Tag Archives: Cottage Life

Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation, premieres March 4 during Cottage Life’s nationwide free preview event

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From a media release:

Celebrated Canadian wildlife rehabilitator, Hope Swinimer, returns to Cottage Life with Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation, an all-new season of the long-running hit original series Hope for Wildlife. Premiering Tuesday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT as part of Cottage Life’s nationwide free preview event, Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation gives Canadian audiences exclusive access into Swinimer’s world-class wildlife rehabilitation center in Nova Scotia. With wildlife facing increasing threats, the all-new season shines a spotlight on urgent issues, including habitat loss due to human encroachment, the climate crisis, rising wildfires and flash floods, as well as wildlife diseases and outbreaks.

“After 30 years of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing more than 50,000 animals, I am thrilled to continue sharing our story with the world,” says Hope Swinimer, founder of Hope for Wildlife. “The struggles we face have never been more real, and our successes never more important. The Hope for Wildlife TV series has become such a key part of our operation, it’s hard to imagine things without it. We’re ready and excited to kick off a new season.”

Since its opening in 1997, Swinimer’s Hope for Wildlife center has become widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading wildlife rescue facilities. Now, as she marks 30 years in the field, Swinimer is training a new generation of young rehabbers to follow in her footsteps. The new season showcases some of the most unusual and challenging cases the rehab team has ever encountered—from rescuing a snapping turtle trapped in a city water reservoir, to treating a groundhog with PTSD who refuses to eat, and a healthy bald eagle that simply won’t fly. Each episode of Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation takes audiences on an emotional and inspiring journey, featuring dramatic rescues, miraculous recoveries, and heartwarming releases back into the wild.

Swinimer’s medical team at Hope for Wildlife is top-notch, consisting of experienced staff and a group of new interns—some of whom were inspired to join her team after watching the TV series on Cottage Life. The facility has also welcomed a new nutritionist and expanded its facilities, including newly constructed outdoor raccoon enclosures designed to safely house even more young kits while reducing the risk of disease.

Following its broadcast premiere, Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation will also be available on Cottage Life’s Apple TV channel beginning March 5, with new episodes rolling out weekly.

On March 21 and 22, fans in the Greater Toronto Area can meet Hope Swinimer at the Spring Cottage Life Show in Mississauga, where she will share insights into her wildlife work during a Main Stage presentation. Hope will also appear at the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show on April 12 at the EY Centre in Ottawa, where she will present the same discussion. Both events offer fans the opportunity to meet Hope and learn more about her wildlife expertise.

Hope for Wildlife: The Next Generation is produced by Arcadia Entertainment. John Wesley Chisholm serves as Executive Producer with Johanna Eliot as Producer. Sean McShane is Director and Writer, with Andrew Killawee also serving as Director.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mike Holmes joins Cottage Life with New original series, Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy

From a media release:

Cottage Life’s highly-anticipated new original series, Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy, a reboot of the hit Holmes on Homes program, sees construction pioneer Mike Holmes reflect on his iconic, lifelong career helping homeowners and advocating for the trade industry. In the new six-part series, audiences will witness Mike’s determination to instill his values in his children, Michael and Sherry, as they continue his legacy. The show delves deeper into the Holmes family dynamic, following Mike as he returns to his “make it right” roots and mentors his children in the family business. Cameras follow the trio as they work side-by-side to create life-changing renovations for deserving homeowners, while also capturing heartfelt behind-the-scenes family moments with Mike, his kids and grandchildren. Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy premieres Tuesday, November 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on Cottage Life.

With more than two decades on TV under his toolbelt, Mike Holmes has established himself as a household name throughout North America, renowned for his integrity in the construction industry and for helping hundreds of homeowners throughout his career. In the new series, each hour-long episode introduces viewers to desperate families who have been misled by dishonest contractors or who have compelling personal stories, seeking home upgrades tailored to their specific needs. Joined by Michael and Sherry—both seasoned contractors who made their debuts on Holmes on Homes —Mike tackles these challenges head-on, turning their properties into beautiful and safe havens for the future.

Mike Holmes: “After 23 years on TV, we’ve received countless messages from fans to bring back Holmes on Homes. So, we listened—and we’ve taken it to the next level. In Building a Legacy, you’ll get a closer look at our family dynamic and see firsthand how my life’s work to ‘make it right’ has become a shared ambition among my kids.”

Michael Holmes Jr.: “Sherry and I have brought out a different side of our Dad that viewers will get to see in Building a Legacy. In Holmes on Homes, Dad would enter a house with a stern look, point out the flaws, then tear it all down and fix it. Now, you see a lighter, more playful version.

