When people think of Canada, many things might come to mind — maple syrup, a picturesque landscape, frigid winters and, of course, its friendly people. But there’s another thing Canadians are good at: making good TV shows.
When it comes to television, Canada is often overlooked, but that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of great Canadian TV shows. Canada produces an assortment of TV shows spanning different genres, from gripping historical shows like The Tudors to funny animated series like Total Drama. Check out some of the best TV shows Canada has to offer.
20 Schitt’s Creek
ITV Studios Global Entertainment
Schitt’s Creek is a heartwarming and hilarious sitcom created by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy. The show has six seasons which aired from 2015 to 2020 on CBC. It follows the life of the wealthy Rose family after they suddenly find themselves broke due to an embezzlement scandal and forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke. Johnny Rose (played by Eugene Levy), a formerly wealthy video store magnate, and his wife and former daytime soap opera star Moira (played by Catherine O’Hara), along with their two children, David (played by Dan Levy) and Alexis (played by Annie Murphy), must adapt to life without money and their luxurious lifestyle.
They move to a motel in Schitt’s Creek, which is a downgrade from their former house. With their pampered lives left in shambles, the Roses must face their newfound poverty head-on and figure out how to live without the luxuries they once had. As the family adjusts to their new lives, they find unexpected humor in the most unlikely of places and grow closer as a family in ways they never thought possible. Each episode of Schitt’s Creek is surprisingly better than the last, culminating in a record-breaking amount of Emmy Awards for its final season.
19 Alias Grace
Netflix
Alias Grace is a historical drama that will have you hooked from the first episode. The six-part miniseries is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1996 novel of the same name. The show follows the story of Grace Marks (played by Sarah Gordon), a poor, young Irish immigrant and domestic servant accused and convicted of the 1843 murders of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper and mistress, Nancy Montgomery. Alias Grace is told in flashbacks, showing her arrest and trial in 1843 to her later life in 1859 when she is examined by a psychiatrist, Dr Simon Jordan (played by Edward Holcroft).
Dr Jordan interviews Grace about her life and the events leading up to Kinnear’s murder to figure out what happened and if she is innocent. The show draws its audience into a complex web of gender power dynamics, class struggle, and Grace’s suppressed memories. Throughout the series, Grace attempts to piece together her fragmented memories of the events to understand her role in the murders.
18 Trailer Park Boys
SwearNet
Canada proves yet again that it can produce a TV show that is funny and entertaining. Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg and is a continuation of the 1999 movie of the same name. The show follows the misadventures of three lifelong friends and petty criminals, Ricky (Rob Wells), Julian (played by John Paul Tremblay), and Bubbles (played by Mike Smith), who live in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
The trio try to make money through various criminal acts and get-rich-quick schemes while often evading the police and their vindictive park supervisor, Jim Lahey and his assistant, Randy. If you want to check out Trailer Park Boys, all 12 seasons are available on Netflix.
17 Kim’s Convenience
Thunderbird FilmsCBC Television
The laugh-out-loud sitcom Kim’s Convenience follows the lives of a Korean-Canadian family called the Kims as they run a convenience store in downtown Toronto. The Kims are your average nuclear family with a strict dad, an overbearing mum and two grown children. The show has received critical acclaim for its clever use of humor while exploring real-life issues like immigration, identity, intergenerational relationships and the importance of family. Kim’s Convenience has five seasons, with season six being canceled due to production issues.
16 Rookie Blue
Entertainment One
Fans of shows like Grey’s Anatomy are in for a treat with this police drama series created by Morwyn Brebner, Tassie Cameron, and Ellen Vanstone. Rookie Blue tells the story of five rookie cops who are fresh out of the Academy in Toronto. As the series progresses, the rookies soon learn that no amount of training could have prepared them for what the real-world experience of being a cop is really like. The show takes its viewers through the whirlwind lives of the rookies as they explore the pressures of their jobs and newfound responsibilities.
15 Letterkenny
WildBrain Distribution
Letterkenny is a critically acclaimed show, and for a good reason. The show, which was created by Jordan Kreeso, has 11 seasons and 74 episodes. The hilarious Letterkenny originally started as a Youtube web series called Letterkenny Problems but was later adapted for TV by Crave. The television series is set in the fictional small town of Letterkenny and revolves around Wayne (played by Jared Kreeso), a good-ol’-boy who runs his farm and is the self-proclaimed “toughest guy in Letterkenny.”
Wayne’s friends include Daryl (played by Nathan Dales), a dairy farmer who is often the butt of the gang’s jokes; Katy (played by Michelle Mylett), Wayne’s sister and the “townie” of the group; and Squirrely Dan (played by K. Trevor Wilson), who is intelligent despite having a vocal tic. The show’s humor draws on Canadian stereotypes and idioms, with frequent references to hockey, Canadian culture, and small-town life. The series has been praised for its depiction of rural Canadian communities.
