Actor Alan Thicke to Receive Canadian Award of Distinction

The Banff World Media Festival is proud to announce beloved Canadian actor, songwriter and TV game and talk show host, Alan Thicke, as the recipient of this year's prestigious Canadian Award of Distinction. Thicke will be honoured at the four day festival which takes place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel from June 8-11th.

Presented to a Canadian whose body of work illustrates outstanding achievement, the Canadian Award of Distinction will celebrate the new industry standards set by Thicke's tremendous professional achievements. Presented in partnership with Entertainment One (eOne), Thicke will accept the honor at the annual Rockie Awards Gala, a star-studded ceremony that awards some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Will Arnett, Howie Mandel, Eric McCormack and Martin Short.

As a seven-time Emmy® nominee, Thicke is often referred to as "America's Dad" for his role as patriarch Jason Seaver on the hit show, Growing Pains. His robust and varied career in entertainment began as a writer for TV series and specials. He also composed and performed the themes for Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes. He recurred on the CBS hit series, How I Met Your Mother and also makes regular appearances on Real Time with Bill Maher. Currently, his new reality sitcom, Unusually Thicke, is airing on Slice and TVGN (TV Guide Network).

"I'm truly honored to have been chosen for this year's Canadian Award of Distinction at BANFF. Both as an actor and a proud Canadian, I am humbled to be joining such a prestigious and talented group of individuals," said Thicke.

"Alan Thicke is admired around the world for his multitalented work and wonderful career in numerous hit television series. We are thrilled to be presenting him with this year's Canadian Award of Distinction," said Ferne Cohen, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. "We look very forward to celebrating with him at BANFF in June".

Thicke will also present a Feature Interview while at BANFF in partnership with eOne, staunch supporters of Canadian talent. The interview will be open to all BANFF delegates, and offer them an up- close and personal opportunity to hear from Thicke himself about his impressive career.

The prestigious Rockies Program Competitions is an internationally-acclaimed awards program. Celebrating the 'best-of-the-best' in international television and digital media content, the Rockie Awards attract over 1,000 entries from over 40 countries annually. For additional information about the Banff World Media Festival visit: http://www.banffmediafestival.com/ or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

About the Banff World Media Festival

The Banff World Media Festival is the world's largest and most important gathering of entertainment industry and digital media executives dedicated to media content production, broadcast and distribution within TV and digital media. Providing a platform for the evolving media industry to develop its creative and business objectives, Banff serves as the leading destination for co-production and co-venture partners and is an unparalleled destination for more than 2000 international decision-makers to meet, learn and do business. The 34th annual Banff World Media Festival will take place June 9-12, 2013 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada. For more information, visit:www.banffmediafestival.com

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