With the Winter Games in Italy just weeks away, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is sliding onto CBC Gem and CBC with the exciting, engaging three-part documentary series Redemption Run.
The first episode brings viewers to Whistler, B.C., 16 months before the Games, as members of Canada’s National Bobsleigh program walk along the ice track, observing angles and the ice surface itself. Then, we’re given the facts: Canada dominated bobsleigh for years, capturing medals on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Then, it all fell apart.
In 2022, 60 athletes signed a letter alleging a culture of fear and safety concerns, superstar Kallie Humphries left Team Canada to join the U.S. team, and Christine de Bruin was suspended for three years for an anti-doping violation. Add to that the dismantling of the track in Calgary, poor podium results, and things didn’t look good for the team.
But this series is called Redemption Run for a reason, providing interviews with pilots, team members and coaches, as well as stunning visuals both inside and outside the sleigh, to tell how the team is bouncing back to be contenders, and perhaps medal winners, in Italy.
It’s not an easy task, and the producers do an excellent job telling the team’s story through intimate, honest and raw interviews, sport explainers and truly emotional moments. You can’t help but pull for Canada on their road to redemption.
Redemption Run premieres January 23 on CBC Gem and airs February 1 at 7 p.m., with back-to-back episodes on CBC.
During the first season of Shoresy, how would anyone predict the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs would have skated off the screen and into real-life playing National Hockey League Alumni teams?
Tasya Teles admits it was a surprise.
“The evolution of the show has brought a lot of gifts and a lot of excitement,” she said during a Zoom interview. “For instance, we just played recently in Los Angeles against the L.A. Kings alum.
“That was a huge surprise to even imagine that we would end up there has been incredible. [The team] is going to be in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. I’m really excited for those, but that is something that happened, that you would never know where the journey was going to go in Season 1.”
The Shoresy Classic features a series of hockey games, with a portion of proceeds donated to local charities. Shoresy streams on Crave and Hulu in the States, which also saw other games in Detroit, New York and Boston.
Now, five seasons into Shoresy, Teles has been around since the first, she portrays Nat, the owner and general manager of the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs in the fictional Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (The NOSHO).
Shoresy is played by Jared Kesso, also the show’s creator. Which, technically, for those unfamiliar, is a spin-off, since Shoresy first appeared on Keeso’s other series, Letterkenny, as that show completed its run in 2023.
“I mean, there’s a lot of rough language that exists on the show,” said Teles. “You know, edgy stuff, but then there’s also these really beautiful, kind of heartwarming speeches that Shoresy gives or Nat gives and these endearing moments.
“You have that duality, and I think actually the [Shoresy Classic] hockey games themselves are great for families. I mean, the kids might have to be a certain age so they can handle the language, but that’s up to the parents’ discretion.”
Jared Keeso and Tasya Teles.
Shoresy films on location in Sudbury, Ontario, and a season takes about six weeks to complete. Teles feels like Sudbury has become a second home in a way, as the community has embraced the show.
The cast does arrive a bit beforehand of production, though, for any preparation needed, like fittings.
Teles’ road to Sudbury began with an ask from her agent: record an audition and see what happens.
“Jared’s really specific about the people that he placed on the show, which has been amazing. Like he’s so good at understanding how he wants to put together a team, so to speak.”
The rapid-fire dialogue featured in Shoresy or even Letterkenny is not typically a style heard in other TV shows.
“At the beginning of the show, I wasn’t sure how to necessarily prepare in the best way,” Teles says. “But it’s something that over the course of the seasons, we’ve all just developed that muscle. We all know how to riff off of each other because it’s really like passing a puck.
“That’s how I describe it. It’s going here, it’s going there, it’s going back to you, you’re setting somebody up. It almost mirrors or mimics hockey in that way. And it’s just something that you learn how to do. How often these days do you see someone who creates their own style of comedy, their own unique form of comedy? I think it’s just brilliant writing.”
This fifth Shoresy finale drops on Crave on January 22 (a sixth season was just announced by Crave). Teles teased at the time of this interview that viewers have yet to see the face-off between the Euros and the Canadian and American teams. Shoresy is coaching for the first time, too, to find out if he is successful.
“When you start any TV show, you never really know what’s going to happen,” said Teles. “What the journey is going to be, or how many seasons you’re going to go into. Being a part of this team, and this show and being able to grow my character throughout the seasons has been so rewarding.”
