World premiere March 6 at 9 pm ET on TVO and tvo.org
February 27, 2019 (Toronto, ON) － From Alibi Entertainment and producer, director, and writer Catie Lamer, TVO Original Northern Gold shines a light on Canada’s complex history of mining, its current effects on the economy, politics and environment, and the shadowy business of high-grading (the theft and smuggling of millions of dollars in gold).
“Many people are probably unaware of Timmins’ own Gold Rush – a part of Ontario’s legacy that is seemingly forgotten – not by all, but by many,” says Lamer. “This once-famous working town is now facing an identity crisis – like many towns in Canada built on the back of one industry.”
“Gold is one of the most scrutinized commodities in markets around the world, and the history of gold is frequently romanticized,” says John Ferri, Vice President TVO Current Affairs and Documentaries. ” Northern Gold gives a voice to the people who are rarely heard from – those directly involved in extracting it.”
Premiering on TVO and tvo.org March 6 at 9 pm ET , Northern Gold is a two-part documentary that uncovers the role gold played in building the northern Ontario city of Timmins. Part 1 of Northern Gold reveals how immigrants, drawn to the area’s newly discovered gold deposits, helped found the city while facing immense prejudice and discrimination. During the 1920s-40s, northern Ontario gold fueled an economic boom in the south, even as miners continued to work
in hazardous conditions through this “Golden Age” of mining. Part 2 (premiering at 10 pm) focuses on the fight to improve working conditions for miners as Timmins grew.
The documentary then moves to tell the story of today: as the city faces mine closures, Northern Gold profiles residents who are facing an uncertain future with strength, resilience, and fortitude.
Featuring interviews with Charlie Angus (MP for Timmins-James Bay), Karen Bachmann (Director/Curator, Timmins Museum), and John Okanmah (Executive Director, WakenagunCommunity Futures Development Corp.), among others.
Northern Gold will be available to stream anytime at tvo.org/documentaries beginning March 6 at 9 pm ET . Northern Gold repeats March 9 at 9 pm and March 10 at 10 pm, and is produced by Alibi Entertainment, presented by TVO.
About Catie Lamer
Catie Lamer is a producer, director and writer. While living in Berlin she produced two short films, the award-winning Aufzug and Violine . In 2016/17 she was a co-producer on the award-winning Viceland series, RISE, and producer of Nuuca (shortlisted for an IDA Documentary Award), a short directed by Michelle Latimer for Laura Poitras’ Field of Vision.
Currently she is associate producing Latimer’s The Inconvenient Indian for the NFB and 90th Parallel Productions and, with Alibi Entertainment, is directing and producing a documentary for the CBC’s Nature of Things.
About Alibi Entertainment
Alibi Entertainment is a media company specializing in broadcast television, branded, digital and kids content. Alibi has produced the Canadian Screen Award winning documentary, Lost Secret of the Pyramid for CBC & Channel 4, the acclaimed film Titanic, The New Evidence for The Discovery Channel in addition to the popular lifestyle series, Sarah Richardson: Off The Grid for HGTV and Carnival Eats for The Food Network among the more than 200 hours of television
that has aired in over 100 countries. For more information, visit alibientertainment.ca .
About TVO
As the technological extension of Ontario’s public education system, TVO’s vision is to create a better world through the power of learning. TVO provides learning opportunities for Ontarians through innovative educational products, in-depth current affairs, thought-provoking documentaries, and award-winning TVOkids resources both inside and outside the classroom.
TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario and is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit tvo.org.
Catie Lamer is available for interviews.
Media inquiries:
Danyel McLachlan, AlphaPR
danyel@wearealphapr.com
Amy Saunders, AlphaPR
amy@wearealphapr.com