CBC have unveiled their upcoming 2026 Podcast programming slate.
-Two Blocks from the White House delivers a smart weekly debrief on the biggest political stories unfolding in the U.S. — and what they mean for Canadians — through the insight of CBC News’ most trusted and experienced correspondents in Washington (January 14).
-From the award-winning team behind Hunting Warhead — the 2019 podcast that documented the dismantling of a global dark-web child exploitation network — comes a timely new investigation: Hunting the Suicide Salesman (January 19).
-Sharing intimate first-person storytelling, Personally returns with Creation Myth, delving into the personal revelations of host Helena de Groot following her decision to not have children (February 10).
-Understood returns with Mr. Deepfakes, an investigation that goes beyond the headlines to trace the rise of the deepfake porn industry, the victims fighting back, and the global hunt for its Canadian kingpin (February 17).
-Investigative series Uncover continues with The Cult Queen of Canada, exposing the untold decades of turmoil in the town of Richmound, SK and the trail of destruction brought about by the self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada,” Romana Didulo (February 23).
-Someone Knows Something returns with Season 10, as host David Ridgen investigates the mysterious disappearance of Jaclyn Ferland-Smith, a Canadian woman living in Costa Rica (March 9).
CBC, the #1 Canadian podcaster, is launching a new winter slate of original podcasts, featuring in-depth investigations, candid personal revelations, and informed debriefs on the biggest stories in politics. CBC’s entire podcast collection can be found on CBC Listen and everywhere podcasts are available. Select titles can also be streamed on YouTube.
Get your confetti and noisemakers ready! CBC is offering Canadians exclusive original specials on Wednesday, December 31 to kick off 2026. The festivities begin at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem with a satirical sendoff to 2025, This Hour Has 22 Minutes New Year’s Eve Pregame Special, followed by a special Live Cross-Canada Countdown hosted by Adrienne Arsenault, Jann Arden, Ian Hanomansing and Andrew Phung, counting down to 2026 in all six time zones across the country.
The live special begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC News Network, CBC Gem, the CBC News app, cbcnews.ca, the CBC News streaming channels and the CBC News YouTube channel, with live coverage beginning on CBC TV, the local CBC News streaming channels, CBC Radio and CBC Listen at 9 p.m. in each time zone (9:30 NT).
With their signature brand of satire paired with spot-on impressions of political leaders drawing worldwide attention on social media, This Hour Has 22 Minutes kicks off the night with their second annual New Year’s Eve Pregame Special. The award-winning cast gets together to honour the best – and worst – people, places and things of 2025. Starring Aba Amuquandoh, Stacey McGunnigle, Trent McClellan, Chris Wilson and Mark Critch, with a musical performance by East Coast indie rock singer-songwriter Adam Baldwin, and a lineup of surprise guests in an hour-long spectacular.
CBC’s Live Cross-Canada Countdown will be hosted by Adrienne Arsenault and award-winning recording artist Jann Arden (The Assembly) from Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, while Ian Hanomansing and actor, writer and comedian Andrew Phung (Run the Burbs, Kim’s Convenience) will host from ICE District in Edmonton, with reporters in communities from coast to coast to coast. The live special will highlight New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country along with surprise moments, special guests and messages from Canadian personalities, and viewers at home are invited to submit their own messages for 2026 via email, to appear throughout the broadcast. Live Cross-Canada Countdown continues until the last party ends on Canada’s west coast, wrapping up at 3:30 a.m. ET/ 12:30 a.m. PT.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dehcho Dene Yati, Dënesųłıné (Chipewyan), Eastern Cree, Gwich’in, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Sahtu Got’ine Godi, and Tłı̨chǫ (Tlicho). We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
The CBC today have unveiled some premiere dates for their upcoming Winter/Spring 2026 programming lineup.
Highlights:
Monday, January 5: Allan Hawco and Joséphine Jobert return for season two of hit drama series Saint-Pierre, as an unlikely crime-solving pair in the French territory of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland. More details here.
Tuesday, January 6: Still Standing with host Jonny Harris kicks off Season 11 with a trip to Osoyoos, BC, and Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen return for a second season of menopause comedy Small Achievable Goals.
Wednesday, January 7: Blue sky procedural Wild Cards delivers new capers in Vancouver starring Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti, while police drama Allegiance led by Supinder Wraich challenges a flawed justice system in Surrey, BC.
Thursday, January 8: The Nature of Things continues as Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan debate Proof: The New Science of Alcohol, ponder the Survival of the Slowest (January 15), and wonder Can Dogs Talk? (January 22).
Monday, February 2: David Common takes the reins as new host of CBC News’ national morning show CBC Morning Live.
