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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mind Your Own Business returns to AMI-tv and AMI+ on March 18, offering essential business advice to entrepreneurs in the disability community

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From a media release:

With country-wide unease in the business sector affecting everyone, advice for Canadian entrepreneurs is critical.

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), in partnership with Apple Orchard Productions, is pleased to announce the eight-episode Season 4 return of Mind Your Own Business.

Hosted by entrepreneur Kevin Shaw (second from left), who is blind, entrepreneurs in the disability community aim to take their businesses to the next level with help from high-profile Canadian mentors Karen Wong, co-founder and CEO of Takulabs Ltd.; Kelly Bron Johnson, founder and principal IDEA Advisor, Completely Inclusive; and Chris Gaulin, founder and CEO of Fastoche Canada.

Entrepreneurs and companies featured in Season 4 of Mind Your Own Business are Resonate Adaptive, VIPwear, Be a Handy, Bollywheels, MAXIMUS Athletics, Empowered Para, Pink Blossom Events and Accessible By Design.

Season 4 of Mind Your Own Business debuts Tuesday, March 18, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and can be streamed on demand for free on AMI+.

The eight Season 4 episodes include:

Tuesday, March 18, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “Resonate Adaptive”
Riccardo is a musician who has developed a system enabling people to play the piano without the use of their legs. Our mentors meet with Riccardo to help with marketing strategies and develop a plan for business scalability.

Tuesday, March 26, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “VIPwear”
Amanda is a designer whose clothing aims to change how we interact with people who are blind or partially sighted. She approached the mentors for advice on how to get VIPwear’s message to the disability community.

Tuesday, April 1, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “Be a Handy”
Blair operates “Be a Handy,” an immersive tour giving the able-bodied community a chance to see the beauty and struggles his city has to offer. Blair speaks with the mentors about securing funding and expansion.

Tuesday, April 8, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “Bollywheels”
Roneel started Bollywheels to challenge what people think a dancer should be. Now he’s turning to the mentors to discover what it takes to make Bollywheels a success in the business world and on the dance floor.

Tuesday, April 15, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “MAXIMUS Athletics”
Andrew’s company, MAXIMUS Athletics, creates pre-workout supplements to help you reach your potential at the gym. In order for MAXIMUS to reach its potential, Andrew needs help raising some serious capital.

Tuesday, April 22, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “Empowered Para”
Brittney is a content creator seeking collaborations with brands to promote her message. But being a full-time influencer can be challenging and time-consuming. Let’s see if our mentors’ expertise influences our influencer.

Tuesday, April 29, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “Pink Blossom”
Jasmine created Pink Blossom Events, a platform for creative professionals from diverse backgrounds to collaborate, network and form connections. She needs help spreading the word and to her target audience.

Tuesday, May 6, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern — “Accessible By Design”
Brad knows how to make the world more accessible, and has already made many restaurants and bars that way. His vision is to spread the message even further and needs advice on how to scale his business.

About host Kevin Shaw
Kevin Shaw is a trailblazing entrepreneur, media producer, and accessibility innovator whose career has consistently set new standards in business, broadcasting, and inclusive design. Based in Toronto, Kevin has built a legacy of creating groundbreaking experiences, inspiring change, and proving that true innovation happens when creativity meets purpose. His work has empowered thousands, transforming how people consume media, build businesses and engage with the world.

Season 4 of Mind Your Own Business debuts Tuesday, March 18, at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. Stream past episodes and seasons of Mind Your Own Business on AMI+.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation, premieres March 4 during Cottage Life’s nationwide free preview event

From a media release:

Celebrated Canadian wildlife rehabilitator, Hope Swinimer, returns to Cottage Life with Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation, an all-new season of the long-running hit original series Hope for Wildlife. Premiering Tuesday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT as part of Cottage Life’s nationwide free preview event, Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation gives Canadian audiences exclusive access into Swinimer’s world-class wildlife rehabilitation center in Nova Scotia. With wildlife facing increasing threats, the all-new season shines a spotlight on urgent issues, including habitat loss due to human encroachment, the climate crisis, rising wildfires and flash floods, as well as wildlife diseases and outbreaks.

“After 30 years of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing more than 50,000 animals, I am thrilled to continue sharing our story with the world,” says Hope Swinimer, founder of Hope for Wildlife. “The struggles we face have never been more real, and our successes never more important. The Hope for Wildlife TV series has become such a key part of our operation, it’s hard to imagine things without it. We’re ready and excited to kick off a new season.”

Since its opening in 1997, Swinimer’s Hope for Wildlife center has become widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading wildlife rescue facilities. Now, as she marks 30 years in the field, Swinimer is training a new generation of young rehabbers to follow in her footsteps. The new season showcases some of the most unusual and challenging cases the rehab team has ever encountered—from rescuing a snapping turtle trapped in a city water reservoir, to treating a groundhog with PTSD who refuses to eat, and a healthy bald eagle that simply won’t fly. Each episode of Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation takes audiences on an emotional and inspiring journey, featuring dramatic rescues, miraculous recoveries, and heartwarming releases back into the wild.

