Kim Cattrall to receive Canadian Screen Awards special achievement honour

In the aftermath of the Oscars (where Canada received brief thanks from Ang Lee and Ben Affleck), it's time for our country to celebrate our own talent. On our own terms.

B.C.–raised star Kim Cattrall will receive the Outstanding Artistic Contribution to Film and Television at the inaugural Canadian Screen Awards (an amalgamation of the Genie and Gemini Awards).

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced on Thursday (February 28) that Cattrall will be honoured with a special achievement award. “She is a fabulously successful Canadian performer who proudly embraces both sides of the border," Academy CEO Helga Stephenson stated in a news release.

The Sex and the City star has received four Golden Globe and five Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actress for her role as the sexually brazen Samantha, and she won a Golden Globe in 2003. She has also been nominated for Genie and Gemini Awards, and she also received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2009.

She is executive producing and starring alongside Don McKellar in a Canadian TV adaptation of the BBC mid-life crisis comedy series Sensitive Skin, which begins shooting this fall.

The Canadian Screen Awards will be held on Sunday (March 3) in Toronto. The show, hosted by Martin Short, will be broadcast on CBC at 8 p.m. CBC's red carpet coverage will be hosted by comedian Shaun Majumder.

The star-studded event will include appearances by Arctic Air's Adam Beach, Jay Baruchel, Rick Mercer, Republic of Doyle's Allan Hawco, Catherine O'Hara, Dragon's Den's Arlene Dickinson, Arrow's Stephen Amell, Bomb Girl's Meg Tilly, Top Chef Canada's Lisa Ray, and more.

Reality TV stars will also add to the mix. The remaining members of the original Real Housewives of Vancouver's catpack, Jody Claman, Ronnie Negus, and Mary Zilba, will appear, as will The Bachelor Canada's Brad Smith.

On February 27, the Academy announced the winners of the news, sports, documentary, lifestyle, and reality categories.

The majority of B.C. nominees, which included CBC News Vancouver, Global BC News Hour, Bear 71, and more, were shut out. However, Polar Bears: A Summer Odyssey (Tim O'Brien, Sarah Robertson) won best science or nature documentary program or series as well as best photography in a documentary program or series (Adam Ravetch). The Nature of Things With David Suzuki also won best documentary program or series.