Olivier gala: Mike Ward the big winner

Quebec comedian Mike Ward was the big winner at theOlivier gala, taking the prize for best comedian of the year andweb series or sketch, for his Souscoute podcast.

But since he boycotted theannual comedy award show, dozens of other comedians took the stage to accept the second award onhis behalf.

And they were allwearing face masks with a big red X, symbolizing censorship.

The producers ofLeGala lesOlivierl'Associationdesprofessionnelsdel'industriedel'humour(APIH) decided earlier this week to drop a skit by Ward from the broadcast, reportedly on the advice of a lawyer representing the insurance company underwriting the gala.

• Comedy skit that spooked insurers broadcast ahead of Olivier gala
• Comedian Mike Ward defends 'edgy' style before Quebec human rights tribunal

Radio-Canada said Friday that it couldn't broadcast the gala unless it was insured. Ward and another comedian, Guy Nantel, decided to boycott the gala in protest.

Finally, Ward also took the highest award for comedian of the year, which is selected by the public.

Before the show Sunday night, comediansfiled into the Radio-Canada/CBC building on Ren-LevesqueBoulevard, refusing to talk to reporters, or simplymumbling unintelligiblyunder their facemasks.

One exception was Ral Bland, who showed up late with a makeshift surgical mask with a hand-drawn X.

"It's the base of our profession, freedom of expression," he said. "The driver that makes us do comedy is the desireexpress ourselves freely. We're here to support that."

Ward and Nantel also performed a version of the skit at a Montreal comedy club on Saturday night, and released the video on YouTube Sunday afternoon.

It garnered close to 10,000 views in the hour after it was posted.

Here is the complete list of winners.

• Best comedy show/best seller:Les Morissette
• Best TV comedy:Les beaux malaises
• Best sketch or series on the web:Mike Ward sous coute, byMike Ward
• Discovery of the year:Phil Roy
• Best number of the year:Sable dans le vagin, byMariana Mazza
• Best author(s):Jean-Thomas Jobin (Apprendre s'aimer, byJean-Thomas Jobin)
• Best TV series:Like-moi!
• Best production design:Pierre-Michel Tremblay (Apprendre s'aimer, byJean-Thomas Jobin)
• Best sketch or series on radio:La soire est encore jeune
• Best TV show:Infoman 2015
• Comedy show of the year:Un peu princesse, Stphane Rousseau
• Comedian of the year:Mike Ward