Canadian Crossing

Canadian film case study: The Breadwinner

Parvana is a young girl who really loves her father, Nurullah. He lost a leg in the Soviet-Afghan war so he is left to sell their possessions at the market, including a beautiful dress that Parvana has never worn.

The political tide has turned toward the Taliban. The father, who is also a teacher, is now on the other side of that political tide. They are harassed with an "offer" to marry off the young girl. The father smartly says she has been promised to someone else, even though we know that is not true. Shortly after, the father is arrested.

The Breadwinner is a Canadian film nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe with Angelina Jolie as one of the executive producers.

Now the family has a serious problem. Parvana had an older brother Sulayman who died, an older sister Soraya, a baby brother Zaki, and her mother Fattema. No male adult relative meant moving around outdoors wasn't an option.

Parvana then cuts her hair to become a "boy." The child then runs into an old friend Shauzia, who has become Deliwar in a similar fashion. Parvana struggles to come up with a name and eventually settles on Aatish, which means fire.

Parvana and Deliwar discover new freedoms that didn't have as girls in Kabul. As Aatish, Parvana makes money reading letters to people who don't know how to read.

This is an animated film that takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan. So "visibly Canadian" isn't a factor.

The Breadwinner is based on the book by Canadian Deborah Ellis. The major voice actors are Canadian: Saara Chaudry (Parvana / Aatish); Soma Bhatia (Shauzia / Deliwar); Ali Badshah (Nurullah); and Noorin Gulamgaus (Idrees and Sulayman). The film is a co-production with Canada, Ireland, and Luxembourg.

Ellis and Anita Doron wrote the screenplay with direction by Nora Twomey.

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The elephant story, told to baby Zaki, helps tell the story of the culture throughout the film. Even though the film is animated, do not assume that the film is for all ages. The cruelty of life in that part of the world is told with the proper harsh tone at times. The violence is kept off-screen for the most part but would be sensitive to some viewers.

The story is powerful and important in this era. The film lives up to its hype.

The Breadwinner (2017) received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. The film was nominated for 6 Canadian Screen Awards, winning 4 for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song for The Crown Sleeps.

video credit: YouTube/StudiocanalUK
photo credit: The Breadwinner

Pierre Poilievre wins Conservative Party of Canada leadership race

The Conservative Party of Canada had a reasonably orderly process in the latest attempt to pick a leader. No huge delays. No surprise winners.

Saturday night, party members overwhelmingly chose Ontario MP Pierre Poilievre to be their new leader. Poilievre won 68.15% on the first ballot.

With Patrick Brown being removed from the race, former Quebec premier Jean Charest finished second with 16.07%.

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, who ran in the last leadership race won by Erin O'Toole, took 3rd with 9.69%. Lewis was the only Black candidate, only female candidate, and the lone social conservative candidate.

Former Ontario MPP Roman Baber, not a fan of the COVID restrictions, finished with 5.03%. MP Scott Aitchison, a former mayor in Ontario's cottage country, had about 1%.

Poilievre has made some unusual enemies in running to be the opposition leader: He promised to fire the Bank of Canada governor and attacked the World Economic Forum. Poilievre said he would forbid cabinet ministers from attending the summit in Davos, Switzerland.

The Conservative Party leadership list has been extensive since Stephen Harper lost the 2015 election: Rona Ambrose (interim), Andrew Scheer, Erin O'Toole, Candice Bergen (interim), and now Pierre Poilievre.

The next federal election should be in the fall of 2024, so Poilievre will have time to make himself known to Canadian voters. Justin Trudeau has been prime minister for 7 years.

The argument, of sorts, is that Scheer and O'Toole weren't conservative enough, while Poilievre doesn't have that concern. The question is whether the party members picked someone who can flip key ridings in Ontario and Quebec. Poilievre has been a strong supporter of the truck convoy protesters earlier this year in Ottawa.

A criticism of the new leader is that he has been a career politician since he was 24.

Erin O'Toole out as Conservative Party federal leader

Candice Bergen has been a long standing conservative MP since 2008. Bergen was a parliamentary secretary to the minister of public safety and minister of state for social development when Harper was prime minister.

Bergen announced last week that she will not run in the next federal election. She had been named Conservative House leader in 2016 and was the party's deputy leader in 2020 under O'Toole.

Pierre Poilievre also wants to defund the CBC

Erin O'Toole wants to do significant damage to CBC Television and CBC News Network

We would love to see a Conservative Party leader who didn't view CBC, especially CBC News, as an enemy. Conservative news outlets dominate the Canadian news landscape. CBC News is only seen as a "threat" because they don't conform to the usual standard in most of Canadian journalism.

