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- To the outside world, the town of Nelson, British Columbia - population 10,572, situated equidistant between Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta - is comprised solely of pot-smoking hippies, artists and/or US draft dodgers. While they do comprise a large proportion of the population, there are equally a number who would be considered more traditionally conservative and/or right wing among its citizens, both born and bred Nelsonites as well as those flocking to the city, often as a desirable place to retire. The one thing that binds them all together is a libertarian spirit, where everyone wants to be free to live their own utopia. But when a local political decision supports one of those utopias, it will be another citizen's hell. When in 2018 a murder occurs in the town's beloved downtown core with sitting city council taking a specific action as a reaction is thrown into this mix along with the legalization and associated regulation of the pot industry in Canada, the result is an unprecedented civic election not only in the numbers running (three mayoral candidates, and twenty-one council candidates for six seats), but also the fact that a party formed to run a slate of candidates, and a large number of candidates stated that they had never considered running until the specifics of this current time period. Beyond the process of the election campaigns where most candidates vowed not to run a nasty one despite the stark differences, a handful of Nelsonites are profiled in displaying the vast array of the citizenry and how the outcome of the election will affect them in personal and holistic ways.
- A look at the political climate in 1861 when John A. Macdonald begins suggesting Canada's confederation, six years before it happens.
- A look at a boys choir at work and at play.
- Mona left a glamorous life back home because of war. Now, she finds home in vacuum dancing.
- A lawyer unexpectedly hangs himself in his home while his wife is running an errand. Why did he do it?
- A young businessman begins drinking to cope with the stresses in his life. His wife struggles to get him to stop as he begins to embarrass himself in public and to lose effectiveness at work. He is not helped by his friend Pete, who continually eggs him on to drink more. But with the help of a doctor and his wife's encouragement, the young man begins to see hope for an end to his addiction.
- Quinn suspects his uncle knows more than he's saying about Beck's involvement in the blackmail scheme.
- The Carlsons embark on their time traveling experiment of experiencing Canadian winters in the past starting in the 1940s, their house gutted of their 2019 conveniences. In this decade, Melanie, the "housewife", will spend most of her time in the kitchen doing domestic duties, not only cooking, but cleaning. In the early part of the decade, the meals will be affected by the war, with the prime cuts of meat sent overseas to the troops. Being winter, fresh produce is in short supply, meaning fruits and vegetables will be from cans, they often preserved in some fashion, such as dried. With Melanie stuck in the kitchen, Dave is largely forced outside to ensure his family is kept warm. Dave will also have to do his part in providing for the dinner table, and not only in being the breadwinner. Dave will also have to ensure they as a family know what the weather will be like, such knowledge which may ensure survival and which cannot be ascertained by an app on his phone. With long range forecasting a thing of the future, families were forced to stock up on supplies just in case an unexpected storm results in loss of power. The war also affected social activities, games which often had a military theme. To stay warm, activities often took place inside, but also had a practical side, such as quilting. They end the decade having some fun outside with Dave waxing the equipment before they all head down the hill on a wooden toboggan.
- As the Carlsons usher in the 70s, both Melanie and Dave are hoping that there will be a greater gender balance of responsibility in the kitchen, with reality being that they will have to wait until mid-decade for that to happen. Technological advances, greater globalization and a recession in the early part of the decade led to the want for convenience with a greater array of products, including fresh produce, but with a cost consciousness thrown in for the greater use of budget cuts of meat. This combination also saw more global flavors, especially tropical, even in the winter, less expensive activities to the norm, such as cross country skiing as opposed to downhill skiing, the advent of curling for both sexes and at home yoga with shows such as "Kareen's Yoga", and more DIY projects to make life easier in the long run, such as roof rakes to clear snow, and for the girls home French manicure kits to help them take care of their nails, especially important in the winter. By the mid to end of the decade, the word was novelty to match the outrageousness of the disco era, with toys for especially the younger generation all about wackiness with no thought of safety, or more precisely lack thereof.
- Issues surrounding the incorporation of what is now known as the Province of British Columbia in 1871 is presented. It is posited that the Fraser Canyon War of 1858 is the most influential factor leading to the creation of the province, the war surrounding largely American miners who came north for the gold rush fighting against the indigenous population, and the subsequent attention that it brought to the British authorities for this outpost which up to that point in time had been largely ignored until what looked to be the American desire to annex it because of the gold. The origins of the name "British Columbia", the reason behind the merging of what were the separate British colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, both largely support for the fur trade, to form the province, and the reason for choosing what was then Fort Victoria as the capital are discussed. Further discussions surround the laying of the framework for various levels of government to assimilate into western and/or quash the indigenous culture, such later measures as the creation of the residential school system and the enactment of the Indian Act, which in its original form banned what most indigenous peoples see as the center of their culture, namely the potlatch.
