TSN, in partnership with athlete empowerment brand UNINTERRUPTED Canada, shares the incredible story of one of Canada’s most accomplished sports families in the premiere of the new documentary FAMILY FIRST, airing tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 25) at 8 p.m. ET. The new, 60-minute documentary is the latest to join the TSN Doc Collection, a robust catalogue of more than 200 acclaimed sports documentaries, available to TSN subscribers until the end of the year.
FAMILY FIRST chronicles the remarkable athletic achievements of the Nurse family, including candid interviews with Richard Nurse, a former player for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats; his wife Cathy, a former varsity basketball player for McMaster University; and their children, WNBA star and TSN basketball analyst Kia Nurse; Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse; and Tamika Nurse, who played Division 1 basketball for Oregon and Bowling Green State.
The documentary follows the journey of the Nurse children and their experiences growing up in Hamilton, Ont. and takes an in-depth look into the strength, endurance, and sacrifice that was transferred from one generation to the next in this family of elite athletes. The documentary also chronicles obstacles the Nurses have faced, including racial and gender inequality in sport, and showcases the pivotal part they play as role models in their community and beyond.
“My family has shaped who I am today, and we hope our story can resonate with audiences and inspire those who dream to make their mark in professional sports,” said Kia Nurse. “I am so proud to welcome viewers into our home as they get to know our family.”
“Canada has a long list of revered sports families, but none have the gender and sports diversity that has shaped the Nurse family narrative,” said Vinay Virmani, Partner and Chief Content Officer of UNINTERRUPTED Canada. “The more we explored their story, the more compelling it became, and we felt that recognition for what they’ve accomplished needed to be championed.”
Walmart Canada is the presenting sponsor of FAMILY FIRST. As part of the partnership between Walmart and TSN, Walmart will be integrated into the broadcast with a customized promo featuring Kia Nurse surprising a youth girls’ basketball team with wellness themed care packages from the retailer.
“The Nurse family are a prime example of excellence in Canadian sport, and we’re honoured to feature them as the latest documentary subject in TSN’s great partnership with UNINTERRUPTED Canada,” said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Brand Partnerships and Client Strategy, Bell Media. “The documentary presented a natural fit to highlight the significance of girls’ basketball programs through this timely integration with Walmart.”
The second long-form feature presented by UNINTERRUPTED Canada in partnership with TSN as part of the companies’ long-term exclusive partnership, FAMILY FIRST follows the highly successful debut of ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, following Serge Ibaka and his improbable journey from the streets of Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo to his return home as an NBA champion.
