Christianson 

2021 

Multimedia – Best Multimedia – Honorable Mention
APTN Investigates Brittany Guyot and Holly Moore for Writing Home / Carving Home   

Print / Online – Best News Story – Honorable Mention
APTN National News – Brittany Hobson for Hundreds of Indigenous children suspected of dying connected to care in Manitoba over decade 

Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism
APTN Investigates 

TV – Best Feature Story – Second Place
APTN National News – Brittany Hobson
A miracle in the making: birth of Ojibwe pony in Manitoba first in decades 

TV – Best Feature Story – Honorable Mention
APTN National News – Priscilla Wolf for Saskatchewan family survives COVID-19 by returning to the trap line 

TV – Best News Story – First Place
APTN National News – Priscilla Wolf for Minneapolis police officer charged in death of George Floyd was involved in shooting of Ojibwe man in 2006 

TV – Best News Story – Second Place
APTN National News – Brittany Hobson for Rise of Inuit living in Winnipeg shows the need for more Inuit-specific resources 

TV – Best Newscast – First Place
APTN National News – Ken Welsh, Derek Christensen, Francine Compton, Melissa Ridgen, Dennis Ward and Cheryl McKenzie 

TV – Excellence in Beat Reporting – First Place
APTN InFocus – Melissa Ridgen and Beverly Andrews 

2020 

Online – Best Feature Story – Honorable Mention
APTN National News – Brittany Hobson for Drag family taking Winnipeg scene by storm 

Online – Best News Story – First Place
APTN National News – Kenneth Jackson for Death as Expected: Inside a child welfare system where 102 Indigenous kids died over 5 years 

Online – Best News Story – Second Place
APTN National News – Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs for Nunavut at 20: Pangnirtung and the true cost of isolation 

Print / Online – Best Feature Photo – Second Place
APTN News – Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs for Julia and Roy Cockney of Tuktoyaktuk 

Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage – First Place
APTN National News – Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs for Youth Perspectives on Climate Change 

Print / Online – Best Multimedia – Third Place
APTN National News – Tom Fennario for
Two years after his death in jail, a family in Nunavik is still waiting for answers 

Radio / Podcast – General Excellence – First Place
APTN News 

Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism
APTN Investigates 

TV – Best Multimedia – First Place
APTN Investigates – Cullen Crozier for Broken Circle 

TV – Best News Story – First Place
APTN National News – Priscilla Wolf for Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation is in a state of emergency after a rash of suicides 

TV – Best News Story – Second Place
APTN National News – Brittany Hobson for Peace camp set up in Hollow Water First Nation to oppose sand mine project 

2019 

Elias Boudinot Free Press Award
APTN National News – Karyn Pugliese and Justin Brake 

Print / Online – Best Feature Photo – Third Place
APTN National News – Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs for Mummilaaq Qaqqaq of Baker Lake 

TV – Best Coverage of Native America – Third Place
APTN National News – Tom Fennario for Necessary Force 

TV – Best Feature Story – Second Place
APTN Investigates – Trina Roache for History Decolonized 

TV – General Excellence – Second Place
APTN Investigates 

PEN Canada Awards
2018  

Ken Filkow Prize
APTN National News – reporter Justin Brake, who demonstrated courage and integrity in the interest of freedom of expression in Canada 

RTDNA Canada Awards

2023 

Digital – Overall Excellence in Digital
APTN Investigates – Kenneth Jackson and Cullen Crozier for My Name is Bill Isadore Deafy: This is the Story of a Teenage Boy Who Doesn’t Legally Exist 

2021  

President’s Award
APTN National News – Cheryl McKenzie
Investigative Award, Central Region 

Global Toronto, Institute for Investigative Journalism and APTN News – Former Neskantaga Contractor Accused of Cutting Corners in Other First Nations 

World Indigenous Journalism Awards
2014
Best Videography
APTN National News – studio crew/camera person Bill Scott for Sundance 

2012
WIJ Honour
APTN National News – video journalist Rob Smith for Journey Home 

WIJ Special Recognition
APTN National News – Jorge Barrera, Kenneth Jackson, Paul Barnsley and Mark Blackburn for Water Exploitation – Bruce Carson

 

APTN Programming Awards & Recognitions

Canadian Screen Awards

2024 

Best Achievement in Casting, Fiction 

APTN/Crave Little Bird for Lisa Parasyn and Carmen Kotyk 

Best Achievement in Hair 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Pina Robinson 

Best Achievement in Make-Up 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Nina McArthur, Megan Stark and Kelly Harmon 

Best Costume Design 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Charity Gadica 

Best Direction, Drama Series 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers 

Best Drama Series 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird 

Best Ensemble Performance, Drama 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird 

Best Lead Performer, Drama Series 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Darla Contois 

Best Photography, Drama 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Claudine Sauvé 

Best Picture Editing, Drama 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Maxime Lahaie-Denis 

Best Production Design or Art Direction, Fiction 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird 

Best Sound, Fiction 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird 

Best Supporting Performer, Drama 

APTN/Crave – Little Bird for Braeden Clarke 

Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program 

APTN/Crave – Coming Home 

2022 

Best Direction, Factual 

APTN – Spirit Talker for Stephanie Clattenburg 

2020  

Best Direction, Factual 

APTN – Future History for Jennifer Podemski 

The Montreal First Peoples’ Festival Awards

2023 

Air-Canada – Matera Award – First Prize 

Bones of Crows 

APTN Recognition Award 

Bones of Crows 

Leo Awards

2024 

Best Casting, Dramatic Series 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Judy JK Lee 

Best Costume Design, Dramatic Series 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Carmen Thompson and Jessica Kalan 

Best Direction, Documentary Series 

APTN – Lands Enchanted for Jules Koostachin 

Best Direction, Dramatic Series 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Marie Clements 

Best Documentary Series 

APTN – Yukon Harvest for Jim Shockey, Todd Forsbloom, Erik Virtanen – Producers 

Best Host(s), Documentary Series 

APTN – Moosemeat & Marmalade for Art Napoleon, Dan Hayes 

Best Musical Score, Documentary Series 

APTN – Todd Forsbloom for Yukon Harvest 

2023 

Best Casting, Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Judy Lee 

Best Cinematography, Motion Picture  

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Vince Arvidson 

Best Costume Design, Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Carmen Thompson, Jessica Kalan 

Best Direction, Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Marie Clements 

Best Lead Performance Female, Motion Picture 

Bones of Crows for Grace Dove 

Best Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Marie Clements, Trish Dolman, Christine Haebler, Sam Grana, Aaron Gilbert, Steven Thibault, Noah Segal –  Producers 

Best Musical Score, Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Jesse Zubot, Wayne Lavallee 

Best Production Design, Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for James Philpott, Stephanie Ajmeria 

Best Screenwriting, Motion Picture  

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Marie Clements 

Best Sound, Motion Picture 

APTN/CBC – Bones of Crows for Gregor Phillips, Craig Berkey, Ryan Thompson, Miguel Nunes, Andrea Velarde Mosquera, Alex Macia, Devon Quelch, Matias Gibbs 

2022 

Best Cinematography, Documentary Series 

APTN – Moosemeat & Marmalade for Chris Johnson and Dean Azim 

Best Lead Performance Male, Dramatic Series 

APTN – Tribal for Brian Markinson 

Best Performance Female, Web Series 

APTN – Querencia for Kaitlyn Yott 

Yorkton Film Festival

2024 

Documentary Series 

The Other Side 

2023 

Community Television Productions 

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation 

Documentary Series 

Going Native 

2022 

Series 

Going Native