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Preview: HGTV Canada’s Hoarder House Flippers returns for more renovations and re-sells

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The pandemic gave everyone the unique opportunity to re-access the contents of their homes, condos and apartments. Where I live, in western Quebec, we were able to pare down our stuff by joining a social media group designed to offer gently used items to those interested for free. The idea? To foster community while saving things from the landfill.

Some folks look to cash in when getting rid of clutter, and that’s explored to the nth degree in Hoarder House Flippers.

Returning for Season 2 this Wednesday on HGTV Canada, house flippers from across the country, buy, clear out and overhaul houses that, in some cases, are packed to the rafters with the previous owners’ things.

In the first episode, siblings Heather and Nathan head to Portage la Prairie to assess the trash and treasure lurking in their latest flip. They are greeted with rooms that are filled with stuff. Picture a packed storage locker… in each room. Overwhelmed by glassware, an overgrown fish tank, clothes and creepy dolls, the siblings call on friends to help fill dumpsters and sell small items, with the profit returning to the community. (The siblings acquired the property from relatives who had encountered unexpected challenges with the property, including a hoarding situation.)

Then it’s on to gutting, renovating and reselling. With the rooms emptied, the true potential of Heather and Nathan’s purchase and big issues are revealed. A complete rewiring of the home could eat into their profits big-time and delay their planned two-month reno schedule. The end results? Simply stunning.

I watch a lot of renovation series on HGTV Canada, and what sets Hoarder House Flippers apart for me is how relatable—in the first episode anyway—Heather and Nathan are. Funny, capable and honest, I feel like I could grab a drill, hammer or pry bar, and help without feeling embarrassed or out of place.

This second season includes episodes featuring the Mbaye brothers, more of Heather and Nathan and new flippers Stephanie and Deidre.

Hoarder House Flippers airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Image courtesy of Corus Media.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Production begins on Season 2 of APTN’s Red River Gold

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From a media release:

Saxon de Cocq, Hannah Hermanson and Ell McEachern of 3 Story Pictures are pleased to announce that filming has started on Season 2 of the 13x 30 min documentary series, Red River Gold. 
 
Production commenced on September 10, 2024, and will continue through to the end of October. The series will air on APTN (in English), APTN Languages (in Michif) and be available on APTN lumi in both English and Michif at a later date.
 
In 1870, a trove of gold coins worth $1,000,000 disappeared without a trace. The coins were on their way to fund a British military force marching across Canada to stop Louis Riel and the Métis during the Red River Resistance. The gold has never been recovered and the Royal Mint of England still considers it lost or stolen. And now, a group of Métis treasure seekers want to find it!
 
After returning from the bog, the team waits for the ice to thaw and mosquitos to reappear before heading to the very start of the Dawson Road, at the edge of the Northwest Angle. Here, they discover the evidence of an old Métis village, that was used as a trading and transportation hub. With rumors of the gold being hidden by an old building, this has the team excited to start digging, knowing full well there are other historical treasures to find.  
 
Red River Gold is directed by Saxon de Cocq (Treaty Road Season 1 & 2, Red River Gold Season 1, The Other Side), Berkley Brady (Dark Nature, The Secret History of: The Wild West), Sam Karney (Going Native, Nation Untamed) and Lisa Unrau (Staying Wild Seasons 1,2,3, Landing: Stories from the Cultural Divide), written by Saxon de Cocq, and is produced by Hannah Hermanson (Treaty Road Season 1 & 2, Red River Gold Season 1, Staying Wild Season 1,2 & 3, Zarqa Season 2), Ell McEachern (Treaty Road Season 1 & 2, Red River Gold Season 1, Staying Wild Season 1,2 & 3, Zarqa Season 2), Saxon de Cocq and Sam Karney. The series will be executive produced by Doug Cuthand (Guardians: Evolution, Van Life, Searchers, Big Bear).
  
Red River Gold will be filmed in rural Manitoba for the searching (Ste Anne, Richer, Falcon Lake, Northwest Angle, Lake of the Woods), as well as the Mint in Whales and at the Tower of London. Cinematography by Sam Karney and editing by Kolby Kostyniuk (Staying Wild, Treaty Road, Dirt Farmers). 
 
