#FOOD: “LOCALS WELCOME” PREMIERES OCTOBER 5, 2025 ON CBC AND CBC GEM

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:

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#FIRSTLOOK: CBC ANNOUNCE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY PROGRAMMING 2025

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.

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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.

#BOOKS: 2025 CBC NONFICTION PRIZE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

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.

#FIRSTLOOK: CBC ANNOUNCE FALL 2025 PROGRAMMING SLATE

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 *New Factual Series* (10×30) – Premieres Sunday, October 5 (9 p.m.)

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.

• THE ASSEMBLY *New Factual Series* (6×30 on CBC Gem, 3×60 on CBC TV) – Premieres Thursday, November 6 (9 p.m.)

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

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

• THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES (21×30) *Season 33* – Premieres Tuesday, September 16 (8 p.m.)
• JUST FOR LAUGHS GAGS (11×30) – Premieres Tuesday, September 16 (8:30 p.m.)
• THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP *Season 6* (4×30) – Premieres Tuesday, September 16 at 9:30 p.m. on CBC TV (all episodes available beginning Friday, August 29 on CBC Gem)
• THE PASSIONATE EYE (9×60 + 1×120) – Premieres Wednesday, September 17 (8 p.m., 9 p.m. beginning September 24)

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.

• DRAGONS’ DEN *Season 20* (12×60) – Premieres Thursday, September 25 (8 p.m.)

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. 

• PLAN B *Season 3* (6×60) – Premieres Thursday, September 25 at 9 p.m. on CBC TV (streaming now on CBC Gem)

• HEARTLAND *Season 19* (10×60) – Premieres Sunday, October 5 (7 p.m.)
• THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW *Season 9* (8×60) – Premieres Sunday, October 5 (8 p.m.)
• FAMILY FEUD CANADA – (64×30) *Season 7* – Premieres Monday, October 6 (7:30 p.m.), airing four nights a week, Monday to Thursday

• MURDOCH MYSTERIES *Season 19* (21×60) – Premieres Monday, October 6 (8 p.m.)
• THE NATURE OF THINGS *Season 65* (14×60) – Premieres Wednesday, October 29 (8 p.m.)
• FOR THE CULTURE WITH AMANDA PARRIS *Season 2* (6×60) – All episodes available beginning  November 28 on CBC Gem

CBC News 

• ABOUT THAT WITH ANDREW CHANG (11×30) – Premieres Friday, September 19 at 8:30 p.m. on CBC TV (Available weekday mornings on CBC Gem and the CBC News streaming channel)

• MARKETPLACE *Season 53* (15×30) – Premieres Friday, September 26 (8 p.m.) 
• THE FIFTH ESTATE *Season 51* (14×60) – Premieres Friday, October 10 (9 p.m.)
• THE NATIONAL – ongoing (live at 10 p.m. weekdays and Sundays on CBC TV and CBC Gem) 

CBC’s flagship national newscast with Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault (Monday – Thursday), guest hosts on Friday and Ian Hanomansing on Sunday.  

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

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. 

• POWER & POLITICS WITH DAVID COCHRANE (Weeknights on CBC News Network)
• HANOMANSING TONIGHT (Weeknights on CBC News Network) 
• ROSEMARY BARTON LIVE (Sundays on CBC TV and CBC News Network)

CBC Sports 

• CBC SPORTS PRESENTS – ongoing (live on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on CBC TV and CBC Gem)

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

• HEY JOOJO! *New Live-Action Series* – Premieres Monday, September 1 on CBC TV

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. 

• THE UNSTOPPABLE JENNY GARCIA *New Tween Series* (8×12) – All episodes available beginning Friday, September 5 on CBC Gem

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. 

• TOOPY & BINOO – FABULOUS ADVENTURES *Animated Series Reboot* (39×7) – Premieres Saturday, October 25 on CBC TV and CBC Gem

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. 