Starting Friday, February 6, CBC is Canada’s home for the Olympic Winter Games (February 6-22) and Paralympic Winter Games (March 6-15) in Milano Cortina (original series will be on hiatus and return after the Games).
Thursday, March 19: Immersive docuseries Cirque Life (pictured) goes inside the big top of Cirque du Soleil for one unforgettable summer in Montreal, where it all began.
Monday, April 20 on CBC Gem: Must Love Dogs follows CFL All-Star Brady Oliveira and influencer Alex Blumberg as they navigate their relationship, careers and high-stakes dog rescues across Manitoba.
CBC today announced the expansion of its free ad-supported streaming portfolio with the launch of a new Schitt’s Creek channel, featuring all six seasons of the multiple Emmy Award-winning CBC original comedy series plus one-hour finale special Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt’s Creek Farewell. The new channel is available now on CBC Gem, and will launch on LG Channels and The Roku Channel in Canada this fall. The channel joins CBC Comedy and dedicated Heartland and Murdoch Mysteries channels as part of CBC’s entertainment FAST lineup.
“Audiences continue to turn to FAST channels for their daily entertainment and we are always looking to meet them where they are and connect them with their favourite shows,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC. “The introduction of a new Schitt’s Creek channel makes the iconic series even more accessible to new viewers as well as longstanding fans, allowing them to enjoy nonstop streaming – and laughs – whenever they want.”
The first Canadian series to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy, Schitt’s Creek is a globally beloved CBC original series starring Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliott, Emily Hampshire and Jennifer Robertson. The series follows a wealthy family who suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke. Produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc., the series was created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy.
The final season of the series won a total of nine Primetime Emmy Awards, the most ever for a Canadian series, and two Golden Globe Awards. During its six-season run, Schitt’s Creek garnered 200 award nominations and appeared on dozens of ‘Best Of’ lists. The series was consistently recognized for promoting acceptance of the LGBTQ2+ community, collecting a 2020 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and sweeping the Dorian Awards’ first-ever TV awards with Best TV Comedy, Lead Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress. Between April 2024 – March 2025, Schitt’s Creek was the #3 most-watched program on CBC Gem.*
CBC Gem is Canada’s streaming service, offering more than 6500 hours of live and on-demand Canadian programming and a curated selection of acclaimed, best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 400 documentary features, more than 700 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and a collection of over 400 Canadian feature films. CBC Gem is available for free as an app for iOS and Android devices and online at CBCGem.ca, and on connected TVs via Roku, Samsung, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, LG, Google Chromecast, Android TV and Xbox, as well as TV service provider Rogers Xfinity.
*Source: Adobe Analytics, CBC Production, OTT Segment, April 2024 – March 2025.
About CBC/Radio Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dehcho Dene Yati, Dënesųłıné (Chipewyan), Eastern Cree, Gwich’in, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, Sahtu Got’ine Godi, and Tłı̨chǫ (Tlicho). We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
This is a must-watch for Food lovers! CBC and CBC Gem’s LOCALS WELCOME stars renowned Food Writer and Personality Suresh Doss. We’ve followed his writing for years, so this is an exciting foray into visual storytelling for Doss as he goes around Canada exploring local gems and the faces behind them in this Series. Series premieres October 5, 2025 9 PM on CBC and is available to stream free on CBC GEM as well!
A screening and bash was held in celebration of the ten-episode, 30-minute series at Cineplex Eglinton followed by food at Seafood City last night, probably one of the first food red carpets held ever in Scarborough, with several notable personalities in attendance including Michelin-recognized chefs, Film and TV stars.
Some highlights from the night:, including a chat with Doss:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/CBC)
CBC is marking the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday, September 30 with an extensive lineup of Indigenous-led original programming showcasing First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives and experiences across CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, CBC digital platforms, CBC Radio, CBC Music and CBC Listen. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, CBC’s programming will include CBC LIVE NEWS SPECIAL: NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION, hosted by CBC News Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault in Ottawa and which will feature national commemorative event REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN: NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION, plus a new original documentary from CBC and APTN, THE GOOD CANADIAN, and returning for its fourth year, musical celebration ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl COME TOWARD THE FIRE.
Select images are available here. Credit: Courtesy of CBC.
CBC’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation lineup on Tuesday, September 30 includes:
Note: Radio-Canada programming information available here.
Q WITH TOM POWER: TANTOO CARDINAL AND CHRISTIAN ALLAIRE
10 a.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen
For more than five decades, and across more than 100 TV, film and theatre roles, Tantoo Cardinal has worked to bring nuanced Indigenous characters and stories to the stage and screen. She’s been in everything from Dances with Wolves to Killers of the Flower Moon…and she’s the star of the film Falls Around Her. about an Anishinaabe musician who returns to her community and tries to leave fame behind. Cardinal was recently honoured with the Equity in Entertainment Award from The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada, and that’s when Tom Power had the chance to sit down and talk with her about her impressive career.
