HGTV seeks extraordinary Canadian small town to star in Hometown Takeover Canada

September 19, 2025 Greg David 38 Comments

From a media release:

Today, HGTV announced a nationwide call for Canadians to show their small-town pride and nominate their community to be featured in the new Canadian original series Home Town Takeover Canada, set to premiere on HGTV and stream on Citytv+ in fall 2026/winter 2027.

Beginning today, Canadians can visit hometowntakeovercanada.ca to share why their town is deserving of this life-changing makeover.

Previously announced as part of Rogers Sports & Media’s slate of new Canadian original unscripted series for HGTV, Home Town Takeover Canada is the first expansion of the popular U.S. “Home Town Takeover” franchise.

Home Town Takeover Canada is on a mission to spark a nationwide small town revitalization movement, starting with one special town. Inspired by the success of three seasons in the U.S., the new Canadian series will shine a light on a Canadian small town facing real challenges and give it the boost it needs to get back on its feet.

“We’re excited to celebrate and showcase the resilience, heart and deep sense of community rooted in small towns across our country,” said Kale Stockwell, Head of Original Programming, Rogers Sports & Media. “Home Town Takeover Canada will not only revitalize one special town but also share the stories of the people who make the selected town so unique.”

Home Town Takeover Canada will see support from HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier (Home Town, Home Town Takeover) along with fellow Canadian designers and builders all contributing to make a big impact.

HGTV is looking for a Canadian small town that has a population of 20,000 or fewer and is asking for submissions to include photos and videos of the areas in the community that need the most love, whether it be public parks, main streets, gathering places or changemakers’ homes.

Home Town Takeover Canada is produced by RTR Media and will begin production in 2026. Selected location, host and broadcast details to be announced in the coming months.

Featured

Bryan Adams headlines Citytv’s star-studded holiday programming slate

September 18, 2025 Greg David Leave a comment

From a media release:

This holiday season, Citytv and Citytv+ are delivering a gift-wrapped lineup of star-powered specials, merry movies, heartwarming surprises, and much more, beginning November 23.

Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams headlines new Citytv original Bryan Adams and Friends: A Great Big Holiday Jam, a one-hour special featuring festive hits and appearances from Alessia Cara, Alan Doyle, Barenaked Ladies, Lights, The Sheepdogs, and more – all set in Bryan’s intimate in-the-round Warehouse studio. With the warmth, spontaneity, and front-row energy of a live jam session, audiences are invited to share in the music, memories, and holiday magic. Broadcast details to be announced in the coming months.

“The holidays have always been a special time for me and I’m thrilled to be joined by some of Canada’s most talented artists. The Great Big Holiday Jam is going to be joyful and unforgettable – the perfect soundtrack to the season,” said Bryan Adams.

On November 23, Citytv delivers the magic of the season in a live broadcast of the Original Santa Claus Parade from downtown Toronto. The live broadcast will be hosted by Breakfast Television’s Dina Pugliese, Tim Bolen, Rick Campanelli, and Devo Brown who will bring all the action from the parade route featuring a stunning array of decorated floats, lively bands, marchers, and more. More details on the Original Santa Claus Parade to be announced in the coming weeks.

NEW HOLIDAY-THEMED SERIES AND SPECIALS INCLUDE:

Citytv Very Merry Movies on Citytv and Citytv+
Bake Master Battle with Dina Pugliese, April Julian, and Dwight Smith on Food Network and Citytv+
Come Dine With Me Canada on Food Network and Citytv+
Then, ring in the New Year with the biggest party on television, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, airing December 31 on Citytv and Citytv+

APPLY NOW TO BE PART OF THE PRICE IS RIGHT TONIGHT

Come On Down, Canada! This December, Canadians can take part in The Price is Right Tonight, an all-new one-hour primetime edition of the iconic smash-hit global format from Fremantle, The Price is Right, hosted by legendary comedian and television personality Howie Mandel. Every seat in the audience gives attendees a chance to be a contestant on the show! Canadians can apply now at www.thepriceisrighttonight.ca. The Price is Right Tonight is slated to air on Citytv and Citytv+, a subsidiary of Rogers Sports & Media, in Spring 2026.

