April 23, 2020

Justin Bieber, Mike Myers, Ryan Reynolds, Serge Ibaka, Avril Lavigne, Kiefer Sutherland, Geddy Lee, Dallas Green, Morgan Rielly, Dan & Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara & Annie Murphy, David Foster, Robbie Robertson, Charlotte Cardin, Burton Cummings, and Cirque du Soleil confirmed to appear in biggest multi-platform broadcast event in Canadian history –
– Previously announced participants include Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Sarah McLachlan, Howie Mandel, Jann Arden, Barenaked Ladies, Rick Mercer, Alessia Cara, Russell Peters, and Connor McDavid
– All-star collection of more than two dozen artists join together in ensemble performance of timely and treasured classic to be released following broadcast –
– StrongerTogetherCanada.ca and @strongercanada launch today –

Tags: #StrongerTogether #TousEnsemble @strongercanada

TORONTO – More than four dozen big-name Canadians have signed on for the historic broadcast STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE, it was announced today. Airing commercial-free Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. across all markets/7 p.m. NT and now on hundreds of platforms, Canadian artists, activists, actors, and athletes will share their stories of hope and inspiration in a national salute to frontline workers combatting COVID-19 during the 90-minute show.

The unprecedented event, in support of Food Banks Canada, has become the biggest multi-platform broadcast in Canadian history, with 15 broadcasting groups led by Bell Media, CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment, Groupe V Média, and Rogers Sports & Media presenting the star-studded show on hundreds of TV, radio, streaming, and on demand platforms (see broadcast details below).

With a mix of music, messages, and more, STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLES features Canadian talent uniting to show everyone working on the front lines of this pandemic that we are all #StrongerTogether. Viewers and listeners are encouraged to follow @strongercanada, launching today, to stay up to date before the broadcast.

The participants announced today are Amy Poehler, Andre de Grasse, Avril Lavigne, Bad Child, Burton Cummings, Charlotte Cardin, Christine Sinclair, Cirque du Soleil, Command Sisters, Dallas Green, Dan Kanter, David Foster, Desiire, Donovan Woods, Fefe Dobson, Geddy Lee, Georges St-Pierre, Hamza Haq, Johnny Orlando, Josh Ramsay, Justin Bieber, Kiefer Sutherland, Measha Brueggergosman, Mike Myers, Morgan Rielly, National Chief Perry Bellegarde, Olivia Lunny, Pascal Siakam, Robbie Robertson, Ryan Reynolds, Ryland James, Sam Roberts, Scott Helman, Serena Ryder, Serge Ibaka, Shawn Hook, TIKA, The Tenors, Tyler Shaw, Walk off the Earth, and the cast of SCHITT’S CREEK including Annie Murphy, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Elliott, Dan Levy, Dustin Milligan, Emily Hampshire, Eugene Levy, Jenn Robertson, John Hemphill, Karen Robinson, Noah Reid, Rizwan Manji, and Sarah Levy.

They join previously announced participants Alessia Cara, Arkells, Barenaked Ladies, Bianca Andreescu, Bryan Adams, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Céline Dion, Chris Hadfield, Connor McDavid, David Suzuki, Eric McCormack, Hayley Wickenheiser, Howie Mandel, Jann Arden, Jason Priestley, Margaret Atwood, Marie-Mai, Michael Bublé, Penny Oleksiak, Rick Hansen, Rick Mercer, Russell Peters, Sarah McLachlan, Shania Twain, Sofia Reyes, Tessa Virtue, Will Arnett, and William Prince.

It was also announced today that STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE will feature a star-studded, virtual ensemble performance of a timely and treasured classic, sung by more than two dozen of Canada’s biggest international stars, homegrown favourites, and brightest newcomers. The exclusive rendition of the inspirational song, produced by Jon Levine (Céline Dion, Alessia Cara, Avril Lavigne), will be released immediately following the broadcast on streaming platforms everywhere. The initiative, led by artists Tyler Shaw and Fefe Dobson from ArtistsCAN, will see all proceeds support the Canadian Red Cross response to COVID-19 in Canada.

Conceived and produced in an unprecedented collaboration between Insight Productions, Bell Media Studios, and CBC/Radio-Canada, STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE is presented in part through the support of MADE | NOUS, the national, consumer-focused, industry-wide movement recognizing and celebrating creative Canadian talent.

