Bones of Crows, Featured, Industry News, Little Bird, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Changing leaves, inspiring stories: APTN unveils fall programming with Indigenous resilience at its core

August 30, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Coming soon to APTN is another incredible lineup of Indigenous stories. From groundbreaking dramas that highlight Indigenous resilience and the connection between past, present and future, to a full weekend of special programming in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), to new episodes of APTN’s hit docuseries, the network’s upcoming season is full of soul-stirring content, both new and old.

APTN’s fall slate will roll out from the beginning of September to the end of October and will include the programs below, plus many more.

NEW TO APTN

Bones of Crows
Expanding on the feature film of the same name, this five-part series is a story of resilience and strength told through the eyes of Cree matriarch Aline Spears. When Aline and her siblings are removed from their family home and forced into Canada’s residential school system, they are plunged into a struggle for survival. Over the next hundred years, Aline and her descendants fight for a more just future.

APTN TV premiere dates: Sept. 20 (English) and Sept. 25 (Cree)
APTN lumi premiere dates: Sept. 21 (English) and Sept. 26 (Cree)

Little Bird
Little Bird, launched initially on APTN lumi in May of this year, is a six-part series that explores the theme of resilience in the face of trauma and loss. Removed from her home on the Long Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan, Bezhig Little Bird is adopted into a Montreal Jewish family at the age of five, becoming Esther Rosenblum. Now in her 20s, Bezhig longs for the family she lost and is willing to sacrifice everything to find them.

APTN TV premiere date: Oct. 12 (English)

Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023
Produced by APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, this 90-minute multilingual commemorative gathering seeks to honour residential school Survivors and pay tribute to all the Indigenous children who never made it home. This year’s gathering will encompass powerful reflections from esteemed Elders and Survivors as well as moving performances by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists.

APTN TV premiere date: Sept. 30 (Multilingual)
APTN lumi premiere date: Oct. 2 (Multilingual)

Sur le terrain*
Sur le terrain is a French-language documentary series that explores the daily lives of frontline Indigenous health and social services workers. Whether they work in a remote region or in an urban setting, their commitment to community members is unwavering. These workers, who are mostly women, offer us an inside look at the immense challenges they face every day.

APTN lumi premiere date: Oct. 16 (French)
APTN TV premiere date: Oct. 23 (French)

Corner Gas – Seasons 1-3
One of Canada’s most popular sitcoms, Corner Gas takes place in the fictional town of Dog River, Sask., and follows the daily lives of the community’s oddball residents, including gas station owner Brent Leroy and coffee shop proprietor Lacey Burrows. APTN will air episodes daily this fall from Tuesday through to Friday.

APTN TV premiere date: Sept. 5 (English)

NEW SEASONS OF APTN FAN FAVOURITES

Gespe’gewa’gi: The Last Land – Season 2*
APTN lumi: Aug. 28 (Mi’kmaq) and Aug. 29 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 4 (Mi’kmaq) and Sept. 5 (English)

Michif Country – Season 3*
APTN lumi: Aug. 28 (Michif) and Aug. 29 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 4 (Michif) and Sept. 5 (English)

Merchants of the Wild – Season 4*
APTN lumi: Aug. 28 (Mi’kmaq) and Sept. 26 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 4 (Mi’kmaq) and Oct. 3 (English)

Friday Night Thunder – Season 3
APTN TV: Sept. 8 (English)
APTN lumi: Sept. 9 (English)

Amplify – Season 2*
APTN lumi: Aug. 31 (Michif) and Oct. 6 (English)
APTN TV: Sept. 7 (Michif) and Oct. 13 (English)

7th Gen – Season 2*
APTN lumi: Oct. 2 (Cree) and Oct. 6 (English)
APTN TV: Oct. 9 (Cree) and Oct. 13 (English)

Spirit Talker – Season 4*
APTN lumi: Oct. 18 (English)
APTN TV: Oct. 25 (English)

The Other Side – Season 9
APTN TV: Oct. 25 (English)
APTN lumi: Oct. 26 (English)

Ghost Hunters of the Grand River – Season 2
APTN TV: Oct. 25 (English)
APTN lumi: Oct. 26 (English)

*Indicates programs launching first on APTN lumi. APTN lumi has put together a collection of these returning favourites and more for viewers to catch up on prior to their television broadcast.

