Alumnus shares special Gemini Award for ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’

There was one more curtain call for a York graduate at the final Gemini Awards Gala broadcast in Regina, Sask., on Sunday night. Michael Snook (BA ’69, BA ’75) received the Canada Award along with fellow producers Zarqa Nawaz, Mary Darling, Clark Donnelly and Susan Flanders-Alexander for their comedy series "Little Mosque on the Prairie".

Created and supported by the Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage since 1988, the Canada Award honours excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada. It aims to promote greater opportunities for ethnic and visible minority professionals within the broadcasting industry on both sides of the camera.

Right: Michael Snook

Snook, who received both a psychology degree from the Faculty of Arts and a music degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, is an executive producer, producer and writer, with nearly four decades of experience in film and television, radio, print and the music industry. For the past 14 years, he has focused on film and television, and has extensive credits in non-fiction and fiction production. Before pursuing a career in independent film and television, Snook worked as an independent music producer, studio musician, arranger, and freelance music consultant for CBC Radio.

A number of York alumni won Gemini Awards at the industry & craft galas, held Oct. 15-17 in Toronto (see story in the Oct. 22 issue of YFile).