From a media release:

Season 4 of DIGGSTOWN will offer audiences a dramatic final chapter for titular character Marcie Diggs (Vinessa Antoine), starting on Wednesday, October 12 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem. The six-episode finale season will be a tumultuous ride filled with searing emotional battles and transitions driven by trauma, where even though the victories are few and hard fought, Marcie and her team continue to be relentless in their fight for justice right until the very end. The series finale will air on Wednesday, November 16.

“For four seasons we’ve had the pleasure of bringing Marcie Diggs and the beauty of the communities of Dartmouth, Halifax, Charlottetown, North Preston and East Preston into homes across Canada. We’re so grateful to have been able to walk this journey with our incredible cast led by the force, that is, Vinessa Antoine. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with the amazing team of production professionals in Nova Scotia, Ontario and PEI who brought Diggstown to life. Your commitment to making Diggstown its best will always be remembered,” said Floyd Kane, creator, showrunner and executive producer.

“Diggstown has always been fearless in its portrayal of the inequities that still exist in the Canadian legal system and our country as a whole, through authentic storylines and powerful performances,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC. “We are honoured to have partnered with Diggstown through four compelling seasons. Thank you and congratulations to Floyd, Amos, Vinessa, the entire cast, crew and creative team and our production partners at Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc for everything you’ve achieved with Diggstown.”

In the final season of DIGGSTOWN, Marcie is struggling mentally and physically after last season’s shooting, while she faces threats and defections from all sides. As she grapples with one crisis to the next, a former ally’s actions threaten to spell the end of Marcie Diggs & Associates. This season will zero in on mental health, the plight of migrant workers, the treatment of a pregnant trans man within the healthcare system, sterilization of Black women and Indian Day School abuse, among other true to life stories.

Created by Floyd Kane (Across the Line), who serves as showrunner and executive producer, Season 4 of DIGGSTOWN stars Vinessa Antoine (Being Erica) as Marcie Diggs; Natasha Henstridge (Species) as Colleen; Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People) as Vivian; Brandon Oakes (Through Black Spruce) as Doug; C. David Johnson (Street Legal) as Reggie; Nicole Muñoz (Van Helsing) as Ellery; Shailene Garnett (Shadowhunters) as Iris; and Dwain Murphy (Degrassi: The Next Generation) as Avery. Cast regulars also include Arlene Duncan as Velma Diggs, Maurice Dean Wint as Austin Diggs, Matthew Bennett as Steve Conway, Jenny Brizard as Emily Diggs, and Kim Roberts as Ona Reeves. Mpho Koaho returns as Percy Lincoln, Crystle Lightning as Michelle Knockwood, Tim Rozon as Carson Myers, Karen Leblanc as Marcie’s aunt, Rolanda Diggs, along with Stacey Farber, who reprises her role as Pam MacLean.

Joining the cast this season as The Clawford family – a powerful farming family of the fictional Goldenview Fields in the Atlantic provinces – are John Maucere (No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie) as patriarch Ewan Clawford who communicates with his family and team using American Sign Language (ASL) throughout the six episodes; Fiona Highet (Rookie Blue) as Ewan’s wife Regina; with Rigo Sanchez, Donald Maclean Jr., Zahra Bentham, and Dorren Lee, in the roles of their children Brian, Walt, Kristin and Andrea, respectively. Keeya King (Yellowjackets) appears as Trudy Willis, the girlfriend of migrant worker Basil Allen who makes a plea to Marcie regarding allegations that workers are being mistreated at Goldenview Fields.

DIGGSTOWN is an authentic legal drama that highlights the very real inequities that exist in the Canadian legal system and has never shied away from delving into issues of class, race, and gender. After years of lobbying, last season’s birth alert storyline helped to call enough attention to the issue that a few weeks following the broadcast, the province of Nova Scotia dropped the controversial practice; one of the last Canadian provinces to do so.

