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Bachelorette Canada, Featured

The Bachelorette Canada crushes hearts in Quebec

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With just eight guys left on The Bachelorette Canada, Jasmine’s job is getting tougher. And, with Quebec City as the backdrop, she got a lot closer to her final decision.

As the episode began, Chris announced to producers that he wasn’t going to focus on his differences with Drew, but his connection with Jasmine. Smart move, considering Chris isn’t vying for Drew’s affections.

But it was Mike—and his eight-pack abs—who landed the first one-on-one date of the episode, with the two taking to the skies in a helicopter. (I’m hoping Mikhel gets a helicopter date so he can show off his skills.) The fact he’s a firefighter scored Mike points, and their connection over parental loss did too. The in-sky smooches sealed it, and he nabbed the first rose of the night, though the fact he’s not able to relocate—at this point, anyway—could cause some problems.

As for the first group date, Mikhel, Chris, Kevin P. and Thomas donned plaid lumberjack shirts and headed outside to hammer nails and chop and carry logs around in the woods. It was a physical date designed to spotlight prowess and determination, and some did better than others. Thomas (speaking in third person, no less) and Chris started off strong, but Chris faltered in the end and the former construction worker turned international model was tops in the competition. Not only did he get free time with Jasmine in a horse and carriage but they discussed the differences between Tom and Thomas, and what they do to get freaky. Kudos to Thomas for letting his guard down and singing—into a Two Oceans wine bottle—to Jasmine because he was rewarded a rose for it.

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Second group date was reserved for Benoit, Kevin W. and Drew. Drew announced he was playing it coy with Jasmine, with fingers crossed she’d be intrigued by his mystery and seek him out. Speaking of fingers, everyone’s got a workout at a spa where massages and other spa treatments were doled out. The hook? Jasmine was blindfolded and had to guess who was touching her. Drew went first, running his oily fingers all over Jasmine, and that upset Kevin W. quite a bit. Benoit and his vibrating things performed a sensual manicure, and upset Kevin W. too. When it was his turn, Kevin W. took control of the pedicure and got Jasmine all hot and bothered. Jasmine successfully guessed who had performed what and, after fending off Benoit’s tongue, got serious with Drew and talked dogs, outside fireplaces, apple trees and his mom. Kevin W., meanwhile, was surprised by the jealousy he was feeling and showed it by giving Jasmine a bit of a cold shoulder. He was rewarded by … Drew receiving a rose.

After a surprisingly low-key episode compared to last week’s fireworks, Jasmine doled out the remaining roses to Mikhel, Kevin W., Benoit and Kevin P. Unfortunately, despite wanting to focus on Jasmine, she wasn’t interested in Chris, his lyrics … or kissing him. That led to the most awkward moment of the season, Chris’ demise, and a tearful exit.

“Just another broken dream,” he said, wiping away tears.

Was Jasmine wrong to send Chris home? Comment below or via Twitter @tv_eh.

The Bachelorette Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on W Network.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Wild Archaeology: Jacob goes on an underwater archaeological expedition!

This week on Wild Archaeology,  we visit an area I am very familiar with: Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Dr. Rudy and Jacob are off for a scuba diving adventure below the Great Lakes to explore the landscape that revealed itself during times of low water. Jacob’s first dive reveals evidence of waterfalls, far below the lake’s surface near Tobermory, Ont.

Oral history in the region speaks of the Prehistoric Alpena Amberly Ridge which was at one time used by migrating Caribou. Jacob grabs the opportunity to dive in this area as well and sees first-hand the remains of drive lane complexes, proving credible what  oral history has spoken of for generations. During his dive, Jacob collects flake indicative of tool sharpening.

As Dr. Rudy and his team have moved across Turtle Island in this series, they are seeing a “clear pattern between researchers and Indigenous peoples that there is no dichotomy between prehistory and history. Really what we are looking at across this vast landscape is deep history. The lines of evidence that Indigenous people and scientists, archaeologists and many others can bring to the table are only going to add to that, allow us to better understand the past.”

More and more Geomythology (geological occurances documented in myth and legend) is linking oral history with archaeology, providing clues and context to artifacts found in scientific digs. This discipline is also bridging that academic gap between what academia deems as knowledge and what Indigenous peoples have always known is knowledge.

Another really strong episode this week. This is such a great instrument for social studies in classrooms across Canada. As a teacher, with each episode I watch, my head spins with possible lesson plans that would excite children to learn more about Canada’s rich history.

