The Provincial Government cable television program, Focus on Resources, has been nominated for a national award — The Golden Sheaf Award.
The Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, which hands out the awards annually, nominated the program in the Community Cable category. The nominated show from February 10, 1998, featured the Charlottetown Winter Carnival, Crop Irrigation Systems and Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd. The show is up against two Ontario companies -- Roger's Cable with Lost April: The Flood of '37 and Mountain Road Productions with Made in Canada.
The Yorkton Festival, which will be held from May 21-24 in Saskatchewan, is the longest running festival of its kind in Canada, now in it's 51st year. Over the years, the show has garnered a reputation as one of the country's top film and video festivals. The Golden Sheaf Awards are handed out in 19 genre categories, nine craft categories and four international categories.
"Focus on Resources is one of the better quality cable programs produced in this country," stated Wes MacAleer, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "Everyone involved with the show should be proud of this nomination and with the hard work that has gone into it."
Winner of the 1997 Galaxi Award for Excellence in Programming, the ½-hour program features the latest news and information on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, environment, and now small business. The show is produced by the Departments of Agriculture and Forestry and Economic Development and Tourism.
"Through this program, we hope to improve communications among the primary resource industries and to the public, and to provide a forum for a better understanding and appreciation of the tremendous advances these industries are making," said Eric Hammill, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. "Like the industries we serve, we aim for the same high standards of quality."
Focus on Resources is hosted by former CBC anchor Gerry Birt and airs every Tuesday at 7:30 pm on Cable 10 in Charlottetown, Cable 7 in Summerside and on Country Cable.