APTN, CBC and Netflix, with production partners Red Marrow Media and Northwood Entertainment, today announced that production is underway on the second season of the Arctic-set comedy North of North (8×30). Created and executive produced by Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies) and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, The Grizzlies) of Red Marrow Media and executive produced by Miranda de Pencier of Northwood Entertainment (Anne with an E, Beginners, The Grizzlies), the highly anticipated new season will premiere on APTN, CBC and Netflix later in 2026. Audiences in Canada can stream season one of North of North on APTN+, CBC Gem and Netflix.
Season two will continue to follow Siaja, a young Inuk mother who attempts to build a new life in her tiny Arctic community of Ice Cove. Anna Lambe will reprise her starring role as Siaja, alongside Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds and Keira Cooper.
The second season is currently filming in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Toronto, with production continuing through April.
North of North instantly captivated audiences and critics worldwide when it first premiered in Canada on APTN and CBC in January 2025 and then globally on Netflix in April 2025. Since its debut, the series has achieved a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The breakout comedy took home five awards at the 2025 Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Awards, including Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for Danis Goulet and Comedy Series Crew of the Year. North of North is also nominated for the 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards’ Best New Series, along with Best Performance in a New Series for Anna Lambe.
North of North became the most-watched new series on CBC Gem since the launch of the streaming platform.* Additionally, the comedy was one of the most-watched programs on CBC among the A25-54 demographic.** On APTN, North of North was among the top-performing new scripted shows during the Winter 2025 season and the top new program on APTN lumi (now APTN+). Globally, North of North debuted at No. 9 on Netflix’s global top 10 for English-language series the week of its release on the service in April. The series also broke into Netflix’s top 10 in 33 individual countries with nearly 9 million views between April and June 2025***.
An APTN, CBC and Netflix original series, North of North is produced by Red Marrow Media and Northwood Entertainment. The series is created and executive produced by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Barilof Red Marrow Media and executive produced by Miranda de Pencier of Northwood Entertainment.
The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) today announced the distinguished Grand Jury for the 2026 Rockie Awards International Program Competition. Comprised of senior executives representing some of the world’s most influential media companies, the Rockies Grand Jury will select the highly anticipated award from among the top-scoring programs across competition categories.
The Rockie Awards will take place on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2026 during BANFF, celebrating outstanding television and content from around the globe. The Festival will also present its prestigious Gala Awards, honoring visionary leaders, celebrated talent and industry changemakers.
The 2026 Rockie Awards Grand Jury includes:
Flory Bramnick, Executive Vice President, Distribution and Networks, North America, Sony Pictures Television
Sally Catto, General Manager of Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC (above)
Lori Conkling, Head of TV and Film Licensing, Netflix
Lisa Holme, Head of Content, Roku Media
Yongsun Soh, Managing Director, A+E Global Media Korea
“The Rockie Awards Grand Jury represents an extraordinary depth of experience and creative leadership across platforms, genres, and territories,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director. “Their collective insight ensures that the Grand Jury Prize continues to recognize excellence that resonates globally.”
Together, the Grand Jury brings a global perspective spanning content commissioning, distribution, streaming, and international markets reflecting the Rockie Awards’ reputation as one of the most prestigious and respected content competitions in the global media landscape.
Past recipients of the Rockie Awards Grand Jury Prize include Hell Jumper (2025), The Last of Us (2024), Eternal Spring (2023), Help (2022), I May Destroy You (2021), Fleabag (2020), Sharp Objects (2019), Big Little Lies (2018), among others.
About the Rockie Awards The Banff World Media Festival’s prestigiousThe Rockie Awards recognize the best content and most influential entertainment industry executives, talent and creators in the world across television, film, podcasts, music on screen and creator content. Timed during a key awards FYC window and nomination voting, the Rockies include entries from up to 50 countries each year, and winners are selected by an international industry jury of 150+ influential senior entertainment and media professionals. The Rockies truly represent the best content in the world.
About the Banff World Media Festival Now in its 47th year, the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is one of the most important global conferences and content development marketplaces – gathering top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. BANFF’s intimate, retreat-style event serves as a leading destination for development, co-production and co-venture partners and offers an unparalleled opportunity for international decision-makers to connect, map the future of the industry, and execute new business deals. Summit Series keynotes, and renowned panels feature the industry’s most inspiring creative and business leaders and give global profile to the most talked-about shows. BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives including: the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media: Producers Edition, the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, and the Indigenous Screen Summit and Pitch Forum. Together these programs have provided more than 1,000 opportunities for under-represented professionals in the Canadian media industry.
