From Nathan Liewicki of Postmedia News:

Mike O’Brien, comedian and Corner Gas regular, dies of cancer
In his final blog posting, Mike O’Brien said he exuded faith — faith in his radiologist, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and counsellors — but not in God.

“Of course, I may be wrong. I often am. Fortunately, if God really exists, I’m confident he’ll look at my overall record and let me slide on the faith/skeptic issue. It just sounds like the kind of decent thing he’d do,” he wrote on Sunday.

That same day O’Brien died, succumbing to synovial sarcoma, a cancer first diagnosed in the summer of 2011. He was 51. Continue reading.

From a media release:

TEMPLE STREET PRODUCTIONS AND DHX TELEVISION ANNOUNCE PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON NEW TWEEN DRAMA THE MUSIC ROOM (WORKING TITLE)

• NEW SERIES FEATURES ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK IN EACH EPISODE

Temple Street Productions and DHX Television are pleased to announce production has commenced on The Music Room (working title), a music-based tween series from Frank van Keeken, creator of The Next Step. The reality-style drama follows a group of young performers who are members of an elite music program. The music-based series, which is slated to premiere on Family Channel in Winter 2016, will feature an entirely original soundtrack.

The Music Room follows the lives of a group of musicians who are part of a unique music program, run by a musician turned producer. Each year, a select few are chosen to go on a live tour and hopeful candidates audition to fill the spots that have been made available. Members immerse themselves in music, write songs, record tracks and form bands in hopes of turning their passion into a profession.

Showcasing a talented cast of young performers, the series stars Keara Graves as Leia; Shane Harte as Luke; Alex Zaichkowski as John; Sarah Carmosino as Rachel: Levi Randall as Theo; Deshaun Clarke as Jude; Ella Jonas Farlinger as Eva; Maranda Thomas as Mary; Alyssa Baker as Maggie; Rakim Kelly as Isaac; Olivia Solo as Annabelle; Jeni Ross as Clara; Katrina Hachey as Hannah; and Matthew Bacik as Nate. Michael Torontow and Ali Milner will play Mr. T and Parker who oversee the music program. The Music Room will also feature guest appearances by notable artists and guest stars from The Next Step.

The Music Room (working title) is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Family Channel and is executive produced by creator Frank van Keeken (The Next Step, Wingin’ It, Billable Hours), Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Orphan Black, X Company, The Next Step). Laura Harbin (The Next Step, Wingin’ It) also serves as executive producer.

Bahama Blue, Love Nature – “The Sand Flats”
Beyond the iconic and pristine white beaches of the Bahamas, the Sand Flats are home to fierce Iguanas, camouflaging stingrays, and the beautiful bottlenose dolphin. All of this sand is the surprising waste product produced by resident parrotfish nibbling on coral, producing one tonne of sand per fish every year. Each species relies on the surprising abundance in the sand flats both onshore and off. Green sea turtles spend most of their lives grazing on the sea grasses of the sand flats. Stingrays use incredible electro sensitivity to locate crustaceans hidden away in the sand. The creatures of the sand flats have unique skills for turning seemingly desert conditions, in to an advantage.