Canadian Crossing

2023 CBC television fall preview

We normally run complete coverage of the CBC television fall schedule. However, we don't have the proper information to do our usual coverage. So we are going to list premieres of the shows we know and hope that information will be useful to our readers.

September

13 — The Passionate Eye Wednesdays at 8 pm with thought-provoking original documentaries, starting with Twice Colonized.

19 — This Hour Has 22 Minutes Tuesdays at 8 pm. The New Wave of Standup Tuesdays at 9:30 pm.

20 — Bones of Crows (5x60) Wednesdays at 9 pm.

21 — Dragons' Den Thursdays at 8 pm.

22 — Big CBC News original documentary series (4x60) Fridays at 9 pm.

26 — Still Standing Tuesdays at 8:30 pm.

October

1 — Heartland Sundays at 7 pm. The Great Canadian Baking Show Sundays at 8 pm. SkyMed Sundays at 9 pm.

2 — Murdoch Mysteries Mondays at 8 pm.

6 — CBC News Explore's Planet Wonder (9x30) Fridays at 8:30 pm.

13 — Marketplace Fridays at 8 pm.

20 — The Fifth Estate Fridays at 9 pm.

25 — Black Life: Untold Stories (8x60) Wednesdays at 9 pm.

November

9 — Blackberry (3x60) Thursdays at 9 pm.

17 — Sort Of The press release says 2 episodes will be available weekly on CBC Gem. Not clear about a broadcast date.

22 — Swan Song (4x60) Wednesdays at 8 pm.

We are seeing a few limited-run documentary type shows. Canadian content and creative in building off Canadian films such as Bones of Crows and Blackberry.

The post Murdoch Mysteries slot on Mondays will likely be foreign programming, though we don't have details. A better place to put a Canadian show, given how popular Murdoch Mysteries is in the ratings. Moonshine ran this summer in Canada; that would have been a good choice.

Best in Miniature 3 (8x60) was mentioned for fall in the June press release but not in the latest press release. That could be a matter of running in the winter instead of the fall.

We don't see an obvious Canadian anchor show for Tuesdays at 9 pm. That is a significant disappointment. CBC is running an American show (Animal Control) that has already aired on Fox in a key timeslot. We complain about British fillers but they make slightly more sense than an American filler.

The fact that CBC didn't release a full fall schedule in either press release is a sign that they know how shameful these moves are.

2023 CBC television upfront preview

CBC will show Canadian films on Saturday nights until Hockey Night in Canada starts on October 14. Check out our CBC coverage to know what films are coming up on Saturday nights.

As for CBC shows from last fall, Diggstown ended its run, Strays was cancelled, and Comedy Night With Rick Mercer appeared to be a one-time event.

The biggest surprise is that there isn't a single new Canadian show on the fall schedule. Everything that is new is a limited run program. The winter schedule will have new programs but the fall schedule needs to develop new shows.

There will be foreign programs on the schedule. We barely mention them normally but we don't even have that information.

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage

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We will update our fall preview if we get more information. All times are local: adjust times by 30 minutes in most of Newfoundland.

photo credits: Black Life: Untold Stories; Bones of Crows

Canadian film review: Bon Cop Bad Cop

Any Canadian film that makes fun of Gary Bettman is a winner. While that is amazing, that point is one of many truly wonderful elements in Bon Cop, Bad Cop.

Martin Ward (Colm Feore) is Ontario and by the book. David Bouchard (Patrick Huard) is Quebec and not by the book. They have to come together to work on a case.

As interesting as the case may or may not be, the adventure comes in every small detail along the way. Language is crucial at key moments. Don't feel bad if you have to pause the film at points.

The chemistry and the script are sensational. You feel like you want the film to last twice as long, which is not to be confused with the sequel Bon Cop Bad Cop II, which is not nearly as good as the original.

There is also tension between the detectives because Bouchard is interested in Ward's sister Iris (Sarain Boylan).

You don't have to be a hockey fan to get some of the references, though that helps if you are a hockey fan.

We recommend using subtitles when watching the film, regardless of which language you speak. 

Bilingual Canadian actors tend to flow from French to English

Canadian film review: French Immersion

If you are a fan of the Bon Cop Bad Cop film, keep Kevin Tierney in mind. Tierney was involved in multiple elements of the film world. He saw a desire to explore the bilingual issue in Canadian film. The success of Bon Cop Bad Cop led him to do the film French Immersion, which we also recommend.

Tierney's son Jacob Tierney might be more familiar from his career as a filmmaker and as co-creator of Letterkenny.

Kevin Tierney co-wrote Bon Cop Bad Cop with Huard as well as Leila Basen and Alex Epstein. Érik Canuel directed the film.

Canadian film review: Bon Cop Bad Cop 2

Trying to find the quintessential Canadian film

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

This may be the quintessential Canadian film, if one has to select a film title. The film is accessible, fun, silly, and clever. So very clever. 