Je serai le premier ministre canadien anti-woke.

Aidez-moi à y arriver : https://t.co/ozY29fXrsl pic.twitter.com/75JyEwidx4

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) August 23, 2022

We aren't trying to pile on the new Conservative Party leader. Just trying to give an impression of the new opposition leader.

One criticism of recent Conservative federal leaders is their not-so-great handling of the French language. Poilievre doesn't have that issue.

2022 Canadian politics preview

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

The Green Party should have a new leader on November 19 this year. The party has individuals — Sarah Gabrielle Baron and Simon Gnocchini-Messier — running for the leadership as well as dual-candidate slates — former Green leader Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault as well as Anna Keenan and Chad Walcott.

We will have new premiers in Alberta (October 6) and British Columbia (December 3).

photo credit: CBC News
Twitter capture: @PierrePoilievre

Queen Elizabeth II passes away at 96; King Charles III is the new Canada head of state

My statement on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. https://t.co/r24SWShHZE

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 8, 2022

For the first time in 70 years, Canada has a new head of state. King Charles III replaces his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as the head of state in Canada and other Commonwealth nations as well as the United Kingdom.

"She was our queen for almost half of Canada's existence. And she had an obvious deep and abiding love and affection for Canadians," said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "She was one of my favourite people in the world and I will miss her so."

Trudeau knew the queen when he was a child through his father, then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The younger Trudeau was the 12th prime minister under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Inuk leader Mary Simon will be Canada's first Indigenous governor general

Canada seems like an independent country but does have this odd relationship with the United Kingdom. The head of the throne is technically the head of state for several Commonwealth countries. There is a dance of sorts where the governor general (federal) and lieutenant governors (provincial) are representatives of the British throne. They are selected with consult by the prime minister and provincial premiers.

The queen wasn't going to disallow a selection from prime minister and provincial premiers. Like we said, a dance of sorts.

Canada had British governor generals until 1952, just before Elizabeth became queen after the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Elizabeth reigned over 13 governor generals from Vincent Massey to Mary Simon.

Louis St. Laurent (Liberal), who was prime minister of Canada from 1948-1957, was the last Canadian prime minister to make such an announcement before Justin Trudeau.

The end of World War II brought a number of significant changes to have Canada be more autonomous from the United Kingdom. The Canadian Citizenship Act in 1947 created the designation of Canadian citizenship. Canadian passports were issued to Canadian citizens, as opposed to British subjects, the following year.

Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent advised Queen Elizabeth II days into her reign in 1952 to appoint Vincent Massey as the first Canadian-born Governor General. Every Governor General before was British; every governor general since has been Canadian.

Elizabeth made 22 visits to Canada as the queen and a single trip while as princess. CBC News anchor Adrienne Arsenault made a remark about an imaginary trip Elizabeth made. 7 of those 22 trips included Toronto.

Her first trip as queen was to open Canada's Parliament in Ottawa in 1957. She was the first sovereign to open Canada's Parliament in person. Her lone visit as Princess Elizabeth was with her new husband, Prince Philip, in 1951. Highlights included a visit to the Calgary Stampede.

Queen Elizabeth II also came to Canada in 1982 to put her signature on the Canada Act, also called the Constitution Act of 1982, making Canada wholly independent.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle living in Canada will be easier by staying fewer than 6 months

Queen Elizabeth II visited Canada more than any other country during her 70-year reign. The hope is that King Charles III will reflect on his mother's heritage in future visits.

The new king could also talk to his younger son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle about their experiences in Canada.

This feels very #Canadian right now. #20dollarbill https://t.co/VtbJBHjFPo

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) September 8, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II has been on the Canadian $20 bill since the 1954 series, shortly after becoming queen. As Princess Elizabeth, she was on the 1935 series. Her father, King George VI, was on the 1937 series.

The news was quick to point out that the current $20 bills are still good. At some point, King Charles III will be on the Canadian $20 bill. This would also be true when Prince William becomes king.

Canada has changed some other bills to reflect the modern world. The $10 bill changed from John A. MacDonald, the first prime minister to civil rights icon Viola Desmond. There is a push to replace Wilfred Laurier on the $5 bill, possibly with Terry Fox, but we have waited months for that decision to be made.

