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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Season 2 of First Contact premieres this September

From a media release:

In association with Animiki See Digital Production, Nüman Films and Indios Productions, APTN announced today that it will premiere season two of the documentary-series, First Contact as a three-night television event on APTN starting September 17 at 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT.

The series will continue with episode two on Wednesday, September 18 and episode three on Thursday, September 19. Following the third episode on Thursday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT, the travelers and some of the Indigenous hosts and producers will sit down in an interactive panel, live on Facebook.

Following the success of season one, this brand-new season once again takes six Canadians, all with varied opinions about Indigenous Peoples, on a unique 28-day exploration of Indigenous communities. The three-part series, narrated by host and social justice activist George Stroumboulopoulos, has proven to be a compelling exploration into Indigenous culture in Canada.

The participants will have their lives turned upside down, their perceptions challenged and their prejudices confronted in this three-part series. This journey will change their lives forever.

The six travelers’ life-changing, 28-day journey into Indigenous communities starts in Kanesatake, QC. The participants are exposed to a new perspective about the Oka Siege and then in Natuashish, Labrador, time spent with the local Innu Peoples sheds new light on its residents and history.

In episode two, the six participants travel south to Thunder Bay, where a number of tragic incidents have exposed racist attitudes towards Indigenous people. Then, a meeting with residential school survivors in southern Ontario shocks the travelers.

In the final episode, the group travels to northern Saskatchewan and face their biggest test yet. There, they meet with people from communities deeply affected by the death and trial of Colten Boushie. Finally, the group travels to Yukon, where self-governance is helping a community flourish.

Indigenous educators and storytellers include:

  • Ian Campeau, formerly of a Tribe Called Red
  • Colleen Cardinal, Sixties Scoop survivor
  • Ellen Gabriel and Elder John Cree, Front line community members at the Oka Siege
  • Stephanie MacLaurin, community host in Fort William First Nation
  • Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, race relations coordinator in Saskatoon
  • Eleanore Sunchild, legal council for the Boushie family
  • Debbie Baptiste, Colten Boushie’s mother

Season 2 began filming in August 2018, prior to the release of season 1.

The following six participants will leave their everyday lives behind to visit Indigenous communities across Canada:

Brennen Kovic
Age: 35
Location: Mississauga, Ont.
Occupation: Sales

Brennen is outspoken, loyal, honest, and is known for being a jokester. Brennen straddles political lines; he feels strongly about LGBTQ+ rights, housing and health care, and believes in being fiscally conservative. He considers himself a person who is helpful and treats people with respect. As a first-generation, Croatian immigrant whose family has seen great success in Canada, he feels that Indigenous Peoples lack the necessary work ethic to succeed, and instead choose to blame others for their problems.

Jackson Way
Age: 19
Location: Midland, Ont.
Occupation: Student

An East Coast resident, Jackson Way has been attending school in Nova Scotia for the last year studying history. But this 19-year-old animal lover calls Ontario home. Jackson has a passion for history and politics and is a creative person. He loves poetry, playing guitar, songwriting and singing, and theatre. He has strong opinions about Indigenous Peoples and feels they receive special treatment. He loves to learn, feels strongly about social responsibility and is always up for a healthy debate.

Laurianne Bencharski
Age: 45
Location: Prince Albert, Sask.
Occupation: Former Corrections Officer

Laurianne is a very active person and is interested in a variety of recreational activities. In her free time, she loves to ride on her ski doo or quad, curl, slow pitch, and spend time at her cabin. Living in Prince Albert, where 40% of the population is Indigenous, she has experienced many negative interactions and feels like a victim. This has led to her harbouring many negative feelings toward Indigenous Peoples.

Larry Harris
Age: 62
Location: Brantford, Ont.
Occupation: Shipping and Receiving

Outgoing and charming, Larry is an opinionated man with a fun-loving exterior. But he holds strong stereotypical views towards Indigenous Peoples and sees them as angry and greedy. Mostly, he feels they are to blame for any hardships they face, and the rest of society has to pay for it. In his free time, Larry loves to spend time at the cottage, fishing, hunting, and cycling.