“I’m thrilled to invite fans from all walks of life to come and be part of The Price is Right Tonight. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the excitement and joy of one of television’s most successful and longest-running gameshows in TV history. If you love fun, games, and winning incredible prizes, now’s your chance!” said Howie Mandel, Host, The Price is Right Tonight.

Featured, The Trades

Crave original comedy series The Trades in production on Season 3

September 18, 2025 Greg David Leave a comment

From a media release:

Trailer Park Boys Inc. and Kontent House Inc. announced today that production is underway in Nova Scotia on season three of their Crave Original comedy series, THE TRADES. Created by Ryan J. Lindsay, the eight-part, 30-minute, comedy centres around Todd “Goldenarm” Stool (Robb Wells), a pipefitter from a working-class background. The series will film in Nova Scotia and Hamilton, Ontario.

“The response to THE TRADES has been fantastic and we’re excited to be back for a third season with our incredible cast of colourful characters, talented crew and partners at Crave,” said Robb Wells, who stars as Todd Stool and is a series producer and writer.

In season three, Todd Stool walks the thin line between friend and boss. Meanwhile, his sister Audrey (Anastasia Phillips) is secretly hooking up with Todd’s best friend Backwoods (Daniel Petronijevic) and beloved site manager Chelsea (Jennifer Spence) must face an uncomfortable truth when Jenn Conch (Jennifer Irwin) returns to Imperial Valley and is determined to fit in.

Additional returning cast include Raoul Bhaneja (Blindspot) as Medhi, Jesse Camacho (Fubar) as Homer, Brandon Oakes (Revival) as Taser, Jason Daley (Trailer Park Boys) as Dewey, Susan Kent (Pretty Hard Cases) as Steph, Patrick McKenna (The Red Green Show) as Rod, Tara Spencer-Nairn (Corner Gas) as Daina, Dave Lawrence (Fubar) as Roach, and Aaron Poole (Most Dangerous Game) as Billy.

Audiences can watch seasons one and two of THE TRADES on Crave, while Season 3 is set to debut in 2026.

THE TRADES is co-produced by Trailer Park Boys Inc. and Kontent House Inc. in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Gary Howsam is executive producer; Ryan J. Lindsay is creator, writer, and executive producer; Robb Wells is producer and writer, and Jonathan A. Walker is producer. Jennifer Irwin, Warren P. Sonoda and Shelley Eriksen are executive producers; Neha Kohli is co-executive producer and writer. Irwin and Susan Kent are also writers this season. Lindsay also directs one episode and Sonoda will direct seven.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Top Chef Canada is back for Season 12 on Flavour Network

September 18, 2025 Greg David Leave a comment

From a media release:

Top Chef Canada is back for a milestone 12th season featuring 10 of the country’s best up-and-coming professional chefs, each with their own culinary origin story, and each fighting for the prestigious title of Canada’s Top Chef. With the esteemed panel of returning judges joined by buzz-worthy guests, this season’s never before-seen challenges will task the chefs with showcasing their skills while celebrating the rich cultural diversity of our country. Season 12 of Top Chef Canada, a #1 specialty entertainment program*, premieres Tuesday, October 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Flavour Network and streaming exclusively on STACKTV.

Top Chef Canada welcomes back chef, cookbook author, and longtime series host, Eden Grinshpan, along with a revered panel of returning judges: chef, fermenter and author David Zilber, powerhouse restaurateurJanet Zuccarini, chef and owner of The McEwan Group, Mark McEwan, and content creator and global food expert Mijune Pak.

For 11 seasons, Top Chef Canada has given fans a front-row seat to the country’s ever-evolving food scene and propelled its winners into Canadian culinary stars. This season will explore the essence of each competitor’s identity, tracing their unique culinary origin stories. In each episode, the chefs must elevate their skills and creativity to new heights with dishes that captivate the judges and take audiences on a culinary journey across the globe. There will be many Top Chef Canada firsts including a Bocuse d’Or-inspired elimination challenge, special events supporting Pride, an Indigenous film festival, and Restaurant Wars like you’ve never see it before. Featuring some of the best competitors in the history of the series, in the end only one chef will emerge victorious and be named Canada’s Top Chef.