Swinimer’s medical team at Hope for Wildlife is top-notch, consisting of experienced staff and a group of new interns—some of whom were inspired to join her team after watching the TV series on Cottage Life. The facility has also welcomed a new nutritionist and expanded its facilities, including newly constructed outdoor raccoon enclosures designed to safely house even more young kits while reducing the risk of disease.

Following its broadcast premiere, Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation will also be available on Cottage Life’s Apple TV channel beginning March 5, with new episodes rolling out weekly.

On March 21 and 22, fans in the Greater Toronto Area can meet Hope Swinimer at the Spring Cottage Life Show in Mississauga, where she will share insights into her wildlife work during a Main Stage presentation. Hope will also appear at the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show on April 12 at the EY Centre in Ottawa, where she will present the same discussion. Both events offer fans the opportunity to meet Hope and learn more about her wildlife expertise.

Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation is produced by Arcadia Entertainment. John Wesley Chisholm serves as Executive Producer with Johanna Eliot as Producer. Sean McShane is Director and Writer, with Andrew Killawee also serving as Director.

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Featured, Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

All-new original series Queen of the Castle begins its reign on CTV Life Channel, March 26

From a media release:

New CTV Life Channel Original series QUEEN OF THE CASTLE becomes the crown jewel of Wednesday nights beginning March 26, as the chaotically-heartwarming docuseries airs at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Life, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, and streaming next day on Crave. The hour-long, eight-episode series follows Canadian socialite Dr. Ann Kaplan Mulholland and her entrepreneur husband Dr. Stephen Mulholland as they turn their lives upside down after the last of their six children leaves home. The two empty-nesters move to England and take on the ambitious task of turning their newly acquired medieval castle in the heart of Kent, U.K. into a luxurious world-class destination.

Set in the quiet English town of Hythe, the arrival of Ann, a force of nature with grand plans and the business savvy to pull it off, takes the local community by storm. With her husband Stephen – a world-renowned plastic surgeon– at her side, the pair are ready to give Lympne Castle the makeover of its century-long lifetime. With a dedicated team of castle staff and tradesmen supporting the renovation, they contend with construction chaos, quirky events, discerning guests, and so much more. Along the way, Ann forges unexpected friendships – from elderly neighbours to the town Vicar – and what she initially saw as a business opportunity quickly evolves into something much more personal.

In the premiere episode, “Taking the Throne” (airing Wednesday, March 26 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV Life, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, and streaming next day on Crave), Ann and Stephen become the new owners of Lympne Castle. With the deed in hand, the pair take on their first ambitious project by tackling a renovation in the castle’s new restaurant.

QUEEN OF THE CASTLE is produced by Blink49 Studios and Nest Productions. Executive producers include Blink49’s Toby Dormer, Allison Brough and Vera Lubimova along with Ann Kaplan Mulholland, Stephen Mulholland, Jeff Copeland and Bell Media’s Justin Stockman, as well as co-executive producers Marisa Erftemeijer-Strowger and Floury Crum from Nest Productions.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mary Mammoliti experiences all things food with Canadian culinary creatives on Season 5 of the award-winning Dish with Mary on AMI-tv and AMI+

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From a media release:

Mary Mammoliti is sampling delicious treats while having fascinating chats with Canadian culinary pioneers. Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), in partnership with FRANK Digital, is thrilled to announce the Season 5 return of the award-winning Dish with Mary on AMI-tv and AMI+.

Mary Mammoliti—a home cook and culinary content creator who has low vision—knows her way around the kitchen and proves it during fun cook-alongs with renowned Canadian chefs. Each episode of Dish with Mary focuses on one chef and one dish, plus a lot of laughs, a bunch of tips, and tons to dish about!

Season 5 of Dish with Mary debuts Wednesday, February 26, at 9 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and can be streamed on demand for free on AMI+.

“To me cooking should be fun and finding ways to make it accessible is what motivates me,” Mary Mammoliti says. “I look forward to viewers joining me on my adventure across Canada where I connect with culinary celebrities and hear their stories.”

The Canadians Mary cooks alongside in Season 5 of Dish with Mary are Jenna Hutchinson and Ashley Kosowan, the owners of Jenna Rae Cakes; Chef Carlo Guzzi of Carlo’s Cucina; Chef Eden Hrabec of Crazyweed Kitchen; Chef Danny Beaulieu of Ånkör; Chef Phil Tees of Bluebird Wood-Fired Steakhouse; Jackie Wild and Agustin Doming, the team behind Tito Boy Restaurant; Chef Tracy Little of Sauvage; and Chef Fabrizio Rossi of Vida Cucina. The recipes featured in each episode will be made available post-broadcast at AMI.ca.

Additionally, in-depth conversations between Mary and the trailblazers of the Canadian culinary industry reveal how and why they entered this world and the passion that keeps them cooking.

The first two of eight Season 5 episodes include:

Wednesday, February 26, at 9 p.m. Eastern — “Jenna Rae Cakes”
Mary Mammoliti travels to Winnipeg to meet with twin sisters Jenna and Ashley, the owners of Jenna Rae Cakes. Together, they create showstopping cupcakes and cookie sandwiches that make their bakery stand out.