The 2006 film received 10 Genies nominations in 2007, winning 2 Genie Awards for Best Motion Picture and Overall Sound.

Bon Cop Bad Cop is available in Canada on CBC Gem and Netflix in the United States.

photo credit: Bon Cop Bad Cop
video credit: YouTube/ParkExPictures

2023 CFL Week 14 preview: Banjo Bowl and Battle of Alberta, part II

The CFL promised CBS Sports Network would carry the key Labour Day weekend games. The U.S. network is missing for the revenge games.

Hamilton at Ottawa starts out the week, division rivals on some level just not a revenge game. This is the only CBS Sports Network telecast of the week.

Revenge Saturday has Montréal in Toronto. Formerly significant rivals, again not revenge rivals. This game starts out the Saturday tripleheader.

The prairie teams play in the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg with the tiebreaker on the line.

The Battle of Alberta ends the tripleheader with the Elks looking for revenge and a home win against Calgary.

BC gets to recover from its longest road trip of the season to bask in the sun on the West Coast.

CBS Sports Network

Friday
Hamilton @ Ottawa, 7:30p

TSN

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

Bye week: BC

The CFL says quarterbacks need to be protected. Zach Collaros is a quarterback of high prominence in the CFL. Collaros would disagree with the first sentence.

Collaros suffered a late hit to the neck that went unpunished against Edmonton. Defensive lineman Pete Robertson headbutted Collaros on Sunday in Regina. There was a penalty called eventually, thanks to the command centre. Robertson did get a 1-game suspension, though he could have been removed for the rest of the game.

Usually in sports, we complain that the most talented get breaks other don't. Not the CFL. All quarterbacks should be protected, even the good ones.

2023 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day rivalries

Zach Collaros normally enjoys Labour Day weekend, headbutts aside. Before Monday, Collaros had been 6-0 on Labour Day weekend: 3-0 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1-0 for Saskatchewan, and 2-0 with the Blue Bombers. Collaros struggled in the pocket to start the game on Sunday.

Saskatchewan snapped a 2-game losing streak on Labour Day weekend. The Roughriders had taken 14 of the last 17 games before Sunday.

Adam Korsak scored 2 punt singles for Saskatchewan in the 4th quarter, helping the Roughriders to tie the score and force overtime. Talk about Collaros and Jake Dolegala all day but don't forget the kickers.

Edmonton Elks end long home CFL losing streak at 22

Down 28-13 in the fourth…

12 and co. pulled off a Labour Day Maier-acle 😤 pic.twitter.com/GIFIhBKgG2

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) September 5, 2023

Tre Ford was a balanced attack on his own, setting a Canadian quarterback record by rushing for 135 yards. Ford went 14-for-23 for 136 passing yards. Yet Jake Maier and the Calgary Stampeders, trailing by 15 points going into the 4th quarter, came alive at the end to pull off the comeback in front of the home crowd.

Though Calgary won a last minute victory over Saskatchewan in Regina, the Stampeders have lost 6 games this season in the final 3 minutes.

Elks wide receiver Kyran Moore threw a touchdown pass to Steven Dunbar Jr. for a nice trick play.

The 4-point win for Calgary is significant to note since the teams only play twice. If the Elks win on Saturday at home, the margin of victory would be the tiebreaker. That could be the difference for which team might crossover into the East for the playoffs.

Tre Ford. Escape artist.#Elks #ElksCharge #Stamps #CFL #LDCpic.twitter.com/5rGrINT4cY

— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) September 5, 2023

The Labour Day game almost didn't happen on Labour Day. The CFLPA was greatly concerned about the air quality in Calgary. The air quality read between 8 and 10, registering a 9 at 4 hours after kickoff. Games are supposed to be halted if the air quality registers a 7.

The CFL and CFLPA say an independent third-party organization will test air quality and provide measurements for future games.

2023 CFL Week 12 preview

Toronto has now won 2 straight Labour Day games in Hamilton, the first 2 such wins at Tim Hortons Field since the stadium was introduced on Labour Day 2014. The rivalry has been one-sided of late with the Argos being the dominant team.

AJ Ouellette threw a TD pass to go with the regular quarterback Chad Kelly, who threw for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hamilton's Taylor Powell threw for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns in a losing cause. The Argos are 3-0 against the Tiger-Cats in 2023.

2023 CFL Week 11 preview

Vernon Adams Jr. had a nice return back to Montréal, going 21-for-33 for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Alouettes didn't get a touchdown until the 3rd quarter.

BC and Montréal are not rivals in any sense but do play often on Labour Day weekend.

2023 TIFF preview

Our TIFF 2023 preview featured a lot of Canadian films but not Running Back Relentless, a new documentary coming out in 2024 about CFL running back Andrew Harris. The documentary, which will air on Apple TV, showcases Harris' final year in the league and a look back at his story.

