TORONTO - “Canada's Drag Race” crossed the finish line as the big winner on the first of four nights of presentations for the Canadian Screen Awards.

The inaugural season of Crave's drag-queen competition took a leading five trophies in a pre-recorded livestream, including best reality/competition program or series, and honours for production design, direction and writing.

The show's judges Brooke Lynn Hytes, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Stacey McKenzie also won an award for best host or presenter on the series, which is similar to “RuPaul's Drag Race” and has been renewed for a second season.

Monday's CSA presentations honoured nominees in the TV categories of lifestyle, reality, news and documentary.

The livestreams are running through Thursday on the website and social media channels of the Academy Of Canadian Cinema & Television.

The CBC's “Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade” had the second-highest count with three awards, including best history documentary program or series.

Canadian-Israeli director Simcha Jacobovici executive produced the six-part project alongside actor Samuel L. Jackson, who is seen on camera tracing his roots and the tragedy of the sunken ships during the transatlantic slave trade.

Several projects won two awards apiece, including the CBC documentary “Toxic Beauty,” about chemicals in cosmetics products. It took writing and directing honours for Phyllis Ellis.

CTV's cooking show “Mary's Kitchen Crush” was named best lifestyle program or series, while its culinary star Mary Berg nabbed best lifestyle host.

Best entertainment news program or series went to CTV's “Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble,” a star-studded fundraiser and show of support for frontline workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The special from last year also got a trophy for picture editing.

Also getting two CSAs apiece were “CBC News: The National” and “CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme.”

“The National” won best live news special and best national reporter for Christine Birak, while “CTV National News” was named best national newscast and best national news anchor for LaFlamme.

This is the second time the CSAs, which honour TV, film and digital media, have had to present virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday's presentation is the big event, with prominent awards and narration by actors Stephan James and Karine Vanasse.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2021.