Canadians can now transact with the new $10 bill featuring Viola Desmond

Viola Desmond to be first Canadian woman on the face of Canadian money

Canada unveils new $20, $50 bills

Watching @CBCNews instead of @CTVNews for death of #QueenElizabethII. Would have been better (for so many reasons) to have @LisaLaFlamme_ in the anchor chair at this moment. #cdnjournalism

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) September 8, 2022

Across all platforms, CityNews will provide in-depth coverage of events commemorating the life of #QueenElizabethII, the Queen's funeral & the transition to #KingCharleslll 🇬🇧@LisaLaFlamme_ leads this coverage from London as a special correspondent💫

🔗 https://t.co/q8HMzxucog pic.twitter.com/cPWk6qWVUt

— Rogers Sports & Media PR (@RogersMediaPR) September 9, 2022

Citytv News consists of local newscasts at 11 pm among its owned-and-operated stations. The Rogers owned network doesn't have a national news operation. Well, they now have a national correspondent, a rather well-known person: former CTV News national anchor Lisa LaFlamme.

LaFlamme will be in London throughout the coverage from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III.

Citytv has only a few over-the-air TV stations in Toronto, Montréal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The network has affiliates in smaller cities such as Kamloops and Prince George (British Columbia) as well as Medicine Hat and Lloydminster (Alberta). The network is on cable in Saskatchewan (outside Lloydminster) but only 3 pm-6 am.

Even without a national news presence, Citytv can draw few eyeballs away from CTV with a huge, ongoing news story important to English Canadians.

As for Americans watching Citytv, Blaine, WA might pick up the Vancouver signal. Those in Buffalo, NY might pick up the Toronto station.

Lisa LaFlamme out as CTV National News anchor

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

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Quebec has always had an uneasy relationship with the British element of Canadian society. Conscription for the draft during World War I and World War II. New citizens having to pledge allegiance to the queen (now king).

It can be shorthand to say Canadians in reacting to the story of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Some French Canadians might care somewhat. Some English Canadians may be displeased with the obsession over the British monarchy.

Twitter captures: @JustinTrudeau; @canadian_xing (x2); @RogersMediaPR
photo credits: CBC News (x2); me

2022 CFL Week 14 preview: Revenge games

The CFL revenge games weekend has 2 revenge games instead of the normal 3 revenge games.

Montréal hosts the BC Lions on Friday night because they have no one else to play. This constitutes the longest road trip heading east in the CFL. Vernon Adams Jr. might play against his old team.

Toronto is at Ottawa after playing Hamilton 4 times in 5 weeks. The Argos get to play the other Ontario team in the nation's capital.

Winnipeg hosts the 2022 Banjo Bowl, the revenge games with the prairie rivalry. This is the middle contest of a Saturday tripleheader.

The 4th and final meeting of the Battle of Alberta is in the late slot in the Alberta capital.

Hamilton gets an unusual rest after playing the Argos 4 times in the last 5 weeks.

TSN

Friday
BC @ Montréal, 7:30p
Saturday
Toronto @ Ottawa, 2p
Saskatchewan @ Winnipeg, 5p
Calgary @ Edmonton, 8p

Bye week: Hamilton

Toronto and Hamilton have a strong rivalry but when the game is on Labour Day, the Tiger-Cats are the dominant team. The Argos hadn't won on Labour Day since 2012, losing 9 of the last 10 contests on the holiday. Hamilton was 7-0 on Labour Day at Tim Hortons Field.

Everything was set up for all of that to crash. Toronto had been playing well against the Tiger-Cats over the last month. Jamie Newman was making his debut as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats starting quarterback.

The lone Hamilton touchdown on Monday came on defence with an interception returned for a touchdown.

The Argos kept the game close before its offence exploded. Toronto takes 3 of 4 from Hamilton and has a 1-game winning streak on Labour Day.

2022 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day weekend

Jake Maier kicked the Calgary offence into a new gear in the second half of the Battle of Alberta at McMahon Stadium. Saying the Elks are better on the road is like saying the Tiger-Cats are a better home team. Still, the Elks are now 0-8 in the division in 2022. Edmonton is 3-1 against the East.

The Stampeders are now 9-1 in the last 10 Labour Day Classic games.

2022 CFL Week 12 preview

Saskatchewan used to be the dominant team over Winnipeg in Regina on Labour Day Sunday. The Roughriders have won 14 of the 17 on the day before the holiday but now Saskatchewan has a 2-game losing streak.

The teams played to an exciting first half tie at 17-17. The defences were in prime form with a total of 4 points scored in the 2nd half. The Roughriders took a 18-17 lead off a punt single with 7 minutes left in the game. The Marc Liegghio 55-yard field goal gave the Blue Bombers the margin of victory.

Duke Williams is a valuable receiver for Saskatchewan; an after the whistle penalty on the Saskatchewan sideline hurt his team at a key moment.