CBS Sports Network was clearly going to run over on Sunday with NWSL coverage. A few minutes wouldn't be terrible. 8 minutes of extended time, a commercial break, and a recap cost U.S. viewers the first 3 playing minutes of the Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan game.

What did the U.S. audience miss? A beautiful onside kick recovered by Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther. You can watch the CFL game recap.

Compared to ESPN, CBS Sports Network has been a breeze outside of what happened on Sunday.

This is the part of the year where the U.S. audience loses its TV package for the most part. There are only 3 games after this week left on the U.S. schedule, playoffs and everything.

Friday September 22 Saskatchewan @ Ottawa, 7p
Friday October 6 Edmonton @ Toronto, 7p
Monday October 9 Ottawa @ Montréal, 1p

That's it. CFL+ or watch the video recaps, even for the playoffs. Ugh.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rod Smith and Duane Forde started out the holiday weekend on Saturday in Montréal with Kenzie Lalonde and then went to Hamilton with Matthew Scianitti on Monday. Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor were a matched set with Brit Dort in Regina on Sunday and Claire Hanna in Calgary on Monday.

We haven't seen Hanna on the CFL sidelines since she was in the Southern Hemisphere for the Women's World Cup for TSN. As we noted, TSN doesn't have a regular reporter in Calgary.

The CFL on TSN panel made their way to Hamilton on Labour Day, including Paul LaPolice. This week with the tripleheader will likely mean a return of Marshall Ferguson and Matt Dunigan, possibly in Toronto.

logo credit: CFL
Twitter capture: @calstampeders; @3DownNation
video credit: YouTube/Upper Canada Films

2023 TIFF preview

TIFF 2023 — the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival — runs today through September 17.

The collection of films from around the world starts tonight with the opening night (non-Canadian) film The Boy and the Heron from Hayao Miyazaki.

Bell announced last month that this TIFF will be the final one of its sponsorship after a 28-year arrangement. The decision was announced as mutual. Bell cited the need to "invest in other opportunities that are core to our business.”

That could be tied to the larger presence of Netflix at the Toronto International Film Festival, given Bell's interest in Crave. That could be due to the many cuts at Bell Media in the past few years.

The Bell Lightbox, the theatre at 350 King Street West in Toronto, will likely get a new name in 2024.

We are focused on the films, especially the Canadian films. One element that will be missing from TIFF 2023 is the lack of famous actors roaming the streets of Toronto. Directors can promote their films but not the actors due to the ongoing SAG/AFTRA strike. Some of those directors are also known as actors. Writers also can't promote their work but writers sadly aren't as famous as the actors who say their words.

Amanda Seyfried is starring in Seven Veils from Atom Egoyan, which will be at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. "@sagaftra has given us a waiver to promote this fully, magically independent Canadian movie but it doesn't feel right to head to the fest in light of the strike." — the actor said on Instagram.

We support fully the combined strikes of writers and actors. We understand and support Seyfried's decision.

2023 TIFF Rising Stars

We are excited to see the class of 2023 TIFF Rising Stars in their films this fall: Amrit Kaur, Cody Lightning, Kudakwashe Rutendo, and Mark Clennon. We don't know about any of them other than what we have read. There is an excitement to that approach.

2023 TIFF Canadian film preview

While Molly McGlynn's second feature Fitting In will have that title at TIFF 2023, the film will be released as Bloody Hell. Regardless of the title, this film is on my list, especially with Emily Hampshire playing the mother role.

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The running joke with the American films that play at TIFF is that they end up in regular theatres shortly after they run at TIFF.

Regardless of country origin, the resale value via Ticketmaster is growing to be extremely ridiculous. There is a novelty to seeing a film before most people but there is a monetary limit to the value of that accomplishment.

This ruins the spirit of a film festival where the joy of film is celebrated.

The spike isn't likely to hit the Canadian films at TIFF 2023 so you can enjoy them at regular prices.

Rojek is Canada's entry into the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film

There is not a requirement that the Canada entry into the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film play at the Toronto International Film Festival. This year's entry could use a boost that TIFF can provide.

Are you ready to rock n’ roll?

Toronto’s biggest street party kicks off Sept 7–10 with performances from @Nickelback, @MichieBadgalMee, and a #TIFFNextWave Block Party, presented by @Snapchat, featuring STRANGER THINGS star Finn Wolfhard's band The Aubreys. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/OuWsPgdfyc

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 31, 2023

We noted the upcoming documentary Hate To Love: Nickelback at TIFF about the Canadian band people love to hate. If you are an actual fan of the band, Nickelback will play as part of the Block Party this weekend in Toronto. If somehow you've never heard of Nickleback or wouldn't know any of their songs, you can find out for yourself by watching them live.

There are other bands, too, so you don't have to see Nickleback if that makes your stomach more nauseous than riding the Ferris wheel at the CNE after filling up on fair food.

