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True North Calling offers unflinching look at lives of northern Canadians

I’m fascinated with the Canadian north. Perhaps it’s because my father’s side of the family is in Cochrane, Ont., a place I visited as a child and remember snow and sub-zero temperatures with glee. I devour history books devoted to the English navy attempting to map and navigate the land and sea long ago. And while the north holds me in thrall, I’m not sure I’m of the steely stuff necessary to call the area my home, especially after watching the first episode of True North Calling.

Debuting Friday at 8:30 p.m. on CBC and from Proper Television—the company behind MasterChef Canada, Canada’s Worst Driver and Yukon For Sale—each half-hour episode of True North Calling spends time with Canadians who call the North home. In the first, viewers are introduced to Franco Buscemi, general manager of a fuel plant in Iqaluit. One of Franco’s responsibilities is to make sure the fuel needed to keep the city running—especially during the winter months—is not only flowing but there’s plenty of it to flow. The fuel is used to power generators that create the electricity and keep water running needed for citizens to survive. Additionally, supplies are flown into Iqaluit and planes need fuel. Suffice it to say, fuel is the lifeblood of Iqaluit. It’s easy to forget, living in Southern Ontario, that not everyone has pipes sending natural gas and water and wires supplying electricity with a mere flick of the switch. Aside from outlining Franco’s job, True North Calling visits his home to spotlight family life. It’s there viewers are given access to Franco’s culture, beliefs and love of his community, and the sacrifice he’s willing to make to address issues like substance abuse and suicide.

Then it’s off to Inuvik, NWT, to catch up with Kylik Kisoun Taylor. After being raised in Ontario by parents who were born in Inuvik, Kylik hopped on a plane at 16 and moved to their hometown. “I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be,” he says. And who can blame him? Shots of Kylik mountain biking in the snow or straddling a snowmobile are interspersed with him describing a day job as a tour guide operator portrays a man in his element. Sadly, an important part of his life is still back in Ontario and Kylik is struggling to keep things together financially and emotionally.

True North Calling isn’t a glowing triptych of the area. Yes, there are glorious views of frozen land, drifts of snow and eyelashes dusted with frost. But to live in this area of Canada is a struggle to survive, literally, and the program successfully presents that too. It takes a special kind of person to want to call this part of Canada home. These folks do.

My only complaint? I wish each episode was 60 minutes instead of 30.

True North Calling airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

CBC to launch new docu-series Keeping Canada Safe on March 16

From a media release:

CBC today announced that new 8×30 docu-series KEEPING CANADA SAFE will premiere with back-to-back episodes on Thursday, March 16 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC. Filmed over a single 48-hour period, KEEPING CANADA SAFE provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the people and emergency services tasked with protecting Canadians. Produced by Force Four Entertainment in association with CBC, the series lifts the veil and explores what it means to be safe in a rapidly changing world, while showcasing the intimate and dramatic stories of Canada’s everyday heroes who face tremendous challenges and put their lives at risk to keep Canadians safe. Two back-to-back episodes will air Thursdays at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC.

In each episode of KEEPING CANADA SAFE, viewers will be privy to a dramatic, day-in-the-life snapshot of emergency services across the country including police, firefighters, airport security, Canadian Forces, CSIS agents, grassroots volunteers and more. Over two days in September 2016, 60 camera crews descended across Canada’s streets, airspace, parks and homes to capture the action-packed and inspiring stories of those working to protect the country, both within and outside its borders. With unparalleled access, more than 47 organizations were filmed at work in 34 different cities across 10 provinces and two territories to create this thorough and immersive program.

Based on the format from ITV, KEEPING CANADA SAFE is a follow up to 2015’s KEEPING CANADA ALIVE.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: New TV series True North Calling travels to Canadian Arctic

From Chris Lackner of Canada.com:

Link: New TV series True North Calling travels to Canadian Arctic
Layer up, Canada.

