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Amazing Race Canada’s Julie and Lowell inspire in AMI’s Mind Set Go

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The mind is a powerful thing. It can inspire you to seek the most powerful and healthy version of yourself or propel on to a downward slide of negativity.

Debuting Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on AMI-tv, Mind Set Go takes the latter and aims for the former with help from The Amazing Race Canada finalists Julie and Lowell Taylor and Canadian Paralympians. The eight-episode season features everyday folks struggling to overcome the negative thoughts that lead to obesity via a three-month system of diet, exercise and support to get them on the path to health and personal wellness. Serving as certified health and fitness coaches and confidantes are the Taylors, who millions saw competing in Season 4 of The Amazing Race Canada; Lowell is legally blind due to retinitis pigmentosa. The pair plays an integral part in helping the contestants shed weight and negative thoughts.

Gio strives to reach his goal

“AMI was very interested in our story,” Julie says on the line from Lethbridge, Alta. “Our relationship, our teamwork and the fact that Lowell is visually impaired worked. We realized that we have something special that can reach a broader audience.” The journey begins with Gio. One of the original members of The Canadian Tenors, Gio stopped singing professionally over a decade ago and fell into a depression he fed with food. Now he’s ready to get healthy. It’s not easy. After a pep talk and weigh-in with Julie and Lowell, Gio begins his transformative journey.

The road to self-worth includes a bike ride with Michelle Salt. The one-time fitness model lost her right leg in a motorcycle accident but found drive and a zest for life as part of Canada’s Paralympic Snowboard Team. Salt listens to Gio before putting him on a bike and challenging him to keep up and pedals away. As she says, the only thing holding Gio back from success is his mind.

AMI This Week’s Victoria Nolan

“We often talk to people who are patients about this,” Lowell says. “If you believe you can’t you’re right. If you believe you can, you’re also right. If we let those bully voices inside of our head, that becomes the limiting belief. That becomes the thing that pulls us away, to withdraw, to stop living.”

“I don’t even think people identify that that is what’s holding them back,” Julie continues. “It becomes so internalized that they haven’t even identified that. Bringing it to light is so important.” Future episodes of Mind Set Go showcase Canadian Paralympians and athletes in Maya Jonas, Josh Cassidy, Summer Mortimer, Ness Murby, Greg Westlake and AMI This Week co-host Victoria Nolan.

Mind Set Go airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on AMI-tv.

Images courtesy of AMI.

 

 

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: Train lovers rejoice! Rocky Mountain Railroad chugs on to Discovery Canada

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All aboard! Discovery’s Rocky Mountain Railroad is pulling out of the station, and you don’t want to miss this fun ride when it debuts Monday, March 5, at 10 p.m. ET on the specialty channel.

Produced by Cineflix Productions (Mayday) and Windfall Films in association with Discovery Canada, the documentary series features the folks and machinery of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Ontario Northland railway. Cameras capture how crews keep the nation’s critical freight and passenger trains rolling during the winter months by battling deadly avalanches, monster icicles, steep rockslides and dangerous wildlife.

I was particularly interested in the passenger angle of Rocky Mountain Railroad. My dad’s side of the family is from Cochrane, Ont., a stop on the Ontario Northland route and starting and end points for the Polar Bear Express train to Moosonee. I’ve always dreamed of riding the Polar Bear Express; I figure this show will keep that hunger sated until I can do the real thing. So, how does Rocky Mountain Railroad stack up to, say, Mighty Trains?

Quite well, in fact. Though I appreciate learning about trains and their crews in other countries, I’m a proud Canadian and as such love a program that focuses solely on us. Like Highway Thru Hell does for key roadways in the western parts of this country, Rocky Mountain Railroad does for the ribbon of steel by celebrating and spotlighting the machinery and humans that keep the rail lines open in the winter. Built more than 135 years ago and stretching 5,000 km across Canada, the Canadian Pacific Railway is a lifeline of fuel, freight and food that cannot be cut.

In Monday’s debut, steep grades and a lot of snow in Revelstoke, B.C., serve up a challenge for those charged with keeping the tracks clear. It’s fascinating to watch the snowplow crews do their work. Conductor Jim and engineer Jordy are hauling $50 million worth of freight from Vancouver—that had been on a massive ship from overseas—through an avalanche zone that’s just received lots of fresh snow, while a removal crew tackles giant ice columns at Eagle Pass that could spell disaster for passing trains. Viewers will learn a lot about avalanches in Episode 1, as well as what’s done to prevent them from taking out a train.