Canadians who are able are invited to donate to Food Banks Canada in association with the broadcast to support local food banks from coast-to-coast-to-coast as they face the drastic impacts of COVID-19.

Broadcast Details
STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE will air on hundreds of platforms, including live, simultaneous French translation on ICI ARTV, SériesPlus, VRAK, V, and Unis TV. Visit StrongerTogetherCanada.ca for broadcast and talent updates.

44 TV Platforms:
ABC Spark, ATN HD, ATN LIFE, ATN PUNJABI PLUS, ATN PM ONE, ATN TAMIL (JAYA TV), ATN GUJARATI, ATN BANGLA, ATN CRICKET PLUS, ATN FOOD FOOD, APTN, A.Side, BBC Earth, CBC, CBN, Citytv, Cottage Life, CP24, CTV, CTV2, FX, Family Channel, Global, HIFI, Hollywood Suite 2000s, ICI ARTV, Love Nature, MUCH, MTV, National Geographic, Makeful, NTV, OMNI Television, OUTtv, SériesPlus, Slice, Smithsonian Channel Canada, Stingray Hits, Stingray Retro, Super Channel Fuse, TSN, Unis TV, V, VRAK

13+ Streaming Platforms:
CBC.ca, CBC Gem, CBC Listen app, CTV.ca, CTV app, Citytv.com, ETCanada.com, Global TV app, GlobalTV.com, GlobalNews.ca, iHeartRadio.ca, iHeartRadio Canada app, and Stingray Music apps

Hundreds of Radio Platforms:
CBC Music, CBC Radio One, Sirius XM Channel 169, and participating Bob, Boom, Coast, Country FM, EZ Rock, Juice FM, Moose FM, myFM, The Breeze, The Goat, and Virgin radio stations, as well as select stations from Arctic Radio, Bell Media, Blackburn, Cogeco, First Peoples Radio, Harvard, Pattison, Rawlco, Rogers Sports & Media, Stingray, Vista radio networks, and from the National Campus and Community Radio Association

11 On Demand Platforms:
CBC Gem, Crave, CTV.ca, CTV app, Global TV app, GlobalTV.com, ICI TOU.TV, iHeartRadio.ca, iHeartRadio Canada app, Stingray Qello, Super Channel On Demand
Food Banks Canada
Viewers and listeners who are able are invited to support Food Banks Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food banks are concerned about the amount of food they have in stock as demand increases while food donations and volunteers decline rapidly. Funds raised as a result of STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE will be used to source essential food and support items across the Canadian food bank network and support operational innovation, including creating alternative delivery systems to best serve people in need during COVID-19.

How to Donate:

SMS: Text COVID to 30333 to donate $5, $10, or $20

Online: FoodBanksCanada.ca/StrongerTogether

STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE is a joint production of Bell Media Studios, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Insight Productions.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter
@foodbankscanada
@Made_Nous
#StrongerTogether

Instagram:
@Foodbankscanada
@Made_Nous
#StrongerTogether

Facebook:
FoodBanksCanada
MADE | NOUS
#StrongerTogether


About ArtistsCAN

ArtistsCAN is a collective artist initiative raising funds for COVID-19 relief in Canada. Created by artists Tyler Shaw and Fefe Dobson, the pair gathered other musicians from across Canada to cover a song, with all proceeds from the single going directly the Canadian Red Cross. The goal for ArtistsCAN is to connect the artist community with charitable organizations to further help their cause through the arts. Founded by musical ambassadors Tyler Shaw, Fefe Dobson and Dan Kanter, the endeavor was created in April 2020.

