Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

From a media release:

APTN audiences have been asking for an Indigenous dating show that reflects real life, and now it’s here! Rezervations for Two, produced by APTN, Animiki See Digital Production and Media Rendezvous, premieres June 15 on APTN and APTN+. To celebrate the debut, APTN is also making the first episode available on YouTube. Equal parts hilarious, heartfelt and hot mess, the series brings together lovable Indigenous singles of diverse genders, sexualities, ages and nations for a dating experience that throws the reality TV rulebook out the window.

Season 1 unfolds in Winnipeg, in the heart of Turtle Island, with dates set in and around The Forks — a gathering place for thousands of years and the perfect setting for modern Indigenous connections to take shape. From fireside chats by the river to hands-on creative dates in the central market, each meet-cute is grounded in place, history and community while still leaving plenty of room for unexpected chemistry.

At the centre of the drama (and the commentary) are iconic hosts Kairyn Potts and Scott Wabano. The besties send each dater on two blind dates and then watch in real time, reacting to every awkward silence, flirty exchange and spicy pickup line with their signature “fairy god-auntie” energy. Their charm, wit and zero‑filter reactions are as much a part of the show as the dates themselves.

“We’re really excited to bring Rezervations for Two to APTN audiences,” said Crystal Dubois, APTN’s Development, Factual and Special Events Executive. “This show is about finding your forever snag and keeping it real while you do. Nothing is scripted. It’s packed with rez humour and heart, and it’s a true celebration of love in all its forms. We want Indigenous and non-Indigenous viewers alike to see us as we really are: vibrant, funny and full of life. This is us — unfiltered, unapologetic and totally fabulous.”

While reality TV continues to dominate screens, Indigenous voices are still rarely given space to be funny, raw, romantic or vulnerable on their own terms. Rezervations for Two changes that. By centring real people and real connections, the series portrays Indigenous relationships as layered, joyful and deeply human — pushing back against stereotypes and showing that there’s no single way to be Indigenous, or to experience love.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Three-part docuseries Our Ocean Table launches in May

April 26, 2026 Greg David

From a media release:

Jugaad Sisters Inc and Plankton Productions announced today that Our Ocean Table, the three-part TELUS original series, will launch nationally on Friday, May 1, available to watch free on demand on TELUS Optik TV channel 8, and to stream on TELUS Stream+ and CBC Gem. The docuseries is hosted by marine biologist and filmmaker Sonya Lee and former MuchMusic host Hannah Sung – friends who connected over their love of Korean pop culture.

At a time when everything Korean is experiencing a global surge of popularity, Sonya and Hannah dive into their personal and professional experiences, and into the Pacific Ocean, to learn more from the natural world.

To celebrate the broadcast and streaming launch of the series, there will be special screening events across the country in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Our Ocean Table begins its national launch event series in Toronto on May 1, 2026 at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. Additional screenings will take place on May 2, 2026 in Calgary as part of FascinAsian Film Festival, and on May 7, 2026 in Vancouver, bringing the series to audiences across the country.

In Our Ocean Table, marine biologist and filmmaker Sonya Lee sets out to rediscover her Korean roots through the ocean that has always called to her. Together with journalist Hannah Sung, she explores how traditional Korean seafood dishes carry an intimate reverence for the sea. From sustainable prawn fishing, oyster farming, to the quiet power of kelp, their journey uncovers the deep links between cultural identity and ocean conservation. Over spicy meals and simmering stories, Our Ocean Table connects the generations through taste, tradition, and a call to protect our waters.

“Our Ocean Table is the most personal thing I’ve ever made. It’s a love letter to the Korean immigrant experience, to our food, to the ocean,” says Lee. “It’s an honest conversation about what it means to care for both our culture and our planet at the same time. I spent years telling other people’s ocean stories without understanding where my own love for the ocean came from.”