Sherry Holmes: “I’m excited for Cottage Life viewers to see how much the show has evolved since Holmes on Homes. This new series not only has a strong family message, but an educational aspect too; we’re exploring new home technologies you can install to make your home smarter and healthier.”

Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy is produced by The Holmes Group. Sam Linton, VP of Production and Development, Global Media at Blue Ant Media oversees commissioning for the series. 

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Todd Talbot debuts new series, Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project, premiering October 8 exclusively on Cottage Life

From a media release:

Love It or List It Vancouver real estate expert and TV star, Todd Talbot joins Cottage Life with the debut of his new documentary series, Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project (8×30’). The eight-part series provides an intimate look into the highs and lows of Talbot’s construction journey as he and his wife, actor Rabecca Talbot, set out to build a net-zero, passive house A-frame on British Columbia’s picturesque Okanagan Lake just outside Kelowna. The Canadian broadcast premiere of Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project airs Tuesday, October 8 at 8p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on Cottage Life.

In the series, Talbot takes off his Love It or List It realtor hat and reveals to viewers his in-depth knowledge of the construction industry. Talbot takes on the roles of project manager, financier, associate designer, estimator and head of the construction team building this cabin. Architects, engineers and environmental experts join Talbot to build his future home. The series showcases cutting-edge, sustainable building techniques and the science behind constructing homes with a minimal ecological footprint.

Talbot’s passive house made international headlines in the summer of 2023, B.C.’s worst wildfire season on record. The fires forced Todd, Rabecca and their kids to evacuate and halt production of the series. Nearly all the passive house elements were completed, with the exception of the stone wool insulation and non combustible cladding on the underbelly of the structure. When Todd and Rabecca were allowed back to the site a month later to survey the damage, the pile of insulation was the only thing that was not destroyed. From its inspiring inception to its tragic conclusion, the series documents Talbot’s ambitious home project, including how he discovered via CNN that his family’s passive house was lost to the blaze.

“My wife Rabecca and I spent over four years documenting the construction of our family’s A-frame passive house, sharing our insights on sustainable and resilient building practices,” says Todd Talbot. “Our project’s devastating ending inspired us to keep filming so we could emphasize the powerful impact of B.C.’s wildfires. We’re now finally ready to share the ups and downs of our journey with Cottage Life viewers.”

Passive house buildings are widely hailed as the future of home construction, celebrated for their health benefits and energy efficiency. Yet, a lesser-known advantage is their heightened resilience to wildfires. Todd Talbot’s passive house project underscores the urgent need to build sustainable, resilient homes to combat the devastating effects of the climate crisis.

Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project is produced by Infinity Films. Shel Piercy and Todd Talbot serve as Producers, with Piercy directing. Theresa Piercy is the Series Producer, with a team of cinematographers documenting the incredible build over its three-year filming process. Judd Bakken and Robert Lawrenson are the Editors, with original music by Jeff Griffiths and Chris King.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Cottage Life’s latest original special, The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence, goes on a quest to solve the 400-year-old mystery of a lost English colony

From a media release:

Cottage Life’s original documentary special, The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence, follows renowned British archeologist Professor Mark Horton and local historian Scott Dawson as they dig for evidence that could help solve one of America’s oldest and most controversial mysteries: what happened to the first English colony on Roanoke Island? Featuring fascinating interviews, never-before-seen archeological evidence and cutting-edge scientific analysis, the special offers compelling theories on the fate of the first European colonists in the Americas, who settled on Roanoke Island in 1587 and suddenly vanished without a trace three years later. The Canadian broadcast premiere of The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence airs Friday, July 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT as a two-part documentary special on Cottage Life.

In 1587, a group of 117 men, women and children set sail for America from England. Arriving three decades before the Mayflower, they were on track to become American heroes. Instead, they became the subject of America’s first mystery. According to myth, many of the colonists were murdered; the rest had fled. One of the only clues to their fate: a coded message carved into a tree. The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence gives audiences exclusive access to a new excavation site on the Island, piecing together centuries-old clues and compelling archeological evidence for the first time to reveal the truth of the settlers’ disappearance. The documentary unravels a story filled with hope and inspiration, reflecting a bond between the English settlers and an Indigenous Croatoan tribe that will forever change the history books.

The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence is a co-production between Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company and BriteSpark Films, part of Argonon Media. Nick Godwin, Michael Kot, Betty Orr and Steve Gamester serve as Executive Producers. Overseeing the series for Cottage Life TV is Sam Linton, VP, Head of Original Content for Blue Ant Media’s Canadian channels. Blue Ant International oversees licensing for The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence.

The Roanoke Mystery: New Evidence premieres on July 1st as part of Cottage Life’s “Mystery Marathon” programming stunt during the Canada Day long weekend. The two-part special will air alongside popular series Mysteries from Above, What on Earth?, Unearthed, Strange Evidence and Mysteries of the Abandoned.

