The three-part natural history series reveals how plastic pollution is threatening British Columbia’s beloved marine life
World broadcast premiere airs Wednesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Cottage Life as part of the channel’s nationwide free preview event
(Toronto, ON – March 30, 2021) – This spring, Cottage Life’s all-new series, Wild Pacific Rescue, transports audiences to the rugged mountain-ringed coast of British Columbia to witness the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) in action saving and rehabilitating marine life. The three-part series offers exclusive, behind-the-scenes access into MMR’s day-to-day life-changing work, while capturing the emotional bond between the dedicated team of veterinarians and their adorable patients, including seals, sea turtles, otters and the occasional penguin. The world broadcast premiere of Wild Pacific Rescue airs Wednesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on Cottage Life, during the channel’s nationwide free preview event running until May 2 across more than 8 million Canadian households.
“We’re continuing to invest in programming that resonates with Canadians coast-to-coast, and since we know Cottage Life audiences enjoy heart-warming wildlife rescue stories, Wild Pacific Rescue was the perfect fit for the channel,” says Craig Junner, VP, Programming, Canadian Media, Blue Ant Media. “We’ve scheduled the world broadcast premiere of Wild Pacific Rescue to air during free preview so millions of Canadians across the country can witness the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue team in action.”
Led by MMR’s renowned marine veterinarian Dr. Marty Haulena, the cameras follow his team along the northwest pacific coastline to the operating rooms of a world class aquarium. Wild Pacific Rescue draws attention to one of the most serious challenges facing the world’s oceans today; plastic pollution, and how harmful the material is to marine life with scenes of sea lions and sea pups getting entangled and swallowing plastic debris. The series also sees the MMR team treat and rescue an emaciated spirited pup rescued from a local beach, a California sea lion shot by a crossbow bolt and a hypothermic sea turtle 2000 miles from its tropical home. Alongside these heart-wrenching scenes, Wild Pacific Rescue gives audiences heart-warming moments, as the team forms emotional bonds with their patients and nurtures them back to health.
Wild Pacific Rescue is created and produced by White Pine Pictures in an exclusive partnership with the Ocean Wise Conservation Association. Andrew Munger is the Series Creator. Mike Sheehan is the Director and Showrunner. Mike Sheehan, Andrew Munger and Stephen Paniccia serve as Producers. Peter Raymont and Steve Ord are Executive Producers. Wild Pacific Rescue is a co-production between Cottage Life and Love Nature. Overseeing the series for Cottage Life is Sam Linton, Head of Original Content, Blue Ant Media. James Manfull, Executive Producer, Love Nature is overseeing on behalf of Love Nature. Blue Ant International oversees licensing for Wild Pacific Rescue.
Wild Pacific Rescue airs Wednesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on Cottage Life and will be simulcast on Love Nature.
Engage with Cottage Life: @cottagelife #WildPacificRescue
Cottage Life is a Blue Ant Media multi-platform brand, celebrating the people, activities and places that make leisure time special. Exclusive content covers real estate, food, DIY projects and much more. Both informative and entertaining, no one captures the essence of weekend living like this. tv.cottagelife.com. Follow us on: Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest/YouTube
About White Pine Pictures
Founded 42 years ago, White Pine Pictures is a Toronto based film and television production company. Its productions have engaged audiences worldwide with compelling stories in documentary and dramatic form. White Pine’s work has been honoured with dozens of international awards, including two Emmys (plus two Emmy nominations), two Oscar shortlists, the Sundance Audience Award, multiple Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Editors Awards, Director’s Guild of Canada Awards, several Gold and Silver Hugos, and the Sesterce d’Argent. White Pine has become trusted suppliers to Canadian and international broadcasters and streaming services including CBC, Bell Media, TVO, Hulu, BBC, Channel4, PBS, Smithsonian, Love Nature, Starz, Super Channel, France 2, ZDF, ARTE, SVT, NHK, ABC, SBS and more. Among White Pine’s many productions is Arctic Secrets (8 x 60min), a unique journey of discovery to some of the most isolated corners of the Canadian Arctic. The series was produced in association with Blue Ant Media’s Love Nature and the Smithsonian Channel. White Pine Pictures produced the TIFF 2019 Opening Night Gala, Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band. Their award-winning documentary feature Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power streams on CBC GEM and Hulu. White Pine also produced the widely-broadcast TV drama series The Border & Cracked. www.whitepinepictures.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhitePinePictures/
Twitter: @whitepine_TO
Instagram: @whitepinepictures
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