• DINO RANCH: ISLAND EXPLORERS *New Animated Series* (26×22) – Premieres Saturday, November 8 on CBC TV and CBC Gem

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. 

• IT’S ANDREW! (formerly known as ANDREW THE BIG BIG UNICORN) *New Animated Series* (40×7) – Premieres Friday, December 5 on CBC Gem and Wednesday, December 10 on CBC TV

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

• MINI-JON AND MINI-MAPLE *Season 3* (36×4) – Premieres Monday, September 1 on CBC Gem and Monday, September 8 on CBC TV
• JEREMY & JAZZY *Season 3* (22×2) – Premieres Monday, September 1 on CBC Gem and Monday, September 8 on CBC TV
• PLAYING WITH STU *Season 2* (11×1) – Premieres Monday, September 1 on CBC Gem and Monday, September 8 on CBC TV
• GO TOGO *Season 2* (31×5) – Premieres Monday, December 1 on CBC Gem and CBC TV

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.

#FIRSTLOOK: CANADIAN FILM CENTRE AND CBC ANNOUNCE 2025 CBC ACTORS CONSERVATORY COHORT

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.

#FIRSTLOOK: “LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY” TO PREMIERE ON CBC AND CBC GEM

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.

#FIRSTLOOK: CBC ANNOUNCE CANADA DAY 2025 PROGRAMMING INCLUDING CANADA’S WALK OF FAME

CBC is offering a full-day of original programming on Tuesday, July 1, inviting audiences across the country to celebrate Canada Day 2025 together on all platforms.

CBC News will provide live coverage from locations across the country beginning at 6 a.m. ET, connecting and reflecting the spirit of the day from coast to coast to coast. The primetime schedule includes CANADA’S WALK OF FAME 2025, featuring the 2025 induction gala with performances and tributes celebrating and honouring Canada’s great achievers. The day culminates with live concert special CELEBRATING OUR CANADA, LOUD AND PROUD, from LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa with host Isabelle Racicot and featuring performances by Sarah McLachlan, Cœur de pirate, Aasiva, Josh Ross, Tom Cochrane, Mitsou, Amanda Marshall, Roch Voisine and Randy Bachman, among others.

CBC’s Canada Day programming will be available on CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC Gem, CBC Radio, CBC Music, the CBC News YouTube Channel and CBC News streaming channels.

CBC also kicks off It’s a Canada Thing Summer Tour in four cities on July 1. Canadians are invited to join CBC to celebrate in-person at colourful pop-up kiosks at The Forks in Winnipeg, Wascana Park in Regina, Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, and Pier 21 in Halifax, where they can share what living in this country means to them, test their knowledge of “Canada Things,” and win fun CBC prizes.

CBC’s Canada Day lineup starts at 6 a.m. ET on CBC News Network and CBC streaming platforms (beginning at 8 a.m. ET on CBC TV) with Heather Hiscox live from Charlottetown, PEI, before shifting to Adrienne Arsenault live in Ottawa beginning at 10 a.m. ET, showcasing the July 1 program from LeBreton Flats Park with reporters and special guests. The day continues at 2 p.m. ET with CALL IN CANADA, a live Canada Day call-in show hosted by Saroja Coelho and offering Canadians the opportunity to share their thoughts on what it means to be Canadian in 2025, before David Common and Aarti Pole take over at 4 p.m. ET to connect with Canadians celebrating across the country.

At 7 p.m. (8 AT, 8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem, audiences are invited to catch all the highlights from the CANADA’S WALK OF FAME 2025 Induction Gala, where nine extraordinary Canadians have earned their place on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Recorded from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto and hosted by Arisa Cox and Madison Tevlin, this year’s CANADA’S WALK OF FAME 2025 Induction Gala shines a spotlight on remarkable Canadians whose achievements have made a lasting impact. The 2025 inductees are:

Five-time JUNO Award-winning “First Lady of Guitar” Liona Boyd;

Pioneering cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Tirone David;

Acclaimed filmmaker and director Shawn Levy;

Champion of children’s wellness on the frontlines of global crises Samantha Nutt;

Multi-platinum, diamond-selling band Our Lady Peace;

Founder of the world’s leading luxury hotel brand Four Seasons, Isadore Sharp;

Celebrating 50 years as a powerhouse of Canadian and global entertainment the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF);

One of Canada’s greatest golfers Mike Weir;

Award-winning actress, producer and advocate Tonya Williams.

