PROJECT MANDATE

Canadiana is a web series and virtual hub for all things Canadian history. Our mandate is to encourage greater knowledge and appreciation of the country’s past through the creation and distribution of Canadian history edu-tainment that is free and accessible to all Canadians. Our goal is to help dispel the myth that Canadian history is dull, irrelevant, homogenous, or vacant in our modern world. We want to encourage discourse, reflection, and wonder.

Le projet Canadiana est une série Web et une plaque tournante virtuelle pour tout ce qui concerne l'histoire du Canada. Notre mandat est d'encourager une meilleure connaissance et appréciation du passé du pays par la création et la distribution de divertissements ludo-éducatifs sur l'histoire du Canada gratuits et accessibles à tous les Canadiens. Notre objectif est d'aider à dissiper le mythe selon lequel l'histoire du Canada est ennuyeuse, non pertinente, homogène ou vide dans notre monde moderne. Nous voulons encourager le discours, la réflexion et l'émerveillement.

THE CANADIANA DOCUMENTARY SERIES

“It’s not just a dry recitation of names and dates, but a headlong dive into specific stories […] at historic locations. The videos are supported with extensive use of graphics and animation. […] …these are not your typical history lessons.”

– Bruce Burwell, APT 613

Canadiana is a documentary series on the hunt for the most incredible, overlooked or unusual tales from Canadian history. With award-winning editing, playful animations and scenic footage, filmmakers Kyle Cucco and Ashley Brook follow host Adam Bunch as he travels across the country, exploring the stories that have made Canada the unique place it is today. From scandalous love triangles to secret experiments, from rebels and freedom fighters to pirates and assassins, we uncover the fascinating and the unexpected. This isn’t the history you learned in school.

“Canadiana is an AMAZING wealth of fascinating and little known historical gems.”

– Brent Butt, Corner Gas

Canadiana was created out of a desire to do Canadian history the right way, and in doing so bury the phrase "Canadian history is boring," because it's anything but. Too often history is crammed (or stretched) into an arbitrary broadcast length—we want each story to take the time it needs, and no more. We passionately believe that Canadians actually are interested in their history. They’re eager to learn more about it — the good and the bad — as long as it’s told in an innovative and engaging way. And that’s what we’re dedicated to doing.

“This exploration of the oft-overlooked history of Canada gives the nation’s past the colour it deserves.”

– Pat Mullen, POV Magazine

With over 80k subscribers on YouTube and more following across TikTok, Instagram and other social platforms, Canadiana has already proven itself a leader in the genre of Canadian history documentary. Our carefully crafted videos continuously top 100K views on YouTube. For our small but passionate team of storytellers, Canadiana has always been about bringing Canadian history to mainstream media and making it exciting for all ages.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Since 2018, educators and school boards looking to use episodes of Canadiana in the classroom can do so through McIntyre Media, Canada’s leading educational distributor!

AWARDS & PRESS

Top accolades include:

  • 2024 Canadian Screen Award Nominee Best Picture Editing in a Web Program or Series,

  • 2023 Rockie Award Nominee Best Short-Form Non-Fiction,

  • 2023 Canadian Cinema Editors Award Winner Best Editing in a Web Series,

  • 2023 NZ WebFest Award Winner Best Directing in an International Factual Series,

  • 2020 Canadian Screen Award Nominee Best Non-Fiction Web Program or Series,

  • 2019 Canadian Cinema Editors Award Winner Best Editing in a Web Series,

  • 2019 Golden Sheaf Award Winner Best Research,

  • 2019 IWCC Canadian Spotlight Award Winner (Special Award)

  • 2018 Canadian Cinema Editors Awards Nominee Best Editing in a Web Series,

    and many more which we’ve mentioned on our News page!

The Canadiana web series has received numerous nods for ‘best documentary series’ at film and web festivals around the world; our work has screened at Yorkton Film Festival, National Screen Institute’s Online Film Festival, T.O. WebFest, NYC Web Fest, NZ WebFest, Melbourne WebFest, Minnesota WebFest, Bilbao Seriesland, Miami Web Fest, HollyWeb Festival, Sicily Webfest, Rio WebFest, and Stareable Fest (NYC & L.A.). The series has been featured by a number of prominent Canadian media outlets including CBC, CTV, Global News’ Morning Show, Breakfast Television, ELMNT FM, Newstalk 1010, and SiriusXM.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Canadiana Project Inc. is a media company specializing in Canadian stories. Helmed by filmmaker and producer Ashley Brook, the company launched the Canadiana documentary web series in 2017, and has since created more than 30 short documentary films, available free on the Canadiana website and YouTube channel. In 2018, The Canadiana Project was awarded The Bell Fund’s short-form digital series grant for Canadiana’s second season. A third season is now underway with new and renewed financing.

OUR FUNDERS

Canadiana Season 3, currently being released on YouTube, is produced with the financial support of The Bell Fund, The Government of Canada, Canada Media Fund, and Parks Canada. Select episodes are produced in both official languages. | La saison 3 de Canadiana est produite avec le soutien financier du Fonds Bell, du gouvernement du Canada, du Fonds des médias du Canada et de Parcs Canada. Certains épisodes sont produits dans les deux langues officielles.

Episodes of Canadiana are also made possible by audience donations on Patreon. For more information on how to contribute or become a sponsor, please visit our SUPPORT page. | Les épisodes de Canadiana sont également rendus possibles grâce aux dons du public sur Patreon. Pour plus d'informations sur la façon de contribuer ou de devenir un sponsor, veuillez visiter notre page SUPPORT.