How 0-60 Driving Academy is making Canadian TV history
It recently premiered on Bell Fibe TV1, and it's been regarded as the first Black family sitcom to come out of Atlantic Canada.
Today on Commotion, guest host Rad Simonpillai talks to Dartmouth author and artist Guyleigh Johnson about the series and what it says about African Nova Scotian culture.
WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube (this segment begins at 16:34):
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Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Film producer Debbie Nightingale co-founded the documentary festival Hot Docs
Debbie Nightingale produced movies and television shows before a personal plot twist led her to become a goat farmer. Over time, her Ontario farm became a popular tourist attraction. Ms. Nightingale, who has died at 71, was a prominent member of the Canadian film and television industry whose many credits included co-founding a documentary festival now known as Hot Docs. In a career lasting more than three decades, she served as executive producer for the documentary Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story, a 2013 documentary about the Winnipeg-born comedian, as well as for the 2010 series, Living in Your Car, a comedy about a high-flying executive convicted of fraud who tries to rebuild his life from his luxury car, for which she received a Gemini nomination. Some other notable projects include serving as producer for Chicks with Sticks, also titled Hockey Mom, a made-for-TV movie; Bailey's Billion$, about a talking golden retriever inheriting a fortune; and Lipstick & Dynamite: The First Ladies of Wrestling, a feature-length documentary about trailblazers in the choreographed sport. Hot Docs returns for 'exciting new chapter' after most tumultuous year in film festival's history The latter had its world premiere at Hot Docs in Toronto in 2004, by which time the showcase was a decade old. A group of documentary filmmakers had formed a Canadian Independent Film Caucus and one of them, Paul Jay, suggested starting a festival to finance their activities. He asked Ms. Nightingale to serve as an unpaid festival manager. 'The feeling was, 'Oh god, not another film festival.' But Paul made a compelling argument. The only thing, he told me, was that I had to raise the money,' she told Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail in 2018. 'It took six months to get about $100,000, which in 1993 was a hefty chunk of change.' Ms. Nightingale's experience running industry events, including for the Toronto International Film Festival, proved invaluable, and Hot Docs grew to become North America's biggest documentary showcase. She became executive director of Hot Docs, while also sharing her expertise by serving on other boards, including Women in Film & TV Toronto. 'Every part of the Hot Docs we know today grew from what Debbie helped establish,' the organization said in a statement released on her death. 'She recognized the importance of documentary filmmaking and providing a place where filmmakers, funders and audiences could connect. Without her, we wouldn't be here.' Even as she succeeded in her entertainment career, she dreamed of raising animals in the countryside. In 2008, she and her husband, a soon-to-retire literary agent, purchased a 25-acre (10.1 hectare) hobby farm with a Victorian farmhouse in Campbellford, about 180 kilometres east of Toronto. The property, which cost $450,000, came with three horses and 20 chickens. While she enjoyed her weekend immersion into a more bucolic lifestyle, she also soon discovered she had a limited knowledge of animal husbandry. For Hot Docs, a new leader and new vision aim to steady a beleaguered film festival 'The chickens seemed easy enough at first: all I had to was feed them, collect their eggs and clean their coop,' she wrote for Toronto Life magazine. 'That was until I walked in one day to find one lying dead. The next day, I walked in to find another dead chicken, and another the following morning. It was like a scene from The Birds – and I was convinced that I was somewhat responsible. When I called the vet in a panic, he burst out laughing. 'The thing about chickens,' he said, 'is that they live, and then they die.' They weren't spring chickens, he told me. They'd died of old age.' She moved to the farm full-time after purchasing four Nigerian dwarf goats at $100 each, juggling her day job as a film executive by e-mail while tending to the farm from dawn until well past sunset. An education in hircine care was gained through YouTube videos and word-of-mouth instruction. The addition of a buck to the herd quickly led to four pregnant does. One morning, she was greeted by a shivering kid separated from the does in the barn. 'I freaked out: whose baby was it? What if it hadn't eaten or bonded with its mother?' she wrote in Toronto Life. 'I called our breeder. 'Just pick up the baby,' she said nonchalantly. 'The mother will start screaming once you do.' She was right: As soon as I grabbed the kid, Pearl bleated bloody murder.' The couple later moved to a 200-acre (80.1-hectare) farm outside Port Hope at Newtonville, about 100 km east of Toronto, adding sheep, pigs, alpacas, miniature Icelandic horses and a mule to the menagerie. Experience in marketing movies and television programs proved invaluable in gaining a following for the farm, named Haute Goat, on social media. The farm became a popular attraction, including such scheduled events as a 'shmurgle,' during which customers spend an hour hugging, cuddling, snuggling, scratching and otherwise enjoying the playfulness of a goat herd. The farm also hosts an annual event called Goatchella. The farm includes an 18-hole disc golf course, a café called the Screaming Goat, and a shop selling products made from goat milk such as cheeses, chocolates and fudge, as well as skin-care products, including soap, lip balm and face cleansers. Deborah Esther Nightingale was born in Toronto on Oct. 14, 1953, to Helen (née Coffer) and Bernard (Buddy) Nightingale. Her Polish-born paternal grandfather was an upholsterer who repaired cinema seats before starting an office furniture manufacturing company, which became the family business. Her father eventually sold the business before working in commercial real estate. Ms. Nightingale died of a rare form of lung cancer at Northumberland Hills Hospital in Coburg, Ont., on July 10. She leaves Shain Jaffe, her husband of 27 years. She also leaves children Sarah, Leland and Noah Nightingale-Forfar; stepchildren Gita Jaffe and Meave Forfar; four grandchildren; a sister, Caron Nightingale; a brother, Ben Nightingale; and her stepmother, Margaret Nightingale. For all the early hiccups in farming, Ms. Nightingale proved an adept agriculturalist. In 2015, she and her husband received a premier's award for their products made from goat milk. At a ceremony, two Ontario MPPs presented a plaque, as well as a certificate from the Premier and a cheque from the province for $5,000. Ms. Nightingale said success depended on their goats. 'They are our livelihood and our inspiration,' she told a reporter from the Brighton [Ont.] Independent newspaper at a ceremony in which she received the award. 'Time to get going. I've got goats to feed.' You can find more obituaries from The Globe and Mail here. To submit a memory about someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page, e-mail us at obit@