Also on Q — As a kid growing up in Nipissing, Ontario, Christian Allaire dreamed of being part of the glamorous world that he saw in his mother’s Vogue magazines. Now, he’s the senior fashion and style writer for Vogue, and he writes about that journey in his new memoir From the Rez to the Runway. Allaire will speak with Tom Power about how fancy dress and powwow regalia was his very first introduction to fashion, the racism he encountered throughout his time in the fashion industry, and how he embraced his Ojibwe identity as his cool factor.
COMMOTION WITH ELAMIN ABDELMAHMOUD
11 a.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen
Kent Monkman is one of the most exciting Indigenous artists working today; now, the character he’s been developing his whole life – Miss Chief Eagle Testickle – is about to take centre stage in an opera in Montreal. Elamin Abdelmahmoud will sit down with some of Monkman’s peers to talk about his singular impact on the arts – and beyond.
UNRESERVED
1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen
(Sunday, September 28 at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen)
94 calls – but who’s answering? Jolene Ashini is – she is the first lawyer to emerge from her community and is determined to change the system from the inside. And Senator Pate is giving voice to 12 Indigenous women who have been silenced by the system. In this episode we’re reminded of the 94 Calls to Action, just how far we are in addressing them, and highlight two people who are willing to do the work in spite of society’s slow progress.
ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl COME TOWARD THE FIRE
2 p.m. (2:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen and 5 p.m. (5:30 NT) on CBC Music
Celebrating Indigenous talent, creativity and brilliance with live music performances by Tia Wood and Wyatt C. Lewis from the main stage of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia, recorded ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Hosted by Jarrett Martineau.
CBC NEWS SPECIAL – NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
2 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, CBC News streaming channels, cbcnews.ca, the CBC News app and the CBC News YouTube Channel
CBC News Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault will be in Ottawa to host special live coverage of events to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, joined by University of Manitoba professor, columnist and award-winning Anishinaabe author Niigaan Sinclair. Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, co-produced by APTN, CBC/Radio-Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), will be covered as part of this live news special.
REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN: NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
3 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC News Network, CBC News streaming channels, cbcnews.ca, the CBC News app and the CBC News YouTube Channel
APTN, CBC/Radio-Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) are once again partnering to produce Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the annual national commemorative gathering on Parliament Hill.
Hosted by Earl Wood and Melissa Mollen Dupuis, the multilingual commemorative event will share the powerful truths of residential school Survivors and pay moving tribute to the children who never made it home. There will be moving performances by First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists including the Eagle River Drum Group, DeeDee Austin, Burnstick, Julian Taylor and Susan Aglukark. Shown as part of the CBC NEWS SPECIAL, the 90-minute live event will be presented in English, French and Plains Cree.
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILATION SPECIAL
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen
Join host Falen Johnson to mark the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This special program will feature the events of the day and focus on Indigenous content from across the country.
THE GOOD CANADIAN
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and streaming on CBC Gem
The world knows the image of the good Canadian. But what if there was a dark secret behind a national identity? THE GOOD CANADIAN explores the idea of a True North strong and free. In this unflinching and eye-opening documentary, directors Leena Minifie and David Paperny move us through the corridors of systemic inequity, from the Indian Act to residential schools, to modern-day family separation. Fusing shocking footage with detailed interviews with experts, advocates, whistleblowers and politicians, THE GOOD CANADIAN challenges national myth-making, while offering Canadians the chance to forge a new identity from the truth.
SEE YOU IN COURT – “The girl whose life became a battleground over Indigenous child welfare”
Three-episode story available September 30 everywhere podcasts are available
New podcast SEE YOU IN COURT delves into the messy and memorable courtroom battles that shaped how Canadians live today, one case at a time. In this three-episode story available on September 30, Leticia is just an infant when she’s taken into foster care. But by the time she’s a year old, a legal battle over who should raise her is brewing, with her birth mother pushing to take her back to her First Nation and her foster parents saying she belongs with them. Host Falen Johnson sets the stage for journalist Dawna Dingwall and Leticia Racine to travel back to southwest Manitoba — where they both grew up — and their journey to try and piece together how Leticia ended up at the centre of precedent-setting court case, and the mark it made in her life.
All day on September 30, CBC Music will highlight Indigenous artists and composers, and CBC TV will air Indigenous-led documentaries including TLATSINI: JOURNEY OF THE TAKU KWAN (6:30 p.m., 7 NT) and THE ELDERS (11 p.m., 11:30 NT).