Samantha Whitehead
Age: 26
Location: Whitby, Ont.
Occupation: Event Manager

When asked how others would describe her, Stephanie said they would call her a dreamer, someone who thinks unconventionally, is friendly and optimistic. Samantha grew up in a tight-knit family and describes her childhood as ‘quite perfect.’ Growing up in the suburbs, she has admittedly grown up in a very sheltered world. Not only does she know nothing about Indigenous Peoples or culture, she claims to have never even met an Indigenous person in her life.

Stephanie Pituley
Age: 36
Location: Tyndall, Man.
Occupation: Stay-at-home mother and co-owner of a trucking business

Stephanie and her family spend lots of time on the road and love traveling to tropical locations during the cold Manitoba winters. Living near Winnipeg, she associates being Indigenous with homelessness, addiction and crime. But, she has recently discovered that she herself has Métis heritage. However, her interest in this discovery has nothing to do with fostering a cultural or spiritual connection. Instead, she is interested in only using it to obtain perceived “perks” for her children.

First Contact is produced by Animiki See Digital Production, Nüman Films and Indios Productions, with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund. Producers are Vanessa Loewen and Desiree Single from Animiki, Jeff Newman and Jocelyn Mitchell from Nüman Films, and Stephanie Scott from Indios Productions. This series is written and directed by Jeff Newman.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Season three of Eyes for the Job premieres September 10 on AMI-tv

From a media release:

Chris and Alex are tackling their biggest projects yet! Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) announced that Season three of Eyes for the Job, the 13-part television series starring Chris Judge and Alex Haider, premieres Tuesday, September 10, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv.

Produced by Clerisy Entertainment, Eyes for the Job is set in Halifax and features Nova Scotian co-hosts Chris Judge and Alex Haider. Chris, who is blind, is a lifelong handyman and do-it-yourself enthusiast. Joining him once again is Alex, who couples her creativity and enthusiasm with social media and outreach know-how.

Season three marks changes at the community workshop. Alex takes control of many projects, giving Chris even more time to tell jokes, practice his singing and even take a selfie or two. They also challenge themselves—and each other—with bigger projects, inviting friends and contributors to help them convert an old dresser into a change table, construct an apple press, and put their personal touches on a pair of custom baseball bats. Eyes for the Job becomes a family affair as Chris’ brother, Darren, stops by to help his sibling build a doghouse.

In keeping with AMI’s mandate of making accessible media for all Canadians, Season three of Eyes for the Job features Integrated Described Video (IDV): Chris and Alex describe their actions and surroundings during filming to make the program accessible to individuals who are blind or partially sighted.

Beginning on September 10, Eyes for the Job airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. Check your local listings for the AMI-tv channel in your area or use AMI’s online channel guide. Episodes will be available online after the initial broadcast at AMI.ca or on the AMI-tv App.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: Never Too Old proves you can do anything regardless of age

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As they say, age is just a number. That saying is driven home in the excellent, inspiring “Never Too Old.”

Debuting Thursday at 9 p.m. on CBC as part of CBC Docs POV, the project—from Dream Street Pictures, who made the equally excellent “Sickboy”—tells the story of 82-year-old Olive Bryanton who aims to earn her PhD, and documents the lives of women over 85 living in rural Canada.

Never one to relax, cameras capture Prince Edward Island native Olive as she works on her doctoral thesis at the University of Prince Edward Island. Her thesis? To prove most octogenarians and older defy the stereotype of taking it easy. Olive recruited 10 women aged 85-91, living in rural P.E.I., to document their busy lives and determine what support, if any, was there helping or hindering them in their lives.

“I’m sick and tired of hearing older adults are a burden on society, because they’re not,” Olive says. She, and the ladies we meet in “Never Too Old,” would run circles around me and a lot of younger folks I know. Like 91-year-old Theresa, a self-professed tomboy who delights in cutting the grass on her riding lawnmower and has “no notion of living anywhere else.” Or 88-year-old Anna, who is still active in her farming community; 87-year-old Ruby, the centre of her senior’s group; and 89-year-old Nan, who paints, revels in her “beautiful junk” and still feels sexual.