Join us at @TIFF_NET Festival Street this weekend for a reel good time as we dive into the world of Canadian film trivia — test your knowledge, show off your cinephile skills, and win some EPIC prizes along the way! 🏆🍁 pic.twitter.com/btEjY1J4KR

— REEL CANADA 🍁 (@REELCANADA) September 5, 2023

You had me at Canadian film trivia. Would love to know the questions. As much as I know, we can always learn more about Canadian film.

When TIFF concentrated on Canadian films for the opening night film

The Boy and the Heron from Hayao Miyazaki is the opening night film for TIFF 2023. The last Canadian film to open TIFF remains Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, the Robbie Robertson documentary in 2019. Robertson passed away last month at the age of 80.

That is the 10th Canadian film to get the opening night status since 2000, though the first since 2010.

• Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (2019)
• Score: A Hockey Musical (2010)
• Passchendaele (2008)
• Fugitive Pieces (2007)
• The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (2006)
• Water (2005)
• The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
• Ararat (2002)
• Last Wedding (2001)
• Stardom (2000)

Denys Arcand had 2 films on the list: Stardom (2000) and The Barbarian Invasions (2003). 2 films reached the Oscars Top 5 cut for what is now the Best International Feature Film: The Barbarian Invasions (2003) and Water (2005). The Barbarian Invasions (2003) is the only Canadian film to win an Academy Award in that category.

We have seen all of these films except for Fugitive Pieces (2007) and The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (2006).

Highly sincere question for @TIFF_net and @TIFF_Industry. Why has the Best Canadian First Feature Film award disappeared from #TIFF. Great way to reward debut feature filmmakers. #cdnfilm https://t.co/Bu8xGnYBJW #TIFF23

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) August 25, 2023

We ask very little from TIFF in terms of Canadian films. TIFF picked a similar type Canadian film in name only (to Rojek) as the Best Canadian Feature Film last year in To Kill A Tiger. Rooting for a Canadian film that feels like a Canadian film to win that award at TIFF 23.

The streak continues where TIFF has stopped the Best Canadian First Feature Film, last handed out in 2019. That was helpful to encourage young Canadian filmmakers.

TIFF 2023 starts today and runs through September 17.

photo credit: TIFF
Instagram post: mingey
Twitter captures: @TIFF_NET;  @REELCANADA; @canadian_xing

Son of a Critch fans should know VOCM is a real radio station in St. John's

I can imagine an American watching Son of a Critch on the CW Network seeing VOCM as the radio station where Mark Critch's dad works. Their inner dialogue being like "they created a really fake radio station for a TV show."

Except VOCM is a real radio station in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

U.S. station call letters start with W east of the Mississippi River and K west of the Mississippi River (with some grand exceptions). Canadian station call letters start with C. So why are there stations in Newfoundland that start with the letter V?

Newfoundland wasn't a part of Canada until 1949. When the province joined Canada, stations such as VOCM, VOAR, and VOWR that broadcast before becoming part of the country were allowed to keep their call letters.

VOCM is at 590 AM in St. John's with a news/talk/classic hits format. There is a VOCM-FM at 97.5 FM in St. John's that plays classic rock with a rebroadcaster in Clarenville at 100.7 FM.

VOCM has rebroadcasters in Corner Brook (570 AM), Gander (650 AM), Stephenville (870 AM), Grand Falls-Windsor (620 AM), Clarenville (710 AM), and Marystown (88.3 FM).

The VOAR signal belongs to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Newfoundland & Labrador with a bunch of rebroadcasters throughout the province. The primary VOAR-FM is licensed to Mount Pearl.

VOWR is at 800 AM in St. John's with a Christian radio format.

There is a rebroadcaster called VF2095 at 100.9 FM in Natuashish that rebroadcasts CFGB-FM, the CBC Radio One station in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

You can listen to these stations via the Internet and various apps if you want to hear a station's call letters starting with V.

The vast majority of Newfoundland and Labrador radio stations start with C. The only 2 TV stations in the province also start with C and are licensed to St. John's: CBNT (Channel 8) is the CBC station and CJON (Channel 21) is the NTV (Newfoundland TV) station, carrying mostly Global programming.

CW announces summer schedule filled with Canadian television

Canadian TV notebook: A much longer wait for Season 3 of Transplant on NBC

CanadianCrossing.com Newfoundland and Labrador coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

I took this picture in 2015 when I was in St. John's. I knew VOCM was a thing yet when this was literally in front of me, I couldn't resist the desire to get a photo.

They likely report on moose-related traffic accidents. You see road signs for moose crossings. Fortunately, the only moose I saw in Newfoundland was on my plate at a restaurant in Petty Harbour.

Son of a Critch continues into the fall on the CW Network in the United States. Seasons 1-2 are available in Canada via CBC Gem and Season 3 will run this winter on the CBC.

photo credits: Son of a Critch/CBC Comedy; me
video credit: Son of a Critch/CBC Comedy

2023 Manitoba election preview

The writ is scheduled to drop later today for the upcoming Manitoba election, the final provincial (scheduled) election of 2023.

