CBC’s annual battle of the books, CANADA READS, is gearing up for the live debates from February 11 to 14 at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. In this year’s edition, CANADA READS: TURF WARS, five celebrity panelists will determine Canada’s must-read title for 2013 during four, hour-long impassioned discussions in front of live audiences. The debates will air on CBC Radio One, CBC Books, documentary and, for the first time, on CBC-TV.
This year’s CANADA READS line-up:
• Actor, screenwriter and producer Jay Baruchel will defend Two Solitudes by Hugh MacLennan (1945, McClelland & Stewart)
• Critically acclaimed biographer and historian Charlotte Gray will defend Away by Jane Urquhart (1993, McClelland & Stewart)
• Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Carol Huynh will defend Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese (2012, Douglas & McIntyre)
• Host of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Ron MacLean will defend The Age of Hope by David Bergen (2012, HarperCollins Canada)
• Comedian Trent McClellan will defend February by Lisa Moore (2009, House of Anansi)
Jian Ghomeshi, host of CBC’s arts and culture program Q on CBC Radio and TV, will preside over the debates and will interview the winning author and panelist on Q on Feb. 15.
How to catch this year’s debates:
February 11-14:
• In Toronto, audiences are invited to the live shows (details at CBC Books).
• Live video-streaming of the debates, with live chat, on CBC Books at 10 a.m. ET.
• CBC Radio One broadcast at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. (11:30 and 8:30 NT).
• Documentary broadcast at 7 p.m. ET (encore at midnight ET).
• Sirius 159, after the news at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.
February 12-15:
• CBC-TV will air an encore presentation of each show the following day at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT)
February 16:
• A one-hour recap broadcast special on CBC-TV at 12 p.m. (12:30 NT).
• A one-hour recap special on CBC Radio One at 4 p.m. (4:30 NT).
• A one-hour recap special on Sirius 159 at 2 p.m. ET (encore Feb. 17 at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET).
To receive media accreditation to attend the debates, please contact Dayna Shiskos by Friday, February 8th at dayna.shiskos@cbc.ca.
For more information on the books and their champions, visit CBC Books.
ABOUT CBC BOOKS
CBC Books features all of CBC’s rich literary content and major events and programs such as Canada Reads, the Massey Lectures and Canada Writes. This one-stop destination for book lovers and writers includes in-depth information on books, exclusive interviews with authors, the latest news stories from the publishing world, book recommendations, best-seller lists, writing workshops and challenges, plus discussions and blogs. CBC Books is where readers click.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
For further information please contact:
Dayna Shiskos, Publicist, CBC
(o) (416) 205-7973
(c) (416) 420-5241
