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Shaw Rocket Fund
Canadian non-profit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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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 $290 million into 1,158 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).
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Board
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]
- Director: Gave Lindo, head of content programming for TikTok in North America[9]
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Advocating for Kids Media
The Shaw Rocket Fund is known for being vocal about the importance of quality Canadian children's programming. In CRTC hearings (2024-2025) pertaining to Canada's new broadcast framework, they have emphasized the prioritization of children's media in government decisions. In a critical state for kids' media, where children's content has been in a decline for a decade,[10] the Rocket Fund called for funding obligations for broadcasters' programming.
Shaw Rocket Prize
Summarize
Perspective
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,[11] awarded to a winner in each of three categories (Preschool, Children ages 6–12 and Youth ages 13–17 & Family).[12] Production companies applied for the Prize by submitting their programs online. Eligible entries are reviewed by an International Jury,[13] 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.[14] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau introduced the 2016 winner event with a video message.[15]
International Jury
Kids' Jury
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.[16]
Nominees
Winners in bold
Winners
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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 for five years beginning in 2013.
External links
References
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