CBC Kids News presents RETURNING TO ULUKHAKTOK: A CBC KIDS NEWS DOCUMENTARY, available now on cbckidsnews.ca and YouTube. Meet six kids from a small community in the Arctic, who felt disconnected from their Inuvialuit identity — until they went on a journey to connect with their past. The students teamed up with CBC Kids News to document the trip they took to see their ancestors’ artwork and artifacts on display in museums across the country. They discovered a connection that runs deeper than they thought. You can also check out the ever-growing Indigenous Stories section on cbckidsnews.ca.
CBC Kids presents a new music video from multidisciplinary Indigenous Oji-Cree artist Anachnid. She stopped by Joojo and Gary the Unicorn’s apartment to perform her song “Braids.”
CBC’s ongoing coverage and recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation includes:
THE NEXT CHAPTER WITH ANTONIO MICHAEL DOWNING
Saturday, September 27 at 3 p.m. (3:30 NT) and Monday, September 29 at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT, 5pm MT, 5pm PT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen
THE NEXT CHAPTER will air an all-Indigenous episode featuring a conversation with Patty Krawec and book recommendations from Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad.
BOOKENDS WITH MATTEA ROACH
Sunday, September 28 at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT, 3 PT) and Wednesday, October 1 at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen
Mattea Roach will speak with Eliana Ramage, author of the novel To the Moon and Back, which is about a woman chasing her dreams of becoming the first Indigenous astronaut. Ramage is a citizen of Cherokee Nation and To the Moon and Back is a Reese’s Book Club Pick.
RECLAIMED presents SONGS OF OUR STORYTELLERS
Wednesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) and Saturday, October 4 at 5 p.m. (5:30 NT) on CBC Music
Thursday, October 2 at 11:05 p.m. (11:35 NT) and Saturday, October 4 at 9 p.m. (10 p.m. AT, 10:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio
There can be no Reconciliation without first telling the Truth — not just about what happened in the past but what’s still happening today. One of the clearest ways to get there is by sharing our stories. This week, RECLAIMED honours the spirit of truth that you find in the Songs of Our Storytellers.
CBC Gem’s TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COLLECTION is available now with more than 20 films, specials and documentaries honouring the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Joining the CBC Gem collection on Friday, Sept. 26 is HUDSON BAY(BIES), a film exploring an untold part of Canada’s past through the eyes of Inuk artist and filmmaker Elisapie Isaac. After facing a moral dilemma, Elisapie sets out to meet others who, like her, are “Hudson Baybies,” the children born of the mixed unions between Indigenous women and Hudson’s Bay Company employees working in trading posts and general stores across the North. Also launching on CBC Gem on Friday, Sept. 26 is NINAN AUASAT: WE, THE CHILDREN, a documentary following three groups of children from three different Indigenous nations: Atikamekw, Eeyou Cree and Innu. Shot over six years, audiences witness these young people navigate the milestones of childhood through to the threshold of adulthood, along with their day-to-day routines, aspirations and the challenges they face along the way.
CBC Kids showcases award-winning programs on CBC Gem, such as ANAANA’S TENT in both English and Inuktitut, TEEPEE TIME in English and Mi’kmaq, and MOLLY OF DENALI. For more content that celebrates Indigenous Culture, visit the CBC Kids Collection on CBC Gem. The CBC Kids YouTube page features an Indigenous language series which teaches kids animal words in Cree, Ojibwe / Anishinaabemowin and Inuktitut, as well as an ever-growing library of great Indigenous content for younger kids including dance, campfire stories, food and storytime videos.
CBC Books will feature digital content centred around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including a reading list curated by Patty Krawec, as a companion to her conversation on The Next Chapter.
Contributing Art Director Emily Kewageshig, an Anishinaabe artist raised in Saugeen First Nation #29, designed the CBC logo in 2021 to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Her work captures the interconnection of life forms using culturally significant materials from the land.
CBC Books, CBC’s online home for literary content, together with its partners the Canada Council for the Arts and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, have announced the finalists for the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize.
The finalists are:
Summer Ash by Rachel Foster (Vancouver)
The Invisible Woman by Laura MacGregor (Waterloo, Ont.)
The First Apartment by Jennifer McGuire (Owen Sound, Ont.)
Cancer Stage Exit 4: A Memoir by Lena Palacios (Montreal)
In Case I Die by Crystal Semaganis (Bear Island, Ont.)
The entries were selected from more than 1,300 submissions received from across Canada. The public can read the shortlisted entries on cbcbooks.ca. The winner of this year’s prize will be announced on Thursday, September 25.