At the heart of Olive’s message is dropping the stigma that the older generation isn’t of value to society. As she points out, society’s focus is on those living in care facilities. But a mere 10 per cent of seniors are living in them. They’re active and they have something to say.

“I have never said to myself, ‘It’s too late to do something’ or ‘I’m too old to do something,'” Olive says. “That has never entered my mind.”

“Never Too Old” airs as part of CBC Docs POV on Thursday at 9 p.m. on CBC and streams on CBC Gem.

Image courtesy of CBC.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Casting now open for CTV summer tentpole series, Holmes Family Rescue

From a media release:

As announced during the #CTVUpfront in June, Canadian TV icon and professional contractor Mike Holmes and his children – Mike Jr. and Sherry – have teamed up to create their biggest and most ambitious project yet, the MADE® in Canada series HOLMES FAMILY RESCUE. Casting is now open for the inspirational and life-changing series, set to headline CTV’s Summer 2020 lineup. Featuring the Holmes family as they transform lives, HOLMES FAMILY RESCUE is now looking for change-makers who also want to subscribe to Holmes’ “Make It Right®” mantra and be part of this series.

Production for HOLMES FAMILY RESCUE begins this October. For all casting details, including instructions on how to apply and other FAQs, applicants can visit CTV.ca/MikeHolmesCasting.

HOLMES FAMILY RESCUE is looking for inspiring Canadians from all corners of the country who are striving to make a difference. Applicants can nominate an individual, group, or an organization in need of a life-altering renovation that will forever change a life or the lives of their group or community. The series is especially interested in hearing from young applicants who have an important cause and are looking for an opportunity to make a positive impact with the Holmes family’s help. Anyone who is trying to make a positive change in Canada and who has a renovation project that can help their cause, can apply.  

HOLMES FAMILY RESCUE is produced by Make It Right Productions in association with CTV. Mike Holmes is Executive Producer. Grant Greschuk is Series Producer. Paul McConvey is Supervising Producer.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: CBC Docs POV’s Humboldt: The New Season should not be missed

How can you possibly return to the ice after fellow teammates, coaches and others close to you die? That path is explored through the eyes of Humboldt Broncos players and their families in the heartbreaking and touching “Humboldt: The New Season.”

Debuting as part of CBC Docs POV on Thursday at 9 p.m. on CBC, “Humboldt: The New Season” follows five survivors—Brayden Camrud and Derek Patter as they return to play for the 2018-2019 Humboldt hockey season with a different coaching staff and new teammates and Tyler Smith, Kaleb Dahlgren and Layne Matechuk—as they continue their recovery while pursuing their love of hockey in new ways.

Produced by Chris McIvor and Libby Lea of Frank Digital and Lucas Frison and Elise Beaudry-Ferland of Prairie Cat Productions, “Humboldt: The New Season” recalls the horrific crash between the Broncos bus and a tractor-trailer on that lonely road on April 6, 2018. Sixteen perished and those left behind have been affected physically and mentally for the rest of their lives. Set against a haunting rendition of Tom Cochrane’s “Big League,” while a drone hovers over kids playing hockey on a frozen pond, “Humboldt: The New Season” is a gut-punch from Minute 1.

Banners sit on the ice in a hockey rink.

“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to return after my injuries,” Brayden Camrud says in the opening minutes. “It’s been tough. You have a lot to think about. You think about all those other guys every day. I think about the boys who aren’t here.” Much of the documentary is spent telling the stories of those who were lost, including coach Darcy Haugan, assistant coach Mark Cross and athletic therapist Dayna Brons.

It’s also about healing, whether it’s the players themselves or the small town of Humboldt, whose citizens were thrust onto the world stage because of the accident and who rallied around each other.

The danger of making a project like this is that it can feel invasive, an excuse to get into the faces of those affected and exploit them. But the producers don’t ever do that. The result is a tear-filled story of remembrance and respect that everyone should watch.

“Humboldt: The New Season” airs as part of CBC Docs POV on Thursday at 9 p.m. on CBC.

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