If our stories disappear, so do we.
In the past few decades, hundreds of Canadian newspapers and broadcasters have closed while the ones that are still around are barely scraping by. We launched Tell Our Stories to fight back and preserve Canadian stories.
Canadian stories are the backbone of who we are as a country, and they are in danger of disappearing. FRIENDS has launched the Tell Our Stories campaign to fight back. In the past few decades, hundreds of Canadian newspapers and broadcasters have closed while the ones that are still around are barely scraping by. More and more people are turning to online streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ where Canadian stories are few and far between. There’s less and less room for films and shows that reflect Canadian experiences — our experiences. As long as FRIENDS exists, we'll do everything in our power to prevent that from happening.
Tell Our Stories is a bold effort to preserve Canadian stories on-air and online. We commissioned five documentary films to show that there are thousands more Canadian stories out there just waiting to be told.
We need every Canadian to join the fight, because if our stories disappear, so do we.
International streetball legend Joey Haywood a.k.a. “King Handles” honed his skills as a teenager on the courts in Vancouver. Through his personal journey to be the best in the game, filmmaker Ryan Sidhoo weaves a powerful story of a polarizing dynamics of race relations and a growing divide in the city.
When the government forcefully relocated the Ahiarmiut between 1949–1959, their entire culture and way of life was destroyed. Through the eyes of survivors Mary (Ayaaq) Anowtalik and David Serkoak, filmmaker Louise Abbott captures the story of the Ahiarmiut’s determination pursue justice and keep their history alive.
Having escaped war-torn Syria, Mustafa and his family arrived in Quebec to find a different kind of battle waiting for them: rebuilding their lives while adapting to a completely different culture and language. Filmmaker Rafaël Beauchamp follows Mustafa, his wife Heva and their two children Tulin and Marine as they navigate daily life as newcomers in Canada. This film is presented in French with English subtitles.
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Winnipeg chef Chantelle Bone is on a mission to revitalize Indigenous food culture. Filmmaker Taina da Silva trains her lens on Chentelle as she seeks out elders in her family and community to collect recipes and techniques in order to preserve for future generations.
The Summerside Kitchen Party is how a community in Prince Edward Island chooses to show up for one another. Filmmaker Louis Lalonde explores why the kitchen partygoers keep coming back every week to keep each other in good company and good spirits.
All the films are available on our YouTube channel. Sign up to join the fight at tellourstories.ca.