Season nine finale airs Wednesday, April 8 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC-TV
After an exciting ninth season that featured new Dragons, unforgettable pitches and record-setting deals, the DRAGONS’ DEN season finale takes viewers outside the Den to find out what it takes to get to the top. This special “Success” episode celebrates some of the Dragons’ most successful deals in the Den, as well as some of the biggest accomplishments in their own lives and businesses. Tune in as the Dragons reflect on their careers, each sharing their personal keys to success, and how they got to where they are today.
After eight seasons on DRAGONS’ DEN and a remarkable rise to success in the marketing industry, Arlene Dickinson has proven that any obstacle can be overcome with perseverance. In this special episode, Arlene recounts the devastating flood that wiped out most of Calgary’s downtown core, including the headquarters of Venture Communications, a company she transformed from a small marketing agency to a national firm. Arlene will also update audiences on the progress of one of her most successful deals to date, as she visits Pur Gum’s manufacturing plant just outside of Zurich, Switzerland.
The special then visits Vikram Vij in his hometown of Vancouver, where through hard work and passion, he has turned a group of restaurants and consumer products into a global brand. Vikram’s latest venture is building a new flagship restaurant, a huge addition to an already impressive food empire.Audiences will have a chance to catch up with the team behind Casalinga Foods’ cabbage rolls, who made a deal with Vikram this past season.Vikram shares his expertise, working with them to find ways to more efficiently manufacture their product.
From Toronto to the Bahamas, to Florida, viewers will witness Michael Wekerle applying his “all or nothing” attitude to both work and play, gaining insight into what really makes him tick. Michael reflects on his early days in the stock market, his secrets to success, and how philanthropy has come to play a pivotal role in his life today. One of his most notable deals, which happened early on in the season, was with Alicia Woods, owner of Covergalls, a brand of coveralls specifically designed for women. Michael travels to a Sudbury mine to check in on the progress of the company, and hears what women have to say about the product.
In the midst of a nationwide speaking tour, David Chilton reflects on the many deals he has made over the course of his three seasons on the show, explaining why he is such a hands-on investor. He checks in on one of his most recent deals, surprising the team from Nonna Pia’s Balsamic Reduction with some exciting news at a grocery store in Toronto.
Finally, the show catches up with Jim Treliving in Hawaii where he celebrates the 50th anniversary of Boston Pizza with hundreds of franchisees from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Jim shares his thoughts on what it means to be successful and why he has no plans to let up anytime soon. He also meets with the team behind Velofix to offer them business advice on growing a franchise, and to help them congratulate the company’s first group of franchisees.
Production for DRAGONS’ DEN’s landmark 10th season will begin at the CBC Broadcasting Centre in Toronto on April 13.
Miss an episode? Catch up on the current season of DRAGONS’ DEN at cbc.ca/dragonsden.
DRAGONS’ DEN continues to reach an average audience of about 1 million Canadians each week.
Find the show online:
cbc.ca/dragonsden
facebook.com/dragonsden
@cbcdragon #cbcdragonsden
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