ETALK and Canada’s Walk of Fame Present CELEBRATING GREATNESS: A CANADA’S WALK OF FAME SPECIAL, December 18 on CTV

– The one-hour special highlights defining moments, including Allan Slaight Music Impact Honourees, big ETALK interviews, and Inductees from years past –

TORONTO (December 11, 2020) – ETALK in partnership with Canada’s Walk of Fame (CWOF) announced today the new one-hour event, CELEBRATING GREATNESS: A CANADA’S WALK OF FAME SPECIAL, debuting Friday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV. Hosted by ETALK co-anchor Tyrone Edwards, and through the lens of the Allan Slaight Music Impact honourees, the new special tells the story of exceptional Canadians and their rise to greatness. Following the premiere on CTV, CELEBRATING GREATNESS: A CANADA’S WALK OF FAME SPECIAL will be available on CTV.ca and the CTV app. With the annual induction gala cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s Walk of Fame and ETALK deliver new interviews and unearthed archival footage from Allan Slaight Music Impact honourees Shawn Mendes, Melanie Fiona, Brett Kissel, Drake, The Weeknd, and Alessia Cara, as well as highlights from the past 20 years of Canada’s Walk of Fame, featuring appearances by Inductees, Rick Hansen, Russell Peters, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. The special also pays tribute to some of the Inductees the world lost this year, including Canadian icon Alex Trebek. Plus Martin Luther King III, who inducted civil rights activist Viola Desmond in 2017, appears to pay tribute to Desmond once again. “With the annual gala being shut down during this time of uncertainty, I am so proud we we’re able to adapt and deliver this star-studded special that honours and celebrates extraordinary Canadians, both past and present,” said Nanci MacLean, Vice-President, Bell Media Studios and President, Pinewood Toronto Studios. “It’s so important that we continue our commitment to supporting homegrown talent, every single year, no matter what.” “We are excited to partner with ETALK and leverage its powerful platform to shine a brighter light on Canada’s Walk of Fame’s history,” said Jeffrey Latimer, CEO, Canada’s Walk of Fame. “Our exemplary Inductees and our incredible national programs are allowing us to share the personal journeys and stories of great Canadian achievers.” Also announced today, in celebration of the 10^th Anniversary of the Allan Slaight Music Impact honour, Canada’s Walk of Fame inducts Allan Slaight with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame for his contributions in business and philanthropy. “I congratulate my father Allan on receiving this special award from Canada’s Walk of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments in his business life, his support for Canadian music creators and the arts in Canada and more importantly, his leadership in philanthropy,” Gary Slaight, CEO and President of Slaight Communications. “Our family is very proud of the path he set for so many to follow.” Additionally, Canada’s Walk of Fame shines a light on its newest Community Hero, Aditi Sivakumar, a passionate philanthropist, leader, and advocate for women’s rights. Sivakumar was selected as the Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Community Hero program, presented by MLSE and Scotiabank. Plus, the special looks ahead to Canada’s future talent with Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 2020 RBC Emerging Musician Program Grand Prize winning duo, Allydice.

About ETALK
Hosted by anchors Tyrone Edwards and Lainey Lui, who is backfilling permanent anchor Danielle Graham’s maternity leave, and senior correspondent Traci Melchor, reporters Chloe Wilde, Tyrone Edwards, Sonia Beeksma, and L.A. correspondent Liz Trinnear, ETALK is the #1 most-watched entertainment newsmagazine in Canada. From the OSCARS^® and the EMMY^® Awards, to the GOLDEN GLOBE^®’s, ETALK is front-and-centre, delivering up-to-the-minute news in film, television, music, and more. Celebrating both home-grown talent and international stars, ETALK became the first daily Canadian entertainment newsmagazine when it launched in 2002. ETALK is produced by Bell Media Studios. Executive Producers are Manny Groneveldt and Jennifer Morrison. Nanci MacLean is Vice-President, Bell Media Studios and President, Pinewood Toronto Studios. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming. Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media. More information about ETALK can be found at etalk.ca, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at @etalkCTV.

About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 television brand. CTV provides unparalleled entertainment programming across two broadcast television networks; a powerful suite of specialty channels including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel; and digital channels CTV Throwback and CTV Movies, streaming on demand from CTV.ca and the CTV app. CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 19 years in a row and features a wide range of sports and information programming, including CTV News, Canada’s highest-rated national and local newscasts. CTV’s parent company is Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and out-of-home advertising.

About Canada’s Walk of Fame
Canada’s Walk of Fame is a national platform that celebrates Canadian achievement at the highest level in many fields, fueling our sense of Canadian pride and inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Canada’s Walk of Fame is the foremost honour for cultural, entrepreneurial, athletic, philanthropic and science/technology excellence in Canada. Current programs include the RBC Emerging Musician Program, Canada’s Walk of Fame Hometown Stars, presented by Cineplex, the Community Hero Program, presented by MLSE and Scotiabank, and the nationally televised broadcast designated by the CRTC as a program of national interest. Canada’s Walk of Fame has over 180 inductions to date, with stars having a permanent place of tribute on the streets of Toronto’s Entertainment District. For a complete list of Inductees along with more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame and its programs please visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com

Canada’s Walk of Fame gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2020 Premier Partners: Bell Media, Cineplex Entertainment, Federated Capital, MLSE, RBC, Scotiabank, Slaight Communications, West Jet, and Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, as well as our Official Partners, MolsonCoors, PostMedia and The Printing House.

The 2020-2021 Canada’s Walk Of Fame Board of Directors, led by Board Chair Walter Schneider, President & Co-Founder, RE/MAX INTEGRA / RE/MAX Europe, includes: Tom Anselmi, President Business Operations and COO of The Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club and Ice District, Nick Di Donato, President & CEO, Liberty Entertainment Group; Amanda Lang, Anchor, BNN Bloomberg; Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media; Linda Mantia; Dan McGrath, Chief Operating Officer, Cineplex Entertainment; Thor Richardson; Lewis Rusen, Vice Chairman, Korn Ferry; Ron Suter, Executive Vice President, NBCUniversal Television & New Media Distribution Canada; Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, City of Toronto.

Canada’s Walk of Fame was established in 1998 by founders Bill Ballard, Dusty Cohl and Peter Soumalias, with Dianne Schwalm and in partnership with Gary Slaight.

Canada’s Walk of Fame is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number 889896924RR0001.

– CTV –