Red River Gold was commissioned by APTN and produced with additional financial support from Canada Media Fund and Creative Saskatchewan.  

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Mike Holmes joins Cottage Life with New original series, Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy

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From a media release:

Cottage Life’s highly-anticipated new original series, Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy, a reboot of the hit Holmes on Homes program, sees construction pioneer Mike Holmes reflect on his iconic, lifelong career helping homeowners and advocating for the trade industry. In the new six-part series, audiences will witness Mike’s determination to instill his values in his children, Michael and Sherry, as they continue his legacy. The show delves deeper into the Holmes family dynamic, following Mike as he returns to his “make it right” roots and mentors his children in the family business. Cameras follow the trio as they work side-by-side to create life-changing renovations for deserving homeowners, while also capturing heartfelt behind-the-scenes family moments with Mike, his kids and grandchildren. Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy premieres Tuesday, November 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on Cottage Life.

With more than two decades on TV under his toolbelt, Mike Holmes has established himself as a household name throughout North America, renowned for his integrity in the construction industry and for helping hundreds of homeowners throughout his career. In the new series, each hour-long episode introduces viewers to desperate families who have been misled by dishonest contractors or who have compelling personal stories, seeking home upgrades tailored to their specific needs. Joined by Michael and Sherry—both seasoned contractors who made their debuts on Holmes on Homes —Mike tackles these challenges head-on, turning their properties into beautiful and safe havens for the future.

Mike Holmes: “After 23 years on TV, we’ve received countless messages from fans to bring back Holmes on Homes. So, we listened—and we’ve taken it to the next level. In Building a Legacy, you’ll get a closer look at our family dynamic and see firsthand how my life’s work to ‘make it right’ has become a shared ambition among my kids.”

Michael Holmes Jr.: “Sherry and I have brought out a different side of our Dad that viewers will get to see in Building a Legacy. In Holmes on Homes, Dad would enter a house with a stern look, point out the flaws, then tear it all down and fix it. Now, you see a lighter, more playful version.

Sherry Holmes: “I’m excited for Cottage Life viewers to see how much the show has evolved since Holmes on Homes. This new series not only has a strong family message, but an educational aspect too; we’re exploring new home technologies you can install to make your home smarter and healthier.”

Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy is produced by The Holmes Group. Sam Linton, VP of Production and Development, Global Media at Blue Ant Media oversees commissioning for the series. 

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New CTV original comedy Mark McKinney Needs a Hobby premieres October 2

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From a media release:

Good laughs and great adventures are in store, as the previously announced inaugural season of CTV Original comedy docuseries MARK MCKINNEY NEEDS A HOBBY airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Oct. 2 on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. Filmed across Canada and the United States, Season 1 consists of 10, half-hour, episodes.

The series follows actor, comedian, and writer Mark McKinney (SUPERSTORE, THE KIDS IN THE HALL) as he embarks on an epic quest to answer one of the most pressing questions of the 2020’s – who are we when we are not working? MARK MCKINNEY NEEDS A HOBBY is produced by Sphere Media in association with CTV, and created by Kim Bondi, Mark McKinney, Rob Sheridan (2 BROKE GIRLS, CORNER GAS), and directed by Nick McKinney (INSOMNIAC, THE DAILY SHOW).

This season, McKinney travels throughout North America meeting the most impassioned everyday hobbyists and the communities of like-minded obsessives who nurture them, all in a quest to find the one true hobby he can claim for himself. The inaugural season also features special guests, including comedians Margaret Cho and Deb DiGiovanni, Canadian singing legend Billy Newton-Davis, SUPERSTORE’s Ben Feldman, Maria Vacratsis of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Mama Mia! franchises, CANADA’S DRAG RACE regular and choreographer Hollywood Jade, noted columnist and food critic James Chatto, and professional Muppet puppeteer Trish Leeper (FRAGGLE ROCK, SESAME STREET).