Khari Jones got fired as the Montréal head coach in part due to a lack of discipline. Craig Dickenson has been the leader at not being the leader. Williams had one such offence; Garrett Marino was the poster child for undisciplined (more on that below).

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers clinched a playoff spot for the 6th consecutive year.

.@CFL we have enough evidence to kick #GarrettMarino out of the league. So tired of the #cheaphits. @sskroughriders @Wpg_BlueBombers

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) September 5, 2022

The Saskatchewan Roughriders finally did on Tuesday what the rest of the league has been waiting a long time to see. The team finally released Garrett Marino. The master of cheap hits got one late against Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros. No penalty. We tought the league was supposed to be watching out for this behavior against quarterbacks.

Marino had a 4-game suspension for what he did to Ottawa QB Jeremiah Masoli earlier this season. Marino's behaviour got worse, not better. A player injured by Marino could have a very good argument for a lawsuit against Marino, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the CFL. Let's hope no other team will sign him.

Our crew on the field surprised me with this for my final game at Mosaic. I’ve loved this job for many reasons, but the people I’ve had the chance to work with will forever top the list 🥹 pic.twitter.com/GzvHvuEzGS

— Sara Orlesky (@saraorlesky) September 4, 2022

Sara Orlesky got a chance to say goodbye to Regina and Calgary, 2 cities she has covered a lot for the CFL on TSN. Sometimes when a person leaves a job, people say nice things and don't always mean them. Orlesky will be genuinely missed by fans, stadium workers, players, and everyone associated with the CFL. 

I think we need to rename this game to the Orlesky Bowl (aka Sara’s Send Off), just for one year. What do you think @CFL @CFLonTSN @Wpg_BlueBombers @sskroughriders?

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) August 17, 2022

The Banjo Bowl marks the swan song for Sara Orlesky on the CFL on TSN. As we noted last month, Orlesky will be working for the Winnipeg Jets on their content team.

She has been with TSN since 2008 and started later that year as a sideline reporter for the CFL on TSN. Orlesky also has been the host of the Winnipeg Jets on TSN3 from the start and the lead reporter in TSN's Winnipeg bureau.

Style, class, grace, and charm: If you were watching a CFL game, you wanted Sara Orlesky to be on the sidelines. We suggested during the height of the pandemic that Orlesky get to do more if she wanted.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor (Sara Orlesky) had fun in Regina on Sunday and Labour Day in Calgary. Marshall Ferguson and Duane Forde were with Matthew Scianitti in Montréal on Friday. Rod Smith was with Forde with Scianitti on Labour Day in Hamilton.

The CFL on TSN panel was in Hamilton on Labour Day.

logo credit: CFL
Twitter captures: @canadian_xing; @saraorlesky; @FarhanLaljiTSN

2022 TIFF preview

The wait is almost over. Join us September 8–18 to catch the brightest stars and see the buzziest films of the year at #TIFF22. Grab your tickets at https://t.co/8OWOF7O7CW. pic.twitter.com/oo6jTTDBk1

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 1, 2022

The 2022 Toronto International Film Festival is geared toward a return to the normal, as in 2019 normal.

We will be very curious about the excitement outside the theatres during the festival that we saw in the before time aka 2019 and earlier.

2022 TIFF Canadian film preview

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On has its world premiere at TIFF 2022. There will be a theatrical release in the fall with TV releases in Canada via Bell Media and APTN and on American Masters on PBS in November.

We look forward to the latest films from established directors such as Marie Clements, Katherine Jerkovic, Donald Shebib, Lindsay MacKay, Sean Garrity, Stéphane Lafleur, and Ashley McKenzie.

Canadian actors turned directors with debut feature films include Charlotte Le Bon and Gail Maurice. Celebrated short film filmmaker Kelly Fyffe-Marshall makes her full-length feature debut with When Morning Comes.

Canadian film review: Black Bodies

Emily Hampshire and Jonas Chernick reunite with Garrity in his latest film. This Place from V.T. Nayani features Devery Jacobs. Stephen McHattie is in Fixation, the debut film from Mercedes Bryce Morgan.

Compelling titles based on the descriptions include I Like Movies, The Young Arsonists, and Concrete Valley.

Eternal Spring gets the nod from Canada for Best International Feature Film

We know long in advance as to which film Canada has nominated for Best International Feature Film. We also know Eternal Spring is not running in the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

2022 TIFF Rising Stars

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Congratulations to the 2022 version of the TIFF Rising Stars: Natalia Aranguren, Isaiah Lehtinen, Carmen Madonia, and Joshua Odjick.

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band was the last Canadian film to be the opening night film in 2019, the first Canadian film to get that high honour since 2010. Don't hold your breath for that happening again anytime soon.

