CTV’s CANADA AM Celebrates 40 Years of Waking Up Canadians, Oct. 22 to 26

“The story that never left me wasthe tainted blood scandal. Janet Conners’ fighting for compensation after sheand her husband Randy were both infected with AIDS.” 

 –Valerie Pringle, Co-Host, CANADA AM 1993-2001

“My favourite interviews on AM wereWayne Gretzky, Mohammed Ali, Foster Hewitt, Jack Nicklaus, and Jimmy Connors.”

–Wally Macht, News, Weather and Sports Anchor, 1977 – 1987

“The best thing about live TV isthat anything can happen – and it does!”

–Thalia Assuras, News Anchor CANADA AM, 1992-1993

To tweet this release:  http://bit.ly/W7JqMM

Toronto, ON (Oct. 11, 2012) – Now in its 40^th year, CANADA AM celebrates four decades of wakingup Canadians with a special week of retrospective programming, starting Monday, Oct. 22 to Friday, Oct. 26,2012. CANADA AM has been the country’s national morning show since 1972with a commitment that’s remained constant:to provide Canadians with their first news headlines of the day. During thecelebratory special broadcasts, CANADA AM will take viewers on a week-longjourney back to the top headlines, sports stories, television shows, films andmusical acts and fete the dedicated team of hosts past and present.

Downloadimages of CANADA AM Hosts – Past and Present – at BellMediaPR.ca

“After 40years, Bev, Marci, and Jeff have continued the rich tradition of Canada AM hosts- they are the friends Canadians choose to invite into their homes to help gettheir day started,” said Lis Travers, Executive Producer, CANADA AM. “It’s more than early morning TV. This show helps connectCanadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast. We want to celebrate this sharedidentity and give thanks to those who have helped make the legacy that isCanada’s national morning show.”

Online, the tribute continues at www.canadaam.ctv.ca with commemorative CANADA AM trivia,a photo timeline, and current contributors’ favourite CANADA AMmemories. Viewers can also take part in the celebration by tweeting theirtributes to @CTVCanadaAMusing the hashtag #canam40.  Subscribe tothe CANADA AMNewsletter for daily updates from the Green Room on all the celebrations at http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/.

CANADA AM’s 40^th Celebration Week highlights include:

Monday, Oct. 22

TOP NEWS HEADLINES & 70sMUSIC: From the big political newsmakers of our time, to the events that shapedthe country and our lives over past 40 years – CANADA AM looks back at 40 years of headlines. CANADA AM celebratesthe music of the 70s with a performance of “Sugar Sugar” by Andy Kim. Also this morning, Beverly Thomson goesone-on-one with superstar performer Taylor Swift about her new CD.

Tuesday,Oct. 23

GAME CHANGING SPORTSSTORIES & 80s MUSIC: CANADA AM convenes a panel of sportsbroadcasters including; Brian Williams, Michael Landsberg, and Jeff Hutchesonto look back at the top sports headlines over the last 40 years, and 80s bandGlass Tiger performs “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone”.

Wednesday,Oct. 24

CANUCK TV & 90s MUSIC: Over the past 40 years, CANADA AM has been a must-do first stop for many up-and-comingcelebrities, and A-listers alike, and the show has made it a priority tosupport influential Canadian television shows. This morning, CANADA AM brings together the generations of DEGRASSI, one of thelongest-running and most influential teen programs on television.  Cappingoff the morning, Canadian Hall of Famers Blue Rodeo performs some of theirgreatest hits as a tribute to the music of the 90s.

Thursday, Oct. 25

A LOOK AT FILM, & MUSICOF THE PAST DECADE: CANADA AM delves into a retrospective of film over the 40 years of CANADA AM. Soul and country meet on the CANADA AM soundstage with a duet performance of “I’ll BeAlright With Me” by Jully Black and Donny Parenteau and a very special reunion of Canadian Idols whograbbed the hearts of Canadian TV viewers for six seasons.

Friday, Oct. 26

CANADA AM @40 BIRTHDAY BASH:  CANADA AM history meets the present – live from the Masonic Temple in downtown Toronto. CANADA AM’s current and former hosts and anchors join to celebrateand reflect on their experiences over the years. From the news stories thatstuck with them and their thoughts on the best things about live TV, to theirfavourite interviews and even the interview they wish they could do over, CANADA AM welcomes faces from the past, including

Thalia Assuras, News Anchor 1992 – 93
Rod Black, Sports Anchor 1993-97 and Co-Host 2001- 02
Wei Chen, News Anchor 1993-98
Rena Heer, Co-Host Canada AM Extended Version, Jan- Dec. 2008
LisaLaFlamme, Co-Host 2001-03

Wally Macht, News, Weather & SportsAnchor, 1977- 87
Dan Matheson, Sports Anchor 1987 – 95 and Co-Host 1995 – 2001

Craig Oliver, First Producer of CANADA AMwhen it launched in 1972
Seamus O’Regan, Co-Host  2002 – 11
ValeriePringle, Co-Host 1993 – 2001
Sandie Rinaldo, News Anchor 1980 – 85
PamelaWallin, Co-Host 1981 – 84 and 1991 – 92
Nancy Wilson, Co-Host 1987-88

Bringingdown the house will be rock and roll legend Burton Cummings performinghits from the decades live on the stage of the historic Masonic Temple.

Airing weekdays on CTV, and CTV News Channel across Canada, CANADA AM is Canada’s most-watched national morningnewsmagazine. Since its launch in 1972, CANADA AM hasbrought Canadians a unique blend of hard news and lifestyle stories, featuringin-depth interviews with top newsmakers, celebrities and musical stars. LisTravers is the Vice-President and Executive Producer for CANADA AM and Wendy Freeman is the President of CTVNews.

-CTV-

For more information, please contact:

Shannon Gallagher, Bell Media, 416-384-4623 or shannon.gallagher@bellmedia.ca

Renee Dupuis, Bell Media, 416-384-3154 or renee.dupuis@bellmedia.ca