The 10 chefs – Canada’s culinary crème de la crème – ready to compete for the glory and title of Canada’s Top Chef include:

Coulson Armstrong (He/Him) – 41, Toronto, Ont. (Our House Hospitality Company)

Katy Cheung (She/Her) – 33, Vancouver, B.C. (Burdock & Co.)

Holly Holt (She/Her) – 35, Edmonton, Alta. (Yellowhead Tribal Council & She Cooks Catering)

Alex Kim (He/Him) – 34, Vancouver, B.C. (Five Sails & Glowbal Restaurant Group)

Charlotte Langley (She/Her) – 41, Prince Edward County, Ont. (Nice Cans & Langley Foods)

Tracy Little (She/Her) – 39, Canmore, Alta. (Sauvage)

Nick Maharaj (He/Him) – 35, Victoria, B.C. (Part and Parcel)

Chris Pyne (He/Him) – 32, Windsor, N.S. (Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards)

Shai-Ann Tyson (She/Her) – 26, Toronto, Ont. (Balmy Beach Club & S.A.L.T Pop-up Restaurant Co.)

Anthony Vien (He/Him) – 28, Québec City, Que. (Tanière³)

During this season’s fast-paced challenges, Michelin Star chefs, culinary icons and notable personalities join the Top Chef Canada judging panel as guest judges and tasters. This includes Daniel Boulud (One Star Michelin restaurant DANIEL, and Cafe Boulud), Tawnya Brant (Top Chef Canada, Season 10 competitor), Shane Chartrand (Top Chef Canada, Season 11 competitor), Charlotte Cardin (Juno Award-winning singer), Susur Lee (Lee Restaurant, Lee Kitchen and TungLok Heen), Mei Lin (Top Chef, Season 12 winner, Chef/Owner, 88 Club & Daybird), Charlie Mitchell (executive chef/co-owner, One Star Michelin restaurant Clover Hill), Andrew Phung (actor, comedian, host of Big Burger Battle), Massimo Piedimonte (Top Chefalumni & owner of Cabaret l’Enfer), David Schwartz (culinary director, Big Hug Hospitality: Linny’s, Sunny’s Chinese, Mimi Chinese), Nara Smith (model and content creator), Chanthy Yen (Top Chef Canada, Season 11 winner), and many more.

Top Chef Canada is the homegrown version of the hit Emmy® Award-winning NBCUniversal Series Top Chef and is produced by Insight Productions (A Blue Ant Studios Company) in association with Flavour Network. Eric Abboud is Executive Producer and Showrunner along with Insight’s CEO & Executive Producer John Brunton and Executive Producer Mark Lysakowski. Co-Executive Producers for Insight Productions are Jessica Brunton and Daniel Klimitz.

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Ice Road Truckers returns for a 12th season on History Channel

September 18, 2025 Greg David Leave a comment

From a media release:

The HISTORY® Channel’s hit original series Ice Road Truckers is back for an epic Season 12 return on Thursday, October 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. From its original series premiere in 2007, the fearless truckers return like never before to the treacherous terrain of icy roads and frozen lakes in Northern Canada delivering crucial supplies and necessities to isolated communities. With a winter window shorter than ever and no time to waste, these drivers risk everything to haul in a lifeline of goods while chasing big paydays before the opportunity melts away under their chained tires.

At the world’s northern edge, people and cultures cut off from civilization are briefly connected by a lifeline of roads paved with ice. Each year, a group of skilled, highly trained, and thrill-seeking truckers put their lives on the line to beat nature’s clock – battling dangerous roads, deadly frostbite, and brutal conditions to deliver life-saving supplies such as food and building materials to remote communities. This season, veterans like Todd Dewey and Lisa Kelly return with no hesitation – and no practice runs – while rookies emerge, determined to prove they have what it takes to reign supreme on the ice. With higher stakes, greater risks, and bigger rewards than ever before, it’s them vs. nature.

Ice Road Truckers is produced for The HISTORY Channel and Corus Entertainment by Original Productions and Eagle Vision. Kyle Irving, Lisa Meeches, and Rebecca Gibson are executive producers for Eagle Vision. Jeff Hasler, Brian Lovett, Meredith Prunkard, and Patrick Costello are executive producers for Original Productions.