Photo Gallery: Heated Rivalry at Prime Time media production conference in Ottawa

  • Canadian Press

Prime Minister Mark Carney poses for a photo on the red carpet with, left to right, his wife, Diana Fox Carney, Brendan Brady, co-creator of the TV series "Heated Rivalry", Hudson Williams, series star, co-creator Jacob Tierney, and Sophie Nelisse, series star, at the Prime Time screen and media industry conference gala in Ottawa, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

"Heated Rivalry," the Canadian TV show about two professional hockey players who fall in love, brought an unusual dose of star power to this week's Prime Time media production conference in Ottawa, which added a red carpet event to its programming.

On Thursday evening, dozens of people surrounded the red carpet as they waited for producers, actors and government officials to arrive. The crowd cheered as Prime Minister Mark and star Hudson Williams stepped onto the carpet.

Williams looked excited as he stepped over to hug the prime minister. After taking a group photo with another one of the show's cast members, Sophie Nelisse, as well as creators Brendan Brady and Jacob Tierney, Carney was presented with the white fleece Williams wore in the series.

Earlier in the day, Tierney spoke at the conference and defended the Online Streaming Act, which the U.S. has identified as a trade irritant.

The annual industry conference is taking place as global streamers challenge Canadian content contribution and disclosure rules implemented by the CRTC through the Online Streaming Act.

Here are some scenes from the conference and the red carpet.

This report by was first published Jan. 30, 2026.