The Canadian Arctic almost falls off the map when it comes to mainstream pop culture, but a new CBC docu-series hopes to make the North a landmark.

True North Calling, premiering Feb. 17, promises a rare, intimate look at our country’s North and the resourceful, compelling Canadians not just surviving — but thriving — amidst the unforgiving, breathtaking terrain.  Continue reading. 

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mighty Cruise Ships sails into Season 2 with drama and extravagance

You have to admire Exploration Production Inc.’s, track record. Discovery’s in-house production company is responsible for some of the most engaging—and highly rated—series on specialty television. They’re not only the folks behind Daily Planet, Megaspeed, Forensic Factor and Factory City but the “Mighty” series, including Mighty Ships and Mighty Trains.

Pulling away from Discovery’s dock on Sunday is Season 2 of Mighty Cruise Ships, which aims to spotlight the most outrageous, expensive and exciting cruise ships sailing around the world. The first episode features a stunner: the Carnival Vista. The largest in the Carnival fleet, the ship cruises the Mediterranean with more than 4,600 passengers, and crew of 1,400 in almost 2,000 staterooms. There are 10 restaurants, a 140-metre long slide, IMAX theatre, brewery and—astoundingly—the first-ever suspended bike loop that allows guests to ride 46 metres above the sea. Carnival Vista truly is a small city on the sea, and that comes with positives and negatives.

What has always impressed me about the Mighty series of programs is the unrestricted access they get not only to staff but the nooks and crannies of the things they’re exploring. With just a few hours to do it, the crew successfully completes a turnaround in Greece, offloading previous passengers and their luggage, cleaning, refreshing and loading new passengers, luggage and supplies for the next 10-day voyage. That means cleaning tons of laundry, overseeing 350 pallets of food … and getting out of port on time.

Not everything goes well. Mere moments after beginning the voyage there is an emergency that shows just how nimble a massive ship and its crew can be when called upon.

Upcoming weeks of Mighty Cruise Ships focus on Royal Clipper, Viking Sea, Europa 2, Ocean Endeavour and MSC Divina.

Mighty Cruise Ships airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Discovery.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Introducing the six from the 6ix: Slice reveals The Real Housewives of Toronto

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From a media release:

This March share in all the glitz, glamour and drama that Toronto has to offer with The Real Housewives of Toronto premiering Tuesday, March 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Sliceâ„¢. The hotly anticipated 10×60 series follows six of Toronto’s most privileged, powerful and glamorous women as they navigate the elite social scene of Canada’s largest city. Watch as the ladies open up their extravagant lives and share every shocking moment as they deal with the ups and downs of relationships, careers and family.

The wait is over. Meet The Real Housewives of Toronto:

  • Kara Alloway – devout fashionista, mother of three.
  • Roxy Earle – outspoken jet-setter and entrepreneur.Gregoriane (Grego) Minot – proud mother and life of the party.
  • Gregoriane (Grego) Minot – proud mother and life of the party.
  • Ann Kaplan Mulholland – sharp businesswoman with an even sharper wit.
  • Joan Kelley Walker – small town girl living the big city dream life.
  • Jana Webb – sizzling fitness CEO and single mother.

The housewives juggle many responsibilities including families, growing empires, multiple homes and jam-packed social calendars. Throughout the series, cameras follow them at home in Toronto, north to Ontario’s playground for the rich and famous, Muskoka, and across the ocean to Barcelona, Spain. The housewives live large in every sense; dining at Toronto’s top restaurants, attending lavish soirées, travelling first class to luxurious destinations, and shopping for the very best designer clothes, shoes and jewelry. But not all that glitters is gold as the women deal with the highs and lows of living large in the big city.

The Real Housewives of Toronto is the latest series to join The Real Housewives franchise, which includes Orange County, New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, Dallas, Potomac and international additions from England, Australia, New Zealand and Vancouver.

The series is produced by Lark Productions, in association with Corus Entertainment’s Slice™.

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