14 Orphan Black
BBC Worldwide
Get ready for an edge-of-your-seat experience with this mind-blowing sci-fi thriller with a twist. The plot of Orphan Black tells the story of Sarah (played by Tatiana Maslany), a streetwise con woman with a complicated past whose life takes a turn after witnessing the suicide of her doppelganger. After taking on the dead woman’s identity, Sarah discovers that she is part of a secret cloning experiment that threatens to destroy her and the other clones.
The show adds an interesting layer as Sarah is joined in her quest to uncover the truth by her clone sisters, including the quirky scientist Cosima Niehaus and the street-smart Alison Hendrix. Maslany’s portrayal of the different clones has won her several awards, showing her talent and how she can seamlessly slide into different characters.
13 Degrassi
CBC
To the unassuming eye, Degrassi may seem like a typical coming-of-age teenage drama series. However, Degrassi is more than that. For many Canadian teenagers, Degrassi is a show that does not shy away from discussing difficult issues that affect them. The teen drama franchise first made its debut in 1979 and has featured various character changes over the years. The plot follows a group of teenagers attending a fictional school called Degrassi Community School.
The show tackles multiple issues, including bullying, relationships, mental health, sexuality, school violence, drugs and alcohol. Degrassi is not only loved in Canada but has received international recognition due to its honest portrayal of real-life teenage issues.
12 Continuum
Showcase
Continuum is a science fiction television series that aired for four seasons from 2012 to 2015. The series stars Rachel Nichols as Kiera Cameron, a police officer from 2077 who is accidentally sent back 65 years to the year 2012 to protect the present day from a terrorist group called the Liber8. In her effort to stop Liber8, Kiera joins the Vancouver police department so that she can have inside information on their activities. She is aided by Alec Sadler (played by Erik Knudsen), a seventeen-year-old tech genius from the future, and a police detective, Carlos Fonnegra (played by Victor Webster).
Together, they must stop the terrorists from altering the course of history and ensure that the future of 2077 remains intact. As the series progresses, Kiera must also contend with the fact that her actions in the present have far-reaching consequences in the future. If you like police dramas and action but want a unique twist, then Continuum should be on your list of must-watches.
11 Heartland
Genesis InternationalEntertainment One
Set in the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta, Heartland is a family drama that follows the lives of the Fleming-Bartlett family as they try to save their nearly bankrupt ranch. Based on the books of the same name by Lauren Brooke, the show takes its viewers through the family’s happenings as they deal with the challenges of running a ranch while also struggling with their issues.
With its heartwarming portrayal of family, love and friendship, Heartland has won the hearts of many viewers and has become a fan-favorite. If you are looking for a new show to binge, all 16 seasons of Heartland are available for streaming on Netflix.
10 The Tudors
Sony Pictures Television
Die-hard fans of royal dramas like The Crown and Reign will be happy to know there’s another royal drama to sink their teeth into. The Tudors follows the life of King Henry VIII of England, his marriages to his six wives, and political relationships with his courtiers, as well as his conflicts with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. When King Henry III is unable to produce an heir, he becomes obsessed with the beautiful Anne Boleyn (played by Natalie Dormer). However, Anne refuses to marry him unless he divorces his wife, which at the time was forbidden. In his desire to have Anne for himself, King Henry III starts the process of divorcing his wife, which sparks a fight with the Roman Catholic Church.
The series takes its viewers through the politics and power struggles at the court of King Henry VIII. The cast of The Tudors is nothing short of exceptional in their portal of 16th Century England. The Tudors may not always get its historical facts right, but it makes up for it with its stellar cast and entertaining drama.
9 Sensitive Skin
HBO Canada
Sensitive Skin takes the idea of getting older and turns it into a look at how it’s easy to feel lost as the years drag by. The dark comedy-drama is a Canadian adaptation of the British show of the same name by Hugo Blick. Sensitive Skin follows Davina (played by Kim Cattrall, a woman in her 50s and her husband Al (played by Don McKellar) as they adjust to their new life in downtown Toronto after moving from the suburbs. Davina embarks on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the challenges of aging, mid-life crises, and changing relationships.
The show explores the boundaries of what it means to be a woman of a certain age and how to embrace the beauty and fragility of life. Sadly, the show was not picked up for a third season, but the two seasons are available to stream on HBO.
8 Total Drama
FreshTV
Total Drama is the perfect combination of reality TV, comedy and drama. Total Drama is undoubtedly one of the best TV shows Canada has to offer. The animated reality TV series follows twenty-two teenagers at a fictional summer camp called Camp Wawanakwa. Through a series of eliminations and twists, the contestants battle it out to be the last one standing and take home the grand prize of $100,000.