Canadian film review: Inconvenient Indian

Ste. Anne, the 2021 winner for Best Canadian Feature Film, hasn't had a theatrical release, according to IMDb. The film is experimental from what we've heard. We thought we would never see the 2020 winner — Inconvenient Indian from Michelle Latimer — for different reasons but somehow that film got aired.

We look forward (hopefully) to having a 2022 winner for Best Canadian First Feature Film, an award that has not been handed out since 2019.

Best Canadian Feature Film

Best Canadian Feature Film
Year	Film	Director
2021	Ste. Anne	Rhayne Vermette
2020	Inconvenient Indian	Michelle Latimer
2019	Antigone	Sophie Deraspe
2018	The Fireflies Are Gone	Sebastien Pilote
2017	Les Affamés	Robin Aubert
2016	Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves	Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie
2015	Closet Monster	Stephen Dunn
2014	Felix and Meira	Maxime Giroux
2013	When Jews Were Funny	Alan Zweig
2012	Laurence Anyways	Xavier Dolan
2011	Monsieur Lazhar	Philippe Falardeau
2010	Incendies	Denis Villeneuve
2009	Cairo Time	Ruba Nadda
2008	Lost Song	Rodrigue Jean
2007	My Winnipeg	Guy Maddin
2006	Manufactured Landscapes	Jennifer Baichwal
2005	C.R.A.Z.Y.	Jean-Marc Vallée
2004	It's All Gone Pete Tong	Michael Dowse
2003	Les Invasions Barbares	Denys Arcand
2002	Spider	David Cronenberg
2001	Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner)	Zacharias Kunuk
2000	Waydowntown	Gary Burns
1999	The Five Senses	Jeremy Podeswa
1998	Nô	Robert Lepage
1997	The Sweet Hereafter	Atom Egoyan
	The Hanging Garden	Thom Fitzgerald
1996	Long's Day Journey Into The Night	David Wellington
1995	Live Bait	Bruce Sweeney
1994	Exotica	Atom Egoyan
1993	Kanehsatake: 270 Years Of Resistance	Alanis Obomsawin
1992	Requiem Pour Un Beau Sans-Coeur	Robert Morin
1991	The Adjuster	Atom Egoyan
1990	H	Darrell Wasyk
1989	Roadkill	Bruce McDonald
1988	The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick	Allan Goldstein
1987	Family Viewing	Atom Egoyan
1986	Le Déclin De L'empire Américain	Denys Arcand
1985	Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga Of Hal C. Banks	Donald Brittain
1984	La Femme De L'hôtel	Léa Pool
Best Canadian Feature Film (1991-present); Excellence in Canadian Production (1984-1990).

 

Best Canadian First Feature Film

Best Canadian First Feature Film
Year	Film	Director
2021	no award given	no award given
2020	no award given	no award given
2019	The Twentieth Century	Matthew Rankin
2018	Roads in February	Katherine Jerkovic
2017	Luk' Luk'l	Wayne Wapeemukwa
2016	Old Stone	Johnny Ma
2015	Sleeping Giant	Andrew Cividino
2014	Bang Bang Baby	Jeffrey St. Jules
2013	Asphalt Watches	Shayne Ehman, Seth Scriver
2012	Antiviral	Brandon Cronenberg
	Blackbird	Jason Buxton
2011	Edwin Boyd	Nathan Morlando
2010	The High Cost of Living	Deborah Chow
2009	The Wild Hunt	Alexandre Franchi
2008	Before Tomorrow	Marie-Hélène Cousineau
		Madeline Piujuq Ivalu
2007	Un Film Sans Fusil Continental	Stéphane Lafleur
2006	Sur La Trace D'igor Rizzi	Nöel Mitrani
2005	The Life And Hard Times Of Guy Terrifico	Louise Archambault, Michael Mabbott
2004	La Peau Blanche	Daniel Roby
2003	Love, Sex and Eating The Bones	Sudz Sutherland
2002	Marion Bridge	Wiebke Von Carolsfeld
2001	Inertia	Sean Garrity
2000	La Moitié Gauche Du Frigo	Philippe Falardeau
1999	Just Watch Me:	Catherine Annau
	Trudeau and The 70's Generation
1998	Last Night	Don McKellar
1997	Cube Vincenzo	Natali
As determined by the Toronto International Film Festival.

The 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival — TIFF 2022 — runs today through September 18.

Twitter capture and photo credit: @TIFF_NET

2022 CBC television fall preview

The new fall CBC television lineup gets started pretty early about a month before Hockey Night in Canada begins.

