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Changing leaves, inspiring stories: APTN unveils fall programming with Indigenous resilience at its core

From a media release:

Coming soon to APTN is another incredible lineup of Indigenous stories. From groundbreaking dramas that highlight Indigenous resilience and the connection between past, present and future, to a full weekend of special programming in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), to new episodes of APTN’s hit docuseries, the network’s upcoming season is full of soul-stirring content, both new and old.

APTN’s fall slate will roll out from the beginning of September to the end of October and will include the programs below, plus many more.

NEW TO APTN

Bones of Crows
Expanding on the feature film of the same name, this five-part series is a story of resilience and strength told through the eyes of Cree matriarch Aline Spears. When Aline and her siblings are removed from their family home and forced into Canada’s residential school system, they are plunged into a struggle for survival. Over the next hundred years, Aline and her descendants fight for a more just future.

APTN TV premiere dates: Sept. 20 (English) and Sept. 25 (Cree)
APTN lumi premiere dates: Sept. 21 (English) and Sept. 26 (Cree)

Little Bird
Little Bird, launched initially on APTN lumi in May of this year, is a six-part series that explores the theme of resilience in the face of trauma and loss. Removed from her home on the Long Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan, Bezhig Little Bird is adopted into a Montreal Jewish family at the age of five, becoming Esther Rosenblum. Now in her 20s, Bezhig longs for the family she lost and is willing to sacrifice everything to find them.

APTN TV premiere date: Oct. 12 (English)

Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023
Produced by APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, this 90-minute multilingual commemorative gathering seeks to honour residential school Survivors and pay tribute to all the Indigenous children who never made it home. This year’s gathering will encompass powerful reflections from esteemed Elders and Survivors as well as moving performances by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists.

APTN TV premiere date: Sept. 30 (Multilingual)
APTN lumi premiere date: Oct. 2 (Multilingual)

Sur le terrain*
Sur le terrain is a French-language documentary series that explores the daily lives of frontline Indigenous health and social services workers. Whether they work in a remote region or in an urban setting, their commitment to community members is unwavering. These workers, who are mostly women, offer us an inside look at the immense challenges they face every day.

APTN lumi premiere date: Oct. 16 (French)
APTN TV premiere date: Oct. 23 (French)

Corner Gas – Seasons 1-3
One of Canada’s most popular sitcoms, Corner Gas takes place in the fictional town of Dog River, Sask., and follows the daily lives of the community’s oddball residents, including gas station owner Brent Leroy and coffee shop proprietor Lacey Burrows. APTN will air episodes daily this fall from Tuesday through to Friday.

APTN TV premiere date: Sept. 5 (English)

NEW SEASONS OF APTN FAN FAVOURITES

Gespe’gewa’gi: The Last Land – Season 2*
APTN lumi: Aug. 28 (Mi’kmaq) and Aug. 29 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 4 (Mi’kmaq) and Sept. 5 (English)

Michif Country – Season 3*
APTN lumi: Aug. 28 (Michif) and Aug. 29 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 4 (Michif) and Sept. 5 (English)

Merchants of the Wild – Season 4*
APTN lumi: Aug. 28 (Mi’kmaq) and Sept. 26 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 4 (Mi’kmaq) and Oct. 3 (English)

Friday Night Thunder – Season 3
APTN TV: Sept. 8 (English)
APTN lumi: Sept. 9 (English)

Amplify – Season 2*
APTN lumi: Aug. 31 (Michif) and Oct. 6 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 7 (Michif) and Oct. 13 (English)

7th Gen – Season 2*
APTN lumi: Oct. 2 (Cree) and Oct. 6 (English)
APTN TV: Oct. 9 (Cree) and Oct. 13 (English)

Spirit Talker – Season 4*
APTN lumi: Oct. 18 (English)
APTN TV: Oct. 25 (English)

The Other Side – Season 9
APTN TV: Oct. 25 (English)
APTN lumi: Oct. 26 (English)

Ghost Hunters of the Grand River – Season 2
APTN TV: Oct. 25 (English)
APTN lumi: Oct. 26 (English)

*Indicates programs launching first on APTN lumi. APTN lumi has put together a collection of these returning favourites and more for viewers to catch up on prior to their television broadcast.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Canada’s paranormal investigators visit world-famous haunts in new T+E series, History’s Most Haunted

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From a media release:

Chasing the success of T+E’s original two-part documentary, Haunted Gold Rush, exploring ghostly mysteries along British Columbia’s historic Gold Rush Trail, paranormal investigators Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland return with History’s Most Haunted (6×60’; HD).

