The M Word
Canada’s Multiculturalism: A Work In Progress
Canadian Documentary Premiere on OMNI.1
Ukrainian language version – Saturday, March 8th at 10PM ET on OMNI.1
February 25, 2008 - Toronto, ON - Rogers OMNI Television is proud to present the world television premiere of the Ukrainian language version of The M Word. The 60 minute documentary launches to Ukrainian speaking audiences on OMNI.1, Saturday, March 8th at 10:00 p.m.
The latest project from the award-winning team at Third Element Productions; The M Word takes an unflinching look at the state of multiculturalism in Canada, confronting head-on such hot-button issues as:
- Can the word Diversity replace Multiculturalism? Is it a word or a principle?
- Does multiculturalism equal ghettoization? Is it sowing seeds of racial conflict?
- Is the “M word” an integral part of our national identity or a national disgrace?
“Canada is the first country in the world to have an official multiculturalism policy, which is now over three decades old,” says Ben Viccari, co-producer with Lalita Krishna (who was also director) of The M Word. “One would think that multiculturalism is a well-entrenched, valued, principle in this country -- yet, at the first sign of disquiet in any part of the world, Canada’s Multiculturalism policy is called into question.”
“Rogers OMNI Television is proud to support The M Word; our own history as a diversity broadcaster results from a demand by various ethnocultural communities for reflection on television and a forum to share their diverse stories,” says Madeline Ziniak, National Vice President of the OMNI group of TV stations. “With the current climate of events casting doubt on multiculturalism, the very reason we exist, OMNI is an eager participant in the project and welcomes its exploration of wide-ranging points of view.”
The M Word explores the history of various immigrant groups who are not officially recognized in history books and helps to take the pulse of multiculturalism today by interviewing a number of prominent Canadians, including:
- Strategic Counsel Chair - Allan Gregg;
- Executive Director, Association for Canadian Studies - Jack Jedwab;
- Aboriginal lawyer and stand-up comic - Candy Palmater;
- Toronto Star columnist – Haroon Siddiqui;
- South Asian Legal Clinic Executive Director - Uzma Shakir.
In addition to Ukrainian, The M Word has been produced in English to extend its presentation of important questions and diverse points of view across audiences.
The M Word was exclusively funded through OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative, a $32.5 million independent production fund that to date has supported over 200 new documentary programmes. Interested producers can access funding criteria at OMNI Television’s web site http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/info/funds .
About Rogers OMNI Television
Rogers OMNI Television is a free over-the-air regional broadcasting system operated by Rogers Communications in the Rogers Media division. The OMNI stations have the collective mandate to reflect Canada’s diversity through the airing of inclusive and accessible multilingual/multicultural programming. Also under the Rogers Media umbrella are five Citytv conventional television stations acquired from CTVglobemedia in June of 2007 and approved by the CRTC in September of that same year.
OMNI.1 is currently available across Canada to Starchoice subscribers on channel 343 and to ExpressVu subscribers on channel 215. LOOK carries OMNI.1 on channel 65 in Ontario.
About Third Element Productions:
Third Element Productions was established by Toronto-based producer-director Lalita Krishna and ethnic media specialist producer Ben Viccari. Ms. Krishna is internationally renowned for her work, including such honours as: Audience Choice Award (Features) at the Sprockets Toronto 2006; Best Canadian Documentary Award at the Reel World Film Festival 2005, and Bronze Plaque - Columbus International Film and Video Festival, 2005. Further information is available @ http://www.insyncvideo.ca .
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To secure a screening copy of The M Word, photos for print or to interview anyone associated with its production please contact:
OMNI-TV Media Contact:
Sandy Zwyer – Programme Information Coordinator, 416-260-3590
sandy.zwyer@rci.rogers.com
Third Element Productions Media Contact:
Karen Suzuki – Production Coordinator, 416-367-0330
insyncvideo@insyncvideo.ca
Ben Viccari – Co-producer, 416-944-8175
canscene@rogers.com
