Focus Ontario special on epilepsy nominated for Canadian Screen Award

Watch the video above: Focus Ontario Special: Inside Epilepsy

TORONTO – A Focus Ontario special on epilepsy has been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

The 30-minute special was nominated in the Best News Information Program category. It featured several stories from people affected by the condition including Global News’ reporter Mark McAllister.

As part of the story, McAllister shared his own story about an on-air seizure he experienced three years ago. He was diagnosed with epilepsy a month after it happened.

Read More: Global’s Leslie Roberts among Canadian Screen Awards nominees

This is the second time the special has been recognized. In May 2013, the Focus Ontario special received a H.O.P.E. (Helping Out People With Epilepsy) award.

“It was more epilepsy exposure than the field of epilepsy in Canada has received.  Ever,” Geoff Bobb, Executive Director of Epilepsy Toronto said in May.

Watch the video below: Learning more about Epilepsy 

Along with McAllister, news director Dave Trafford, managing editor Beatrice Politi, anchor Leslie Roberts, associate producer Melanie Zettler and Focus Ontario producer Stewart Sadler were also named on the nomination.

Global News received six other nominations for the annual Canadian Screen Awards including Best News Anchor Local (Leslie Roberts of Global Toronto), Best National Newscast (Global National), Best News Information Series (16X9), Best Local Newscast (Global Calgary), Best News Anchor National (Dawna Friesen of Global National), and Best News Special (Global News Calgary: Calgary Floods).

It is the second year the Canadian Screen Awards have been presented. The winners are announced on March 9 at a gala at the Sony Centre for Performing Arts in Toronto.