The 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize jurors are Zoe Whittall, Danny Ramadan and Helen Knott.
Zoe Whittall is an Ontario-based author, poet and screenwriter. She has received the Writers’ Trust Dayne Ogilvie Award and has been shortlisted for the Giller Prize. Her memoir No Credit River was published in 2024. Danny Ramadan is a Vancouver-based Syrian-Canadian author and advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ refugees. Ramadan’s latest memoir Crooked Teeth was a finalist in the nonfiction category of the 2024 Governor General’s Literary Awards. Helen Knott is a Dane Zaa, Cree, Métis and mixed settler-descent writer from Prophet River First Nations in B.C. Knott’s memoir Becoming a Matriarch was a finalist in the nonfiction category of the 2024 Governor General’s Literary Awards.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash prize of $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and will be published on the CBC Books website. The four other finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and will be published on CBC Books.
Visit cbcbooks.ca for the complete CBC Nonfiction Prize shortlist or for more information on the CBC Literary Prizes.
About CBC Books
Home to Canada Reads, Bookends with Mattea Roach, The Next Chapter with Antonio Michael Downing, and the CBC Literary Prizes, CBC Books connects Canadians with books, encouraging a shared love of reading and writing. For book news, reading lists, author interviews and more, visit cbcbooks.ca
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.”
The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes, and payments contribute to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and support its presence across Canada and abroad. The Council’s investments foster greater engagement in the arts among Canadians and international audiences.
The Council’s Public Lending Right (PLR) program makes annual payments to creators whose works are held in Canadian public libraries.
About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Founded in 1933, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become the global organization leading in arts, culture, and creativity across dozens of disciplines. From our home on Treaty 7 territory in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to society through cross-disciplinary learning opportunities, world-class performances, and public outreach.
CBC today announced streaming and broadcast premiere dates for its fall 2025 slate of new and returning programming on CBC Gem and CBC TV, including more than 30 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
LOCALS WELCOME is a celebration of the lesser-known food places that make up the fabric of Canada’s rich and diverse communities. Hosted by food writer Suresh Doss, the series puts food back where it belongs: in a take-out container. Outside a strip mall. On the hood of a parked car. From his home base of Scarborough, Suresh will zig zag across Toronto, explore Montreal and even journey to Richmond, BC – all in service of helping Canadians understand the fascinating and transformative power of the foods that connect us all. Featured special guests include Matty Matheson, Ann Pornel and David Schwartz.
In each episode of this unique entertainment series based on the hit international format, one of Canada’s most popular celebrities and public figures faces a group of 30 atypical interviewers, all on the autism spectrum. Featured celebrity guests include Jann Arden, Allan Hawco, Howie Mandel, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, with more to be announced.
Returning Series
THE PASSIONATE EYE returns with a new season of thought-provoking original documentaries, beginning with LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY, telling the story of and challenges faced by the groundbreaking music festival started by iconic Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan and her team in the late 1990s.
In this milestone 20th anniversary season, DRAGONS’ DEN welcomes Celebrity Guest Dragon, Drew Scott, Property Brother and Co-Founder of Scott Brothers Global, and revisits some of the most memorable deals from the past two decades, spotlighting exciting new innovations and sharing stories from entrepreneurs that represent the best of Canada.
CBC News
CBC’s flagship national newscast with Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault (Monday – Thursday), guest hosts on Friday and Ian Hanomansing on Sunday.
After 20 years of bringing Canadians the news they need as they start their day, on November 6 Heather Hiscox bids farewell in front of a live audience at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. More details to be announced soon.
CBC Sports
Looking ahead to Team Canada’s participation at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, CBC SPORTS will continue to follow high-performance winter sport athletes including at Skate Canada International (Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 in Saskatoon) and IBSF Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Cups (Nov. 21 – Jan. 18 across various European venues). The fall season also includes the World Boxing Championships (Sept. 4-14 in Liverpool), 2025 World Athletics Championships (Sept. 12-21 in Tokyo), World Rowing Championships (Sept. 20-28 in Shanghai) and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup (Oct. 23-25 in Toronto). CBC SPORTS will once again offer coverage of the U Sports Championships (Oct. 29 – Nov 22 and March 5-22), including the Vanier Cup (Nov. 22 in Regina), showcasing Canada’s top university and college athletes, as well as the remaining games of the Northern Super League inaugural season, including the first-ever NSL championship game (Nov. 15 in Toronto).
CBC Kids Originals
A brand new live-action short-format series for kids aged 4-6 that peeks into the everyday adventures of Joojo (Joojo Paintsil), his cousin Gary the Unicorn, and their friendly neighbours in their funky apartment home, with guest stars including Canadian icon Mike Myers, and kids TV veteran Patty Sullivan.