The Progressive Conservatives have 35 seats, down from the 36 seats in the 2019 election. The New Democratic Party is the opposition party with 18 seats, the same number as in the 2019 election. The Liberals have 3 seats in the 57-seat Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. There is 1 vacant seat. 29 seats are needed for a majority.

Heather Stefanson is the unelected premier, serving in that role since October 30, 2021. Stefanson succeeded Brian Pallister, who was premier from 2016-2021 (Kelvin Goertzen served as interim party leader and premier).

Wab Kinew is the opposition leader for the NDP. Dougald Lamont is the Liberal Party leader.

The Progressive Conservatives are trying for a third term in government, having won the 2016 and 2019 elections.

The three leaders all represent ridings in the city of Winnipeg: Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo), Wab Kinew (Fort Rouge), and Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface). Kinew and Lamont were party leaders in the 2019 election. Winnipeg is a major battleground for determining which party will be in charge of the province.

Greg Selinger was the last NDP premier (2009-2016).

Heather Stefanson will be Manitoba's first female premier

NDP vow to make $10-a-day child care available over summer, holidays https://t.co/ZgZROl39ER

— Wab Kinew (@WabKinew) August 21, 2023

One of the strategies of passing the baton to a new leader is whether the election is about the previous premier (Pallister) or the current premier (Stefanson). Costa Rica likely won't come up in this election as Pallister spent an alarming amount of time in that country.

Stefanson is one of 2 female provincial premiers with Danielle Smith (Alberta). Smith was elected from her unelected status earlier in 2023. Kinew is the only Indigenous MLA in such a position as a provincial opposition leader.

Manitoba has similar issues as the rest of Canada from the cost of groceries to housing as well as special issues such as searching for human remains in a Winnipeg landfill. This race will likely come down to leadership concerns, whether Manitoba voters want the same leadership from Stefanson or a new direction with Kinew as the new premier. The Liberals would only be a factor if the NDP won a race by a small margin or a strong minority government.

You raised them and nurtured them. So who better than you—as parents—to know what’s best for your child as you send them off to school?

That’s why our PC Team is fighting for enhanced parental rights in #Manitoba. #cdnpoli #mbpoli pic.twitter.com/EOftvavZTr

— Heather Stefanson (@HStefansonMB) August 17, 2023

While Stefanson hasn't spoken with the fervour of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan on trans rights in schools for those under 16, the dog whistles of "enhanced parental rights" are out. New Brunswick hasn't had a leadership test or a possible election.

The Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have said if the party is re-elected, they will expand parents rights over what children learn in school. This makes a potential new policy on pronouns a campaign issue.

Brian Pallister, PCs lose seats but win a second term in Manitoba

2019 Manitoba election preview

"We want to end homelessness in this province, and that means treating it as the emergency it is. Right now, under the PCs, people have to be homeless for six months to get help," said @DougaldLamont #mbpoli #MBelxn2023 #RealChange https://t.co/Cha1UKixzW

— Manitoba Liberals (@MBLiberalParty) August 25, 2023

Whichever party is in control next month, the new government will struggle with a major concern. This may be the first Canadian provincial election where housing is a major campaign issue.

2023 Canadian politics preview

CanadianCrossing.com Manitoba coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

Advance voting in Manitoba runs September 23-30 from 8 am to 8 pm except Sundays running from noon-6 pm. Election day is October 3 with polls open from 8 am to 8 pm CDT.

CBC News has notes on all 57 ridings (to be updated). We noted the relatively independent Winnipeg Free Press in our Canada Journalism Guide and CBC News has local CBC Radio One shows on CBW-AM 990 and CBW-FM at 89.3. You can also listen via the CBC Listen app.

We will have a comprehensive summary of the results next month.

photo credit: CBC News
Twitter captures: @WabKinew; @HStefansonMB; @MBLiberalParty

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early September 2023

Welcome back to our coverage of Canadian films on the CBC. We've seen a few new films this summer, even to us, though they are Canadian films in name only.

The long weekend starts today and you can catch up on some cool Canadian films.

The early September film lineups are sufficiently eclectic.

CBC shows Canadian films on Saturday night before Hockey Night in Canada returns to the public broadcaster in October.

This summer, the CBC presentations are starting at 9 pm local time (9:30 pm in Newfoundland).

Sometimes, we only get 4 films in 2 weeks, though these 2 weeks have 6 total Canadian films.

This is a nice service from the public broadcaster.

Here is the CBC Canadian films schedule for early September 2023.