Meanwhile, Ontario Northland ships crucial materials to isolated communities in the north of the province in punishingly cold temperatures. On this stretch of rail, the train will stop and ship anything if you flag them down. In the case of George, it means filling an entire car with firewood for delivery to Moose Factory, Ont., where burning wood is the only economical option to keep warm.

If you’re a train fanatic, you’ll love Rocky Mountain Railroad. And even if you’re not, it’s an engrossing and informative look at the people and trains who keep things moving in some of the most dangerous places in the country.

Rocky Mountain Railroad airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on Discovery.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

 

 

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Growing Sense, a new gardening show rooted in inclusion, premieres March 20 on AMI-tv

From a media release:

Celebrate the first day of spring with a new 10-part documentary series focused on cultivating meaningful connections with nature and the community through accessible gardening. A series by Tell Tale Productions, Growing Sense premieres on AMI-tv Tuesday, March 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET and PT.

Novice gardener Milena Khazanavicius once worked as a floral designer with dreams of opening her own shop before losing her sight at the age of 22. Rosmarie Lohnes is a veteran ecological landscaper with a passion for restoring sustainable ecosystems that connect people with nature. Together, they’ll build and tend to an accessible garden plot at Common Roots Urban Farm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, growing a variety of foods, tackling tough landscaping projects and fostering a lasting friendship.

Growing Sense features Integrated Described Video and is accessible to audience members who are blind or partially sighted. Starting March 20, the series airs Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET and PT, and will be available online at AMI.ca and on the AMI app for iPhone and Apple TV after the initial broadcast.

Follow Accessible Media on Twitter: @AccessibleMedia

About Tell Tale Productions
Tell Tale Productions Inc. was founded in 2003 by Edward Peill with the goal of providing thought provoking and engaging content that will resonate with audiences and have long lasting global appeal. The company produces unique and highly rated one-off documentaries, factual entertainment series, and interactive media and has recently expanded its development slate to include feature films and mobile apps.

 

 

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Cottage Life is all set for spring with new, original Canadian series

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From a media release:

Just in time for the spring thaw, Cottage Life is giving more than nine million viewers across Canada an eight-week free preview, jam-packed with brand new original Canadian series that showcase weekend and lakefront living. Headlining the new lineup is Brojects: Built for the Weekend, the highly anticipated new installment in the Brojects franchise starring Andrew and Kevin Buckles, in which the brothers bring their playful construction projects to a different family’s cottage or cabin in each episode. The channel will also roll out two brand new original series, including Lake Docks & Decks, in which Canadian contractors Marshall Black and Simon Hirsh take viewers through the step-by-step process of designing and building truly impressive lakeside projects and Lakefront Luxury, a series that showcases a breathtaking crop of captivating waterfront properties that will air during the channel’s popular weekend real estate block.

As an added springtime bonus, Cottage Life fans in Toronto, Ottawa and Edmonton will have the chance to meet the Brojects themselves as well as the hosts of Lake Docks & Decks at upcoming Cottage Life consumer shows. Kevin and Andrew Buckles will be on hand for meet and greets at both the Spring Cottage Life Show in Toronto from March 22 to 25 and the Edmonton Cottage Life & Cabin Show, which runs from April 20 to 22. Marshall Black and Simon Hirsh will give main stage presentations on their dock building triumphs and challenges at the Spring Cottage Life Show in Toronto as well as the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show taking place from April 13 to 15. For meet and greet times and additional information on the Cottage Life consumer shows, please visit shows.cottagelife.com.

Free Preview Premieres on Cottage Life

Vet on the Hill (Canadian Premiere, Season 3) premieres Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Back by popular demand, Australian vet Dr. Scott Miller gives viewers genuine insight into the highs and lows of life at a small town veterinary practice. Besides a steady stream of dogs and cats, Dr. Miller takes on everything from performing life saving surgery on a tiny hedgehog to diagnosing and treating a full-size cow.

ER Vets (Season 1) premieres Wednesday, March 7 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.
Narrated by renowned Canadian singer/songwriter Jann Arden, ER Vets combines the interpersonal stories of veterinarians who cope with life and death animal situations on a daily basis with compelling medical procedural footage.