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Canada’s paranormal investigators visit world-famous haunts in new T+E series, History’s Most Haunted

August 29, 2023 Greg David 1 Comment

From a media release:

Chasing the success of T+E’s original two-part documentary, Haunted Gold Rush, exploring ghostly mysteries along British Columbia’s historic Gold Rush Trail, paranormal investigators Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland return with History’s Most Haunted (6×60’; HD).

The all-new series follows the trio as they travel across North America meeting with real people who recount their intense, terrifying and emotional paranormal experiences. This time, the women are on a mission to unlock a deeper understanding of the hauntings that take place in the world-famous locations they visit including Montreal, Newfoundland, Salem, New Orleans, Charleston and San Antonio. History’s Most Haunted premieres Friday, September 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on T+E during the channel’s nationwide free preview event, running from September 4 to November 5, 2023. New episodes from the series will air every Friday leading into October and T+E’s highly-anticipated ‘Creep Week’ event.

In History’s Most Haunted, Corine, Leanne and Kelly are reaching out and connecting with historical figures, many of whom died through war, criminal sentences, diseases, and natural disasters. Featuring stylized, cinematic dramatizations of eyewitness accounts, coupled with rich context provided by experts, historians and locals, the series shows how paranormal investigations can enrich people’s understanding of history by giving voices to the spirits of those who lived it. Together, the trio will bridge the gap between past and present in a fresh new way.

History’s Most Haunted is produced by Small Army Entertainment. Sean De Vries (The Bachelor Canada, Border Security) and Stephen Sawchuk (Love it or List it Vancouver, Sidney) serve as Executive Producers. The series is directed by Garth Dyke, Michael Bodnarchuk, Sean De Vries and Stephen Sawchuk. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media on behalf of Blue Ant Media. Blue Ant International oversees global distribution.

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

APTN gets fast and furious on Fridays with high-risk racing series Friday Night Thunder

August 29, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Big Soul Productions announces the SEPT. 8 premiere of Friday Night Thunder, a fast-paced docu-soap series following racing families at Ohsweken Speedway—the only track on Indigenous land in Canada. Equal parts poignant and light-hearted, Friday Night Thunder challenges viewers’ perceptions of the world of dirt racing.

Produced by Big Soul Productions, a 100% Indigenous-owned production company, and airing on APTN Fridays at 8:30PM, Friday Night Thunder captures the emotions, community, and connection at the core of the dangerous sport. Friday Night Thunder digs deeper into what makes dirt racing at the Ohsweken Speedway a tradition among many families in the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in southern Ontario.

The series follows eleven Indigenous sprint car drivers as they navigate the highly dangerous open-wheel sport that can lead to crushing defeats, anxiety issues, debt, thrilling victories and exhaustion. Season 3 sees all of these drivers struggle with the now unfamiliar track at Ohsweken after competing at smaller tracks during the pandemic closure. Alex Hill, the only female driver, struggled with mental health issues, keeping her out of the sport for most of the season. She finally gets into the car with an anxiety episode that almost ends her day early.

Find out whether Alex was able to finish a race in Season 3, while learning how other drivers managed their own struggles, conflicts on the track, anxiety, wrecks and varying levels of car knowledge throughout the 13-episode third season.

Friday Night Thunder focuses on the lives of these drivers first, and the high-octane world of dirt racing second. Echoing the community on the track, Friday Night Thunder invites viewers into this tight-knit and adrenaline-packed club.

ABOUT BIG SOUL PRODUCTIONS
Big Soul Productions Inc. is a Toronto-based production company owned by Anishinaabe producer/entrepreneur Laura Milliken. Big Soul Productions is dedicated to creating, developing, and producing films and television representing the Indigenous voice while generating much needed capacity for Indigenous creatives in the industry.