September 2

9p Tammy's Always Dying (2019)
11p Mean Dreams (2016)
1a Man Running (2018)

September 9

9p Percy (2020)
11:30p Angelique's Isle (2018)
1:30a Into Invisible Light (2018)

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late August 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early August 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late July 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early July 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late June 2023

A recap of CBC Saturday night Canadian films in the 2022 offseason

Canadian film review: Tammy’s Always Dying

Canadian film review: Mean Dreams

Canadian film review: Percy

If you only see 1 of the 6 Canadian films in the next 2 weeks, Mean Dreams is at the top of this list and most lists. An intense and scary film at times. Most chase films can't live up to this chase. American actor Bill Paxton, in one of his last roles, will scare you.

Tammy's Always Dying and Percy have good stories that needed help in how they were told. If you are flipping a coin between the 2 films, pick Tammy's Always Dying and research the real-life story of Percy.

We are at a disadvantage about the other 3 Canadian films. Man Running is from Gary Burns (waydowntown), whom we trust. Gord Rand plays a doctor who competes in an ultramarathon. Angelique's Isle is a Canadian historical drama film based on a true story about a voyageur couple who are forced to survive a harsh winter on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. Into Invisible Light is a romantic comedy with Jennifer Dale and Peter Keleghan that is an homage to Uncle Vanya.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Yes, we praise a lot of Canadian films. Watching films with commercials isn't fun. These intriguing Canadian films address issues where Canadians should be familiar, even if they aren't in their regular wheelhouse.

Saturday nights during the hockey season means the NHL on CBC. Otherwise, CBC has Canadian films in store.

Canadians can choose to watch these Canadian films on CBC Gem. For a monthly fee, you can watch them without commercials.

logo credit: CBC
photo credits: Tammy's Always Dying; Percy

2023 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day rivalries

Labour Day weekend means the major CFL rivalries are on centre stage.

BC at Montréal is not part of the rivalry on Saturday night. The CFL hasn't figured out that the Alouettes and RedBlacks belong together on this weekend. The teams do play on Thanksgiving. Someday BC will play the Atlantic Schooners on Labour Day weekend.

Usually, the "other" game runs on Friday on the long weekend but the CFL has this game on Saturday night in 2023.

The prairie teams play in Regina Sunday night. Winnipeg already has a win over Saskatchewan this season. 

Labour Day means the battle of southern Ontario in Hamilton and the Battle of Alberta in Calgary. The games start in late afternoon in the east.

Toronto is 2-0 against Hamilton so far this season. Edmonton and Calgary have not played each other.

CBS Sports Network carries the Sunday game and the Monday doubleheader.

Ottawa gets to relax and enjoy this holiday weekend.

CBS Sports Network

Sunday
Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan, 7p
Monday
Toronto @ Hamilton, 3:30p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 7p

TSN

Saturday
BC @ Montréal, 7p
Sunday
Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan, 7p
Monday
Toronto @ Hamilton, 3:30p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 7p

Bye week: Ottawa

Edmonton Elks end long home CFL losing streak at 22

We wrote extensively on the Edmonton Elks winning a home game for the first time since 2019. The Ottawa RedBlacks suffered their 5th loss in a row in the 30-20 Elks win. Edmonton has a 2-game winning streak going into the Labour Day classic in Calgary. The Stampeders are a game ahead of the Elks.

2023 CFL Week 12 preview

The running joke at halftime was that Zach Collaros had thrown 4 touchdown passes. 2 of them went to Montréal. Collaros finished the night with 4 TD passes for the Blue Bombers and 2 for the Alouettes. Easy to laugh when your team scored the final 33 points of the game.

Montréal and Winnipeg came into the game with 4-game winning streaks and had veteran quarterbacks coming back from injury.

Brady Oliveria was fantastic on the ground for Winnipeg. William Stanback wasn't much of a running force for the Alouettes.

2023 CFL Week 11 preview

Toronto had its best CFL crowd (17, 906) of the season with the CNE in town. That crowd saw an exciting 39-31 Argos win over the Calgary Stampeders.

Toronto had struggled against Calgary, especially at home. The Argos had been 1-15 in the last decade against Calgary and the only win was on the road.

Javon Leake now has 4 punt return touchdowns, a new franchise record for Toronto. The latest was an 84-yard return. The league record is 5.

2023 CFL Week 10 preview

Hamilton running back James Butler got some revenge over his former club with 21 carries for 118 yards and 2 majors. The 30-13 win over the BC Lions was a bit of a shock. The Tiger-Cats snapped BC's 6-game home winning streak.

Taylor Powell finally won a start with the Tiger-Cats, going 18-23 for 222 yards and a touchdown. Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 311 yards, one touchdown, and one interception for the BC Lions.

This was the first Hamilton win over a .500 + team this season: the previous 3 wins had come against Ottawa (x2) and Edmonton.

Edmonton went 0-8 with Taylor Cornelius and Jarrett Doege at quarterback. Chris Jones was adamant about not giving Tre Ford a chance, even at the end of a game. The Elks switch offensive coordinators. Jarious Jackson goes with Tre Ford. The Elks are 2-1 since then, and the one loss featured an amazing Winnipeg comeback.

