Shaw Rocket Fund

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

History

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 $220 million into 865 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), and as a private funder with the Canadian Media Production Association.[4]

Board

The Shaw Rocket Fund Board consists of five industry professionals.

  • Chair: Christine Shipton, former Senior Vice President of Content for Shaw Media[5]
  • Vice-Chair: Gigi Boyd, a Gemini and Leo award winning Producer (“Elijah”)[6]
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Agnes Augustin, Shaw Rocket Fund President & CEO[7]
  • Director: Chethan Lakshman, Vice-President, External Affairs at Shaw Communications[8]
  • Director: Nancy Birnbaum, former CEO of Invest in Kids[9]

Shaw Rocket Prize

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 is an annual award, funded by the Shaw Rocket Fund, that is 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,[10] awarded to a winner in each of three categories (Preschool, Children ages 6–12 and Youth ages 13–17 & Family).[11] Production companies apply for the Prize by submitting their programs online. Eligible entries are reviewed by an International Jury,[12] made up of four to five industry professionals. Once the jury has selected the finalists, another jury, made up of Canadian children, votes online for the winner. Global TV did a segment on the winners in 2014.[13]

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

Kids' Jury

The Shaw Rocket Prize Kids' Jury is made up of children from across Canada. Over the years it has 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 screen and vote for one of three programs suitable for their age group, as do children aged 6–12 and youth aged 13–17.[14]

Nominees

Winners in bold

YearNominees
2005Degrassi: The Next Generation, Franny's Feet, Poko, Shoebox Zoo
2006Being Ian, Harry and his Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, Heads Up!, Naturally Sadie, Poko II
2007Make Some Noise, Hope for the Future, Instant Star, The Snow Queen
2008Life with Derek S3, Johnny Test S2, Roll Play
2009Sticks and Stones, Fred's Head, How She Move, Instant Star
2010Dino Dan, How to be Indie, In Real Life, Jimmy Two Shoes, League of Super Evil
2011Wingin' It S2, dirtgirlworld, My Babysitter's a Vampire (The Movie), Survive This S2, Wibbly Pig
2012My Babysitter's a Vampire S1, Justin Time, La Est La Question!, Stella and Sam S2, That's So Weird S3
2013Preschool: 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
2014Preschool: 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
2016Preschool: 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
Program TitleProduction CompanyProducers
Degrassi: The Next GenerationEpitome Pictures Inc.
Being IanStudio B (Being Ian) Productions Inc.Blair Peters
Make Some NoiseOmni Film Productions LtdBrian Hamilton and Heather Hawthorn-Doyle
Life with Derek S3Shaftesbury FilmsChristina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Daphne Ballon, Laurie McLarty, Jeff Biederman, Suzanne French
Sticks and StonesCirrus Communications, Dream Street Pictures Inc.Josée Vallée, André Béraud, Richard Speer, Timothy M. Hogan, Rick LeGuerrier
Dino DanSinking Ship EntertainmentJ.J. Johnson, Blair Powers, Matt Bishop
Wingin' It S2Temple Street ProductionsIvan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Frank van Keeken
My Babysitter's a Vampire S1Fresh TV Inc.Brian Irving
Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood9 Story EntertainmentVince Commisso, Steven Jarosz, Samantha Freeman Alpert, Kevin Morrison, Angela C. Santomero, Tanya Green, Wendy Harris, Julie Soebekti, Sarah Wallendjack
The Next StepTemple Street ProductionsIvan Schneeberg, David Fortier, Frank van Keeken, Laura Harbin, Andrea Boyd, Laurie McLarty, Chloe van Keeken, Rachael Schaefer, Amy Wright, Jay Prychidny
The PhantomsDream Street Pictures Inc.Timothy Hogan, Rick LeGuerrier
Justin TimeGuru StudioAmy Robson, Mary Bredin, Frank Falcone
Rocket MonkeysBreakthrough EntertainmentIra Levy, Joan Lambur, Mark Evestaff
If I Had WingsReally Real FilmsCynde Harmon
Kate & Mim MimDHX Media
SlugterraDHX Media
L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green GablesBreakthrough Entertainment

International Emmy Kids Awards

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 in 2013.

CRTC Filings

[15]

References
  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 11 January 2019.
  4. "Canadian Media Production Association Private Funders". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. "Board - Christine Shipton". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. "Board - Gigi Boyd". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. "Board - Agnes Augustin". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  8. "Board - Chethan Lakshman". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  9. "Board - Nancy Birnbaum". Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  10. "Shaw Rocket Fund". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  11. "Shaw Rocket Prize Winners & Finalists". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  12. "International Jury". Shaw Rocket Fund. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  13. "Global TV". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  14. "Shaw Rocket Prize Kids Jury". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  15. https://rocketfund.ca/en/industry/research-publications/
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