About this season
Comedian Jonny Harris explores small towns on the ropes, performs stand-up shows for the locals who’ve stuck it out, and proves that Canadians know how to laugh at themselves.
Episodes (13)
1. Tignish, PEI
Aired 18 September 2018 • 23 min
Residents of Tignish are banking on new initiatives to get by, like harvesting sea plants for cattle, and the opening of an interpretive venue that celebrates one of Canada’s greatest country singers, Stompin’ Tom Connors.
2. Carcross, Yukon
Aired 25 September 2018 • 23 min
Carcross has landed on the world stage in an unexpected way. From the outside, the future looks bright, but only if the local community can figure out how to welcome the outside world while protecting their land and traditional way of life.
3. Rogersville, NB
Aired 2 October 2018 • 23 min
In Rogersville, once known as the Brussels sprout capital of Canada, a new generation is using the seeds of their Acadian history to grow a new economy.
4. Fraser Lake, BC
Aired 9 October 2018 • 23 min
The people of Fraser Lake recently took a one-two punch: they lost both their largest employer and their only grocery store. But the people in this hidden gem of a town have grit for days and they are going above and beyond to take care of their own.
5. Cobalt, ON
Aired 16 October 2018 • 23 min
Cobalt was founded during one of the greatest silver mining booms in history. Now, after a decades-long slump, Cobalt is hopeful they can make good on their namesake and strike it rich mining cobalt. Mining made the town, and Cobalters, believe that mining will save it.
6. New Denmark, NB
Aired 23 October 2018 • 23 min
When Canada was in its infancy, a small but fierce group of Danish immigrants settled in northwestern New Brunswick. Today, their descendants struggle to hold on to their Danish roots and traditions with every passing generation.
7. Wilberforce, ON
Aired 30 October 2018 • 23 min
The struggling hamlet of Wilberforce is rebranding itself as a go-to outdoor destination and the geocaching capital of Canada.
8. Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, ON
Aired 6 November 2018 • 23 min
Like all of Canada’s First Nations territories, the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are focused on building a better tomorrow while keeping the traditions of their past.
9. Huntingdon, QC
Aired 13 November 2018 • 23 min
It’s been 11 years since Huntingdon’s main employers delivered their staff pink slips and shut their doors. The economic earthquake that followed was devastating. Though the community continues to struggle, there’s hope that this old textile town can reinvent itself.
10. Radisson, SK
Aired 20 November 2018 • 23 min
Radisson is experiencing a resurgence of its downtown core, led by a 13-year-old entrepreneur and his rock museum.
11. Canso, NS
Aired 27 November 2018 • 23 min
Canso has struggled since the collapse of its offshore fisheries, but now that it’s been selected as Canada’s first commercial satellite launch site, residents hope that things will soon be looking up.
12. Minto, MB
Aired 4 December 2018 • 23 min
Minto is the last town standing on an old railway line in rural, southwest Manitoba. Threatened by population decline, business shutdowns, and a school closure, a recent unexpected inheritance has created a new hope for the struggling town.
13. Wells, BC
Aired 11 December 2018 • 23 min
Wells is a former gold rush town turned arts community. A new mining project is underway that could spell a boom for the town. If it pans out, the town’s miners and artists will have to work together to share the wealth.