Challenges are usually related to the episode’s theme, ranging from physical challenges to problem-solving challenges. The contestants are also encouraged (sometimes forced) to form alliances, vote each other off the island, and sabotage each other. From its funny narration by the host Chris McLean and its array of interesting characters, it’s no wonder that the show has been met with critical acclaim for its humor and innovation.
7 Travelers
ShowcaseNetflix
Travelers is a science fiction series that follows a group of special operatives from the future who have had their consciousnesses sent back in time to take over the bodies of people in the 21st century in order to prevent an impending global disaster. The travelers possess the ability to “jump” into the bodies of people called hosts and take control of them. The hosts are specifically chosen because they are about to die so as not to mess with the impact on the future. Time travel might be one of the oldest and most talked about topics on TV, but Travelers has a unique take that is worth a watch.
6 Workin’ Moms
Any working mom knows that there are no one-size-fits-all answers on how to deal with the intricacies of motherhood. Catherine Reitman took this idea on and what followed is a much-beloved sitcom about the challenges of modern motherhood. Workin’ Moms follows the lives of four friends struggling to balance their personal and professional lives while navigating the world of motherhood.
The show is not only funny but features a star-studded cast that brings the real-life issues of working moms to life. Workin’ Moms is an honest and often hilarious representation of the challenges of modern motherhood, relationships, and friendship.
5 Anne with an E
CBC / Netflix
Anne with an E is the perfect show for you to delve into if you are a fan of coming-of-age stories with a picturesque setting. Based on the classic novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne with an E follows Anne Shirley (played by Amybeth Mcnulty), an independent and imaginative 13-year-old orphan who is sent to live with elderly spinster siblings Marilla (played by Geraldine James) and Matthew Cuthbert (played by R.H Thomson) in the fictional town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island.
Through the series, Anne embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure, navigating her relationships with the townspeople, discovering the meaning of family, and finding her true place in the world. Unfortunately, despite its huge fan following and critical acclaim,Anne with an E was not renewed for a third season, but you can watch the available two seasons on Netflix.
4 Frontier
Netflix
The North American fur trade is one of the most undiscussed topics of Canadian history that Frontier sheds light on. Set in the late 18th century, Frontier is a historical drama series that follows Declan Harp (played by Jason Momoa), a part-Irish, part-Cree outlaw who is determined to stop the monopoly and power the Hudson Bay company has on the North American fur trade.
Momoa gives an excellent performance as Declan Harp that will keep viewers glued to their screens. Frontier is co-produced by the Discovery Channel, so it is not only full of action and mystery but also strives to give a historically accurate version of the North American fur trade.
3 Murdoch Mysteries
Genesis International
A good detective show needs to have three main things going for it — an eccentric detective, a lovable sidekick or sidekicks, and a great mystery to solve; Murdoch Mysteries ticks all three boxes. The series centers around William Murdoch (played by Yannick Bisson), a police detective working for the Toronto Constabulary, who uses radical forensic techniques such as fingerprinting, blood testing, surveillance, and trace evidence to solve murders in the city.
With the assistance of his colleagues, Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (played by Thomas Craig), Constable George Crabtree (played by Johnny Harris) and Dr Julia Ogden (played by Helen Joy), Murdoch investigates a variety of mysteries that often have an interesting twist.
2 Wynonna Earp
IDW EntertainmentDynamic Television
Lovers of Westerns have no doubt heard of the legendary Wyatt Earp. Wynonna Earp is a supernatural Western horror television series that is based on the comic book series by Beau Smith. It follows the life of Wynonna Earp (played by Melanie Scrofano), the great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp.
After years away, Wynonna Earp travels back to her hometown of Purgatory to reluctantly take on the role that Wyatt Earp once fulfilled. Her mission is to put down the revenants, the resurrected souls of the criminals Wyatt Earp once took down. With a badass female lead and a supernatural horror theme, Wynonna Earp is worh checking out.
1 Can You Hear Me (M’entends-tu?)
Tele-Québec
Any list that talks about Canadian TV shows does its readers a disservice if it doesn’t have any Francophone representation; Canada is, after all, a French-speaking country. Can You Hear Me or (M’entends-tu?) is a French-Canadian TV series that follows the stories of three friends – Ada (played by Florence Longpré), Carolanne (played by Ève Landry), and Fabiola (played by Mélissa Bédard) who live in a low-income neighborhood in Montreal.
As they navigate their twenties, the trio struggles to figure out life and love while dealing with the daily grind of working low-paying jobs and finding their place in the world. Throughout the series, the friends face various obstacles and ultimately learn to lean on each other for support. The series delves into the real issues facing young people today, including sexuality, family and mental health but does it with a mix of comedy, drama, and heart.
