CBC News's coverage of the Syrian conflict, investigative program the fifth estate and CBC Music's cross-country road trip highlighting Canadian musicians at each stop were all honoured on the first night of the Canadian Screen Awards.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television awarded trophies in 47 categories in Toronto Tuesday night, at a gala hosted by comedian Steve Patterson that focused on news, sports, documentary, lifestyle, reality and digital media categories.

CBC picked up 12 awards, including:

  • National reportage: CBC News: The National , Syrian Conflict
  • Local reportage: CBC News: Here and Now   
  • News special: CBC News: The National, Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Captured 
  • News information series: CBC News: the fifth estate 
  • Barbara Sears Award for best editorial research: CBC News: the fifth estate, Rate My Hospital 
  • News information program: Doc Zone, Syria: Behind Rebel Lines 
  • Host or interviewer in a news information program or series: Peter Keleghan, Doc Zone, The War of 1812: Been There, Won That 
  • Writing in a documentary program or series: Doc Zone , The War of 1812: Been There, Won That 
  • Performing arts or arts documentary program: Documentary: I Am Not A Rock Star 
  • Picture editing in a documentary program or series: Documentary: I Am Not A Rock Star 
  • Original program or series produced for digital media (non-fiction): CBC Music Presents The Beetle Roadtrip Sessions
  • Sports play-by-play announcer: Jim Hughson, Hockey Night in Canada, Stanley Cup Final (Game 4,  Chicago/Boston) 

Noted Canadian filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin was also among the evening's honourees, sharing the Donald Brittain Award for best social/political documentary program with Ravida Din for their film The People of the Kattawapiskak River, which aired on TVO.

Other winners included the TVO production The Defector: Escape from North Korea, Food Network Canada's show You Gotta Eat Here, TSN's coverage of the Grey Cup and the CTV reality show The Amazing Race Canada.

The Canadian Screen Awards continue on Wednesday with a gala highlighting drama, children's/youth, comedy and variety programming.

The awards culminate Sunday evening with a televised gala hosted by comedy legend Martin Short and broadcast live by CBC-TV at 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. NT.