The CBC broadcast of CANADA’S WALK OF FAME 2025 will also feature performances by Our Lady Peace, Sam Roberts, The Tenors and a tribute to Liona Boyd as well as appearances from Tom Cochrane, K.C. Collins, Chantal Kreviazuk, Deepa Mehta, Julie Nesrallah, George Stroumboulopoulos and more.

At 7 p.m. ET on CBC News Network, CBC Gem and CBC News digital and streaming platforms, the special concert pre-show hosted by Adrienne Arsenault with Elamin Abdelmahmoud will feature interviews with performers and highlight how Canadians from coast to coast to coast are standing up for Canada.

Beginning at 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) across all CBC platforms and live from Ottawa with host Isabelle Racicot, concert special CELEBRATING OUR CANADA, LOUD AND PROUD will feature memorable performances from across the country. Canadian artists and special guests include: Sarah McLachlan, Cœur de pirate, Aasiva, Josh Ross, Tom Cochrane, Mitsou, Amanda Marshall, Roch Voisine, Randy Bachman, Édith Butler, TALK, Dumas & Ivan Boivin-Flamand, Fredz, Muzion, Billie du Page, Morgan Grace, with Blue Rodeo (Summerside), Alex Wells (Vancouver), Dear Rouge (Vancouver), Crook the Kid (Yellowknife), Brenda Montana (Yellowknife), and special guests Jeff Douglas, Katherine Levac, Les Sœurs Bégin and Enola Bedard. Fireworks will provide the grand finale for the day, lighting up the Ottawa-Gatineau sky.

On CBC Radio, Caroline Hillier hosts THIS IS CANADA beginning at 6 a.m. (6:30 NT), celebrating the remarkable people that call Canada home, and what it means to be part of this country. Live coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET from LeBreton Flats Park with hosts Piya Chattopadhyay and Elamin Abdelmahmoud, followed by the Canada Day call-in show, CALL IN CANADA, hosted by Saroja Coelho at 2 p.m. ET, and live coverage of the CELEBRATING OUR CANADA, LOUD AND PROUD concert from 8-10 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) hosted by Damhnait Doyle.

On CBC Music, MORNINGS host Damhnait Doyle will throw an all-Canadian dance party, Julie Nesrallah will present the very best in Canadian classical music on TEMPO, ABOUT TIME’s Tom Allen will share music by composers from every province and territory, DRIVE with host Rich Terfry will feature a special all-Canadian road trip playlist and THE BLOCK with Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe will be playing music from Canadian Black and Indigenous artists. On CBCMusic.ca, Canada Day coverage will include 10 Songs with Surprising Canadian Connections (June 26) and What’s the Perfect Canadian Song? Canadian Musicians weigh in with their picks (June 30).

The CBC COMEDY and MURDOCH MYSTERIES FAST channels will also be marking Canada Day with special programming. From June 27 through July 1, the MURDOCH MYSTERIES channel will be highlighting episodes of the long-running drama series that feature real-life historic Canadians. CBC COMEDY will be offering a SCHITT’S CREEK marathon from June 27 through June 30, followed by a STILL STANDING west-coast-to-east-coast marathon on Canada Day, with episodes showcasing the beauty of Canada and the hidden comedy found in its small towns.

#FIRSTLOOK: CBC ANNOUNCE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MONTH 2025 PROGRAMMING

As part of CBC’s ongoing commitment to reflect Indigenous communities across Canada, the national public broadcaster is recognizing National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day with original and special programming that showcases First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives and experiences.

