CBC today announced that the new season of Canadian audience favourite BATTLE OF THE BLADES (Season 6, produced by Insight Productions) will launch with a special two-hour live premiere on Thursday, October 22 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem, with eight new pairs ready to hit the ice in support of charities across Canada. Multi-talented singer-songwriter, TV host and actress Keshia Chanté will be joining veteran sportscaster Ron MacLean on the ice to share hosting duties this season. A singer since the age of 14, Chanté is known for her JUNO Award-winning music including multiple #1 hits and eight Top-10 radio singles, as well as her work as a television host and actress.
“As a performer and entertainer, I know a good performance when I see one! I look forward to seeing the best of the best battle it out for incredible charitable causes, all while bringing people together and making me proud to be Canadian,” said Chanté. “Hockey and ice skating were a huge part of my childhood and being a part of Battle of the Blades really brings that nostalgia to life for me. Excited for what’s to come!”
Originally born in Ottawa and raised in Toronto, Chanté has over 18 years of experience in the entertainment industry, including: the release of four musical albums; a previous role as co-host of the #1 music show on television, 106 & Park, alongside Bow Wow; and her current role as co-host on Entertainment Tonight Canada. She served as a music expert and international judge on The World’s Best alongside James Corden and Drew Barrymore, as well as two seasons of The Next Star. As an actress, Chanté appears on Season 4 of Private Eyes and Season 2 of JANN. She is also known for her charity work, including: serving as Youth Ambassador for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR); volunteering time in Africa with CANFAR to build schools; volunteering in the Dominican Republic with World Vision; and performing with Alicia Keys for the Keep A Child Alive fundraising concert.
CBC’s quintessentially Canadian competition series BATTLE OF THE BLADES features NHL, Olympic and professional hockey players performing on ice with World and Olympic figure skating partners in the hopes of winning the Season 6 championship, and a $100,000 donation to the charity of their choice. Alongside hosts Chanté and MacLean, the Season 6 judging panel features beloved Olympic gold medallist in ice dance Scott Moir; multi-Olympic medallist in women’s ice hockey, and Season 5 runner-up, Natalie Spooner; and professional skater and choreographer Elladj Baldé. Four-time Canadian and four-time World champion figure skater Kurt Browning returns to the series as Elite Battle Expert.
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This season’s eight competing pairs, and their charities, are:
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Violetta Afanasieva and Anthony Stewart
Competing on behalf of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
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Meghan Agosta and Andrew Poje
Competing on behalf of the BC Children’s Hospital
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Jennifer Botterill and Eric Radford
Competing on behalf of The Canadian Cancer Society
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Jessica Campbell and Asher Hill
Campbell will be competing on behalf of Do It For Daron, while Hill will be supporting FreedomSchool – Toronto
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Meagan Duhamel and Wojtek Wolski
Duhamel will be competing on behalf of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, while Wolski will be supporting The Hospital for Sick Children’s Patient Amenities Fund
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Carlotta Edwards and Kris Versteeg
Edwards will be competing on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area, while Versteeg will be supporting Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society
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Vanessa James and Akim Aliu
Competing on behalf of The Time To Dream Foundation
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Kaitlyn Weaver and Bryan Bickell
Competing on behalf of The Bickell Foundation in support of the MS Society of Canada