The bias against Canadian quarterbacks is very powerful, especially if that Canadian quarterback went to USports (Ford did, Nathan Rourke did not).

The Elks have been running the ball more. Ford has shown some immaturity with a limited number of starts. Jackson deserves a lot of credit. Edmonton looks a lot better with Ford in charge.

With all the quarterbacks who have gone down, Canadian QB Michael O'Connor is still a free agent.

We aren't saying Canadian quarterbacks are the answer, just part of the equation. If Ford starts both of the games against Calgary, he jumps up to third on this list.

We love that the CFL is colour blind to quarterbacks but wish Canadian QBs get more love from the league.

2023 CFL Week 9 preview

Toronto has used up its 3 byes. Montréal and Hamilton have had 2 byes already with the 3rd bye for both teams in Week 20. Ottawa had had a bye so far, a bye this week, with the final bye on Week 20.

Having 9 CFL teams means each team gets 3 byes. They should be spread out more, especially for the East teams.

CFL in Halifax: 2023 Touchdown Atlantic observations

2023 CFL Week 8 preview: Touchdown Atlantic finally comes to Halifax

Touchdown Atlantic 2023 preview: CFL finally comes to Halifax

Defensive guru Rich Stubler passed away this week at 74. Stubler coached with 6 different CFL teams, starting in 1983 as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive coordinator.

He also spent time with Toronto, Edmonton, BC, Calgary, and Montréal. Stubler finished his CFL career in 2021 in Toronto as a defensive assistant.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rod Smith and Glen Suitor stayed out west for the Thursday game in Winnipeg with John Lu and the Saturday game in Vancouver with Farhan Lalji. We thought by now that Lalji would do play by play on a BC Lions game. Maybe when the tripleheaders start later in the season.

Marshall Ferguson made a return along with Duane Forde outside the CNE in Toronto with Matthew Scianitti on Friday night.

Dustin Nielson and Matt Dunigan formed a nice combo with Brit Dort to watch history with the first Elks home win in the 2020s on Sunday night.

Dave Naylor and Jim Barker filled in on the CFL on TSN panel. Scianitti filled in on another Sunday night for Kate Beirness.

logo credit: CFL
photos credit: TSN/CFL

2023 TIFF Rising Stars

Just announced: The #TIFF23 Rising Stars, featuring actors on the verge of making a large impact on the international stage: Adwa Bader, Almudena González, Amrit Kaur, Aria Mia Loberti, Cody Lightning, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Léah Aubert, Mark Clennon, and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/AGx1C7fQLQ

— TIFF Press & Industry (@TIFF_Industry) August 29, 2023

We are always excited about new, or relatively new, Canadian talent that gets the spotlight at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival through the Rising Stars program.

In recent years, TIFF has used the Rising Stars program to showcase Canadian and international talent as seen in films shown at the festival. For our purposes, we only spotlight the Canadian talent.

Here are the Canadians in the 2023 TIFF Rising Stars. All bios courtesy of the Toronto International Film Festival.

"Amrit Kaur is an artistic hyphenate: an actor, comedian, director, and writer. She believes in acting as a humanitarian art form with the power to heal, transcend, and empower. Kaur will star in Fawzia Mirza's The Queen of My Dreams opposite Hamza Haq and Nimra Bucha. The film, premiering at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, follows a Pakistani woman and her Canadian-born daughter as they come of age in two eras. The actor is best known for her breakout role on Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble's HBO Max hit series, The Sex Lives of College Girls."

"Cody Lightning is a world-class, generation-defining actor. Hailing from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta, Lightning began acting at age five in the film Geronimo. Since then, he has become one of Hollywood’s most active Indigenous actors, best known for his roles in Smoke Signals, The Brave, Brick, and many more. In 2023, Lightning will star in Marvel's upcoming Echo series. His debut feature film as a writer-director, Hey Victor!, sees Lightning revisit his iconic role in Smoke Signals."

"Kudakwashe Rutendo is a fast-rising actor from Fort McMurray, Alberta, currently based in Toronto. She was first introduced to the performing arts through LIVE poetry, and since then her passion for performance has only grown. … Rutendo landed a role starring alongside actor Tatyana Ali in the feature film Giving Hope: The Ni'cola Mitchell Story (Lifetime). She is also a theatre actor featured in productions such as Lost Heroes of Oro (Theatre by the Bay), and Vierge (Factory Theatre). Rutendo is expected to have her breakout role in the upcoming feature film Backspot (Page Boy Productions), starring opposite Devery Jacobs (Rising Stars 2018), Thomas Antony Olajide (Rising Stars 2021), and Evan Rachel Wood."