National Indigenous History Month honours the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country. It is also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the strength of Indigenous communities by sharing present-day stories from an Indigenous point of view, told by Indigenous-led creative teams. CBC aims to foreground diverse Indigenous voices year-round, offering national audiences authentic and engaging storytelling that can’t be found anywhere else, and nurturing new Indigenous creators and aspiring journalists through development programs that offer participants valuable hands-on experience and coaching support.

A selection of CBC’s broad range of programming available on broadcast, streaming, audio and digital platforms in June and beyond is highlighted below:

NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY – Saturday, June 21

CBC TV and CBC Gem will broadcast and stream a selection of Indigenous-led documentaries, films and series throughout the day and late night on Saturday, June 21, including the following titles:

Begins streaming June 21 on CBC Gem and CBC Indigenous’ YouTube channel. Also available on CBC News streaming channels June 21 and 22.

RESONATE: SONGS OF RESILIENCE (52 minutes)

CBC Indigenous takes you into Indigenous country to hear songs of roots and resistance. Watch the one-hour special, RESONATE: SONGS OF RESILIENCE, celebrating communities and families through music, while sharing personal stories and experiences.

7 p.m. (8 AT, 8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem

2025 INDSPIRE AWARDS

Twelve outstanding Indigenous achievers from a diverse list of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities will be celebrated during the broadcast of the 2025 INDSPIRE AWARDS, which recognize outstanding achievements from Indigenous peoples across the country in a variety of fields, including: the arts; business and commerce; culture, heritage and spirituality; education; health; law and justice; public service; sports; and lifetime achievement. Three Youth Award winners are also honoured for their accomplishments, serving as role models to other First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth across Turtle Island. The Indspire Awards represent the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own people. After 31 years, the Indspire Awards have honoured over 400 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement across Turtle Island and beyond. Learn more about the 2025 recipients.

8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC TV (streaming now on CBC Gem)

SEARCHING FOR WINNETOU (directed by Drew Hayden Taylor, written by Paul Kemp)

SEARCHING FOR WINNETOU looks at the fine line between appreciation and appropriation of Indigenous traditions. The documentary follows Ojibway author and humourist Drew Hayden Taylor as he travels to Germany to investigate this phenomenon and its lasting impact.

9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT) on CBC TV (streaming now on CBC Gem)

BEANS (directed by Tracey Deer, written by Tracey Deer and Meredith Vuchnich)

Drawing from her own experiences as a child, Tracey Deer provides a poignant and engaging chronicle of real-life events that shook the nation. BEANS takes place at the height of the 1990 Mohawk Resistance at Kanehsatà:ke (also known as the Oka Crisis), a 78-day standoff between Indigenous land defenders, Quebec police, the RCMP, and the Canadian military, over the proposed expansion of a golf course on to a Mohawk burial ground. Twelve-year-old Tekehentahkhwa (nicknamed Beans) grapples with her anger over the treatment of her people. The CBC Films-supported film won Best Motion Picture and the John Dunning Best First Feature Film at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards.

AVAILABLE IN JUNE ON CBC PLATFORMS

UNRESERVED (New episodes available every Friday everywhere podcasts are available, and airing Sundays at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT) and Tuesdays at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio and CBC Listen) In a special episode dropping June 20, host Rosanna Deerchild speaks with the drum dance group Kilautiup Songuninga based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

UNRESERVED is Canada’s only national radio program dedicated to Indigenous voices. Deerchild guides listeners to learn, unlearn, and laugh together on a path to better understanding through new weekly episodes, and ongoing series: Sacred Seven explores the teachings of Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, and community members putting those words into action, while Unmapped is a travel series that shines a light on the Indigenous presence in some of the most iconic destinations around the world. Visit cbc.ca/unreserved for more information or catch up on CBC Listen.