About Insight Productions
Insight Productions, known for its award-winning ratings juggernauts, is Canada’s most established content producer and an industry leader in the development, financing, and production of hit programming, both scripted and unscripted, as well as digital content. Insight Senior Vice President Lindsay Cox serves as Executive Producer along with Insight’s Chairman, CEO and Executive Producer, John Brunton, on STRONGER TOGETHER. Insight has a long history responding to world crises and collaborating on projects that help support relief efforts with such shows as MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS, THE CONCERT FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF and YOUNG ARTISTS FOR HAITI. With thousands of hours of programming under its belt, the company has created some of the most dynamic and top-rated programs in the world including THE AMAZING RACE CANADA – the most watched Canadian show on record, ratings hit – BIG BROTHER CANADA, Canada’s national music award show – THE JUNO AWARDS, CANADA’S NEW YEAR’S EVE: COUNTDOWN which was the highest rated show on the CBC in both 2018 and 2019, TOP CHEF CANADA, INTERVENTION and original formats BATTLE OF THE BLADES, I DO, REDO & WALL OF CHEFS. Insight’s scripted programming includes award-winning READY OR NOT, FALCON BEACH, HATCHING, MATCHING & DISPATCHING, A CHRISTMAS FURY, BUT I’M CHRIS JERICHO! and THE JON DORE TELEVISION SHOW along with award-winning feature documentaries HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD and GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND. In 2017, Insight produced THE TRAGICALLY HIP: A NATIONAL CELEBRATION, a live concert special watched by one in three Canadians. Insight Productions was founded in 1979 and has since created thousands of hours of ground-breaking content. For more information on Insight Productions, please visit www.insighttv.com or on Twitter @insightprod or Facebook www.facebook.com/InsightProductions.

About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada’s leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, digital media, and more. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada’s highest-rated television network; 29 specialty channels, including leading specialty services TSN and RDS. Bell Media is Canada’s largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 109 licensed radio stations in 58 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral, an out-of-home advertising network of 50,000 faces in five provinces. The country’s digital media leader, Bell Media develops and operates websites, apps, and online platforms for its news and entertainment brands; video streaming services Crave, TSN Direct, and RDS Direct; and multi-channel network Much Studios. The company owns a majority stake in Pinewood Toronto Studios; is a partner in Just for Laughs, the live comedy event and TV producer; and jointly owns Dome Productions Partnership., one of North America’s leading production facilities providers. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. Engaging audiences since 1999, the company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 34 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an established creator of globally distributed content through Nelvana animation studio, Corus Studios, and children’s book publishing house Kids Can Press. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, and lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

About Rogers Sports & Media
Rogers Sports & Media is a diverse sports and content company that engages more than 30 million Canadians each week. The company’s multimedia offerings include 56 radio stations, 29 local TV stations, 23 conventional and specialty television stations, podcasts, digital and e-commerce websites, and sporting events. Rogers Sports & Media delivers unique storytelling through its range of powerful brands: Citytv, OMNI Television, FX, TSC, KiSS, Breakfast Television, Cityline, CityNews, Sportsnet – Canada’s #1 sports network, and the Blue Jays – Canada’s only Major League Baseball team. Rogers Sports & Media is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI). Visit RogersMedia.com.

About Groupe V Média
Groupe V Média, a Quebec-based entertainment and content delivery company, is the largest independent media group in Canada. Groupe V Média owns conventional television network V, specialty channels ELLE Fictions and MAX, content and video-on-demand platform Noovo.ca and the 25Stanley sports news website. Its innovative content delivery strategies with strong, unifying, eye-catching themes enable its properties to reach a vast audience, anytime, on a multitude of platforms, adapting to evolving consumer and corporate trends.

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 3,000 food banks and community agencies come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who last year – made 1.1 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Over the past 10 years, as a system, we have sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $70 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit www.foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:
Madison McCloskey, Bell Media, [email protected] or 647.297.3723
Teaghan Hawke, CBC, [email protected] or 647.527.4596
Marc Pichette, Radio-Canada, [email protected] or 514.712.4342
Michelle McTeague, Corus, [email protected] or 647.213.4888
Alessia Staffieri, Rogers Sports & Media, [email protected] or 647.262.8412
Jakki Roussel, Blue Ant Media, [email protected] or 905.484.1787
Julia Caslin, Hollywood Suite, [email protected] or 416.993.6766
Frédérique Gagnier, Stingray, [email protected] or 514.830.6404
Pramod Israni, ATN, [email protected] or 905.948.8199
Emili Bellefleur, APTN, [email protected] or 438.349.2456
Shaun Smith, WildBrain, [email protected] or 647.278.4742
Sarah Soteroff, Food Banks Canada, [email protected] or 416.838.0077
Michael Majeau, Groupe V Média, [email protected], 514.884.1868
Kim Ball, Super Channel [email protected], ‪647.273.8014‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Bianca Sutton, OUTtv, [email protected], ‪604.874.4300‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, x1021
Mylène Racine, Unis TV, [email protected], ‪514.531.4728‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