A CBC original drama, DIGGSTOWN is co-produced by Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc. Floyd Kane is creator, executive producer and showrunner and Amos Adetuyi (Jean of the Joneses) is executive producer along with Brenda Greenberg (Being Erica) and Karen Wentzell (Seed). Directors for the season are Cory Bowles (Black Cop), Rama Rau (Honey Bee), Shamim Sarif (SkyMed) and Floyd Kane. Ronald Gilbert (Quantico) is producer. Series writers are Kane, Lynn Coady (Burden of Truth), Ellen Vanstone (Departure), Lakna Edilama (Utopia Falls), Roxann Whitebean (SkyMed), Caleigh Bacchus (Murdoch Mysteries), James Battiston (Shoot the Messenger) and JP LaRocque (Coroner). Series cinematography by Ken Leblanc (Diggstown), production design by Krystyna Byers (Christmas in Toyland) and costume design by Claire Nadon (Three Pines).

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Season 3 of Shawn Leonard’s Spirit Talker returns to APTN on Oct. 26

October 6, 2022 Greg David

From a media release:

For two seasons on Spirit Talker, renowned Nova Scotia-based Mi’kmaq medium, Shawn Leonard, has traveled throughout Atlantic Canada, sharing his psychic abilities to help people connect with their deceased loved ones

Shawn is back for Season 3 of Spirit Talker, on Wednesday, October 26 at 8 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. MST on APTN and this season he travels to Ontario and Quebec exploring his Indigenous roots. Leonard visits ten First Nations communities in Ontario including Fort William, Lake Helen, Michipicoten, Batchewana, Sagamok, Atikameksheng, M’Chigeeng, Wiikwemkong, Tyendinaga, and Georgina Island. In Quebec he travels to three first nations including Kanesatake, Kahnawake Mohawk, and Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg to connect people with their loved ones in spirit and deliver messages of hope, healing, and closure.

“This season, I have spread my metaphorical wings to reach 13 new Indigenous communities surrounding the Great Lakes of Ontario and Quebec,” says Leonard. “As the Anishinaabe, Anishinabek & Mohawk people share their culture with me, I share my spirit connection with many families and help heal many hearts.”

Spirit Talker is a co-production between Tell Tale Productions Inc. and White Eagle Spirit Talker Inc. The series received financial support from the Canada Media Fund, the Nova Scotia Film & TV Production Incentive, and Federal Tax Credits.

Season 3 of Spirit Talker premieres on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 8 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. MST on APTN.

Image courtesy of Chris Reardon.

Industry News

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television appoints Tammy Frick as CEO

October 5, 2022 Greg David

From a media release:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) announced today the appointment of Tammy Frick as Chief Executive Oﬃcer (CEO), eﬀective Monday, October 31, 2022. Frick joins the organization following a search led by the Board of Directors of the Canadian Academy, succeeding Beth Janson who left the organization in April 2022.

With 27 years of experience as Executive Director of Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, Frick will assume leadership for the largest non-proﬁt professional media arts organization in Canada and will oversee both the National and Quebec branches of the Canadian Academy. Her dedication to innovation and the growth of the Canadian screen-based industries, along with her passion for developing creative works and opportunities for talent both in front of and behind the camera, will bring a unique perspective to the Canadian Academy’s ongoing mission to foster industry growth, knowledge, inclusion, and mentorship.

“After an extensive search, we are extremely conﬁdent that we have found a fantastic candidate to lead the Canadian Academy,” said John Young, Chair, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “Tammy’s experience and knowledge of the industry will be extremely beneﬁcial to advancing our hard work towards developing, recognizing, celebrating and advocating for Canadian talent in Canada’s screen-based industry. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire organization, I’d like to oﬀer a sincere thank you to Louis Calabro for guiding us through the last six months and leaving the Academy in a great place for Tammy to step in and continue to help us make impactful change.”

“I am honoured and thrilled to enter this chapter as the Canadian Academy’s next CEO. It is a privilege to be granted this opportunity to further develop my passion for the Canadian content industry as the leader of such an important organization,” said Frick, incoming CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “While I will certainly miss my family at Cinéfest Sudbury and am incredibly proud of all that we have achieved, I am elated to bring my years of knowledge and experience, along with a fresh perspective, to this organization to help further develop our country’s world class industry.”

Frick has always been an integral part of the vibrant arts community in Northern Ontario and beyond. In addition to her tenure as Executive Director of Cinéfest Sudbury, she has served on the board of directors of several organizations, including as a founding member of Music and Film in Motion (MFM), which transitioned to Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION) in 2014. A strong believer in the mission of the organization, which seeks to promote and foster the ongoing expansion of the media arts sector in Northern Ontario, Frick took on a secondary role as CION’s Associate Executive Director in addition to her responsibilities with Cinefest. Frick was honoured with a Crystal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business by Women in Film & TV (WIFT-Toronto) in 2019.

