This year has been a challenge to the entertainment industry throughout North America because of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes. At the time of this writing, the WGA has ratified an agreement while SAG and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) remain in negotiations. While Canadian actors support their US colleagues, they can work on ACTRA (The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists) contracts, and some productions have been granted SAG-AFTRA waivers.

British Columbia is Canada’s largest foreign production hub and North America’s fourth[1]largest center for motion picture production. Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart finds a home in BC and, thanks to their fans, The Hearties, is currently filming Season 11. It’s an uplifting period drama inspired by Janette Oke’s bestselling book series and created by Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird.

WCTH is set against the backdrop of an early 1900s coal mining town and blends elements of romance, adventure and family values. Starring Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Kevin McGarry, and a talented supporting cast, it weaves a powerful story of hardship, faith, and love. It airs on Hallmark Channel in the US and Super Channel’s ‘Heart and Home’ in Canada.

Highway Thru Hell is airing its 12th season on Discovery Channel and Crave. It’s one of the longest-running, unscripted series in Canada, in which Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto, a heavy-vehicle rescue/ recovery towing company based in Hope, B.C., illustrates the hardships of operating along B.C. highways such as the Coquihalla. Tyson Media is filming Season 3 of Pets & Pickers, taking viewers on an uplifting mission to help animals in need. The docuseries follows RAPS, a one-of-a-kind animal hospital, and covers the story of animals, their owners, and the special team of veterinarians who care for them.

It currently streams on Crave, CTV.ca, and the app, and airs on Animal Planet and Animal Planet USA. DOPPELGÄNGERS: Face to Face examines the curious phenomenon of identical strangers and our desire to meet ourselves. It follows six unique characters with strong individualistic personalities, interesting passions, and unique life stories as they embark on an adventure to meet their second self. The documentary that first aired on CBC’s The Passionate Eye is now streaming on CBC Gem. British Columbia is an international force in animation.

Recognized with many prestigious awards and nominations, B.C.’s computer animation companies are breaking out some of the most prolific productions for television and direct-to-video, long-form CGI for feature films, commercials, and interactive entertainment. Wildbrain Studios is one of the many creative companies producing animation series in Vancouver including the LEGO show Ninjago: Dragons Rising.

In this show, a ninja master must train a new generation of heroes to help find elemental dragons who can save the planet before the forces of evil use the same dragon energy to destroy this new world. The cast includes Deven Mack, Sabrina Pitre, Sam Vincent, Vincent Tong, Kelly Metzger, Brian Drummond, Kazumi Evans and Nicole Oliver. Season 1 is currently airing on Netflix worldwide.