From a media release:

CANADA: THE STORY OF US, an epic 10 x one-hour docu-drama series highlighting many of the extraordinary moments and people that helped forge a nation from early Indigenous history to the 20th century, will premiere with back-to-back episodes on

Connected by themes that underscore how Canada came to be a nation including conflict, exploration, industry, ingenuity, growth and expansion, each of the 10 episodes will present five remarkable first-person stories that bring to life key moments in the country’s history. The series also features commentary from more than 80 prominent Canadians including Susan Aglukark, Lorne Cardinal, Paul Gross, Eugene Levy, Duncan McCue, Peter Mansbridge, Tatiana Maslany, Rick Mercer, Candy Palmater, Christopher Plummer, Lilly Singh, Georges St-Pierre, Clement Virgo, David Suzuki and more. From historians to homegrown stars and iconic national figures, these storytellers recount the sacrifices, battles and harrowing adventures that helped define the fabric of Canada.

CANADA: THE STORY OF US highlights key moments spanning centuries of history beginning with Indigenous nations in the pre-contact era to 1608 with the arrival of explorer Samuel de Champlain in “Worlds Collide,” to the introduction of the sea otter trade by Mowachaht leader and statesman Chief Maquinna in “Hunting Treasure” (1778-1802), to “Boom Bust” (1911-1937) with populations exploding in urban centres, concluding with the creation of Nunavut in “Canadian Experiment” (1970-1999).

The series was produced under the guidance of historians and academic consultants, including renowned Canadian historian and acclaimed author John English and Indigenous Arts Scholar Gerald McMaster, who serve as primary consultants on the series. Additional notable Canadian scholars and experts also provided historical expertise including Eldon Yellowhorn, Chair of First Nations Studies, Simon Fraser University; Margaret MacMillan; historian and professor at the University of Oxford; Charlotte Gray, author and historian; Hayden King, Assistant Professor, Carleton University; and Tim Cook, author and Canadian War Museum historian.

Related: Canada: The Story of Us set visit

Each week during the run of the series in partnership with Ancestry.ca, the world’s largest online family history resource and an integrated sponsor of CANADA: THE STORY OF US, CBC will air a short vignette featuring a Canadian celebrity from the series, including Susan Aglukark, Wendy Crewson, Sarah Gadon, Mike Holmes, Missy Peregrym, Jennifer Podemski and Mary Walsh, who will discover something new and surprising about their own family histories.

CANADA: THE STORY OF US will also be brought to life online through a trio of immersive, 360-degree videos that will put viewers inside key moments in Canadian history. Through these interactive vignettes, viewers will be transported into the lives of Chief Maquinna; Laura Secord; and Richard Rettie and W.C. Wilkinson – two Canadian scientists who led a team to decode the Nazi Smart Bomb. Produced by Secret Location, all three 360 videos feature ambisonic sound to further immerse viewers in the scene. The videos will be available at cbc.ca/canadathestoryofus and on Facebook for viewing on desktop, mobile and tablet devices.

Based on the internationally successful format created by Nutopia and produced in association with Bristow Global Media Inc., CANADA: THE STORY OF US is executive produced by Julie Bristow, Marlo Miazga and Janice Tufford as co-executive producers for Bristow Global Media Inc. as well as Jane Root, Ben Goold and Phil Craig for Nutopia. The STORY OF US format has aired in Australia, the UK and the U.S.