Written by Catherine Hernandez (novel Scarborough and its film adaptation) for a tween audience, THE UNSTOPPABLE JENNY GARCIA follows a 13-year-old hip-hop dancer as her life is disrupted by the news that she has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and she must navigate a new path full of treatments and hospital stays while trying to make room for friends and fun.
A reboot of the iconic Canadian preschool buddy comedy for CBC/Radio-Canada brings back the delightful duo of Toopy, the clumsy mouse, and Binoo, the quiet cat. This 2D-animated series will introduce new imaginative stories and whimsical adventures to a fresh generation of viewers, continuing the legacy of the original.
This DINO RANCH spinoff sees the Cassidy Kids, also known as The Dino Ranchers, embark on the adventure of a lifetime on legendary Dino Island, a lost world teeming with undiscovered dinosaurs and mysterious locations.
This new animated series for CBC/Radio-Canada and ABC Australia follows Andrew, a wide-eyed, joyful young rhino bursting with creativity as he navigates life as a big BIG unicorn in the ever-surprising world of Hornsby Downs.
Returning Kids Series
About CBC Gem
CBC Gem is Canada’s streaming service, offering more than 6500 hours of live and on-demand Canadian programming and a curated selection of acclaimed, best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 400 documentary features, more than 700 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and a collection of over 400 Canadian feature films. CBC Gem is available for free as an app for iOS and Android devices and online at CBCGem.ca, and on connected TVs via Roku, Samsung, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, LG, Google Chromecast, Android TV and Xbox, as well as TV service provider Rogers Xfinity.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and CBC are proud to announce a remarkable group of performers selected for the 2025 cohort of the CBC Actors Conservatory. Kicking off September 2, 2025 and running through February 27, 2026 at CFC’s Toronto campus, this prestigious program equips actors with the creative and professional tools to thrive in an ever-changing industry.
The CBC Actors Conservatory is a full-time, six-month immersive onscreen acting program designed to elevate each actor’s practice, process, community and career by strengthening their craft and confidence, expanding their onscreen portfolios, and building strong creative and professional networks. Through mentorship, intensive workshops, onscreen exercises, business sessions and practical guidance, this program empowers actors to navigate career and marketplace opportunities.
“The CBC Actors Conservatory has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of many homegrown actors,” said Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “Each year, we are inspired by the artists we encounter and thrilled to welcome them into CFC’s vibrant creative community. We’re also grateful to CBC for continuing to support this unique talent development program.”
“It is more important than ever to support Canada’s on-screen talent in developing their skills and connections, and by extension to bolster the creative industry in this country,” said Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, CBC. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with the CFC on this crucial program, and offer congratulations to this year’s cohort of performers as they embark on this next chapter of their careers.”
Thanks to the generous support of the CBC as Lead Partner, as well as the RBC Foundation, the CBC Actors Conservatory has helped propel the careers of over 100 actors including Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Araya Mengesha (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent), Ashton James (BoxCutter, Young Blood, Madness); Gia Sandhu (Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Stealing Vows), Giacomo Gianniotti (Wild Cards, Grey’s Anatomy), Grace Glowicki (Dead Lover), Michelle McLeod (Women Talking), Milcania Diaz-Rojas (40 Acres), Patrick Kwok-Choon (Star Trek: Discovery) and Supinder Wraich (Allegiance, Sort Of).
The 2025 Actors Conservatory residents:
Feaven Abera (She/Her/Hers) is an Ethio-Canadian actor and former fashion model based in Toronto. As a Hamilton native she began her career in print and runway modeling, appearing in fashion editorials before transitioning to screen. Always approaching her performances and style with curiosity and cultural clarity. Her early television work includes Nurses, Mayor of Kingstown, and Sort Of. In 2025, Feaven steps into a breakout season with four screen projects: a lead role in the romantic dramedy A Tribe Called Love opposite Dalmar Abuzeid; supporting roles in Netflix’s Wayward (created by Mae Martin) and Doin’ It (Lilly Singh); and a guest star appearance in the network medical drama DOC. Feaven’s sense of style has earned her recognition from FASHION Magazine and The Outset. And it’s her commitment to representing the community she didn’t see onscreen growing up that drives her work — creating space for multidimensional Black women in film and TV. Now entering her rising star era, Feaven brings an honest, visually compelling point of view to every role — and continues to share her journey as an artist actively shaping her own path.