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
New Brunswick community attends blessing for lobster fishing fleet
Father Jackson Fabius is pictured anointing community members with holy water during the blessing of the lobster fleet in Cap-Acadie, N.B., on Aug. 4, 2025. (Derek Haggett / CTV Atlantic) It felt like the entire community of Cap-Acadie, N.B., came out to the Aboiteau Wharf on Sunday for an annual ceremony that pays respect to the lobster fishermen in the area. Wharf manager Junot LeBlanc said the blessing of the fleet has been a tradition since the wharf opened in 1933 and it's something that most fishermen believe in. 'It's a celebration that pays respect to the fishermen,' said LeBlanc. 'Usually all the people from Cap-Acadie. they come, the old, the young the new. Every member comes here and we do a little prayer and off we go.' Junot LeBlanc Junot LeBlanc, manager of the Aboiteau Wharf, is pictured among lobster traps in Cap-Acadie, N.B., on Aug. 4, 2025. (Derek Haggett / CTV Atlantic) Father Jackson Fabius delivered his blessing in French and then anointed those in attendance and the boats docked at the wharf with holy water. He said it's an important day because it's a sign of faith. 'I think the benediction of the boats is to just remember God comes first,' said Fabius. It's a very symbolic event to lobster fisherman Justin Haché who said he's proud of what he does, even if it's tough work. 'You wake up at 2:45, set up our boat, and leave at 4 a.m.,' said Haché. 'We come back when we're done fishing, 250 traps. Sometimes it's late and sometimes if it goes well, it'll be in the afternoon. It's a long day.' Shediac-Cap-Acadie MLA Jacques LeBlanc said the annual celebration is a significant event for everyone involved. 'This is where the economy of a local area starts,' Jacques said. 'This is an annual event, it's been here for many, many years. People just bond together so that they can wish all the best to our fishers and their crews.' Jacques said the sustainability of the fishery means everything to the local economy and with exports going into new markets it's in a solid position right now. Cap-Acadie, N.B. Boats are pictured moored along the coast in Cap-Acadie, N.B., on Aug. 4, 2025. (Derek Haggett / CTV Atlantic) 'It's a $1 billion industry, so it's very significant to the local area here. It brings jobs, there's spin-offs, direct and in-direct spin-offs.' LeBlanc said it's also a good time to recognize that it can be a dangerous job. 'There's a lot of risk out there with Mother Nature, so it's very significant and it brings people together to realize how this is an important day for our fishers,' he said. Junot LeBlanc said he comes from a family of fishermen and is passionate about the risky work. 'My grandfather was a fisherman. My dad was head of the union for a long time. They didn't want me to fish, they sent me to school, but here I am, with traps in the water,' Junot said. The season in Cap-Acadie starts on Aug. 11, weather permitting, and runs until Oct. 11. lobster fleet blessing Father Jackson Fabius is pictured anointing community members with holy water during the blessing of the lobster fleet in Cap-Acadie, N.B., on Aug. 4, 2025. (Derek Haggett / CTV Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Windsor marks 5th annual Emancipation Jubilee
Dozens gathered inside the Sandwich First Baptist Church on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, to sing gospel songs and hear stories from elders. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Emotions of joy and happiness are sparked for Leslie McCurdy during the recognition of Emancipation Day in Windsor. Through the course of the weekend, McCurdy and fellow members of the Black Council of Windsor-Essex have organized the 5th Annual Windsor-Essex Emancipation Jubilee. In marking the historical event, the chair of the council noted it's a celebration of Canada's role in the Underground Railroad, but also an acknowledgement of its past. 'I think that there's a little resistance to celebrate emancipation in Canada because in order to do that, you have to admit that there was slavery in Canada,' McCurdy said. Windsor emancipation day Leslie McCurdy, left and Lana Talbot, are members of the Black Council of Windsor-Essex. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) On March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to officially designate Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day. On that day, 192 years ago, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire. 'So, we need to celebrate the Canadian history, because that's what's important to me as a Canadian to celebrate the progress that we are making, although there's still a lot to be done,' McCurdy added. The three-day event began on Saturday and featured music, food and an opportunity to hear from elders, among other events. On Sunday, community members gathered at the Sandwich First Baptist Church for a service, talks, and a gospel concert. Lana Talbot, an elder with the Black Council, said there's a sense of 'nostalgia' in hearing from other elders and listening to gospel songs. 'We are trying to keep tomorrow in our forefront,' Talbot said. 'If we forget our past, we are doomed to repeat it.' Both McCurdy and Talbot noted that a significant element of the Jubilee is to continue education on Black history and emancipation. They noted Canada and Windsor-Essex, specifically, face shortfalls when it comes to Black youth employment and representation in elected and managerial roles.
