Canada is often overlooked in the world of television, but there is no shortage of standout TV shows from the country. Before Canada began broadcasting television, viewers in Canada only had shows from its neighbour to the south to choose from—and that was only for those who had television sets that could receive signals from U.S. stations.
It wasn't until 1952 that the first Canadian television station went live in Montreal with the public broadcaster Radio-Canada CBFT. Media in the U.S. strongly influenced programming, crowding out content made in Canada. As a result, the government began instituting quotas for Canadian content, which has brought about some of the best television series in the nation's history.
In an age of streaming, series from other countries are accessible to people around the world, and audiences are knowingly (and sometimes unknowingly) watching more Canadian television than ever. Some people have even started to refer to Vancouver and Toronto as "Hollywood North" because of the many films and series, like "The Handmaid's Tale" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events," that were shot in those locations. On top of these recognizable names, Canada produces TV shows spanning genres, like sci-fi programs that keep viewers on the edge of their seats and sitcoms that make them laugh.
To give readers a sense of what Canada content is like, Stacker curated a list of 10 of the best Canadian TV shows of all time.
The Nature of Things
Series years: 1960-today
A popular documentary program, "The Nature of Things" often highlights nature and the effect that humans have on it, although the program's overall scope includes documentaries on any aspect of science. Since 1979, it has been hosted and narrated by Canadian science broadcaster, and environmental activist David Suzuki.
It remains television's longest-running science series and has received four Gemini Awards and seven Canadian Screen Awards.
The Beachcombers
Series years: 1972-1990
With 374 episodes, this series remains one of the longest-running dramatic television series ever made for Canadian television. The show follows the life of Nick Adonidas (Bruno Gerussi), a Greek Canadian log salvager in British Columbia who earns a living travelling the coastline northwest of Vancouver with his partner Jesse Jim (Pat John).
It was John's character, Jim—who was Indigenous—that made the series stand out for breaking new ground in scripted Canadian television programs.
Street Legal
Series years: 1987-1994
"Street Legal" held the record of the longest-running hour-long scripted drama in the history of Canadian television for 20 years. "Street Legal" focuses on the professional and private lives of the partners in a small Toronto law firm.
It heavily features the use of Canadian court customs and procedures. In 2019, 25 years after the original series finished, it was renewed for a revival season, with Cynthia Dale reprising her role as Olivia Novak. Unfortunately, it was subsequently cancelled.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Series years: 1993-present
Launched in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, the show centres around Canadian politics, which it delivers through news parody, sketch comedy, and satire. The title refers to the typical length of a half-hour television program in Canada and the United States, which is 22 minutes with eight minutes of commercials.
This sharp writing, from the title to the show's sketches, is why it has been recognized with 25 Gemini Awards and 16 Canadian Comedy Awards since its inception.
Rick Mercer Report
Series years: 2004-2018
The "Rick Mercer Report" was a weekly half-hour show combined parody, sketch comedy, visits to interesting places across Canada, and satirical editorials, often involving Canadian politics.
The show's segment, "Celebrity Tip," had famous Canadians give the audience advice. This segment saw Rush band member Geddy Lee teach the audience how to properly ride a toboggan, and author Margaret Atwood demonstrate how to stop a hockey puck.
Heartland
Series years: 2007-present
Set in the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta, this family drama follows the Bartlett-Fleming family as they navigate relationships and help heal mistreated horses. Based on Lauren Brooke's books of the same name, the series showcases an intimate portrait of the family's day-to-day life, including their struggles and romances.
In March 2015, "Heartland" surpassed "Street Legal" as the longest-running one-hour scripted drama in Canadian television history.
Murdoch Mysteries
Series years: 2008-present
Based on the Detective Murdoch novels by British Canadian writer Maureen Jennings, the series centres around William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a police detective working in Toronto during the early 20th century. Using new methods such as fingerprinting, blood testing, surveillance, and trace evidence to solve cases, Murdoch's unconventional approach to solving crime leads to interesting twists and turns that take place in each episode.
Real history is an important element in much of the series, and though the narrative is fiction, real figures such as Annie Oakley and H.P. Lovecraft have been featured.
Orphan Black
Series years: 2013-2017
Sarah (Tatiana Maslany), a street-smart con woman with a complicated past, sees her doppelganger die by suicide, and life quickly gets complicated. After taking on the dead woman's identity, Sarah discovers she is part of a secret cloning experiment that threatens to destroy her and the other clones, all played by Maslany.
Including the five main characters in the series, Maslany eventually played 17 roles in total during the series' five-season run. This dedication led to her winning the Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2016, beating out veterans like Viola Davis and Claire Danes.
Schitt's Creek
Series years: 2015-2020
Created by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, the series follows the wealthy Rose family after they suddenly find themselves broke due to an embezzlement scandal. They are then forced to move to the fictional town of Schitt's Creek, which they once bought as a joke.
"Schitt's Creek" was a surprise hit around the world thanks to Netflix, which started airing older episodes in 2017. The series also broke the record for most Emmy wins in a single year for a comedy show with its final season in 2020.
Kim's Convenience
Series years: 2016-2021
Based on Ins Choi's 2011 play of the same name, the sitcom follows the lives of a Korean Canadian family and the convenience store they run in Toronto. Stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon also reprised their roles from the original stage play and Appa and Umma and are a big part of why the series won 16 Canadian Screen Awards over its five-season run.
The show received critical acclaim and a cult following for its clever use of humour while exploring real-life issues like immigration, identity, and the importance of familial relationships. However, after the show's run, actors from the show, including Simu Liu and Jean Yoon, raised flags about racist and culturally inaccurate storylines, a mostly white production team, an inhospitable working environment, and poor pay for the cast.
Additional research by Nicole Caldwell. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.