Behtash Fazlali (He/Him/His) is an actor and first-generation immigrant from Iran. Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, he gravitated towards film as a channel to help navigate and gain a better understanding of his life between two worlds. Behtash is most noted for his performance in the short film Motherland, for which he won the Canadian Screen Award in 2024. As a rising voice in the Canadian film industry, he is committed to learning and growing with each new opportunity. To him, storytelling is a vital tool—one that can spark dialogue, foster empathy, and help bridge the gaps between people and cultures.
Brynn Godenir (She/Her/Hers) is a multi-disciplinary artist with a strong foundation in film, theatre, and movement. Originally from Winnipeg and now based in Toronto, she’s a proud prairie girl at heart. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Brynn brings a grounded, physical approach to her work—merging her movement training with a deep commitment to character and storytelling. She has appeared in notable TV shows such as Hell Motel (Shudder), Burden of Truth (CBC/CW), Coroner (CBC/CW), Law & Order: Toronto – Criminal Intent (CityTV), DOC (Fox), and Titans (HBO). Select film credits include Scared Sh*tless (Happy Cat Productions), Writing a Love Song (Vortex Media), Erase & Rewind (Clique Pictures), A Charming Valentine (CME), Take Me Back for Christmas (Hallmark) and Rich Kid (Jade Rose Films).
Adrian Pavone (They/Them/Theirs) is a Canadian Screen Award-nominated actor, born and raised in Scarborough. With most of their acting training from various studios around the city, they earned a degree at the University of Toronto for Psychology and Drama, Theatre, & Performance studies. This was where they began their journey in consequence, dramaturgy, and the inherent politicism in art. Their work focuses on the queer experience and the consequences of intersectional identities, particularly as a multi-ethnic person. Adrian was recently featured in GenV (Prime), The Hooves Belonged to the Deer (Makram Ayache; Peter Hinton-Davis), and starred in the critically-acclaimed series How to Fail as a Popstar (CBC Gem), garnering a CSA nomination.
Brian Quintero (He/Him/His) is a Canadian actor and filmmaker of Costa Rican heritage, born and raised in Toronto. A graduate of Seneca College’s Acting for Camera & Voice program, he has built a diverse body of work across film and television, fueled by a passion for performance that began at a young age. In television, he will appear in the pilot episode of Neagley, the Jack Reacher spinoff (Amazon Prime), and has a key role in The Abandons (Netflix), a highly anticipated Western series from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter. He has also appeared in The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) and Billy the Kid (MGM+). In film, Quintero earned multiple nominations and awards for his performance as Nick Belvedere in the short film Narcissistic, and was nominated for Best Ensemble at FilmQuest for his portrayal of Aaron in the feature film The Killgrin. Next, he will star as Benito in the upcoming action-comedy feature film Karate Ghost, co-starring Tim Rozon, Jim Belushi, and Michael Jai White.
Chelsea Russell (She/Her/Hers) was born in Barbados and raised in Jamaica, she currently resides in Toronto. She studied in the Acting Conservatory at York University and has been working professionally as an actor in theatre, TV and film. Most recently Chelsea played as Beyonsea in Beyonsea & The Mothers at Green Light Arts (2025). She is also known for plays like Fairview (2023) at Canadian Stage, Soulpepper’s Pipeline (2022) and Soulpepper’s Da Kink In My Hair (2023). She is passionate about working in afro-centric theatre, TV and film especially in these trying times. She is pleased to mention that she has been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award, a DORA and an Actra Award. Some credits include Fellow Travellers (Showtime), Skymed (Paramount Plus), Rebirth of the Afronauts (CBC Gem), Tiny Pretty Things (Netflix), See (Apple TV) and the upcoming season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Shona Struthers (They/She/He) Shona is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist, being an actor, sound designer, combatant, technician, and fight coordinator. They are a UBC Acting graduate, Intermediate FDC Actor Combatant, Advanced BADC Actor Combatant, former Pacific Theatre apprentice, Affair of Honor Creative Associate & Company Member, a many-hat-wearer. They have performed with ITSAZOO Productions (Under the Needle & Sunrise Betties Workshops), Affair of Honor (Playthings, Soul Samurai), Pacific Theatre (Mother of the Maid, Christmas Presence), With A Spoon & Rumble Theatre (The Wolves). They have sound designed and assisted for The Search Party, Alley Theatre, Rumble Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Presentation House Theatre, Arts Umbrella, Western Gold, Affair of Honor. They have performed in a slew of short films, and are the recipient of Run & Gun’s Best Ensemble Award (2024) and Run & Gun’s Best Performance Nominee (2024).
Rosalie Tremblay (She/Her/Hers) is a bilingual (English and French) actor, and stand-up comedian, originally from Vancouver Island BC. A graduate of the National Theatre School, she works professionally both on screen, and stage. Most notably, Clue (The Grand, The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.) She has performed her stand up across Canadian cities, and is now based in Toronto, ON.