The all-new series follows the trio as they travel across North America meeting with real people who recount their intense, terrifying and emotional paranormal experiences. This time, the women are on a mission to unlock a deeper understanding of the hauntings that take place in the world-famous locations they visit including Montreal, Newfoundland, Salem, New Orleans, Charleston and San Antonio. History’s Most Haunted premieres Friday, September 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on T+E during the channel’s nationwide free preview event, running from September 4 to November 5, 2023. New episodes from the series will air every Friday leading into October and T+E’s highly-anticipated ‘Creep Week’ event.

In History’s Most Haunted, Corine, Leanne and Kelly are reaching out and connecting with historical figures, many of whom died through war, criminal sentences, diseases, and natural disasters. Featuring stylized, cinematic dramatizations of eyewitness accounts, coupled with rich context provided by experts, historians and locals, the series shows how paranormal investigations can enrich people’s understanding of history by giving voices to the spirits of those who lived it. Together, the trio will bridge the gap between past and present in a fresh new way.

History’s Most Haunted is produced by Small Army Entertainment. Sean De Vries (The Bachelor Canada, Border Security) and Stephen Sawchuk (Love it or List it Vancouver, Sidney) serve as Executive Producers. The series is directed by Garth Dyke, Michael Bodnarchuk, Sean De Vries and Stephen Sawchuk. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media on behalf of Blue Ant Media. Blue Ant International oversees global distribution.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

APTN gets fast and furious on Fridays with high-risk racing series Friday Night Thunder

From a media release:

Big Soul Productions announces the SEPT. 8 premiere of Friday Night Thunder, a fast-paced docu-soap series following racing families at Ohsweken Speedway—the only track on Indigenous land in Canada. Equal parts poignant and light-hearted, Friday Night Thunder challenges viewers’ perceptions of the world of dirt racing.

Produced by Big Soul Productions, a 100% Indigenous-owned production company, and airing on APTN Fridays at 8:30PM, Friday Night Thunder captures the emotions, community, and connection at the core of the dangerous sport. Friday Night Thunder digs deeper into what makes dirt racing at the Ohsweken Speedway a tradition among many families in the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in southern Ontario.

The series follows eleven Indigenous sprint car drivers as they navigate the highly dangerous open-wheel sport that can lead to crushing defeats, anxiety issues, debt, thrilling victories and exhaustion. Season 3 sees all of these drivers struggle with the now unfamiliar track at Ohsweken after competing at smaller tracks during the pandemic closure. Alex Hill, the only female driver, struggled with mental health issues, keeping her out of the sport for most of the season. She finally gets into the car with an anxiety episode that almost ends her day early.

Find out whether Alex was able to finish a race in Season 3, while learning how other drivers managed their own struggles, conflicts on the track, anxiety, wrecks and varying levels of car knowledge throughout the 13-episode third season.

Friday Night Thunder focuses on the lives of these drivers first, and the high-octane world of dirt racing second. Echoing the community on the track, Friday Night Thunder invites viewers into this tight-knit and adrenaline-packed club.

ABOUT BIG SOUL PRODUCTIONS
Big Soul Productions Inc. is a Toronto-based production company owned by Anishinaabe producer/entrepreneur Laura Milliken. Big Soul Productions is dedicated to creating, developing, and producing films and television representing the Indigenous voice while generating much needed capacity for Indigenous creatives in the industry.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

CTV’s new daytime series, The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, debuts Sept. 5

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From a media release:

CTV confirmed today that the newest addition to its hit daytime lineup, THE GOOD STUFF WITH MARY BERG, is set to air weekdays at 10 a.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, beginning Sept. 5. Taped in front of a live studio audience, the one-hour, daily Canadian talk and lifestyle series is hosted by multiple Canadian Screen Award-winning host and author, Mary Berg, and promises to be a daily dose of fun, food, and conversation.

It is a double premiere delight for Berg, with the return of her hit original culinary series MARY MAKES IT EASY, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 5 on CTV Life Channel, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. Filmed in her home kitchen in Toronto, the third season brings even more accessible and delectable recipes to redefine home cooking.

Full of uplifting stories, culinary delights, and engaging conversations, THE GOOD STUFF WITH MARY BERG features the latest trends in lifestyle, home hacks, and audience games – all from top experts. Berg brings the “good stuff” to CTV each day – from sharing her Recipe of The Day, to guest chefs, exciting on-location adventures, celebrating the best in youth with her Good Kids series, and more. In addition, Berg welcomes country superstar Tim McGraw, Hollywood luminary Jessica Alba, Canadian Jeopardy champion Mattea Roach, singer-songwriter Shawn Desman, and beloved children’s entertainers Sharon, Bram, and Randi to kick-off the first month.

Launched earlier this summer, MARY’S RESERVATION FOR TWO, a podcast from Bell Media Studios taped on location at some of Toronto’s top food destinations. Featuring long form interviews with guests who inspire Berg in and out of the kitchen, MARY’S RESERVATION FOR TWO is now available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are found. In addition, Berg’s third cookbook, In Mary’s Kitchen: Stress-Free Recipes for Every Home Cook hits the shelves Oct.10, and is available for pre-order now.