Industry News

Macha Grenon, Éric Bruneau, Patrick Watson and Kim Lévesque Lizotte join NRK and Crave original drama So Long, Marianne

August 24, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Crave and NRK announced today additional Canadian cast members for the highly anticipated new drama series SO LONG, MARIANNE, co-produced by Montréal’s Connect3 (part of the Cineflix Media group of companies), about the legendary love story of Canadian singer and poet Leonard Cohen, and Marianne Ihlen.

Joining the lead cast of Alex Wolff (Leonard), Thea Sofie Loch Næss (Marianne), Anna Torv (Charmian Clift), Noah Taylor (George Johnston), and Peter Stormare (Irving Layton); is Macha Grenon, alongside special appearances from Éric Bruneau, Kim Lévesque Lizotte, and singer-songwriter Patrick Watson.

Macha Grenon plays Leonard’s mother, Masha Cohen; while Éric Bruneau takes on the role of Cohen’s long-time friend Robert Hershorn; and Kim Lévesque Lizotte plays Monique Mercure, who runs into Marianne at a party in Montréal. Patrick Watson has a cameo as a singer who performs for Cohen on a rooftop.

Robin L’Houmeau, Raphael Grosz-Harvey, Miranda Calderon, Tatiana Latreille, Ryan Bommarito, Emily Lê, Frank Fontaine, Megan Jonker, Sonia Berube, Rob Stewart, Chip Chuipka, Howard Bilerman, and Avi Bendahan round out the Canadian cast.

Set in some of the most beautiful international locations during the 1960s, SO LONG, MARIANNE is an intimate tale of two lonely people falling in love, during a period of their life when they are trying to figure out who they are and their place in the world, while one is becoming one of the most famous singers of all time.

Just as it served as a backdrop for Cohen’s life, Montréal will also feature heavily in SO LONG, MARIANNE. Crave audiences will recognize a number of landmarks, such as McGill University where Cohen studied, distinctive restaurants Toqué! and Greenspot, and the Des Seigneurs Bridge.

SO LONG, MARIANNE is developed by Ingeborg Klyve (Exit), Øystein Karlsen (Exit, Dag, Lilyhammer, Whitstable Pearl) and Tony Wood (Irvine Welsh’s Crime, Marcella, Whitstable Pearl) and written for the screen by Øystein Karlsen and Jo Nesbø (Harry Hole, Kingdom, Headhunters). The series is directed by Øystein Karlsen and Bronwen Hughes (Shantaram, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul). SO LONG, MARIANNE is co-produced by Redpoint Productions, Tanweer Productions, and Connect3. The Executive Producers are Ales Ree for NRK, Richard Tulk-Hart and Tony Wood, Vegard Stenberg Eriksen and Ingeborg Klyve for Redpoint Productions, Dionyssis Samiotis and Nancy Kokolaki for Tanweer Productions, and André Barro and Pablo Salzman for Connect3.

Connect3 is part of the Cineflix Media group of companies, the leading international media company which is also headquartered in Montréal with operations in Toronto, New York, London, and Dublin. Cineflix Rights is distributing the series globally.

Bones of Crows, Featured, Murdoch Mysteries, Skymed

CBC sets fall 2023 streaming and broadcast premiere dates for new and returning original series on CBC Gem and CBC Television

August 24, 2023 Greg David 1 Comment

From a media release:

CBC today announced streaming and broadcast premiere dates for its fall 2023 slate of new and returning programming on CBC Gem and CBC TV, including more than 20 original series and specials from Canadian creators, producers, and storytellers reflecting people, places and perspectives from across the country. The first episode of all series will be available to stream on CBC Gem starting at 9 a.m. ET on their premiere dates noted below with a new episode available weekly at the same time, unless otherwise specified. CBC TV local broadcast times are noted in parentheses (for Newfoundland and Labrador, please add half an hour to all times).

