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Television·Gem Vibe Check

Do you love Heartland's beautiful Alberta landscape? Watch these shows for more epic Canadian vistas

CBC Gem is full of shows about Canada’s vast range of landscapes and wildlife.

Six CBC Gem shows that highlight stunning locations across the country.

Oliver Thompson · CBC ·
A woman riding a horse, almost in silhouette with a sunrise in the background.
“Phoenix” in Episode 1614, a jumping horse that is also shown at Spruce Meadows events. (Heartland)

Since its debut in 2007, Heartland has been praised for its idyllic portrayal of a family's life on an Albertan ranch. 

Set in the fictional town of Hudson (filmed in the High River and Millarville areas outside of Calgary), the region has endless picturesque scenery that showcases the beauty of the Alberta foothills, and fans have been fixated on the show's portrayal of Canada's natural beauty.

The new season of Heartland, with its first episode being its historic 250th, won't be out until the fall, but viewers looking to get a dose of Canada's beauty need not worry. 

CBC Gem is full of titles that explore the different landscapes across the country, and these shows are free to watch right now. 

Here are just some of them.

Still Standing

Jonny Harris sits on the beach beside a river with a middle-aged man.
Jonny Harris visited New Richmond in Québec for Season Eight of Still Standing. (Bill Bidiaque/Frantic Films)

There are so many small communities across Canada, each with their own cultures and histories, that learning more about the country can feel daunting.

Not to worry! Still Standing, hosted by comedian Jonny Harris, has you covered. Since 2015, Harris has been visiting small towns around Canada to learn more about each one's unique story and, ultimately, performing a stand-up comedy routine for each town's residents.

The show is heartfelt, hilarious and teaches you about places in Canada you may never have heard of. Plus, it features some of the best scenery that the country has to offer.

Canada's Ultimate Challenge

Canada's Ultimate Challenge cast pose on the grass just off the boardwalk in Quebec City wearing their show t-shirts.
Cast from Season One of Canada's Ultimate Challenge in Quebec City (L-R) Kimber Bernhard, Dustin Seidler, Rachael Spurling, Kenny Ho, Meaux Redhead, Julie Tower, Vincent Rojas, Jesse Benjamin, Devon MD Jones, Bradley Farquar, Louis Ngo, Mitchell Wendland (Insight Productions)

If you're a fan of getting outdoors then Canada's Ultimate Challenge is for you. 

While this show has competitors taking part in jaw-dropping challenges, it's also full of staggering views from across the country.

Watch this show right now if you want to see Canada's landscapes at their best — and if you want to see your favourite locations in B.C., Quebec, Yukon and Ontario become vast obstacle courses. 

The Wild Canadian Year

A pika chews on some grass in Banff during summer.
A pika chews on some grass in Banff during summer. (A pika enjoying summer in Banff, courtesy The Wild Canadian Year)

Anyone who knows a bit about Canadian television knows about The Nature of Things. 

Hosted by the iconic David Suzuki until his retirement in the spring of 2023, the show's The Wild Canadian Year series takes you through how wildlife changes as the seasons progress throughout our beautiful country.

From lynxes in winter to terrifying killer whales, this series will show you almost everything you need to know about Canada's wildlife. 

Race Against the Tide

A beautiful Mayan design features a man stepping out on the beach in the foreground. On sand structures can be seen along the beach in the background.
A series of awe-inspiring sand sculptures are created by artists on Season 3 of Race Against the Tide. (Riley Smith/Marblemedia)

Competition shows are a dime a dozen, but this one is different from the rest. 

Race Against the Tide sees expert sand sculptors the world over compete to create dazzling and complex art works made entirely of sand.

The catch? These artists compete in a place with some of the world's fastest tides: New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy. They only have six hours to complete their elaborate sculptures before the Bay's breathtaking waters wash away their creations. 

It's definitely a great watch, and not just for stunning East Coast landscapes, but also the dazzling artworks. 

High Arctic Haulers 

A delivery ship is escorted through the high arctic ice by two other ships
The Sedna ship gets a two Icebreaker escort to escape the High Arctic and deliver the first craft brewery to Baffin Island. (CBC High Arctic Haulers)

If you're looking for something even more nail-biting, High Arctic Haulers is for you. 

The show follows a group of tugboat crews delivering essential supplies to communities above the Arctic Circle. 

These brave sailors battle near constant ice and deadly tides within a challenging two-month window. From northern lights to icy waters, their journey also showcases the icy majesty of Canada's North.

Although it can be an intense watch, High Arctic Haulers, offers a glimpse into an arctic world that most of us haven't had the privilege of seeing. 

Landscape Artist of the Year Canada

We see a hand in the foreground, as well as a man in the background, painting at easels.
Andrew Cheddie Sookrah painting as part of Landscape Artist of the Year Canada. (CBC Arts)

Landscape painting has had a profound impact on how we as a society imagine our world, and in Canada there is a rich history of these types of artists. 

Landscape Artist of the Year takes this history and places it in the present, bringing together some of Canada's best landscape painters to capture unique places across the nation.

The talented artists are given only hours to complete a stunning interpretation of landscapes, such as Lake Rousseau and Cobourg Marina, and the results are truly breathtaking.

Watch for free on CBC Gem

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oliver Thompson

Oliver Thompson is a writer, producer and musician. Originally from the UK, where he worked for the BBC, Oliver moved to Canada in 2018.

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