#FIRSTLOOK: YOUTUBE FEATURES TORONTO SHOWCASE

Today at its annual YouTube Features showcase in Toronto, YouTube Canada unveiled a slate of 9 Canadian Creator Shows and new platform innovations, marking a defining shift toward the future of media and entertainment

YouTube Features was hosted by Primetime Emmy-nominated comedian and host Kareem Rahma, whose hit show SubwayTakes has more than 1.1 million subscribers and 800 million views. Rahma brought his signature interview style and irreverent charm to the stage as he walked attendees through the unique opportunity on YouTube for creators, brands, and partners. Rahma surprised the crowd by bringing on stage special guest and Canadian Idol Mike Myers, as Rahma announced that SubwayTakes is coming to Canada this October.

Canadians turn to YouTube for everything from education and entertainment to product discovery and purchasing decisions, and today’s event underscored the platform’s unique ability to connect brands with the audiences they most want to reach. According to the newest research from Numeris, YouTube has been the #1 most-watched streaming platform in Canada for the last three quarters.^[1]

The biggest reveal at YouTube Features was an early look at new programming coming exclusively to the platform. The platform’s unique, creator-first model gives creators the freedom to greenlight their own concepts and retain ownership of their intellectual property, while making it easier for brands to harness the power of creators. This follows a Creator Show announcement made earlier this year, at YouTube Brandcast.

YouTube’s slate of programming showcases the breadth of talent and storytelling emerging from Canada’s creator economy, spanning entertainment, sports, food, comedy, lifestyle and culture. The roster includes a new video podcast from three-time Olympic gold medallist Tessa Virtue; a trends-focused food show from chef and restaurateur Susur Lee and his son Jet Bent-Lee; a reality series from beloved Canadian comedy creator Jeenie Weenie; and many more.

“YouTube creators are making the must-see programming that is shaping culture and redefining entertainment,” said Nicole Bell, Head of YouTube Canada. “With this new slate, we’re proud to invest in homegrown creative entrepreneurs, giving Canada’s most compelling storytellers the opportunity to bring their biggest ideas to life and connect directly with the audiences who love them.”

New Creator Shows coming exclusively to YouTube

Alexandra Gater  I “Dream Apartment Makeover, Season 3”

Now in its third season, the wildly popular Dream Apartment Makeover sees Alexandra Gater and her team once again gift a deserving subscriber a complete, multi-room apartment transformation. Building on the emotional connection audiences formed with the series’ first two seasons, each makeover goes beyond a new look to explore how an intentionally designed home can support someone through a major life change. The series began with Kate, who was nominated by friends following her MS diagnosis, and whose story resonated deeply with viewers as they followed her transformation room by room. With nearly one million subscribers and more than 160 million views across her channel, Gater has built a loyal audience around transformative, accessible home makeovers, making Dream Apartment Makeover a natural extension of the human stories at the heart of her work.

Iron Chef Dad  I “Iron Chef Dad vs. The Internet”

Iron Chef Dad vs. The Internet will star famed chef Susur Lee and his son, Jet Bent-Lee, who introduces his dad to the viral recipes, food trends, hacks, restaurant items and snacks dominating online conversation. Each episode takes the father and son duo into a new corner of internet food culture; from fast-food items and grocery-store snacks to food challenges and international dishes as Susur tastes, reacts and offers his candid perspective on what works and what doesn’t. Along the way, he may reimagine a dish, create his own version or explain how he would approach it differently. At its core, the series explores what happens when a celebrated chef and his son take on the ever-evolving world of internet food.

Jeenie Weenie  I “Roots”

Known to their 13-million subscribers for their sketch comedy, Jeenie and Johnny step back from viral hits to reconnect with their Korean heritage as new parents. Together, they navigate what it means to pass on their culture, food, language and traditions to their daughter, Nari. Each episode follows a different part of that journey, from trips and recipes to family rituals and everyday discoveries as they build the world they want her to grow up in.  At its heart, the series is an intimate look at two creators exploring identity, family and heritage in real time as they become the parents they want to be.

Julie Nolke  I “Becky and Miranda”

A razor-sharp dark comedy on the bonds of friendship.  Becky and Miranda are two everyday millennial women navigating dating burnout, career pressure, and modern womanhood—who also happen to share an outrageous penchant for serial killing. As the duo bond over the absurd logistics of their lethal hobby and evade detection, the series uses its heightened premise to deliver a hilarious, deeply relatable exploration of female friendship and unconditional loyalty. Created by Julie Nolke (Run the Burbs) and starring Nolke alongside Nicole Power (Kim’s Convenience).