For more information, visit cfccreates.com.
CBC and ABC News Studios announced today LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY, a feature-length documentary from director Ally Pankiw (I Used to Be Funny, Black Mirror, The Great), will premiere in Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 on CBC and CBC Gem and on Sunday, Sept. 21, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally (excluding Canada), following its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY tells the untold story of the groundbreaking music festival featuring only women artists, started by iconic Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan and her team in the late 1990s, in opposition to systematic industry barriers that limited women from playing together on a concert bill and getting back-to-back airplay on the radio. The film is produced with the support of the original Lilith Fair founders – Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser and Marty Diamond.
“I’m so filled with pride and nostalgia watching this film,” said Sarah McLachlan. “Ally and the team have beautifully captured the magic and strength of a community of women who came together and lifted each other up to create positive change in the world. I hope the film resonates with everyone and we can continue to strive to support and champion one another.”
Photos are available here.
LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY is inspired by the 2019 article, “Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair,” from Vanity Fair and Epic Magazine, written by Jessica Hopper with Sasha Geffen and Jenn Pelly. It draws from more than 600 hours of never-before-seen archival footage as well as new interviews and stories from fans, festival organizers, and artists. The documentary reunites and features interviews from original Lilith Fair artists Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Paula Cole, Jewel, Mýa, Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, and Emmylou Harris and a new generation of artists who have carried the torch including Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo, among others. As the film celebrates the festival’s groundbreaking legacy and impact, it also confronts the backlash that tried to diminish it and explores what Lilith means in today’s world.
“Lilith Fair holds a very special place in my heart,” said Dan Levy. “It was one of the first spaces where I remember feeling at home. The music, the sense of community, and the power of a group of women proving an entire industry wrong was a tremendous thing to experience. What Sarah built with that festival changed so much for so many people. And while it is now seen as an odds-defying success story, it was an uphill battle every step of the way. And there is a lot to be learned from that story. It’s an honor to be working alongside Sarah on this and I am excited for everyone to understand just how revolutionary Lilith Fair really was.”
“I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful doc – especially at what feels like a fitting time to highlight a story of resistance and radical joy in the face of systems that try to keep women and diverse voices small,” said director Ally Pankiw. “The collaborative effort of this film and what it took to make it mirrors the incredible underdog story of Sarah and her team and how they fought for Lilith to succeed against all odds.”
Commissioned by CBC with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Rogers Group of Funds, LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY is directed by Ally Pankiw and produced by Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Elevation Pictures for ABC News Studios and presented by White Horse Pictures in association with Epic Magazine. The film is produced by Levy and Christina Piovesan. Executive producers are Cassidy Hartmann, Nicholas Ferrall, Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Nigel Sinclair for White Horse; Noah Segal for Elevation Pictures; Jessica Hopper; Arthur Spector, Joshuah Bearman and Joshua Davis for Epic Magazine; Ally Pankiw; Steve Cohen and Paula Froehle for Chicago Media Project; and Wayne Isaak. For ABC News Studios, Diane Sawyer, Claire Weinraub and Tess Scott Davidson are executive producers; and David Sloan is senior executive producer. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual, & Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; Sandra Kleinfeld is Senior Director, Documentary; and Michelle McCree is Executive in Charge of Production, CBC Docs.
Rachel McLean serves as supervising producer, and Isabel Merrell is co-executive producer. Ruti Prikhoji is Executive in Charge of Production for Elevation. The documentary is presented by Chicago Media Project and produced in association with Carlene C. Laughlin, Minderoo Pictures, the Elfant Festa Family and Sobey Road Entertainment. White Horse Pictures and Range Media Partners are acting as sales agents worldwide.
Lynne Stopkewich, Jessica Fraser and Dean English executive produce. The Manaaki Foundation, Barbara and Eric Dobkin, Malinda Wink, Christina Nolan and Rose Lizarraga will executive produce for Chicago Media Project; and Blue Skyzz Trust and Alexander Kellison will co-executive produce. For Sobey Road Entertainment, Andrew Trapani and Brian Nugent are executive producers, and David Sze and David Kirk are co-executive producers.
The film will launch the new season of CBC’s flagship documentary series THE PASSIONATE EYE.
In addition to the documentary premiere this fall, McLachlan will launch her first studio album of new music in over a decade, “Better Broken” (Concord Records), on Sept. 19. Produced by Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius) and Will Maclellan (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers), “Better Broken” is a soul-searching reflection on the fortitude that comes from weathering life’s constant storms. McLachlan will also be touring with her band across Canada this fall. For more information, visit sarahmclachlan.com.
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