SO SURREAL: BEHIND THE MASKS (88min, directed by Neil Diamond) a documentary Channel original Now streaming on CBC Gem and the CBC Docs You Tube channel

SO SURREAL: BEHIND THE MASKS is a feature documentary that traces the storied journey of Indigenous masks from the far reaches of Turtle Island (North America) into the hands of European Surrealists, influencing the work and worldview of some of the most well-known modern artists and writers of all time including Max Ernst, André Breton, Roberto Matta and Joan Miró – all while following the dramatic quest to return a mask that was brutally stolen from the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people on Canada’s northwest coast over a century ago. Part caper, part road trip, part spiritual journey, SO SURREAL: BEHIND THE MASKS follows Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond (Reel Injun, Red Fever) as he travels coast-to-coast and across the Atlantic and back, gradually piecing together this groundbreaking global story of influence, reconnection and restitution.

CBC Gem’s INDIGENOUS STORIES COLLECTION features a variety of series, documentaries and feature films including a short doc celebrating a special graduation season for a James Smith First Nation family, GRADUATION DAY; an Ininimowin-language version of Tanya Talaga’s docuseries, THE KNOWING; documentaries AITAMAAKO’TAMISSKAPI NATOSI: BEFORE THE SUN, following the thrilling Indian Relay horse race, and BRING THEM HOME / AISKÓTÁHKAPIYAAYA, narrated by Academy Award® nominee Lily Gladstone and chronicling a decades-long initiative to bring wild buffalo back to the Blackfeet Reservation; Season 2 of competition series BEARS’ LAIR, as 18 Indigenous entrepreneurs pitch their business plans; DELTA DAWN, the winner of the Hot Docs Best Canadian Short Documentary Award about Indigenous wrestling sensation Dawn Murphy; Season 2 of crime drama TRIBAL; and feature film ROSIE, a cross-cultural family drama.

Also streaming now on CBC Gem, Indigenous-themed documentaries from the ABSOLUTELY CANADIAN documentary series showcase powerful locally produced films from communities across Canada. TEA CREEK explores the rich history of Indigenous agriculture and the ongoing impacts of colonization; THE DEATH TOUR follows wrestling hopefuls pursuing their dreams through remote Indigenous communities in Canada’s far North; NORTHLORE elevates extraordinary true stories of survival on the land through animation; GIIWE:RETURNING HOME is the filmmaker’s journey to reconnect to his traditions and culture; and THE FORGOTTEN WARRIORS follows the true story of Mi’kmaq activists who went on a hunger strike to secure their rights to self-determination.

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 National Indigenous History Month with CBC Kids programming, visit the CBC Kids section on CBC Gem.

How do you say “fox” in Cree? Or “wolf” in Inuktitut? How about “moose” in Ojibwe/Anishinaabemowin? The new CBC Kids Indigenous Language playlist on YouTube teaches animal words in three languages.

CBC Kids News visits Ulukhaktok, N.W.T. for a multipart series with digital stories and videos that showcase the community and their traditional practices. Available on CBCKidsNews.ca and the CBC Kids News YouTube channel.

CBC Books offers recommended reading lists curated by Indigenous writers David A. Robertson, Monique Gray Smith and more.

On CBC Radio, CBC Books will feature Indigenous writers across all programs including BOOKENDS WITH MATTEA ROACH in conversation with David A. Robertson about his book 52 Ways to Reconcile (now streaming) and a panel about memoirs featuring Tanya Talaga, author of The Knowing (June 22). THE NEXT CHAPTER discussed Christian Allaire’s memoir, From the Rez to the Runway (now streaming), and shares a Prout Questionnaire from Michelle Good (June 21). Also available on CBC Listen and wherever you get your podcasts.

CBC Music’s incredible Indigenous Playlists are available to stream on CBC Listen and feature everything from traditional beats to hip hop and electric powwow.

CBC Music recommends Five Indigenous musicians to know in 2025. These emerging Indigenous artists are carving out spaces for themselves with their music, from soulful singer-songwriters to fiddlers who are embracing folk and country, to experimental rockers.

