The story of four missing seniors from Huntsville could be netting a Bracebridge writer a Canadian Screen Award.
The Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television announced its 2019 nominees, and Muskoka’s Zander Sherman along with two fellow producer/researchers are nominated for the Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research.
MyMuskokaNow.com told you about Sherman back in the fall when he announced he was doing a Podcast for CBC called Uncover that would refresh the story of four residents of Muskoka that are missing and presumed dead. No one has been found guilty for the disappearances of Joan Lawrence, John Crofts, Ralph Grant, and John Semple.
Now Sherman, along with two colleagues, has been nominated for the research done on The Fifth Estate documentary called Murder in Cottage Country.
Timothy Sawa and Lisa Mayor were co-nominated for the work they did with Sherman on the mysterious disappearance of four senior citizens who went missing in the 1990s while in the care of an old age facility.
Sherman told MyMuskokaNow.com that being nominated is great and exciting, but not why he got into the business of journalism.
“I never really thought too much about awards,” he admits. “It’s not really why I got into it. Although it’s been nice to get a nomination like this.”
Sherman, now 32, rose to prominence with his work on the story, eventually getting a rare co-production deal between the fifth estate and The Walrus Magazine. The documentary aired in 2017 but the awards for the work done are being handed out next month. For Sherman, the story has been the guiding focus.
“I’m really motivated by the story itself and in this case trying to find out what happened,” says Sherman, who still makes his home in Bracebridge.
As he continues to mine the story for updates on his upcoming Podcast series he admits being nominated for this award will potentially help in working on future projects.
“It’s not a bad thing. It doesn’t hurt,” Sherman says with a low chuckle.
He got the news through an email and he quickly began sharing congratulations through his colleagues and on social media.
“(The Academy) sent me a really nice email and invited me to a big gala in Toronto at the end of March,” he explains. “So that’s when I find out whether I won this award.”
Until then, the focus will remain on uncovering the truth.
“I am really excited to share with the public what I have learned and what I have been able to find out since The Fifth Estate documentary aired last year,” says Sherman.
Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research
Maya Bilbao – Still Standing – “Car Cross”
Hélène Bérubé – Interrupt this Program
Clare Dewitt – Saturn: Inside the Rings
Timothy Sawa, Lisa Mayor, Zander Sherman – the fifth estate – “Murder in Cottage Country”
Annabelle Tas – The Life-Sized City