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What’s more Canadian than AIR FARCE, eh? Celebrated comedy troupe fêtes Canada’s 150th, July 1 on CBC

Introducing the Farce’s newest members Chris Wilson and Isabel Kanaan

Chris Hadfield, Lorne Cardinal, Kaniehtiio Horn, Hélène Joy, Eric Peterson and Ed Robertson guest star

Making Canadians laugh for over four decades, AIR FARCE pulls out all the stops for the country’s 150th birthday, capturing the patriotic spirit of the sesquicentennial celebrations in 60 funny, fast-paced minutes. For its first-ever summer special, and for the first time in AIR FARCE history, the whole country will come together to watch at the exact same time — no delays, no time shifting, and nothing held back. AIR FARCE CANADA 150 premieres Saturday, July 1, at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT on CBC with an encore broadcast on Monday, July 3 at 8:00 PM (8:30 PM NT).

AIR FARCE CANADA 150 embraces what it means to be Canadian, satirizing Canada’s past, present and future. Flashing back through history, the special focuses on the people and events that shaped our nation, including the Vikings landing in Newfoundland, the first hockey game, cottage life with Justin and Sophie Trudeau, and pop culture parodies like Canada: The Musical and an all-new take on the classic NFB animation The Log Driver’s Waltz.

AIR FARCE CANADA 150 stars founding troupe members Don Ferguson and Luba Goy, and veterans Jessica Holmes (The Holmes Show, The Itch), Craig Lauzon (Fool Canada, The Ron James Show), Darryl Hinds (My Babysitter’s a Vampire, Little Mosque on the Prairie), and Emma Hunter (The Beaverton, Mr. D). Joining the troupe for the first time are Chris Wilson (from Vancouver’s award-winning sketch duo Peter n’ Chris, The Beaverton, What Would Sal Do, Meet the Family) and Toronto television and stage actress Isabel Kanaan (Haunted or Hoax). The special is directed by Rob Lindsay and Wayne Moss.

Special guest stars scheduled to appear include Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space, Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas, Into the Forest, Insomnia), Kaniehtiio Horn (What Would Sal Do, Letterkenny, Hemlock Grove), Hélène Joy (Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland, Durham County), Eric Peterson (Corner Gas, This is Wonderland, Street Legal) and Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies).

A fan favourite, AIR FARCE is one of Canada's longest-running television comedies and highest-rated entertainment specials. A total audience of over 2.1 million Canadians watched AIR FARCE NEW YEAR’S EVE last year on CBC. (Source: Numeris TV Meter, Dec. 30, 2016 – Jan. 1, 2017 and Jan. 3, 2017, CBC Total, A2+, Total Canada, AMA, generated by InfoSys+TV).

For more details and updates, visit airfarce.com.

WEBSITE
airfarce.com

FACEBOOK
Facebook.com/AirFarceCBC

TWITTER
@AirFarceCBC   #AirFarce150

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About AIR FARCE
May the Farce be with you! AIR FARCE is one of the most popular and enduring sketch comedy troupes in Canadian history, skewering Canadian politics, current affairs, and pop culture. What began as a topical stage revue in 1970 grew into a wildly popular franchise, including: a CBC Radio series (1973-1997); a weekly CBC TV series (1993-2008); an annual CBC TV special, AIR FARCE NEW YEAR’S EVE (1992–present), soon to celebrate its 25th anniversary; national concert tours; live stage productions; books; and home audio and video releases. AIR FARCE has received many awards and accolades. The troupe members became the first Canadian inductees into the International Humour Hall of Fame in 1992 and were inducted into the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame in 2001. They were the recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 1998 and received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000. At the 2000 Gemini Awards, AIR FARCE received both the Earle Grey Award for its body of work in Canadian television, and the viewer-voted People’s Choice Award for favourite television program. AIR FARCE is produced by Don Ferguson Productions in association with CBC.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. We are Canada’s trusted source of news, information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also provide international news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective. In 2017, CBC/Radio-Canada will at the heart of the celebrations and conversations with special 2017-themed multiplatform programming and events across Canada.

Media requests: 
Margaret Sirotich, Publicist, AIR FARCE, 647-466-1746 or [email protected]
Simon Bassett, Publicist, CBC, 416-205-8533 or [email protected]

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