THE GOOD STUFF WITH MARY BERG tapes from a brand new set at Bell Media’s iconic 299 Queen St. West location in Toronto. Tickets for the studio audience are available at thegoodstuff.ca.

THE GOOD STUFF WITH MARY BERG is produced by Bell Media Studios. Michelle Crespi and John Simpson are Executive Producers; Dave Daigle is Vice-President, Local TV, Radio, and Bell Media Studios. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming. Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. Karine Moses is Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News, Bell Media and Vice Chair, Québec, Bell.

MARY MAKES IT EASY is produced by Boat Rocker’s Proper Television, in association with Bell Media. Cathie James, Lesia Capone, and Allison Grace are Executive Producers, Mary Berg is Co-Executive Producer, and David Donohue is Series Producer.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

AMI-tv announces its fall 2023 programming schedule

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From a media release:

Today, AMI unveiled its AMI-tv schedule for the 2023-24 fall broadcast season, with a lineup of exciting new and returning AMI originals available in described video for the blind, partially sighted and disability community in Canada.

In addition to new seasons of AMI-tv’s live daily shows, NOW with Dave Brown and Kelly and Ramya, AMI invites viewers to join host Bobbi Janzen for a new crop of accessible exercises in Healthy at Home, engage in technology conversations through Access Tech Live, and learn about those who demonstrate a desire to help drive positive social change through sport in Level Playing Field.

“AMI-tv’s robust fall schedule has something for everyone,” says John Melville, Vice President of Content Development and Operations, AMI. “From health and technology to sport and entrepreneurs and our daily live shows, we’re spotlighting and furthering the conversation on disability.”

Highlights of AMI-tv’s fall schedule include:

NOW with Dave Brown – weekdays at 9 a.m. Eastern
Join veteran broadcaster Dave Brown, weekdays at 9 a.m. Eastern, as he discusses the latest news, entertainment, sports and current events through a disability lens.

Kelly and Ramya – weekdays at 2 p.m. Eastern
Airing weekdays at 2 p.m. Eastern, Kelly and Ramya gives a dynamic and compelling voice to the disability experience in Canada. Stay tuned for more information later this fall regarding a special primetime broadcast of Kelly and Ramya’s annual holiday party.

Healthy at Home – Season 2 returns Wednesday, September 6, at 7 p.m. Eastern
Fitness instructor Bobbi Janzen guides viewers through an hour-long home workout that tones and strengthens for everyday living. Bobbi gives step-by-step detailed instruction that focuses on the muscle groups overused when using a white cane or guide dog, fitness advice for wheelchair users, and overall tips for better health.

Access Tech Live – Season 1 debuts Thursday, September 14, at Noon Eastern
As previously announced, Access Tech Live is a live weekly broadcast, hosted by Marc Aflalo and Steven Scott, that promises an interactive experience for viewers and the ability to cover technology news as it unfolds.

Level Playing Field – Season 4 returns Tuesday, October 3, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern
Hosted by Paralympian Greg Westlake (Para Sport Update, above), Level Playing Field introduces viewers to the athletes, community groups, healthcare professionals and grassroots innovators who demonstrate a desire to help drive positive social change through sport. Among the athletes featured in Season 4 are Para athletics sprinter Marissa Papaconstantinou, Para climber Chaz Misuraca and Toronto Raptors’ star Pascal Siakam’s generous donations to the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Disrupt – Season 2 returns Monday, October 23, at 9 p.m. Eastern
Hosted by the charismatic Taylor Olson, Disrupt showcases music, short films, poetry, animation, spoken word, comedy, dance, puppetry and other mediums, with a disability-first punk rock attitude. Disrupt also features members of the disability community working in such key production roles as production manager, writer, assistant editor, assistant director, composer, assistant production designer and camera and sound assistants.

Mind Your Own Business – Season 3 returns, Wednesday, November 15, at 9 p.m. Eastern
Hosted by Kevin Shaw and with the help of mentors, entrepreneurs in the disability community aim to take their businesses to the next level. Businesses featured in Season 3 include Liberty Co consultants, Glass Brothers Construction Inc., Friendly Roads Mobility Service and Country Fields Beekeeping Supplies.

All dates subject to change. Additional fall programming will be announced in the coming weeks. Stream past episodes of AMI original programming on demand post-broadcast on AMI.ca or via the AMI-tv App.

About AMI-tv
AMI-tv is the world’s first television network to broadcast all programs with open format described video for individuals who are blind or partially sighted and is broadcast daily into more than eight million Canadian homes as part of the basic digital cable package with most service providers. AMI-tv is committed to broadcasting a variety of content with a focus on accessibility and inclusion.

About Accessible Media Inc.
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

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