Sort Of (Season 2) and Strays (Season 2) are returning comedies this fall. Diggstown (Season 4), Heartland (Season 16), Murdoch Mysteries (Season 16), and Moonshine (Season 2) are dramas back in autumn.

The Fifth Estate (Season 48) and Marketplace (Season 50) as well as Dragons' Den (Season 17), The Great Canadian Baking Show (Season 6), and The Passionate Eye are back in the fall.

Comedy Night With Rick Mercer has Rick Mercer hosting specials featuring Canadian comedians. Summit '72 is a documentary reflecting the 50-year anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series.

The North Water is a CBC/BBC co-production that aired in 2021 in the U.S. on AMC+, BBC Two in the United Kingdom, and in Canada on Super Channel Fuse. Fakes gets its start on CBC Gem. Netflix is part of the co-production.

This Hour Has 22 Minutes is celebrating 30 years as a show. The program will have special episodes this fall. The October 4 episode will be filmed at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto (the show normally tapes in Halifax). The studio audience will feature politicians, newsmakers, and stars from the world of Canadian comedy.

This Special Has 30 Years is a retrospective episode that airs October 11. The episode will feature interviews with cast, creatives, and collaborators, including Rick Mercer, Mary Walsh, and Peter Mansbridge.

CBC Fall 2022

Monday

Murdoch Mysteries 8p
The North Water/Ridley Road 9p

Tuesday

This Hour Has 22 Minutes 8p
Strays 8:30p
Comedy Night With Rick Mercer/Sort Of 9p
Sort Of 9:30p

Wednesday

Summit '72/Diggstown 8p
War Of The Worlds 9p

Thursday

Dragons' Den 8p
The Fifth Estate 9p

Friday

Marketplace 8p
Travel Man 8:30p
The Passionate Eye 9p

Saturday

Hockey Night in Canada 7p

Sunday

Heartland 7p
The Great Canadian Baking Show 8p
Moonshine 9p

bold indicates new series; ital indicates new timeslot

2022 CBC television upfront preview

Canadian Screen Awards shift to gender neutral performance awards

Observations on the CBC fall schedule:

Hopefully, Rick Mercer will be more than just an emcee. Canadians will want to see more of Mercer, regardless of whether the comedians are funny. We applaud Mercer and George Stroumboulopoulos for making amazing television. Then Canada can't somehow replace them.

The post Murdoch Mysteries slot could have had more of Frankie Drake Mysteries, a well-liked home production that had appeal beyond Canada. The programs in the fall lineup in that timeslot belong somewhere else.

Another season of Diggstown while still waiting for the program to air on Fox in the United States. Like 22 Minutes, Diggstown shoots in Halifax.

Glad to see Moonshine get some momentum. We already know there will be a Season 3 for the show.

Strays is back and with a good spot in the Tuesday night lineup. Season 1 made us wonder why the show is back for Season 2.

Television, even on the CBC, is not geared toward an older audience. Summit '72 will do well among medium-stage and late-stage Baby Boomers. Gen X gets Kids in the Hall on Amazon Prime Video.

2022 CBC television winter preview

2021 CBC television fall preview

2021 CBC television upfront preview

CBC will show Canadian films on Saturday nights until Hockey Night in Canada starts on October 15. Check out our CBC coverage to know what films are coming up on Saturday nights.

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

The fall schedule starts next Monday, September 12.

photo credit: CBC

Canadian film review: Learn to Swim

Jazz. Romance. Well, more jazz than romance. Learn to Swim takes us into the world of jazz. There is a music soundtrack and a language soundtrack. The words often flow like jazz all its own.

Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) and Selma (Emma Ferreira) are jazz musicians struggling in music and life. Their paths cross in the band. Dezi acts like he knows everything in terms of arrangement. He is also dealing with an abscessed tooth, a bad thing for a saxophone player to have.

Dezi is the film's focus. The story of a jazz player who struggles with, well, everything. The other members of the band want Dezi to be a part of what they are doing on a more consistent basis. That is not happening.

Romance is a very small part of the film. Dezi and Selma have a relationship, of sorts. The film tries to build up momentum to romance. The drawback is the characters, the logic, the odd romance that defies logic don't have much chemistry.

This isn't too much of an issue since there isn't much of the romance in the film.

We notice a lot of films take time to warm up. Learn to Swim has a great start. In many ways, the first third of the film is the best part of the film. 

Thyrone Tommy (director, co-writer) and Marni Van Dyk (co-writer) let the film float through most of the rest of the film. The film is beautifully shot with a wonderful soundtrack so the audience is still engaged. Dezi's struggles are worth the price of admission.