Wild Archaeology airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mohawk Ironworkers build New York

This week, Mohawk Ironworkers explores the connections between ironworkers and New York City.

Thomas Jock II, from Akwesasne explains that workers must travel for the work. Most of the large projects are found along the eastern coast of the U.S. in cities like Albany, New York and Boston. “Booming out” to the job, workers may spend months away from home and family; this is just one of the prices these men must pay for choosing this high paying, very high risk, occupation. Working in New York as a unionized ironworker, a person can earn in the neighbourhood of $2,000 a week.

The work week begins on Sunday, with the six-hour drive from Kahawa:ke or Akwesasne, in order to get to New Jersey for a night’s sleep. The work day begins at 4 a.m. in order to begin the commute to the job site in Manhattan. Several motels in the area recognize status cards, and try to accommodate as many ironworkers as they can with weekly rates. Rooming houses, small apartments and motels have replaced Little Caughnawaga in Brooklyn, New York, with families remaining in Kahnawa:ke.

This episode also covers the history of Mohawk ironworkers that began when they were hired in the 1880’s as unskilled workers on various building projects. Ever since, ironworkers have been traveling where the building boom takes them. Most building sites employ four or five workers from Kahnawa:ke and this brotherhood has helped to preserve the Kanien’keha (Mohawk) language as it’s often the language of choice for Mohawks on the job site.

This history also covers the collapse of the Quebec Bridge in 1907, an accident where 75 of the 86 workers building the bridge died, of which 33 were from Kahnawa:ke. Many of those who tragically died were not killed by the collapse itself, but rather were trapped by the wreckage at low tide and drowned when the tide came in. A number of memorials that have been built to commemorate these workers can be found in Kahnawa:ke.

This is one of the better episodes this season and far richer than many that have preceded it. The traditional documentary style of the program is tiring, particularly when we have seen some great storytelling in documentary formats using innovative techniques. I feel like I am back in grade school, which is a shame since so many of these stories could be presented in a way that engages the audience. I am hoping the directorial talents of Michelle Smith in next week’s episode bring some improvement.

Mohawk Ironworkers airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Taken: Cherisse Houle

This week’s episode of Taken focused on the specialized investigation unit known as Project Devote. Officers from the Winnipeg Police and the RCMP deal specifically with cases categorized under “murdered and missing  exploited persons.” The active case of Cherisse Houle, a smart and playful youngster, who loved being active, exemplifies the class of casework this unit was established for. Officers believe any seemingly insignificant detail could prove the key to solving Cherisse’s murder and people are strongly urged to call 1 888 673-3316 to share any information about Cherisse.

Cherisse’s older sister, Jessica, was her best friend; they were inseparable. Bowling, movies and rollerskating were some of their favoured activities as young children, and as a child Cherisse was eager to meet the challenge of school. However, during grade school this all changed and her life turned to a pinball of group homes and foster care. It is Jessica’s belief that had the two sisters never been placed with CFS, Cherisse would still be alive. It was here that they were first exposed to illegal drugs and sex work.

A 17-year-old  mother of an 18-month-old boy, Cherisse was a vulnerable teen who had fallen victim to the sex trade and whose life was plagued with drug use. By all accounts, though she had been making efforts to turn her life around. Cherisse had been reaching out to family members for assistance and had made efforts to get treatment. These requests proved futile. Sadly, due to lack of space, she was turned away from several treatment facilities in the region. Days later, Cherisse vanished.

Last seen on June 26, 2009 in Winnipeg, her body was found on July 1, 2009 by a construction worker near Rosser, Manitoba, adjacent to Sturgeon Creek.

If you have any information about this case or any other active cases you are asked to contact Taken.

Taken airs a new episode Fridays at 7:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries, Podcast

TV Eh B Cs podcast 51 — The Murdoch Mysteries writers

On Saturday, Oct. 1, Greg David of TV, Eh? moderated a series of panels during Unlock the Mysteries of Murdoch: The Ultimate Insider Conference, held in CBC’s headquarters in downtown Toronto.

This is the first of three sessions we recorded, with some of the writing staff of Murdoch Mysteries, including Paul Aitken, Michelle Ricci, Jordan Christianson, Simon McNabb, Mary Pederson and head writer and showrunner Peter Mitchell.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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