Cottage Life is a Blue Ant Media multi-platform brand, with its own dedicated Cottage Life specialty television network celebrating the people, activities and places that make leisure time special.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Blue Ant Media unveils new greenlights for its Canadian TV platforms

From a media release:

Blue Ant Media announced today three new greenlights and one renewal set to air across its homegrown Canadian specialty TV platforms: Cottage Life, T+E and Love Nature. The new wave of greenlights reinforces Blue Ant Media’s ongoing commitment to creating premium, engaging content with global reach and scale. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Head of Original Content, Canadian Media, Blue Ant Media, the originals lineup includes a mix of world broadcast and Canadian premieres with all four series available for licensing globally by Blue Ant International.

Love Nature’s commitment to creating emotional connections between its audience and the natural world is realized once again through its latest original series, Cub Camp (World Broadcast Premiere), which introduces passionate animal lovers to the orphaned cubs at Black Bear Rescue Manitoba. Produced by Merit Motion Pictures, the six-part series offers audiences the unique opportunity to follow adorable orphaned black bear cubs, from the moment they’re rescued to the day they’re released into the wild. Cub Camp is a Love Nature global commission slated to air in Canada and roll out worldwide on Love Nature’s branded linear and streaming platforms. Filming begins spring/summer 2023.

The second greenlight is American Doomsday (wt) (Canadian Broadcast Premiere), slated to air on Cottage Life alongside an existing roster of successful extreme weather and survival series. The new three-part documentary series examines Mother Nature’s sheer power of destruction in an in-depth analysis on weather phenomena and natural forces and its effects on humans and the geology of our planet. Renewed for Cottage Life is the hit original investigative series, Mysteries from Above (Season 2; World Broadcast Premiere) which will land on the channel in summer 2023. The second installment comes off the back of Season 1’s success, which currently sits as the #1-rated new series on Cottage Life this year. The series captures breathtaking, aerial footage from modern sites to remote and untouched locations across the globe, revealing fascinating insights and never-before-seen footage to the viewers.

Finally, on T+E, Canada’s home to paranormal programming, Blue Ant Media has greenlit the original series Haunted Lost and Found (wt)(World Broadcast Premiere), a treaty co-production between Singaporean producers Beach House Pictures, Momo Film Co. and Vancouver-based De Vries Production. The new six-part series features first-hand accounts from unlucky individuals who purchased, found or were gifted an item, only to discover their newfound possessions were haunted or cursed. Each episode features three mysterious and chilling stories, ranging from items found on the dark web to those discovered in dark alleys.

For a full list of original programming highlights, please see below.

LOVE NATURE

Cub Camp (6×60’; HD)
World Broadcast Premiere
Producer: Merit Motion Pictures
Cub Camp gives viewers an inside look at the Black Bear Rescue Manitoba rehabilitation program, a unique centre that rescues and rehabilitates black bear cubs left orphaned as a result of losing their mothers due to human encroachment on their territories and natural disasters. The cameras follow adorable orphaned cubs, from the moment they’re rescued to the day they’re big enough to be released back into the wild. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

COTTAGE LIFE

American Doomsday (wt) (3×90’; HD)
Scheduled for spring 2023 • Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Producer: Wildflame/Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company
A three-part documentary series that looks at how the epic rise of super weather phenomena and natural forces and how it could devastate those living in New York, Miami and the entire west coast. The series provides fascinating insights and grave predictions, which include New York City underwater by 2050, the entire city of Miami sinking into the sea, and a mega-earthquake poised to hit the west coast from California to Canada. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

Mysteries from Above, Season 2 (8×60’; HD)
Scheduled for summer 2023 • World Broadcast Premiere
Producer: Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company
Mysteries from Above takes to the skies to offer Canadian audiences a chance to see the world from fresh and exhilarating perspectives. The series explores remote, hard-to-reach locations as drones explore strange geological occurrences, unique man-made structures, curious creatures and lost civilizations, revealing fascinating insights and never-before-seen footage to the viewers. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

T+E

Haunted Lost and Found (wt) (6×60’; HD)
Scheduled for spring 2023 • World Broadcast Premiere
Producers: Beach House Pictures, a Blue Ant Media company, Momo Film Co. and De Vries Production
Haunted Lost and Found explores what happens when a found, purchased or gifted object brings terror into the lives of those who acquired it accidentally without knowing its sinister past. The six-part documentary series features first-hand accounts and dramatic reenactments of those whose lives took a horrific turn as a result of their newfound possessions being haunted or cursed. Each hour-long episode features three chilling stories ranging from items found on the dark web to those discovered in dark alleys. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

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