Kareem Rahma  I “SubwayTakes Toronto”

SubwayTakes Toronto presents the unfiltered, long-form transformation of the celebrated interview series, providing an immersive look at the most divisive celebrity discussions from the TTC. The series highlights the awkward silences, intense detours, and genuine chemistry between Kareem Rahma and his high-profile guests. Each episode features iconic Canadian guests, and puts the viewer directly in the middle of the authentic, unscripted mayhem found inside Canada’s most recognizable subway car.

Sunday Kalogeras, Demitra Kalogeras, Eliana Kalogeras (Kalogeras Sisters) I “Hardly Workin”

Three designer-clad sisters clock in for full shifts at jobs they are spectacularly unqualified for. Inspired by The Simple Life and reimagined for Gen Z, Hardly Workin’ throws the glamorous trio into demanding, unpredictable situations, letting their signature chaos and charm unfold in real time. Backed by a powerhouse audience of 8M+ subscribers and 1.5B+ views, the Kalogeras sisters take their personality-driven comedy to the next level: each episode drops them into an unfamiliar industry with zero prep, no shortcuts, and luxury clutches strictly optional.

Matty Matheson & Super Athletic Film Co. I “Matty’s Farm”

From the minds of Matty Matheson, Ricky Staffieri and Super Athletic Film Co., comes a new heartfelt series set in rural Ontario. This time, chef, restaurateur and hometown hero Matty Matheson is going all in. He’s building, growing, expanding —and turning a farm dream into a reality.

Sarah Nurse I “Sarah’s Side Quests”

In this series, Olympian and pro hockey star Sarah spends her offseason learning new skills from some of Canada’s top athletes, experts and creators, building on her love of trying different sports and taking on new challenges. Each episode pairs her with a guest who teaches her the ins and outs of their craft, while natural conversations reveal their personal journeys, mindsets and experiences. Whether it’s playing basketball with top WNBA players, designing new looks with acclaimed fashion designers, or cooking game-day meals with viral chefs, Sarah gets hands-on with every challenge while discovering what it takes to excel at the highest level. Blending learning and conversation, the series follows Sarah as she steps outside her comfort zone, offering viewers a deeper look at the stories, mindsets and passions of the people teaching her.

NEW CHANNEL Tessa Virtue I “Virtuoso”

Virtuoso is a new podcast series about the pursuit of mastery, hosted by five-time Olympic medalist, Three-time World Champion, and the most decorated female figure skater in Olympic history, Tessa Virtue. Tessa uses her sports background to explore unique interpretations of excellence. She talks to her guests candidly and with relatable personal experience, creating an atmosphere grounded in trust and authenticity. Drawing on the teamwork and discipline that defined her record-breaking career, she invites guests into conversations that feel less like interviews and more like meaningful exchanges between peers. Each episode, Tessa sits down with athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, leaders, and creators to explore the experiences, decisions, and relationships that have shaped them. Tessa’s goal is to strike gold – uncovering the mindset, habits, and practical tools these high-achievers rely on, while helping listeners apply those lessons in their own lives and careers.

“We’re seeing a new generation of Canadian storytellers and established cultural figures choose YouTube because it gives them complete ownership of their vision,” said Bell. “On YouTube, you get to greenlight your show, and we provide the largest creative canvas for you to create and connect directly with fans both at home and around the world. These Creator Shows are just the beginning of what’s possible when creators have the freedom to build on their own terms.”

New ways to connect with viewers from discovery to checkout

YouTube Features also shared several new and revamped features for the Canadian market to connect brands to YouTube’s most impactful cultural moments and trending conversations. Creator Partnerships Boost is now available, and enables brands to promote Creator videos as ads in their AI-powered ad campaigns. Buy with Google Pay allows viewers to complete purchases directly on their connected TVs with just two clicks, turning the living room screen into a frictionless storefront. It will be in Canada by Q4.

Additional show assets and imagery are available in the YouTube Features Press Kit.

About YouTube Canada

YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch, and share originally-created videos. The platform provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe. According to Oxford Economics, YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed over $2 billion CAD to Canada’s GDP in 2025, while supporting more than 35k+ full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Canada.

[1] According to Numeris, for the last three quarters, YouTube has been the #1 most watched streaming platform in Canada, beating out Netflix, Amazon Prime and all of Disney. (Canada, 3P, Sep. 1 2025 – May 31, 2026)