SNUGGLE UP TO YOUR TV
Stuck indoors? Don't worry, there's plenty of Cancon to watch
It's feeling wintry in Canada, and plenty of us are looking for some cold comfort. Tuck in at home for some patriotic viewing, from concerts to animated specials to classic films and more.
A Music Lover's Guide to Murdoch Mysteries (starts streaming Dec. 24, Acorntv)
Murdoch Mysteries star Yannick Bisson hosts as an ensemble from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra performing music from the early 1900s, when the detective series is set. Incidentally, Murdoch Mysteries continues its 13th season with new episodes starting Jan. 6 on CBC.
Corner Gas Animated's first holiday episode (Dec. 14, CTV Comedy Channel)
The Dog River gang gets festive in the season 3 finale, titled Tinsel-itis. Brent and Lacey go to great lengths to find each other the perfect Christmas gift. Meanwhile, Oscar and Emma con Hank into helping them prep for their annual Christmas party and Wanda goes to war with Karen and Davis over her extreme lights display.
The Sweater (streaming, NFB.CA)
This 1980 animated short film is a Canadian classic, and perfect for the winter months. Based on Roch Carrier's autobiographical short story, and illustrated by Sheldon Cohen, it follows a boy who mistakenly orders a Toronto Maple Leaf jersey instead of a Montreal Canadiens one featuring Maurice (Rocket) Richard's iconic No. 9.
Christmas at Moose Factory (streaming, NFB.CA)
This 1971 directorial debut of acclaimed Abenaki director Alanis Obomsawin is filmed at a residential school in northern Ontario, and composed entirely of drawings by Cree children and stories told by the children themselves.
The 16th Annual Andy Kim Christmas Special (airs Dec. 19, Citytv/ Citytv.com/livenation.com.)
Usually this charity event is held live, but 2020 being what it is, this year it'll appear both online and on TV.
Tara Slone and Tracy Moore host the two-hour variety special, featuring performers including Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Buffy Sainte-marie, City and Colour, Glass Tiger, Roch Voisine, Sam Roberts and Sarah Mclachlan — and, of course, Kim, the man behind hits such as Baby, I Love You and Rock Me Gently. Donations benefit Crew Nation, CAMH Gifts of Light and Food Banks Canada.
CBC television specials (streaming, CBC Gem)
Holiday-themed episodes of CBC series are available on CBC Gem, including Dragons' Den Holiday, Murdoch Mysteries: Home for the Holidays, A Heartland Christmas and Schitt's Creek: Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose.
Molly of Denali (debuts Dec. 26, CBC/CBC Gem)
And here's one for the kiddies. The Peabody-winning animated series, a co-production from PBS Kids and CBC Television, launches a one-hour special called Molly and the Great One. In it, 10-yearold Alaskan Native vlogger Molly Mabray joins her father and Grandpa Nat in climbing Denali, North America's highest mountain, in honour of the first person to do so, real-life Indigenous Alaskan Walter Harper.
Letterkenny (streaming Dec. 25, Crave)
In what's become a holiday tradition, a new batch of Letterkenny episodes lands on Dec. 25. Season 9 begins with the Hicks, Skids and Hockey Players attending an American Buck and Doe. Meanwhile, the Hockey Players learn about Judaism and everyone goes crazy for sleepover activities like movies, board games and girl talk. Plus, a “breastaurant” opens in the town.
Groundbreaking Lifetime movies (CTV Drama Channel)
The Christmas Setup is Lifetime's first LGBTQ+ holiday movie, while Christmas Ever After is the network's first film starring a person with a disability — and both were filmed in Canada, along with many other Lifetime and Hallmark movies this year. The Christmas Setup (Dec. 18) follows a big-city lawyer (Ben Lewis) who returns home to be set up with his high school crush (Blake Lee). Ottawa native Pat Mills directed, and Canada's capital region stands in for Milwaukee. Meanwhile, in Christmas Ever After (Dec. 11), Ali Stroker stars as a romance writer who meets a B&B owner who looks just like the hero in her books. It was filmed in the Quebec village of Knowlton.
Holiday Makeover (Dec. 24, Makeful)
And if home decor makeovers are more your thing, check out Holiday Makeover, a six-part series in which hosts Alison, Denise and Adjoa create various fairy-tale celebrations for some lucky people. In the episode simply titled Christmas, the trio helps participants Michaela and Mike start new traditions in the city when their plans to head to the East Coast get scuttled.