Broadcasting June 18 on CBC Music and June 22 on CBC Radio, RECLAIMED with host Jarrett Martineau features Part 3 of National Indigenous History Month, showcasing a special celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day and a Summer Solstice dance party. Catch up on Part 1 and 2 of RECLAIMED’s National Indigenous History Month series on CBC Listen. CBC Music will also feature an Essentials segment on MORNINGS and a Deep Dive segment on DRIVE covering the Halluci Nation (June 20), and CBC Music hosts will be presenting special playlists and interviews with Indigenous artists all week and into June 21 across all shows.

Concert series CBC MUSIC LIVE features live recordings of Indigenous artists every week in June. Recorded at the Tkaronto Festival, Blue Moon Marquee, Sebastian Gaskin and Kaeley Jade are now available to stream on CBC Gem. Aysanabee’s CBC MUSIC LIVE feature debuts on CBC Gem on June 24.

On June 20, Q WITH TOM POWER will air a career-spanning conversation with actor Tantoo Cardinal, who was recently honoured with the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada event.

On June 19, the group chat on COMMOTION WITH ELAMIN ABDELMAHMOUD will feature Indigenous panelists talking about the future of AI in Indigenous music, culture and storytelling. On June 20, the Indigenous panelists will cover Aysanabee’s new album, and other big pop culture stories of the week.

MAAMUITAAU is a weekly Cree language current affairs program with English subtitles on CBC Gem, CBC North and CBC Montreal, bringing the stories of the James Bay Crees to life. In English, MAAMUITAAU means “let’s get together,” which reflects the spirit of the show. The long-running series from CBC North’s Cree Unit covers a broad range of topics including social and political issues, environmental changes, and traditional subjects such as hunting and crafts. Observational, engaging, and at times poetic, the show transports you to Quebec’s North and to the heart of Cree culture.

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CBC Indigenous drives coverage of and for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples and their communities led by a team of Indigenous journalists across the country. They deliver critical, creative and diverse journalism to their audience when and where they need it. CBC North’s Cree unit includes the award-winning East Cree-language radio shows Winschgaoug and Eyou Dipajimoon, which broadcast daily Monday to Friday on CBC Radio and CBC Listen. CBC North further broadens Canadians’ understanding of Indigenous experiences across the country with content available in six Indigenous languages.

Since 2014, CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships have been offered annually to early-career Indigenous journalists to foster better comprehension of Indigenous issues in Canada’s major media and community outlets. This year, the CJF has strategically reimagined its Indigenous Fellowship program, transitioning from a one-month experience to an immersive four-month placement for a single fellow, to provide deeper, more meaningful professional development opportunities that allow Indigenous journalists to fully integrate into newsroom operations and develop richer, more impactful stories.

The CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators in association with the ISO is returning for a fourth year, offering a unique opportunity for two emerging creators with projects still in the pre-development phase to work closely with CBC and APTN executives to help move their projects into development and ultimately into the production phase. Further details will be announced soon.

CBC Indigenous Pathways is also back for its fourth year. Pathways is a paid, full-time, nine-month learning and development opportunity for First Nations, Inuit and Métis seeking to develop careers with the public broadcaster. Candidates hone their skills as part of an Indigenous peer cohort, while receiving culturally relevant programming, as well as mentorship and development opportunities across the country. Applications open in July for the program, which runs from October to June.

Launched in February 2024, the National Indigenous Strategy Strengthening Relations, Walking Together is CBC/Radio-Canada’s collective commitment to examine our content and relationships with Indigenous Peoples, honestly and truthfully. Earlier today, CBC/Radio-Canada released a 2024-2025 progress report.

#FIRSTLOOK: “HEARTLAND”, “ALLEGIANCE”, “SAINT-PIERRE”, “WILD CARDS”, “MURDOCH MYSTERIES” ALL RENEWED (MAY 2025)

CBC today announced the renewal of popular original homegrown dramas including CBC’s most-watched new series SAINT-PIERRE for a second season, as well as Canadian Screen Award-nominated series ALLEGIANCE for a third season and enduring hits HEARTLAND and MURDOCH MYSTERIES for their 19th seasons. CBC original blue sky procedural WILD CARDS has also been renewed for seasons three and four. In the past year, all five dramas were among the Top 20 Canadian programs on television, and within the Top 10 series on CBC Gem. Additional CBC renewals across all genres and content areas will be announced later this spring.