New Canadian Original Series

TELLING OUR STORY New Documentary Series (4×60) – All episodes available Sunday, September 17 on CBC Gem
This TIFF 2023 Primetime selection shares the perspectives of the 11 First Peoples in Quebec.

BONES OF CROWS New Limited Drama Series (5×60) – Premieres Wednesday, September 20 (9 p.m.)
Limited series BONES OF CROWS brings to life a moving multi-generational epic of Indigenous resilience, survival and the pursuit of justice.

BLACK LIFE: UNTOLD STORIES New Documentary Series (8×60) – First four episodes available Wednesday, October 18 on CBC Gem, with remaining four available on Wednesday, October 25 (CBC TV debut on Wednesday, October 25 at 9 p.m.)
Highly anticipated documentary series and TIFF 2023 Primetime selection BLACK LIFE: UNTOLD STORIES reframes the rich and complex histories of Black experiences in Canada.

BLACKBERRY New Limited Drama Series (3×60) – All episodes available Thursday, November 9 on CBC Gem (CBC TV debut on Thursday, November 9 at 9 p.m.)
The extended series version of BLACKBERRY, featuring never-before-seen footage, charts the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone.

SWAN SONG New Documentary Series (4×60) – All episodes available Wednesday, November 22 on CBC Gem (CBC TV debut on Wednesday, November 22 at 8 p.m.)
SWAN SONG offers a backstage look at first-time director Karen Kain’s monumental new production of Swan Lake for the National Ballet of Canada on the eve of her retirement from the company.

Bones of Crows; images courtesy of Farah Nosh

Returning Series

CORONATION STREET – ongoing (weekdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)

THE PASSIONATE EYE (10×60) – Premieres Wednesday, September 13 (8 p.m.)
THE PASSIONATE EYE returns with a new season of thought-provoking original documentaries, beginning with Lin Alluna’s TWICE COLONIZED, following the personal journey of renowned Inuit lawyer Aaju Peter.

FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 5 (102×30, Monday – Thursday) – Premieres Monday, September 18 (7:30 p.m.)
The new season kicks off with a Teachers’ Week that sees teams of high school teachers competing for funds to support their schools’ programs. The season continues with host Gerry Dee welcoming families from across Canada, with all-new episodes Monday to Thursday.

THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Season 31 (24×30) – Premieres Tuesday, September 19 (8 p.m.)

THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP (9×30) – All episodes of Season 4 (13×10) available Monday, August 28 on CBC Gem (Seasons 2 and 3 (9×30) premiere Tuesday, September 19 at 9:30 p.m. on CBC TV)

DRAGONS’ DEN Season 18 (16×60) – Premieres Thursday, September 21 (8 p.m.)

STILL STANDING Season 9 (10×30) – Premieres Tuesday, September 26 (8:30 p.m.)
Host Jonny Harris embarks on more adventures in small towns across the country, from Dawson City, Yukon to Gander, Newfoundland and everywhere in between.

HEARTLAND Season 17 (10×60) – Premieres Sunday, October 1 (7 p.m.)

THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW Season 7 (9×60) – Premieres Sunday, October 1 (8 p.m.)

SKYMED Season 2 (9×60) – Premieres Sunday, October 1 (9 p.m.)

MURDOCH MYSTERIES Season 17 (24×60) – Premieres Monday, October 2 (8 p.m.)

SORT OF Season 3 (8×30) – Two episodes available weekly on CBC Gem beginning Friday, November 17

CBC Gem Originals

ZARQA Season 2 (6×11) – All episodes available to stream on Friday, October 6
Zarqa Nawaz returns for more comic hijinx.

HOW TO FAIL AS A POPSTAR (8×15) – All episodes available to stream on Friday, October 13
The adaptation of Vivek Shraya’s hit play and book.

THE BANNOCKING (6×10) – All episodes available to stream on Friday, October 20
A new Indigenous horror series, available in time for Halloween.