The landlady, who has an eye out for Dezi, says Dezi is easy to love … in the beginning. Feels like the film, overall.

2021 TIFF wrapup

2021 TIFF Rising Stars

TIFF selects Top 10 Canadian films of 2021

There is a lot to like about Learn to Swim. The cinematography fits the mood of the film. The soundtrack is wonderful. The primary characters have enough flaws to be interesting. Learn to Swim has its own flaws.

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Learn to Swim made TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2021. Olajide and Ferreira were a part of TIFF's Rising Stars.

The film won a Canadian Screen Award in 2022 for Best Original Song for And Then We Don't by Tika Simone and Casey Manierka-Quaile. Olajide received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actor.

Learn to Swim is available in the United States on Netflix.

video credit: YouTube/TIFF Trailers
photo credit: Learn to Swim

2022 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day weekend

The Highway 417 (Autoroute 40) rivalry is in Montréal to start Labour Day weekend on Friday night. Glad to see the CFL make this part of the Labour Day festivities. The league remarkably gave both teams byes on the Labour Day weekend in 2019.

The prairie rivalry gets started in Regina early Sunday evening. Unlike the other major rivalries, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan have not faced each other in 2022. The temperature heats up on and off the field when these teams meet.

The classic Labour Day lineup is set with Toronto in Hamilton for their final battle in 2022 (which is highly unusual) in the early slot. The Tiger-Cats could even the season series with the Argos. The Tiger-Cats can be in play for the tiebreaker with a win but needs to win by 25 or more points for the first tiebreaker.

The Battle of Alberta is in the late slot in Calgary (supper time in the East). The Stampeders won the first 2 games over the Elks this season.

The BC Lions enjoy Labour Day weekend with a barbecue (hopefully) and watching some great football.

ESPN usually carries 1-2 games on this holiday weekend. Alas, the games are on ESPN+.

TSN

Friday
Ottawa @ Montréal, 7:30p
Sunday
Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan, 6p
Monday
Toronto @ Hamilton, 1p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 4:30p

Bye week: BC

The West is now 18-5 against the East in 2022 in the CFL thanks to the Ottawa win over Edmonton. The Elks now have 13 straight home losses. The record is 14 straight home losses for Edmonton. The revenge game with Calgary could tie the record.

Each team ended up winning on the road in what might be the 2 worst teams in the league in 2022.

2022 CFL Week 12 preview

Michael O'Connor wasn't able to do much in his debut as a CFL starter for the BC Lions. O'Connor did become the 28th Canadian QB to start a CFL game since 1950, the 3rd in 2022 (his teammate Nathan Rourke and Edmonton's Tre Ford. This is the first time 3 Canadian quarterbacks have started in a season since 1968.

This also marked the second time in league history that a team started 2 different Canadian quarterbacks in consecutive games. The Calgary Stampeders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union started Bill Stevenson on September 24, 1955 and then halfback Lynn Bottoms started the next game because Stevenson was injured.

The bye comes at a good time for the BC Lions. The Lions acquired quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. from Montréal for BC's 1st-round pick in 2023. Adams had tendinitis in his throwing elbow but that injury is reportedly healed. Antonio Pipkin is also in the quarterback mix in Vancouver.

2022 CFL Week 11 preview

Winnipeg swept Calgary for the first time since 1987. The Stampeders have 4 losses on the season, 3 of them to the Blue Bombers and another one to the then healthy Lions.

Calgary has been in the 3rd spot in the West for a very long time. The Stampeders haven't been consistent in some of those wins. A sweep of Edmonton could change the dynamic.

2022 CFL Week 10 preview

Dane Evans and turnovers have proven to be a painful combination in Hamilton. When Matthew Shiltz came out of the game for the Tiger-Cats in Toronto, Hamilton's chances got a lot more difficult.

Shiltz is expected to be out 4-6 weeks with a wrist injury. 

The Tiger-Cats traditionally play well on Labour Day against the Argonauts. Hamilton is 3-2 at home this season and the only team without a road win at 0-6.

Enjoying some rides at @letsgototheex
Well, some enjoyed it more than others 😌 @BrizzyUL17@royce_metchie @Bonsie24 pic.twitter.com/3bdjdpOhR2

— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) August 25, 2022

The CFL schedules the Toronto Argonauts at home during the Canadian National Exhibition to boost Argonauts home attendance. Since BMO Field is located within the confines of the CNE grounds, game admission gets you into the CNE for no additional cost.

Did the CNE dates help? The 2 top attendance marks this season have come in the last 2 home games: Calgary (12,584) and Hamilton (14,963). The Tiger-Cats fans often make the trip to Toronto though their team almost never gets to be a part of the CNE dates.

