As “Canada Files” enters its fourth season, the popular series that features prominent and successful Canadians adds a new host — one of Canada’s most respected television broadcasters of the last 50 years, and a former host of CTV’s Canada AM and CBC’s Midday, Valerie Pringle. The interview series is broadcast on hundreds of individual PBS Network stations throughout the United States, with significant spillover into Canada.
Featuring discussions with Canadians, from all walks of life, “Canada Files” has been described as one of the most successful Canadian-produced public affairs series ever broadcast on American television. Season Four premieres on WNED PBS Sunday, March 19, at 6 pm.
Pringle will succeed the founder and Executive Producer of “Canada Files,” Jim Deeks, as host of the series. Deeks will remain with “Canada Files,” as Executive Producer and head of Primary Counsel Productions.
“The opportunity to interview great Canadians for half an hour, with no commercial interruption, is such a rare offering in television that I think any journalist or broadcaster would jump at the chance,” said Pringle. “Doing this series has been a gift.”
“I’ve loved every minute of creating, producing, and hosting this show,” Deeks said. “Our colleagues at WNED PBS in Buffalo, NY, have been unbelievably supportive in ‘greenlighting’ the series and promoting it throughout the PBS network of stations. And of course, our own small production crew has done an amazing job at pulling together each episode on a shoestring budget, so I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”
In deciding to step back from hosting, Deeks said his first and “really, only” choice for a replacement was Valerie Pringle.
“She is so natural, at ease, and spontaneous in front of a television camera,” he said. “I was always in awe of Valerie’s style, and ability to make her interview guests feel so relaxed and talkative. I think our millions of American viewers will feel right at home with Valerie in the interview chair.”
Featured guests for the new, 13-week season include beloved comic actor Eugene Levy, astronaut Roberta Bondar, jurist Louise Arbour, former Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Indigenous activist Cindy Blackstock, historian Margaret MacMillan, economist Mark Carney, and best-selling author Louise Penny.
“My producer Jennifer Scott and I have been working feverishly to line up another roster of fascinating guests for Season Four,” said Pringle. “I think it’s a real credit to PBS to support the objective of making their viewers more aware of some of Canada’s most interesting and influential people.”
“Canada Files” debuted on PBS stations in February 2020. Previous guests have ranged from celebrated author Margaret Atwood, to astronaut Chris Hadfield, musicians Gordon Lightfoot and Robbie Robertson, magazine columnist David Frum, multimillionaires Jimmy Pattison and Arlene Dickinson, to former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
All previous episodes can be viewed at video.wned.org/show/canada-files or on YouTube.
“Every interview on CANADA FILES ends with the question ‘what does being Canadian mean to you?’, said Pringle. “We always get a unique response. I hope it helps promote greater understanding between Canadians and Americans.”
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