On the series premiere of MARK MCKINNEY NEEDS A HOBBY, “Birding” (Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app), McKinney travels to the Canadian shores of Lake Erie to learn everything there is to know about birding and birdwatching. Over the course of his visit, he embarks on a journey to the Long Point Nature Preserve, tags and releases birds at a Birds Canada outpost, and accompanies his host to a tattoo parlor where birding memories aren’t just made, but painfully memorialized.

Each episode of MARK MCKINNEY NEEDS A HOBBY is also available to stream on Crave every Thursday, beginning Oct. 3. This season, viewers follow McKinney as he explores hobbies such as historical re-enactment, barbershop quartet singing, puppetry, watersports, robots, collecting memorabilia, fly fishing, dancing, and cooking.

About Mark McKinney
Mark McKinney has performed in, written, and produced some of the most beloved comedy television in North America. As co-creator, writer, and ensemble cast member of THE KIDS IN THE HALL, he was nominated for three Emmy® Awards and multiple Gemini Awards, including Best Writing and Best Performance. McKinney followed the success of his series with three seasons as both a principal cast member and staff writer on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and, most recently, starred, and directed on the hit sitcom, SUPERSTORE.

MARK MCKINNEY NEEDS A HOBBY is produced by Sphere Media in association with CTV. Mark McKinney, Bruno Dubé, Marlo Miazga, Kim Bondi, Rob Sheridan, and Corinna Lehr are Executive Producers. Kim Creelman is Series Producer, and Nick McKinney is Creative Producer.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Todd Talbot debuts new series, Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project, premiering October 8 exclusively on Cottage Life

From a media release:

Love It or List It Vancouver real estate expert and TV star, Todd Talbot joins Cottage Life with the debut of his new documentary series, Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project (8×30’). The eight-part series provides an intimate look into the highs and lows of Talbot’s construction journey as he and his wife, actor Rabecca Talbot, set out to build a net-zero, passive house A-frame on British Columbia’s picturesque Okanagan Lake just outside Kelowna. The Canadian broadcast premiere of Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project airs Tuesday, October 8 at 8p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on Cottage Life.

In the series, Talbot takes off his Love It or List It realtor hat and reveals to viewers his in-depth knowledge of the construction industry. Talbot takes on the roles of project manager, financier, associate designer, estimator and head of the construction team building this cabin. Architects, engineers and environmental experts join Talbot to build his future home. The series showcases cutting-edge, sustainable building techniques and the science behind constructing homes with a minimal ecological footprint.

Talbot’s passive house made international headlines in the summer of 2023, B.C.’s worst wildfire season on record. The fires forced Todd, Rabecca and their kids to evacuate and halt production of the series. Nearly all the passive house elements were completed, with the exception of the stone wool insulation and non combustible cladding on the underbelly of the structure. When Todd and Rabecca were allowed back to the site a month later to survey the damage, the pile of insulation was the only thing that was not destroyed. From its inspiring inception to its tragic conclusion, the series documents Talbot’s ambitious home project, including how he discovered via CNN that his family’s passive house was lost to the blaze.

“My wife Rabecca and I spent over four years documenting the construction of our family’s A-frame passive house, sharing our insights on sustainable and resilient building practices,” says Todd Talbot. “Our project’s devastating ending inspired us to keep filming so we could emphasize the powerful impact of B.C.’s wildfires. We’re now finally ready to share the ups and downs of our journey with Cottage Life viewers.”

Passive house buildings are widely hailed as the future of home construction, celebrated for their health benefits and energy efficiency. Yet, a lesser-known advantage is their heightened resilience to wildfires. Todd Talbot’s passive house project underscores the urgent need to build sustainable, resilient homes to combat the devastating effects of the climate crisis.

Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project is produced by Infinity Films. Shel Piercy and Todd Talbot serve as Producers, with Piercy directing. Theresa Piercy is the Series Producer, with a team of cinematographers documenting the incredible build over its three-year filming process. Judd Bakken and Robert Lawrenson are the Editors, with original music by Jeff Griffiths and Chris King.

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