Co-director and co-host of the series Sonya Lee is a Korean-Canadian filmmaker based in Victoria, BC. She is a National Geographic Explorer dedicated to stories that intersect science, nature, people and culture. Her work can be seen on CBC, NFB, PBS, National Geographic Channel, Disney+, Hulu, ARTE, Love Nature and TELUS Optik TV. Lee directs alongside Jon Chiang an award-winning Chinese-Peruvian filmmaker based in Vancouver whose first feature film, Spring After Spring launched to sold out screenings in 2026 and is currently streaming on Knowledge Network. Rounding out the creative trio is Hannah Sung, a culture journalist based in Toronto who started her career at MuchMusic and has written about arts and culture for the New York Times, Globe and Mail and Toronto Star.

“The experience of making this series was such a dream. Being Korean Canadian, our food and culture is very specific but universal at the same time. I loved exploring themes of family, food and culture with everyone we met,” says co-host Hannah Sung. Chiang continues, “Having the chance to release Our Ocean Table during Asian Heritage Month is especially wonderful. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our stories, pioneers and of course, foods that shape the fabric of this country.”

Each episode of Our Ocean Table features Korean-Canadian chefs, sustainable harvesters and community leaders including: Fraser McDonald (Spot Prawn Fisher, Good Fish Co.), Chef John Lim (Horang Restaurant), Chef Jinhee Lee (JinBar), Anna Ko (President, Korean Women’s Association & Calgary Korean Cultural Centre), Spencer Serin (Scientist, Spoitz Enterprises, Cascadia Seaweed Technical Advisor), Rob Hamilton (Hamilton Farms), Chef J (Jinmi), Alex Munro (Fanny Bay Oysters). The series was shot in Vancouver, Nanaimo and Calgary.

Our Ocean Table is created, co-directed, co-hosted and produced by Sonya Lee (Jawsome), co-directed by Jon Chiang (Spring After Spring), co-hosted by Hannah Sung, produced by Priyanka Desai (Not Your Butter Chicken) and Joanna Wong (House Special), edited by Milk Ritland-Tam (Violet and June) and director of photography is Kate Smith (The Interceptors).

The Toronto event at CBC Glenn Gould Theatre is presented by Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, and supported by the Korean Consulate in Toronto and Ocean Wise alongside community partner RepresentASIAN Project™ a media platform covering the stories, culture and issues shaping the Asian diaspora. The Vancouver event is presented by the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.

This project was developed with the support of Creative BC, certified by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO), and produced with the assistance of the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC tax credit.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Indigenous food series One Dish One Spoon returns May 4 with Season 2, including full Mohawk language version

April 23, 2026 Greg David

From a media release:

The docu-soap series One Dish One Spoon returns for its second season on May 4, continuing its exploration of Indigenous food, culture, and community through the work of Haudenosaunee chef Tawnya Brant.

Season 2 expands beyond the kitchen, following Brant as she navigates the realities of building a sustainable food enterprise while remaining grounded in land, language, and community. The series offers an intimate look at the challenges and opportunities of Indigenous entrepreneurship, alongside the role food plays in cultural continuity and identity.

Following its English-language premiere, Season 2 will also be fully versioned in the Mohawk language, Kanien’kéha, and broadcast on APTN Languages in the fall. This initiative supports Indigenous language revitalization and ensures the series is accessible to Mohawk-speaking audiences, reinforcing the connection between food, culture, and language.

“Season 2 is about growth–not just in business, but in understanding how food connects us to who we are and where we come from,” says Brant. “It’s about carrying knowledge forward while creating new opportunities for the next generation.”

Produced by Big Soul Productions, One Dish One Spoon is a character-driven docu-soap that blends personal storytelling with broader themes of community, sustainability, and Indigenous food sovereignty.

Season 2 premieres May 4 on APTN and on APTN+ on May 27 with the Kanien’kéha-language version to air in the fall on APTN Languages.

One Dish One Spoon Season 2 was produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.

About One Dish One Spoon
One Dish One Spoon is a docu-soap series that follows Chef Tawnya Brant as she builds an Indigenous food enterprise while navigating the complexities of family, culture, and community. The series highlights Indigenous culinary traditions and their place in contemporary life.