With Frick’s appointment, eﬀective October 31, 2022, Interim CEO, Louis Calabro, will resume his key leadership role at the Academy executive level.

About the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is the largest non-proﬁt professional arts organization in Canada. We are dedicated to recognizing, advocating for, and celebrating Canadian talent in the ﬁlm, television, and digital media sectors. Our more than 4,000 members encompass industry icons and professionals, emerging artists, and students. Collectively, we deliver professional development programs and networking opportunities that foster industry growth, inclusion, and mentorship. The organization also produces the Canadian Screen Awards, bringing together the screen-based industries annually to celebrate the country’s top talent at Canadian Screen Week.

Industry News

Animated Beachcombers series in development on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast with industry veterans

October 5, 2022 Greg David 1 Comment

From a media release:

As Canada’s beloved television series The Beachcombers marks its 50th anniversary, industry veterans Blair Peters and Nick Orchard have teamed up to bring an animated version to life. Created by L.S. Strange and Marc Strange, the CBC show was the most successful drama series in the history of Canadian television with 387 episodes over 18 seasons.

Peters, who lives on BC’s Sunshine Coast, and Orchard, who worked on the original series and brings over 30 years of experience to this new project, have inked a deal with the show’s original creators. The team is fleshing out designs and concepts in the coming months with a plan to pitch the series to Canadian, US and European broadcasters in Spring 2023.

The Beachcombers is one of the most successful Canadian television series of all time. The half-hour family adventure show ran on CBC Television for 387 episodes over 18 seasons, from 1972 to 1990, and is Canada’s second-longest-running scripted television series. An audience favourite, it was named one of Canada’s all-time best television series in a 2017 poll conducted by the Toronto International Film Festival.

Watched by more than 1 million Canadian viewers per episode in its prime, Beachcombers played a pivotal role in the development of film production in British Columbia and provided an early template for uniquely Canadian content on television. Ahead of its time, the series featured Indigenous characters and storylines, and often dealt with subject matter involving preservation of the land.

The original Beachcombers has been licensed to over 35 countries worldwide and versioned into numerous languages.

Blair Peters loved cartoons as a kid and was lucky enough to find his way to Sheridan College in Oakville, after completing high school at White Pines in Sault Ste. Marie. From there, he took his first job at Crawley Films in Ottawa before moving to Vancouver to start up Studio B Productions with his colleague, Chris Bartleman. The studio went on to produce over 1000 half hours that sold to over 100 countries worldwide on networks such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Teletoon, YTV and the BBC. After 20 years in business that saw the Studio receive numerous awards, the pair sold the company to media giant DHX Media in 2007. Blair stayed with the company until 2011. He now consults for creators and develops series of his own.

Nick Orchard has been in the film and television business for over half a century, beginning as a child actor on stage, radio and TV, and later producing hits like “The Beachcombers” (CBC), “Eastenders” (BBC) and “Brookside” (Channel 4). For the past 30 plus years, as head of Soapbox Productions Inc., Nick has produced network series such as the popular teen drama “Northwood” and produced and directed award-winning documentaries and comedy series such as the iconic “Double Exposure” for CTV and the Comedy Network.

Moonshine

Links: Moonshine, Season 2

October 2, 2022 Greg David

From Noel Ransome of The Canadian Press:

Link: ‘Moonshine’ star Jennifer Finnigan on embracing her chaotic CBC character
As an actress, Jennifer Finnigan, star of the CBC series “Moonshine,” embraces her assignment faithfully, but perhaps a bit too personally. Continue reading.

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Moonshine stars preview Season 2’s tumultuous relationship
Despite the fact that the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, it’s still the heart of summer in Nova Scotia when Season 2 of CBC’s Moonshine premieres this Sunday, October 2 at 9 p.m. Continue reading.

From Melissa G. of The Televixen:

Link: Return to the Moonshine with Jennifer Finnigan and Allan Hawco
“There are so many things going on with her. She now knows she’s here to stay. Season 1 was ‘Am I staying here? Am I going? I don’t know if this is right for me. This isn’t who I am anymore.'” Continue reading.