From a media release:

Tonight, during a live telecast from Canada’s Wonderland, in front of a theatre of thousands and with 3.5 million votes cast from across the country, 15-year-old Jory Zechner from Nipigon, ON was crowned the winner of the seventh season of Canada’s longest running singing competition series, YTV’s The Next Star. After weeks of vocal and choreography challenges and mentoring from judges Dan Kanter, Tara Oram and Mark Spicoluk, Jory is taking home a prize package, which includes a $5,000 shopping spree courtesy of Sears, a recording deal with the chance to work with one of the industry’s top music producers and an Epiphone Masterbilt Acoustic guitar.

Jory’s been one of The Next Star’s biggest transformations and surprises this season. Hailing from Nipigon, ON, Jory drove 10 hours to audition and brought along her guitar to strum along to her own tunes. With her signature blue hair and trademark frames, Jory, a self-proclaimed nerd, has opened up to show a lot of sass. It’s hard to believe this small town girl with a unique, original sound once struggled with believing in herself. Now she inspires the world with her confidence.

“It’s been so exciting to have had a front row seat and a chance to contribute to the amazing progress Jory has made throughout The Next Star season,” said Dan Kanter, judge on The Next Star 7 and Musical Director and lead guitarist for Justin Bieber. “I can’t wait to watch her next steps in what is sure to be an exciting career, and look forward to continuing to participate and celebrate in her success.”

Jory, was one of the Top 6 finalists—including Kaleia (13, Edmonton, AB), Michaelah (15, Kelowna, BC), Nissita (13, Barrie, ON), Ryland (15, Deseronto, ON) and Shon (12, Surrey, BC)—who were chosen from thousands of hopefuls who auditioned across Canada. During the live finale Jory performed her new single “Up to Us.” The finale also included special performances from Shawn Mendes and Echosmith. The Next Star Season 7 album including singles from each Top 6 finalist is currently available on iTunes and the music videos can be seen on iTunes and NextStar.YTV.com.

From a media release:

Bristow Global Media’s New Documentary Series Focusing on the Life of Hockey Wives is Greenlit for Corus Entertainment’s W Network

Toronto, Canada – September 17, 2014 – Bristow Global Media (BGM) announce the production of a yet to be named, new original documentary series following the lives of hockey wives (8×10’) to air on Corus Entertainment’s W Network, for an anticipated February 2015 launch. The deep access documentary series follows the wives and girlfriends of some of professional hockey’s most celebrated and up-and-coming players over the course of an NHL season. Confirmed for the series are Nicole Brown, wife of Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown and Noureen DeWulf wife of Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller.

There may be some incredible perks to being a hockey wife, but make no mistake, balancing the grind of the regular season, injuries, long periods of separation, and the formidable threat of being traded, all while raising families, and building their own careers pose extraordinary challenges. Although they are based in cities all over North America, during the course of the NHL regular season their lives intersect and deeply affect one another’s. From wives who are new to the league, those whose partners are Stanley Cup winning superstars, and those nearing retirement, the women form a team of their own to support and encourage each other through personal and professional highs and lows.

“Having spent last season shooting with NHL families all over North America and in Sochi, we discovered so many fascinating and powerful woman with compelling stories of their own. We’re excited to tell a deeper, more layered story against the always dramatic backdrop of our national sport,” said Julie Bristow, President & CEO Bristow Global Media.

The series is produced by BGM in association with W Network. Executive Producers are Julie Bristow President & CEO Bristow Global Media and Claire Adams, Executive Producer, Content, Bristow Global Media. Production Executive for W Network is John MacDonald is Vice President, Head of Women’s and Family Television, Corus Entertainment.

This series follows on the recent success of BGM’s debut production, the multi-platform series NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other, created in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA). This seven-part multi-platform series for NBCSN and CBC was the first of its kind for the NHL and NHLPA and debuted to critical acclaim on January 22, 2014. The series followed more than two dozen top players before, during a and after their participation in the NHL Stadium Series Games, XXII Olympic Winter Games from Sochi, Russia, and NHL Heritage Classic™

From a media release:

Farpoint Films and Peace Point Entertainment announce
start of production on ESCAPE OR DIE! with DEAN GUNNARSON
in partnership with OLN

Farpoint Films and Peace Point Entertainment announced today the start of production on new original series, Escape Or Die!, for OLN. The 12-episode, half-hour, OLN original series documents the world’s greatest escape artist Dean Gunnarson and will premiere on OLN in the spring of 2015. Production begins today. Peace Point Rights will handle international distribution of the series.

Each episode will lift the curtain and show Dean Gunnarson, the modern day Harry Houdini, preparing with his trusted team for a real escape that he will perform at the end of each show in a major metropolitan center across the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, and more.

“I have spent my life travelling around the world, attempting hundreds of death defying escapes for international audiences and loving every second of it. Now I have the chance to give a behind-the-scenes peek at how I prepare, and the reality of the dangers of the escape,” said Dean Gunnarson.

“We are very happy to partner with Peace Point Entertainment and OLN to show the world the man behind the upside-down-straitjacket-hanging-from-a-burning-rope escape artist,” said Kyle Bornais of Farpoint Films.

“Dean’s world of massive-scale events makes for an epic documentary series and we couldn’t be happier to be working with our friends at OLN and Farpoint to bring this series to television markets the world over,” said Les Tomlin, President & Executive Producer of Peace Point Entertainment.

“Dean is a world-class escape artist with a relatable and dynamic personality that perfectly fits the “outrageous characters – real life” mandate of OLN,” said Nataline Rodrigues, Director of Original Programming, Rogers. “We are thrilled to be following Dean on his epic adventures and bringing his death defying escapes to OLN audiences across the country.”

The Escape or Die! creative team includes Showrunner Sharon Lewis (Buying and Selling), Senior Story Editors Chris Charney (The Illegal Eater) of Farpoint Films and Vallery Hyduk (Superbodies) of Peace Point Entertainment, Director John Barnard (The Sheepdogs Have At It) of Farpoint Films, Producers Scott R. Leary (The Illegal Eater) of Farpoint Films and Julie Chang (Sanctuary) of Peace Point Entertainment, and Executive Producers Kyle Bornais (The Illegal Eater) of Farpoint Films and Les Tomlin President and Executive Producer Peace Point Entertainment. Marni Goldman is Production Executive for Original Programming, Rogers Media.

ABOUT DEAN GUNNARSON
Dean Gunnarson has achieved new heights as an escape artist. Whether he is dangling by his toes from a trapeze bar 726 feet over Hoover Dam in Las Vegas or opening for legendary bands like Aerosmith; Dean is always setting new records. He has successfully conquered many challenges and obstacles by taking his daring escapes to incredible limits. When Dean was honoured as the first recipient of the Houdini Award on the Magic Stars television show in Tokyo, Japan, it officially recognized what the world has known for many years, Dean is the “World’s Greatest Escape Artist!”