About Big Soul Productions
Big Soul Productions is a Toronto-based Indigenous-owned production company led by Laura J. Milliken. With over 25 years of experience, the company has produced award-winning film and television including Run Woman Run, Fire Song, and Moccasin Flats.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Dan Petronijevic puts his trades skills to work in the new Crave original docuseries, Blue Collar

March 6, 2026 Greg David

From a media release:

Part workplace comedy, part trial by fire, Crave’s new original docuseries BLUE COLLAR celebrates the resilience, loyalty, humour, and hard work found in everyday, working-class life. The series follows Dan Petronijevic (THE TRADES) as he swaps punchlines for pressure by stepping into some of Canada’s toughest, dirtiest, and most physically demanding jobs. All 10 episodes of BLUE COLLAR are available for streaming on Friday, March 27.

Each episode of BLUE COLLAR focuses on a single profession, and features Petronijevic as he arrives as a rookie with no script, no stunt doubles, and no way to fake it. Throughout, he works alongside seasoned professionals who set the pace and have zero patience for dead weight.

From firehoses to fishing nets, and welding torches to carnival rides, the professions Petronijevic faces head on in BLUE COLLAR include: waste management and recycling; commercial fishing; sanitation; pest control; auto recycling; firefighting; tree planting; farming; and amusement park services.

Host Dan Petronijevic is a Canadian actor whose versatile career spans film, television, and voice work. He has appeared in feature films including the American Pie franchise and is known for roles in 19-2, CARDINAL, and LETTERKENNY. He currently plays Backwoods, a refinery worker, in Crave’s cult comedy, THE TRADES.

BLUE COLLAR is produced by Blink49 Studios, Kontent House Productions and Little Bear Big Wolf Pictures in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Toby Dormer, Allison Brough, Vince Buda, Ryan J. Lindsay, and Daniel Fortin are executive producers. Dan Petronijevic is executive producer and host. Portia Corman is series producer and writer.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Corus’ original series Life is Messy premieres alongside a new season of Renovation Resort this spring on Home Network

February 24, 2026 Greg David

From a media release:

Corus unveils a star-studded ensemble lineup this spring with two highly anticipated original series led by longstanding powerhouse talent. Legendary duos Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler return with Season 3 of Renovation Resort (8×60 – MEM), and Kortney Wilson and Kenny Brain are back with the all-new series Life is Messy (8×60 – Scott Brothers Entertainment). Both series offer inspiring stories, practical ideas, and memorable renovations that Canadians from all walks of life can appreciate. Rounding out the programming lineup are new and returning international acquisition series, including Rachael Ray’s Rebuild, and George Clarke’s Flipping Fast. All series will be available to stream on STACKTV.

Home Network kicks off the return of its high-stakes renovation competition series just in time for cottage season. McGillivray and Baeumler are back with Season 3 of Renovation Resort—and this time, they’re headed to the lake! Premiering Sunday, April 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, four teams of talented builder-designers from across North America go head-to-head in the premier real estate renovation battle, transforming a long-neglected lakeside resort into the ultimate vacation destination. Over eight weeks, these duos battle to create breathtaking, one-of-a-kind vacation homes in the Kawarthas. The competing teams include:

Tatianna and Thomas, Vancouver, B.C.
Marcy and Melissa, Niagara, Ont.
Chalon and Liz, Texas, U.S.A.
Taylor and Mehrdad, Vancouver, B.C.

Each team must push their creativity and skills to the limit, navigating unexpected twists and bigger, bolder challenges than ever before. With a lineup of special guest judges who will critique every daring design choice, the last team standing will take home a game-changing $100,000 prize and the coveted title of Renovation Resort champions. Viewers can catch up on previous seasons of Renovation Resort on STACKTV.

Helping families regain control from clutter and disorganization, design expert Wilson and builder Brain are ready to step in with the series premiere of Life Is Messy on Thursday, April 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Home Network. When homes get buried under excessive mess and spaces shrink from too much stuff, life can feel overwhelming. The unstoppable pair utilize small budgets to create big ideas and greater spaces, guiding families through the physical and emotional evolution that comes with letting go.

Each week, audiences will watch Wilson and Brain save families from their chaos, including homes taken over by active toddlers, tired parents playing musical bedrooms with dogs and children, and a single mother feeling boxed-in back in her childhood home. These hijacked spaces will be reimagined with smart designs and clever storage solutions, turning dysfunction into comfort, and helping families reclaim their space so they can breathe again.