Wednesday, March 5, at 9 p.m. Eastern — “Carlo’s Cucina”
Mary heads to Winnipeg Beach to meet Chef Carlo, a multiple Le Burger Week winner. They embark on an adventure before crafting one of Carlo’s renowned burgers in the kitchen.

Dish with Mary was recently named “Best in Canada” by The Taste Awards, which celebrates the year’s best in food, fashion and lifestyle programs on television, in film, online, streaming and on radio.

About Mary Mammoliti
Mary Mammoliti is a Toronto-based food writer and cook behind the Kitchen Confession. She works as a freelance recipe curator, radio and TV personality, food blogger and amateur food photographer. She is a regular contributor to AMI’s weekday audio series Kelly & Company.

Educating and speaking about vision loss is Mary’s passion, inspiring others to find their light of happiness is what drives her.

Season 5 of Dish with Mary debuts Wednesday, February 26, at 9 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. Stream past episodes and seasons of Dish with Mary on AMI+.

About FRANK Digital
FRANK Digital is a Winnipeg-based video production and post-production studio. They produce award-winning commercials, corporate films and series with their talented team of editors and animators. They are one of Manitoba’s largest digital production companies, providing all equipment and expertise in-house.

About Accessible Media Inc.
AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Refreshing new doc series Get Hooked casts off old stereotypes to highlight the healing power of fishing, March 17 on OUTtv, OUTflix and AMI+

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From a media release:

This isn’t your dad’s fishing show. A thought-provoking and barrier-breaking new six-part documentary series, Get Hooked (6×30) is an invitation to explore diverse joy in nature and redefine what it means to fish. Co-commissioned by OUTtv and Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), the series is created by Heidi Lynch (showrunner of Avocado Toast the series and Series Mania “Canada’s Producers to Watch” 2024) and Leah Vlemmiks (“Tesfay” music video by Witch Prophet), directed by Vlemmiks, and produced by Lynch through Bone Vault Inc.

Get Hooked premieres Monday, March 17 on AMI+ (Canada), OUTtv.com (Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand), and OUTflix.com (UK, Ireland, and Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland via Allente). In Canada, viewers can also catch the series weekly on both AMI-tv and OUTtv broadcast channels, beginning Monday, March 24 at 9 p.m. ET.

“For too long, the outdoors – and fishing in particular – has only been marketed to one specific group of human beings,” said Lynch. “We want to showcase a different side of the fishing world – one that welcomes diversity, queerness, and the power of simply being present in nature for the good of our collective mental health. Get Hooked is funny, heartfelt, and deeply personal, and we hope it inspires people to find their own healing connection to the natural world.”

Get Hooked follows a Canadian angling guide per episode sharing their use of fishing as a lifeline for mental well-being with a group of queer, comedic outsiders. Set against the backdrop of breathtaking Ontario landscapes, each episode is more than just a fishing story – it’s a celebration of resilience, identity, and the healing power of nature. But as these anglers find solace on the water, the series asks a crucial question: why isn’t this access available to everyone?

“At its heart, Get Hooked is about how a shared passion can be a great connector – to nature, to each other, to ourselves,” added Lynch. “This series challenges outdated ideas of who belongs in outdoor spaces and highlights the joy, humour, and healing that come from casting a line in good company. In the divisive place we currently find ourselves, connection is a breath of fresh air. Get Hooked will always include great men as part of the story, but told through a different gaze than you normally see in fishing documentaries and shows.”

Bringing a unique and diverse mix of lived experiences, perspectives, and personalities, the captivating cast of anglers featured in the series are Demiesha Dennis (founder/director of Brown Girl Outdoor World), Dave Furgoch (organizer for the Blind Anglers International Tournament), Lisa Goodier (guide at the Ottawa River Musky Factory), Rosie Jones (comedian/actor/author), Rick Klatt (The Last Cull, participant in the Blind Anglers International Tournament), Frank Leaney (program coordinator and addictions counsellor at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health), Christine Luckasavitch (owner/executive consultant of Waaseyaa Consulting), Faye Marsay (actor, Game of Thrones, Andor), Emily O’Brien (founder of ComeBack Snacks), SJ Todd (founder/creative director of SJT Studio), Kenneth Tse (science teacher and fishing guide), Emma Tweddle (co-owner of Brain Box Studios), and Vik Watson (co-owner/graphic designer of Brain Box Studios).

Additionally, the Get Hooked companion podcast (6×20) for OUTtv and AMI launches on April 17, exploring how we, as society, can make the mental health benefits of the outdoors more accessible to the LGBTQ+, disability, and BIPOC communities. In each episode, series creator Heidi Lynch sits down with notable game changers and community creators about fishing, nature, hunting, or travel. Guests include Faye Marsay, actor Verada Sethu (Andor, Doctor Who), singer-songwriter Christa Couture (Postcards From), Amie Battams (Fishing Whilst Gay), and Nicole Moore (Shooting Girl With An Afro). Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Get Hooked was developed with the support of the Telus Fund, Bell Fund, Ontario Creates, AMI, OUTtv, Destination Canada, and Ottawa Tourism, with special thanks to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier and Algonquin Outfitters.

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