“With the renewal of these five hit dramas offering compelling characters, unique stories and a strong sense of place from different regions across Canada, CBC will continue to showcase homegrown storytelling that audiences can’t find anywhere else,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC.

Police procedural SAINT-PIERRE (12×60 in Season 2) was CBC’s #1 most-watched new series of the year and one of the top Canadian drama series nationwide. From creators Allan Hawco, Robina Lord-Stafford and Perry Chafe, the series stars Hawco and Josephine Jobert as two seasoned officers – with very different policing skills and approaches – working together to solve unique and exciting crimes in the French territory of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. The series is produced by Hawco Productions in association with FIFTH SEASON, which handles global distribution. Production to begin this spring in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, France.

Set and filmed in Vancouver, WILD CARDS (10×60 for both Seasons 3 and 4) is a blue sky procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a by-the-book, sardonic cop Cole Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti) and a spirited, clever con woman Max Mitchell (Vanessa Morgan) who are partnered together to solve crimes. From Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures and Piller/Segan in association with The CW, the series is created by Michael Konyves with international distribution handled by FIFTH SEASON. Konyves recently won the 2025 WGC Screenwriting Award in the Drama Series category for his writing on WILD CARDS.

Created by Anar Ali (Transplant), ALLEGIANCE (10×60 in Season 3) is a character-driven police procedural set in Surrey, BC, about identity and belonging, policing and politics, and finding new paths to truth and justice for all. The series is nominated for eight Canadian Screen Awards including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Performer for Supinder Wraich and Best Supporting Performer for Enrico Colantoni, and is produced by Lark Productions in association with Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Set against the glorious backdrop of the foothills of Alberta, HEARTLAND (10×60 in Season 19) is a multi-generational family drama that is much loved by fans of all ages in Canada and around the world. Based on the bestselling series of books by Lauren Brooke, the series follows Amy Fleming (Amber Marshall) and her family as they deal with the challenges of running the Heartland Ranch that has been with them for generations. Star Michelle Morgan is nominated for a Canadian Screen Award in the category of Best Lead Performer. The long-running series is produced by Dynamo Films and SEVEN24 Films.

Available in more than 120 countries and territories around the world, MURDOCH MYSTERIES (21×60 in Season 19) is set in Toronto in the early 1900s during the age of invention, where Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) enlists innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city’s most perplexing murders. The much-loved series has received 10 Canadian Screen Award nominations including a Best Lead Performer nomination for Hélène Joy and Best Supporting Performer nods for Jonny Harris, Daniel Maslany and Clare McConnell, and is produced by Shaftesbury in association with ITV Studios and UKTV and distributed by Shaftesbury Sales Company and ITV Studios.

HEARTLAND, MURDOCH MYSTERIES and WILD CARDS are also nominated for the 2025 Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award, which will be announced as part of THE 2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS. Hosted by Canadian actress and creator Lisa Gilroy, the awards show will stream live in its entirety on Sunday, June 1 beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBC Gem. THE 2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS is Canada’s biggest night in entertainment, with legendary icons and rising stars coming together to honour the very best in homegrown film and television.

Source:

TV: Numeris TV Meter, 9/30/2024 – 4/6/2025, Total TV English, Ind.2+, M-Su 2a-2a, Total Canada, AMA, generated by Instar.

CBC Gem: Adobe Analytics, CBC Production, OTT Segment, On-Demand Programs, Content Starts, Content Time Spent, 10/6/24 – 4/19/25.

#INTERVIEW: “GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN” SEASON TWO

CBC and Blue Ant Studios’ GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN is back for its second season, dropping March 21, 2025 only on CBC GEM and CBC‘s YouTube Channel!