The home opener with Montréal drew 12,498. Every home game has drawn 5 digits except for the Monday night game with Winnipeg (9,806). The Argos lost a home game in Toronto for Touchdown Atlantic that drew 10,886 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Toronto only has 2 home games remaining: Saturday afternoon contests on October 8 (BC) and October 29 (Montréal).

Toronto Argonauts 2022 home attendance
Opponent	Attendance
Montréal	12,498
Winnipeg	9,806
Saskatchewan*	10,886
Ottawa	10,277
Hamilton	11,623
Calgary	12,584
Hamilton	14,963

* Touchdown Atlantic in Wolfville, NS

2022 CFL Week 9 preview

Montréal Alouettes owner Gary Stern started out 2022 being a bit aggressive. Now Stern is stepping away from day-to-day operations with the club. There are reportedly issues with the estate of his late father-in-law Sid Spiegel. Stern's share is 25% while Spiegel's estate has 75%.

Alouettes ownership had been stable under Robert Wetenhall and his family from 1997-2018. The CFL took over ownership during the transition.

pic.twitter.com/snJFeDB8R1

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 28, 2022

Former Winnipeg QB Chris Streveler had an excellent preseason for the New York Jets. Yet Streveler is looking for a job after the Jets cut him.

Streveler played for Arizona the last 2 seasons in the NFL. The Jets were the 3rd NFL team for Streveler in 2022. Subsequently, the Jets signed him to the practice squad.

Several CFL teams would love to have Streveler in the quarterback mix. Streveler won the Grey Cup with Winnipeg in 2019.

2022 CFL Week 8 preview

Edmonton is not having a great CFL season at 3-8. Winnipeg is having a great season at 10-1. With a 18-game schedule, we are at the point where a Winnipeg win or an Edmonton loss means the Elks won't win the West this season. That this is true before Labour Day is a show of extremes.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rod Smith and Glen Suitor hung out together in the west in Vancouver (Farhan Lalji) on Friday and in Edmonton (Brit Dort) on Saturday.

Dustin Nielson and Matt Dunigan with Sara Orlesky had the exciting matchup Thursday in Winnipeg. Marshall Ferguson and Duane Forde with Matthew Scianitti could smell the fair food from Toronto early on Friday night.

Dave Naylor filled in for Davis Sanchez on the panel.

logo credit: CFL
Twitter capture: @TorontoArgos; @nyjets

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early September 2022

The calendar has slipped into September. Still plenty of time for some Canadian films on CBC on Saturday nights.

The Labour Day weekend films feature an outstanding debut film, a family drama with a Canadian acting legend, and an intriguing look at mental illness in a Newfoundland tale.

The September 10 film (singular) gets a late start due to coverage of the Conservative Party leadership race as well as rugby. There is a joke in there somewhere. Hope the politics wraps up at a reasonable time.

This shows out the variety you can find in Canadian films, even ones on the CBC on a Saturday night.

Some of these Canadian films may have been featured recently on CBC. The films should also be available on CBC Gem. All times are local, adding 30 minutes in Newfoundland.

Here is the schedule for early September 2022.

September 3

9p Sleeping Giant (2015)
11p Milton's Secret (2016)
1a An Audience of Chairs (2019)

September 10

11p Window Horses (2016)

Sleeping Giant brought great attention to Andrew Cividino in his debut film about young boys with not a lot to do on a lazy summer. Cividino has worked on the TV side, winning an Emmy as co-directors with Dan Levy on Schitt's Creek.

Milton's Secret is a matter of timing with soon to be 12-year-old Milton Adams (William Ainscough) needing some guidance over being bullied. The parents (Mia Kirshner, David Sutcliffe) are distracted with financial trouble. Enter Grandpa Howard (Donald Sutherland) who helps Milton find himself.

An Audience of Chairs has been featured a few times on the CBC list of Saturday night films. A woman who is a gifted piano player struggles with mental illness and an AWOL husband.

Canadian film review: Sleeping Giant

Canadian film review: Window Horses

Window Horses is one of our sentimental favourite Canadian films. Sandra Oh voices a young woman of Chinese and Persian descent who travels to Iran for a poetry festival. The animation is cool, the use of real life poets is wonderful, and the story is compelling.

Don't feel bad if you need to run the PVR and watch the film later.

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late August 2022

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early August 2022

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late July 2022

A recap of CBC Saturday night Canadian films in late spring and early summer 2022

The Canadian films run through October 8, the Saturday before the start of the NHL season.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Enjoy the Canadian films!!

logo credit: CBC
photo credit: Sleeping Giant