"Mark Clennon is a Jamaican-born artist whose art is expressed through various mediums. As a musician, he has garnered fans worldwide with music that The Recording Academy describes as “mesmerising,” MTV News recently described his art as “intimate and groundbreaking.” In 2022, Clennon made history with the first music video set and shot in Jamaica to depict a same-sex on-screen romance instantly highlighting him as one of Jamaica's only openly gay performers. Clennon began his career in entertainment as an actor, but took a hiatus to focus on music. I Don't Know Who You Are marks his triumphant return to acting, with which he is able to marry his love and passion for music."

2023 TIFF Canadian film preview

3 of the 4 Canadian films that feature the Rising Stars are from the Discovery section: Backspot, I Don't Know Who You Are, and The Queen of My Dreams. Hey, Viktor! is in the Centrepiece section.

Clennon is a writer on his film. Lightning directed and co-wrote the script for his film.

Your humble narrator has seen most of the recent films featuring past year's TIFF Rising Stars. Haven't seen the 2022 film (Bones of Crows) featuring Joshua Odjick, but saw him in Wildhood. Haven't seen Quickening featuring 2021 TIFF Rising Stars Arooj Azeem.

2022 TIFF Rising Stars

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

We will have a full preview of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, opening day of the festival.

TIFF Rising Stars

We profiled the 2023 class of TIFF Rising Stars. Here is the list from all the years.

2011 Sarah Allen, Katie Boland, Sarah Gadon, Keon Mohajeri

2012 Tatiana Maslany, Connor Jessup, Charlotte Sullivan, Charlie Carrick

2013 Megan Park, Johnathan Sousa, Evelyne Brochu, Cara Gee

2014 Shannon Kook, Sophie Desmarais, Alexandre Landry, Julia Sarah Stone

2015 Deragh Campbell, Stephan James, Aliocha Schneider, Karelle Tremblay

2016 Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylène Mackay, Sophie Nélisse

2017 Daniel Doheny, Mary Galloway, Théodore Pellerin, Ellen Wong

2018 Devery Jacobs, Lamar Johnson, Michaela Kurimsky, Jess Salgueiro

2019 Kacey Rohl, Mikhail Ahooja, Nahéma Ricci, Shamier Anderson

2020 Madeleine Sims-Fewer

2021 Arooj Azeem, Emma Ferreira, Phillip Lewitski, Thomas Antony Olajide

2022 Natalia Aranguren, Isaiah Lehtinen, Carmen Madonia, Joshua Odjick

2023 Amrit Kaur, Cody Lightning, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Mark Clennon

Twitter capture and photos credit: @TIFF_Net

Edmonton Elks end long home CFL losing streak at 22

Extreme mood in Edmonton pic.twitter.com/j7o6L30fEm

— CFL (@CFL) August 28, 2023

1,415 days. Almost 4 years, though there was no 2020 season. The Edmonton Elks won a CFL home game for the first time since there was a COVID-19 pandemic. Jason Kenney had been premier in Alberta fewer than 6 months.

The Elks defeated the Ottawa RedBlacks 30-20 at Commonwealth Stadium last night to break the streak. The Elks now have a 2-game winning streak after winning in Hamilton the previous week.

Canadian quarterback Tre Ford went 15-18 for 317 passing yards and a touchdown. Ford also ran 10 times for 74 yards and a major.

The game got off to a slow start as Ottawa had a 1-0 lead after the first quarter. Eugene Lewis brought an emotional spark as he caught a 66-yard touchdown pass with 41 seconds remaining in the first half.

Eugene Lewis takes it to the house!

The Elks extend their lead. pic.twitter.com/J3XrJ63kBD

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 28, 2023

Head coach Chris Jones had ignored Ford as a quarterback possibility. He has started the last 3 games; only a Blue Bombers comeback prevented a 3-game winning streak.

A few thousand in the Edmonton crowd where evacuees from the Northwest Territories due to the wildfires. They brought good luck, perhaps.

The 22-game losing streak surpassed the North American mark of 20 games set by the MLB St. Louis Browns in 1953.

The streak went through 4 head coaches: Jason Maas, Scott Milanovich (who never coached a game), Jaime Elizondo, and Chris Jones.

The Edmonton CFL franchise defeated the BC Lions 19-6 on October 12, 2019 at Commonwealth Stadium. That was the 5th and final home win in 2019.

No more nonsense around here#OurTeamOurCity #GoElks #CFL pic.twitter.com/opPeOkJTc3

— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) August 28, 2023

2023 CFL Week 12 preview

2023 CFL Week 11 preview

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

The Elks (2-9) are only a game behind their provincial rivals — the Calgary Stampeders (3-8) — with back-to-back games coming up: Labour Day Classic in Calgary next Monday and the revenge game in Edmonton on September 9.

We will have our Labour Day CFL preview on Thursday this week, even though the weekend's games don't start until Saturday.

Twitter captures: @CFL; @TSN_Sports; @goelks
photos credit: TSN/CFL