Residents of Toronto will recognize the name Priestly Demolition Inc. The company, which has been around since 1971, specializes in—among many other things—demolition and salvage services to the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors of the construction industry in Ontario.
I’ve always wondered what goes on the sites marked by Priestly signs. Now, thanks to Salvage Kings, I know.
Debuting Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History, Salvage Kings—from Media Headquarters, the folks behind Canada’s Smartest Person and Tessa & Scott—gives the award-winning company and its staff a starring role. Priestly Demolition Inc. offers a one-two punch, going in and tearing down anything from a bridge, hospital, mall or industrial complex to an airport or even the CN Tower. But before the demolition can begin, salvaging anything of value happens first. That responsibility falls on Ted Finch, head of salvage, and his four-person team, who are tasked with collecting, sorting and then auctioning and selling items for a profit.
“From the time I was five or six years old, I’ve been interested in old stuff,” Finch says. “I would drag stuff home and refinish it. I’ve been going it my whole life. I’ve been an antique dealer and I’ve known Vic Priestly for 25 years. He just kept telling me to come and work for him.”
In Sunday’s first instalment, Ted and his team, including right-hand man Justin Fortin, descend on Market Village Mall in Markham, Ontario, where they are tasked with unlocking mysterious vault doors, while the demolition team begins its tear down. But while the vault and its mystery may be the big prize, there a lot of little ones collected along the way. Store signs can be sold by the letter, cooling and heating systems cut from ceilings for a profit, or medical equipment rolled away to be snapped up for cash by a feature film set decorator. As with anything in the collectable genre, I’m constantly surprised by what can be given a value … and the folks who are willing to pay for them.
“I like it when people get an appreciation for recycling and history and moving things forward and not just throwing it in the garbage,” Finch says. “There is a lot of waste in this society and it boggles my mind the stuff that people just throw out. It has a lot of life left in it.”
Salvage Kings airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History.
Canada’s favourite contractors are coming to CTV Life Channel this fall with HOLMES 911, airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning Sept. 17, it was announced today. The much-anticipated debut and kick-off of the Holmes family on CTV channels, HOLMES 911 stars TV icon and professional contractor Mike Holmes, as well as his son Mike Jr. and daughter Sherry, who share their father’s passion to “Make It Right®.â€
In HOLMES 911, Mike Holmes goes back to his roots to rescue homeowners from unscrupulous contractors, unhealthy homes, and D.I.Y projects gone wrong. Over 12 one-hour episodes, the Holmes family takes on five different houses, and turns them into homes again.
On the series premiere of HOLMES 911, “Families Helping Families†(Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Life Channel and then streaming on CTVLife.ca), the Holmes’ take on their first project, The City Barn. The plan is to fix the weathered roof and make the house more accessible for thirteen-year-old Jake, who is battling cancer. When the reno gets delayed due to unforeseen structural issues, the Holmes team begins a second job and finds out how a small leak turned into a huge disaster and insurance nightmare for homeowners Bob and Barb. Encore presentations of HOLMES 911 air Saturdays at 1 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Life Channel. Episodes of HOLMES 911 are also available on-demand.
CTV Life Channel is part of the CTV suite of specialty channels rebranding on Sept. 12. HOLMES 911 joins the all-new CTV Life Channel fall lineup, which also includes new series JAMIE’S ULTIMATE VEG, new episodes of MARTHA AND SNOOP’S POTLUCK DINNER PARTY and BONACINI’S ITALY, as well as JAMIE AND JIMMY’S FOOD FIGHT CLUB, ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY, and WHERE TO I DO, among others.Â
CTV Life Channel also features a vast library of previous programs from the Holmes family’s Make It Right production company.
Committed to developing unique content for a global audience, Corus Studios, a division of Corus Entertainment, announced today that Rust Valley Restorers (8×60), will be available worldwide on Netflix on August 23. The series is among the slate of original programming developed by Corus Studios for HISTORY®, representing a strategic move by Corus Studios to complement its robust slate of Lifestyle series by investing further in factual programming. Rust Valley Restorers garnered attention in Canada this past winter ranking among the Top 5 programs on HISTORY*.
Based in the foothills of the Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Rust Valley Restorers profiles the unique car restoration community in the “Rust Valley” and a restoration shop that stands apart from the rest. Led by the shops easily identifiable dreadlocked owner, Mike Hall and his colourful crew transform rusted wrecks into collectible cars. Together they passionately work to return cars to their former glory – sometimes for trade, sometimes for sale, and not always at a profit.
Rust Valley Restorers is produced by Mayhem Entertainment in association with Corus Studios for HISTORY. Corus Studios is represented by Rita Carbone Fleury, who oversees the global sales of Corus’ original content slate and brokered this deal.
