Shaw Media in association with Open Door Co. and Insight Productions are thrilled to announce that Intervention Canada – the Canadian version of the Emmy-Award-winning A&E series Intervention – will premiere on SliceTM this fall.
Back-to-back episodes will air Fridays at 8pm ET and 9pm ET starting September 9.
Intervention Canada is a gripping one-hour documentary series that explores the terrifying reality of Canadians whose addiction to drugs, alcohol or other compulsive behaviour is threatening their lives and destroying their families.
“Intervention is a powerful series that sheds much light on how individuals and families cope in the face of addiction,” says Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President of Content, Shaw Media. “The Canadian edition enables us to share with our viewers impactful true stories from across our country, exposing a far too common reality yet also sharing a vital message of hope.”
From Halifax to Victoria, Canadian families in crisis come together to execute the ultimate ‘ambush of love’ – a carefully planned intervention – in a last-ditch effort to save the life of a loved one who is spiralling out of control and hovering dangerously near death. Led by prominent Canadian interventionists, Andrew Galloway and Maureen Brine, each episode bears witness to one of the most dramatic moments any family will ever face.
“There are very few opportunities in this business to truly change the course of someone’s life – this is one of them,” says Open Door’s Executive Producer Tom Powers. “Intervention fits perfectly into the kind of content we strive to produce and we are very proud to be bringing this series to Canada along with our partners Insight Productions, Shaw Media and A&E.”
“My family and I have watched the U.S. show since its first season,” says John Brunton, Executive Producer Insight Production Company Ltd. “I think it’s one of the hardest hitting, most powerful shows on television because the stakes and stories are absolutely real. You do shows for different reasons. We wanted to make this one because it’s an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s literally life and death. It doesn’t get any more dramatic than this.”
Close to a dozen of Canada’s top private treatment facilities stepped forward to participate in the Canadian production of Intervention, offering the addicts featured in the series a lifeline to the very best treatment in the country.
This season includes 13 one-hour episodes featuring heartrending, real-life journeys, culminating in one pivotal do-or-die decision that could change a life forever.
“We are very pleased to partner with Open Door, Insight, and Shaw Media on the production of Intervention Canada,” said Ellen Lovejoy, Sr. Director, International Content Distribution, A+E Networks. “Intervention has truly resonated with television audiences in the US. Since its premiere in March 2005, the series has conducted 202 interventions, with 158 individuals currently sober. We hope Intervention Canada has the same impact in Canada.”
The first two broadcast episodes of Intervention Canada:
Episode 1 – JOHN
With four children, a long career with the BC Ferries, and a successful import/export business John, 50, had it all. Five years ago, exhausted from the stress of juggling two careers, he smoked crack cocaine for the first time and watched his world fall apart. Now on the street, addicted to crack cocaine and heroin he is ashamed and empty handed. His mother, four sisters, and grown sons are desperate… and they want him back.
Episode 2 – LOREN
With a past that includes childhood sexual trauma, a father who abandoned her, and teenage rape, Loren, 26, has turned to alcohol to numb her pain. Drinking up to three litres of wine a day, she suffers from seizures, black outs and violent mood swings. A year ago Loren entered treatment and met her girlfriend, Christy. The two have been joined at the hip – and bottle – ever since. Christy is near death with her body shutting down after years of alcohol and prescription drug abuse. She is tortured by the thought of leaving her two children without a mother when she dies. Both families know that if the two women don’t get help, they will be planning their funerals. Interventionist Andrew Galloway arrives and pulls both families together in an attempt to save Loren and Christy in a high-stakes double Intervention.
Intervention Canada features the closing theme song, “5 Steps” by The Davenports.
SliceTM is a Shaw Media network – a division of Shaw Communications Inc.