This time around our charismatic hosts Hutchie and Finlan go cross-country, uncovering humorously whether Canada’s most notoriously spooky spots are in fact, haunted! So many celebrity guests including Percy Hynes White, Nikki Roumel, Humberly González, Priyanka, and several more!

This season’s haunts include:

The Caribou Hotel with Joel Oulette (Carcross, YT) – Star of Trickster, Joel Oulette fully understands the meaning of everything is not what it seems. From the caribou gold rush, to mysterious deaths, and now the ghosts of talking birds, Joel will step into one of Canada’s most historic, and haunted, buildings with Luke and Matthew in hopes of finally getting answers to hundred-year-old questions at the Caribou Hotel in Carcross, Yukon.

The Tuckett Mansion with Priyanka (Hamilton, ON) – Canada’s Drag Race Winner to pop music royalty, Priyanka is a force to be reckoned with. Visiting a mansion originally built for the founder of a tobacco empire and later turned into the home of a freemason brotherhood, Priyanka will use her own empire building skills to investigate alongside Luke and Matthew the mysterious legacy of Tuckett Mansion in Hamilton, Ontario.

The Bell Island Mines with Veronika Slowikowska (Bell Island, NL) – From shadows to portals, Veronika Slowikowska has truly been to space and back in her career. The Davey and Jonesie’s Locker actress and global comedy sensation, will need to forget all she knows about being above ground as she ventures four hundred meters into the earth with Luke and Matthew to explore one of the country’s most hidden and haunted landmarks, the Bell Island Mines on Bell Island, Newfoundland.

Craigdarroch Castle with Percy Hynes White (Victoria, BC) – Stepping into Canada’s most haunted castle, Percy Hynes White is more than familiar with things that go bump in the night. Between evil monsters and ghostly storylines in Wednesday, Percy will step into the dark with Luke and Matthew to investigate the infamous haunting of Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia.

Lunenburg Academy with Nikki Roumel (Lunenburg NS) – Teen drama and a little bit of danger is no stranger to Ginny & Georgia’s Nikki Roumel. A Victorian school built on what was once the town’s gallows hill, this paranormal hotspot is filled with the spirits of those executed there, and more. As Nikki steps back into class with Luke and Matthew, they will explore one of Canada’s oldest schools, in one of the country’s first settlements, Lunenburg Academy in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Fulford Place with Humberly González (Brockville, ON) – Horoscopes read and deadly fortunes told, Tarot’s Humberly González has more than enough fictional experience with the occult. In a house built for one of the wealthiest families in Canada at the time, Humberly will join Luke and Matthew as they investigate the tales of deceit, scandal, and witchcraft at Canada’s very own seance house, historically known as Fulford Place in Brockville, Ontario.

Fort Henry with Jordan Connor (Kingston, ON) – Constantly in battle from being on the wrong side of the tracks in Riverdale, Jordan Connor will have to go back to war for the night as he steps into one of Canada’s most historic landmarks. A military fort filled with tragedy and rage, Jordan will march right into the investigation with Luke and Matthew as they investigate the hauntings of Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario.

Kawartha Settlers’ Village with Krista Nazaire (Bobcaygeon, ON) – Solving mysteries is second nature to Hardy Boys’ Krista Nazaire, but can her fictional skills help her uncover the truth of a real life crime. Dead farmers, possessed bears, and a murderous gay love triangle bring Krista, Luke, and Matthew to investigate one of Canada’s most historically preserved pioneer villages, Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon, Ontario.

A Sesaon Two Premiere of the Series was held at HOT DOCS TED ROGERS Cinema and even some of Season 1’s alumni came out to show support! We chat with Hutchie, Finlan, plus guest stars Humberly González, Percy Hynes White, Priyanka, Nikki Roumel, and more! We chat about how their experiences on this Series changed how they perceive the paranormal.

Highlights below:

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(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/CBC)