Lake Docks & Decks (Cottage Life Original Series, World Premiere, Season 1) premieres Thursday, March 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Veteran dock builders Marshall Black and Simon Hirsh elevate dilapidated waterfronts to the next level. From families looking to spend time at the lake to couples aspiring for a resort vibe, Marshall and Simon work with their clients to design their dream waterfronts. Each episode follows the step-by-step process from conception to construction to the final reveal of the waterfront oases.

Lakefront Luxury (Cottage Life Original Series, World Premiere, Season 1) premieres Saturday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.
The ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind is stunning views, gorgeous waterfronts and serene sunsets. With unlimited budgets and endless wish lists, each episode takes you on a tour of three opulent properties along with potential buyers, as they weigh their options and ultimately decide which home is the one for them.

World’s Wildest Weather (Canadian Premiere, Season 1) premieres Monday, March 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
From freak tornadoes to hailstones the size of footballs, this fast-paced, adrenaline-filled documentary series will chart some of the most extreme weather from around the world with first-hand, witness statements and personal footage, bringing viewers right into the panic and drama of being caught up in a storm. The series also uses jaw-dropping CGI to illustrate the science behind the storms.

The Supervet (Canadian Premiere, Season 4) premieres Wednesday, March 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Hard-to-cure pets receive cutting-edge care from Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, aka the Bionic Vet, and his crack veterinary team. Each hour-long episode features some of the most complex veterinary challenges ever seen and captures the raw emotion, drama and joyfulness of Dr. Fitzpatrick and his staff as they find extraordinary and innovative solutions to save pets in dire conditions.

Brojects: Built for the Weekend (Cottage Life Original Series, Canadian Premiere) premieres Thursday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. From a double-decker party boat to a floating playground to even a dock with a built-in swimming pool, Brojects brothers Kevin and Andrew are dreaming up and building everything needed for an epic weekend of fun. After years of designing one-of-a-kind projects at their own getaway retreat, they’re turning it up a notch by hitting the road and taking their cool and creative ideas to families in need of vacation property upgrades.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Canadian Premiere, Season 7) premieres Saturday, April 14 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Back by popular demand, the beloved series follows architect and TV personality George Clarke as he shows how the most surprising and unexpected places can be transformed into tranquil spaces to escape from our hectic lives. This season also includes unique spaces George visited in Japan.

Cottage Life, a Blue Ant Media multi-platform brand, celebrating the people, activities and places that make leisure time special. Exclusive content covers real estate, food, DIY projects and much more.

 

 

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HGTV Canada’s real estate expert risks it all in Buyers Bootcamp with Scott McGillivray

From a media release:

Investment property specialist, Scott McGillivray, is taking his passion to the next level by teaming up with renovation rookies for the opportunity of a lifetime in the new Canadian original series Buyers Bootcamp with Scott McGillivray (10×60). Premiering Sunday, April 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, the series follows Scott as he works with first-time house flippers and invests his own money and expertise to renovate rundown homes. Along with his new partners, Scott will work night and day to get each renovation completed on time and on budget. If they succeed, they split the profits, and if they fail, they fail together.

After years of successfully transforming properties into income-generators, this time Scott is offering his knowledge to newbies in a high stakes, real-life training ground. In each episode, Scott tours two potential partners’ homes to identify what needs to be done to earn top dollar when it hits the market. Scott takes into account the total budget, the time required, as well as the skills and sweat-equity each homeowner can offer. Once the partner is selected, Scott puts his money where his mouth is and personally invests in the project. He then leads the charge in tackling the renovation, giving his new partners invaluable hands-on lessons to successfully overhaul a home in time for an open house.

CIBC continues its five-year partnership with HGTV Canada and Scott McGillivray as the series’ exclusive sponsor. The financial institution will provide viewers with helpful tips on how they can make the most of their own home investments through digital content on the series’ website and weekly videos posted on HGTV Canada’s social media platforms, in addition to organic integrations throughout the show.

New episodes of Buyers Bootcamp with Scott McGillivray will be available On Demand and at HGTV.ca each week after broadcast. Later this spring, catch Scott as he returns for Season 3 of HGTV Canada’s Home To Win, premiering Sunday, April 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Buyers Bootcamp with Scott McGillivray is produced by McGillivray Entertainment in association with Corus Entertainment’s HGTV Canada and Scripps Networks Interactive.

 

 

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