The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) is pleased to announce the nominations for the 30th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards, marking three decades of recognizing the writers behind Canada’s most engaging and powerful series, films, and shorts. The Awards will take place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Monday, April 27, hosted by Ali Hassan, and written by Kurt Smeaton.
Nominated for the 2026 Awards are scripts from North of North (Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Garry Campbell, Aviaq Johnston, JP Larocque, Stacey Aglok Macdonald, Linsey Stewart), Bet (Simon Barry, Amanda Fahey, Laura Good, Tabia Lau, Kurt Mungal, Chris Roberts), Lana Longbeard (Emer Connon, Alex Ganetakos, Lienne Sawatsky), Mittens & Pants (Phil McCordic, Katherine Sandford), 18 to 35 (Rahul Chaturvedi, Kaveh Mohebbi), and many others.
Please see the complete list of categories and nominees below.
In addition to the nine featured screenwriting categories, the 30th anniversary awards will also present several special honours. One WGC member will be awarded the prestigious Showrunner Award, a special prize honouring a recognized showrunner who has demonstrated great writing and leadership skills. Other special awards include the Alex Barris Mentorship Award, the McGrath Service Award, and the Margaret Collier Award, presented with supporting partner the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy).
CHILDREN’S
Dino Dex, “Dino Discovery” | Written by J.J. Johnson
Jane, “Pan troglodytes” | Written by J.J. Johnson
Lana Longbeard, “Going Overboard” | Written by Alex Ganetakos
Lana Longbeard, “It Takes Two to Durango Tango” | Written by Lienne Sawatsky
Lana Longbeard, “Lana the Something Super Great and Totally Awesome” | Written by Emer Connon
COMEDY SERIES
North of North, “Bad Influences” | Story by Aviaq Johnston & JP Larocque, Teleplay by Aviaq Johnston & Garry Campbell
North of North, “Dumpcano” | Written by Garry Campbell
North of North, “Joy to the Effing World” | Written by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril & Linsey Stewart
North of North, “Top of the World” | Written by Stacey Aglok Macdonald & Aletha Arnaquq-Baril
North of North, “Walrus D*ck Baseball” | Written by Moriah Sallaffie & Garry Campbell
DRAMA SERIES
Family Law, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” | Written by Ken Craw
Family Law, “Play It Straight” | Written by Corey Liu
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, “Tango Romeo” | Written by Tassie Cameron
Murdoch Mysteries, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” | Written by Jenny Lee
Sight Unseen, “Family Matters” | Written by Lisa Codrington & Kay Shioma Metchie
Surrealestate, “Night Terrors” | Written by Justin Rawana
DOCUMENTARIES
Beavers From Above | Written by Michael McNamara
In the Room | Written by Brishkay Ahmed
FEATURE FILMS
Blueberry Grunt | Written by Sherry White
Dinner With Friends | Written by Tania Thompson & Sasha Leigh Henry
Honey Bunch | Written by Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli
Nika & Madison | Written by Eva Thomas and Michael McGowan
Paige Darcy: Reluctant Detective | Written by Alice Moran
PRESCHOOL
Hop, “Benny’s Book Scare” | Written by Renae J. Ruddock
Mittens & Pants, “Mittens & Pants Christmas Special” | Written by Phil McCordic
Mittens & Pants, “Pants in the Box” | Written by Katherine Sandford
Paw Patrol, “Pups Save the Sea Sponges” | Written by Jeff Sager
Woolly Woolly, “Big BeeBee” | Written by Naomi Jardine
SHORT FILMS (UNDER 60 MINUTES)
I am Pleased | Written by Vanessa Magic
Now, I Am A Bear | Written by Jason Filiatrault
SHORT SERIES (EPISODES UNDER 15 MINUTES)
18 to 35, “Bed Math and Beyond” | Written by Rahul Chaturvedi
18 to 35, “Buck Mustang” | Written by Kaveh Mohebbi
Dying Seconds, “Have I Told You About This Hockey Card” | Written by Brendan Halloran
Fugget About It: Fan Favourites, “Gina’s Eleven… Minus Eight” | Written by Willem Wennekers
One Man’s Treasure – A Fool’s Fortune, “The Beginning” | Written by Thomas Conway
TWEENS & TEENS
Bet, “First Blood” | Written by: Tabia Lau
Bet, “Ice Breaker” | Written by: Amanda Fahey
Bet, “Meet the Parents” | Written by Chris Roberts
Bet, “The Hunt” | Written by Laura Good
Bet, “The Recital” | Written by Simon Barry & Kurt Mungal