FARM CRIME Season 3 (6×20) – All episodes available to stream on Friday, November 3
Exploring the largely unseen dark side of Canada’s agriculture industry.

I HATE PEOPLE, PEOPLE HATE ME (6×15) – All episodes available to stream in late fall (date to be confirmed)
This offbeat comedy and 2023 Tribeca Festival selection created by Bobbi Summers explores queer identity in a time when queerness has not only been mainstreamed, but commodified.

CBC News

BIG: CBC News Original Documentary series (4×60) – Premieres Friday, September 22 at 9 p.m. on CBC TV (Available to stream now on CBC Gem)

CBC NEWS EXPLORE’s PLANET WONDER (9×30) – Premieres Friday, October 6 at 8:30 p.m. on CBC TV (Available to stream now on CBC Gem)

MARKETPLACE Season 51 (17×30) – Premieres Friday, October 13 (8 p.m.)

THE FIFTH ESTATE Season 49 (15×60) – Premieres Friday, October 20 (9 p.m.)

THE NATIONAL – ongoing (live at 10 p.m. weekdays and Sundays on CBC TV and CBC Gem)
CBC’s flagship national newscast with Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault (Monday – Thursday) and Ian Hanomansing (Friday and Sunday)

CBC MORNING LIVE WITH HEATHER HISCOX (Weekday mornings on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

ABOUT THAT WITH ANDREW CHANG (Weekday mornings on CBC News Explore)

CANADA TONIGHT (Weeknights on CBC News Network)

POWER & POLITICS (Weeknights on CBC News Network)

ROSEMARY BARTON LIVE (Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

CBC Sports

CBC SPORTS PRESENTS – ongoing (live on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on CBC TV and CBC Gem)
CBC SPORTS brings audiences all the action from the world of high-performance sport with competitions including Artistic Gymnastics World Championships (Antwerp, Belgium, Oct. 1 – 8); Beach Volleyball World Championships (Tlaxcala, Mexico, Oct. 6 – 15); and World Trampoline Championships (Nov. 9 – 19, Birmingham, UK), as international athletes prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic (July 26 – Aug. 11, 2024) and Paralympic (Aug. 28 – Sept. 8, 2024) Games. Showcasing Canada’s top university and college athletes, the USports Championships (Nov. 1 – 25), including the Vanier Cup (Nov. 25 in Kingston, Ont.), return and the winter season kicks off with Grand Prix of Figure Skating (multiple weekends and locations from Oct. 20 to Dec. 10), Four Continents Short Track Championships (Laval, Que., Nov. 3 – 5) and FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup (Tremblant, Que., Dec. 2 – 3).

Canadian Awards

CBC will feature the following award celebrations this fall, honouring diverse Canadian creators, artists and storytellers:

THE LEGACY AWARDS, The Black Academy’s award show celebrating Black Canadian achievement, will air live on CBC TV and CBC Gem on Sunday, September 24

SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE will air live on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio and CBC.ca/books on Monday, November 13

CBC Kids

SPELLBOUND New Series (26×30) – All episodes available to stream Friday, September 1 on CBC Gem
A Canadian premiere and CBC Gem exclusive from the creators of Find Me in Paris, tween drama SPELLBOUND follows the adventures of a teen dance student, CeCe Parker-Jones (played by Canadian Hailey Romain), at the Paris Opera Ballet School who discovers that she is a witch.

AUNTY B’S HOUSE New Series (20×7) – All episodes available to stream Monday, September 4 on CBC Gem (CBC TV debut on Monday, September 11 with new episodes airing Monday – Saturday)
A groundbreaking live action CBC Kids original sitcom for kids about a foster home full of heart, humour, music and unconditional love.

HELLO KITTY: SUPER STYLE! New Series (52×11) – Premieres Monday, September 4 on CBC Gem and CBC TV, with a new episode airing daily, Monday – Saturday
The iconic Hello Kitty helps her friends find happiness while putting on the most appropriate (and cutest) outfits to face each situation in this animated series for kids.