In association with Animiki See Digital Production, Nüman Films and Indios Productions, APTN announced today that it will premiere season two of the documentary-series, First Contact as a three-night television event on APTN starting September 17 at 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT.
The series will continue with episode two on Wednesday, September 18 and episode three on Thursday, September 19. Following the third episode on Thursday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/CT/MT, the travelers and some of the Indigenous hosts and producers will sit down in an interactive panel, live on Facebook.
Following the success of season one, this brand-new season once again takes six Canadians, all with varied opinions about Indigenous Peoples, on a unique 28-day exploration of Indigenous communities. The three-part series, narrated by host and social justice activist George Stroumboulopoulos, has proven to be a compelling exploration into Indigenous culture in Canada.
The participants will have their lives turned upside down, their perceptions challenged and their prejudices confronted in this three-part series. This journey will change their lives forever.
The six travelers’ life-changing, 28-day journey into Indigenous communities starts in Kanesatake, QC. The participants are exposed to a new perspective about the Oka Siege and then in Natuashish, Labrador, time spent with the local Innu Peoples sheds new light on its residents and history.
In episode two, the six participants travel south to Thunder Bay, where a number of tragic incidents have exposed racist attitudes towards Indigenous people. Then, a meeting with residential school survivors in southern Ontario shocks the travelers.
In the final episode, the group travels to northern Saskatchewan and face their biggest test yet. There, they meet with people from communities deeply affected by the death and trial of Colten Boushie. Finally, the group travels to Yukon, where self-governance is helping a community flourish.
Indigenous educators and storytellers include:
Ian Campeau, formerly of a Tribe Called Red
Colleen Cardinal, Sixties Scoop survivor
Ellen Gabriel and Elder John Cree, Front line community members at the Oka Siege
Stephanie MacLaurin, community host in Fort William First Nation
Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner, race relations coordinator in Saskatoon
Eleanore Sunchild, legal council for the Boushie family
Debbie Baptiste, Colten Boushie’s mother
Season 2 began filming in August 2018, prior to the release of season 1.
The following six participants will leave their everyday lives behind to visit Indigenous communities across Canada:
Brennen is outspoken, loyal, honest, and is known for being a jokester. Brennen straddles political lines; he feels strongly about LGBTQ+ rights, housing and health care, and believes in being fiscally conservative. He considers himself a person who is helpful and treats people with respect. As a first-generation, Croatian immigrant whose family has seen great success in Canada, he feels that Indigenous Peoples lack the necessary work ethic to succeed, and instead choose to blame others for their problems.
Jackson Way
Age: 19
Location: Midland, Ont.
Occupation: Student
An East Coast resident, Jackson Way has been attending school in Nova Scotia for the last year studying history. But this 19-year-old animal lover calls Ontario home. Jackson has a passion for history and politics and is a creative person. He loves poetry, playing guitar, songwriting and singing, and theatre. He has strong opinions about Indigenous Peoples and feels they receive special treatment. He loves to learn, feels strongly about social responsibility and is always up for a healthy debate.
LaurianneBencharski
Age: 45
Location: Prince Albert, Sask.
Occupation: Former Corrections Officer
Laurianne is a very active person and is interested in a variety of recreational activities. In her free time, she loves to ride on her ski doo or quad, curl, slow pitch, and spend time at her cabin. Living in Prince Albert, where 40% of the population is Indigenous, she has experienced many negative interactions and feels like a victim. This has led to her harbouring many negative feelings toward Indigenous Peoples.
Larry Harris
Age: 62
Location: Brantford, Ont.
Occupation: Shipping and Receiving
Outgoing and charming, Larry is an opinionated man with a fun-loving exterior. But he holds strong stereotypical views towards Indigenous Peoples and sees them as angry and greedy. Mostly, he feels they are to blame for any hardships they face, and the rest of society has to pay for it. In his free time, Larry loves to spend time at the cottage, fishing, hunting, and cycling.
When asked how others would describe her, Stephanie said they would call her a dreamer, someone who thinks unconventionally, is friendly and optimistic. Samantha grew up in a tight-knit family and describes her childhood as ‘quite perfect.’ Growing up in the suburbs, she has admittedly grown up in a very sheltered world. Not only does she know nothing about Indigenous Peoples or culture, she claims to have never even met an Indigenous person in her life.
Stephanie Pituley
Age: 36
Location: Tyndall, Man.
Occupation: Stay-at-home mother and co-owner of a trucking business
First Contact is produced by Animiki See Digital Production, Nüman Films and Indios Productions, with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund. Producers are Vanessa Loewen and Desiree Single from Animiki, Jeff Newman and Jocelyn Mitchell from Nüman Films, and Stephanie Scott from Indios Productions. This series is written and directed by Jeff Newman.