- British Columbia has historically been a region of resource based industries, beginning with coal mining, the salmon fishery and associated canning, which has required a manual labor force, albeit one that benefited from knowing the local situation, which many of the managers and administrators, some proverbial robber barons, had no idea. This situation has led to a history of a strong labor movement and associated activism. These industries also led to immigration largely by visible non-Europeans to support these industries. While Chinese immigration is well known, albeit not associated to the coal mining in central Vancouver Island as is the case, as is the Japanese immigration associated to the salmon fishery, the black immigration from the United States is less well known, that situation slightly different in that it was largely to escape the racial oppression faced south of the border. Labor and the labor movement in association to WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, and the post-war suburbanization and the quest for a society-wide comfortable life is presented, with an emphasis on the half of the population not associated with much of this work, namely the female population.
- 202158m7.6 (5)TV EpisodeThe indigenous population has inhabited what is today called British Columbia for a few thousand years. It has only been the last two and half centuries that other ethnic groups began migrating to the area for whatever reason, most in search of a better life than from where they came. When the British starting migrating there in the mid-nineteenth century, there was already a significant Chinese population in addition to the existing indigenous population. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR), which was largely built on the backs and lives (in that many did not survive the dangerous work) of the Chinese, opened up British Columbia to migration from the rest of Canada, which meant primarily white people of British ancestry. The established geopolitical system being British allowed for the enactment of policies and legislation which not only discriminated against the existing indigenous and Chinese populations, but made it difficult for people of color in general to migrate to what was now British Columbia - not only the Chinese (although much legislation was directed specifically at limiting Chinese migration), but other east Asians, primarily Japanese, south Asians, and to a lesser extent blacks migrating from the United States. Stories of the Japanese internment during WWII, the persecution of the Doukhobors, an already globally marginalized ethnic group, in the 1940s, and American contentious objectors - also referred to as draft dodgers - of the 1960s and 1970s are also told as part of the migration aspect of British Columbia's history.
- Twenty-one year old Heather lives with her parents, Les and Susan, and one of her two older sisters, Amber. Heather does nothing to help around the house, often leaving a mess in her wake. Her other older sister, Seana, recently got married, and Amber is doing the same soon. Heather is in both wedding parties, and has made her participation in both all about her, and not about her sisters. She is a college student and works part time in retail, all her money and more which goes to her own wants. She has switched majors several times with no clear goal of what she wants to accomplish with her life, not understanding that it costs money to go to school, more the longer she prolongs the process. As such, she has racked up student loans in the amount of $25,000 so far. Heather would be deeper in debt if it wasn't for Les and Susan paying for most of her day to day needs. In summary, Heather plays the baby of the family who needs to be taken care of to the hilt. Gail has to get Heather to take responsibility for her life choices including repairing her family relationships, get her to set career goals so that she can focus on completing her education, and get her to spend time doing things which don't cost a lot of money.
- 2011– 45m6.8 (5)TV EpisodeIn the 1960's, the baby boomers, just reaching adulthood, increasingly factor into the propaganda battle of the Cold War. Although physical barriers, most notably the Berlin Wall, keep each side isolated from the other, they can't stop such items such as American and British rock music from crossing over, as hard as the Communists try forging their own brand of pop rock music with political messaging. In the space race, the Soviets clearly are winning the battle, with both sides trying to do whatever in space first, until President Kennedy makes a bold move which may ultimately put the west ahead if he and the Americans can achieve his proclamation. On the ground, both sides take a major hit internally with their propaganda machines, the US with the release of photos from one of their own about a massacre of civilians in Vietnam, and the Soviet Union with their actions to the Prague Spring and what the young activists in Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union do in response. In the 1970's, much of the battle returns to the realm of the cultural - most specifically sports - with the Olympics, and the Canada-Russia summit series being two such examples. But the most dramatic of these sporting battles may be the Fischer/Spassky world championship chess competition.
- In the 1980s, three people dominated the propaganda agenda in the Cold War. The first is US President Ronald Reagan, a staunch anti-Communist who would do anything to denounce it while putting the US in a positive light. He wanted to look tough, especially through a military build-up since he believed the Soviets far out-muscled the Americans militarily. But his propaganda changed as world issues around him changed, most specifically Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov inviting Maine schoolgirl Samantha Smith to the Soviet Union for a goodwill visit, and the Soviet military shooting down a commercial jet in Soviet airspace. The second is Polish national Pope John Paul II. His succession to Pope was at a tenuous time in Poland. But his anti-Communist stance allowed Lech Walesa and Solidarity to rise in Poland. However, the Communists would not go down in Poland without a fight, which was led by General Wojciech Jaruzelski. And the third is Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. Despite being a Communist, his growing up period during Stalin's reign shaped his view that Communism should be transparent, which was dubbed glasnost. Although Gorbachev was viewed with great esteem worldwide, he was viewed less so by the Soviet peoples who saw that the propaganda did not match their reality.
- It's Chocolate Week, it an ingredient some fear in it being temperamental. For the signature, the bakers are each asked to make eight ice cream sandwiches using their own made ice cream and cookies. While they can incorporate any other flavors they want, the final product has to be chocolate forward. For the technical, they are asked to make something they've probably heard of before but may have never made: a sacher torte. Beyond the regular components for judging, Bruno an Kyla are also looking for the word "sacher" written on top in one fluid motion. And for the showstopper, they each have to make a chocolate reveal dessert. The chocolate shell has to be made out of tempered chocolate, and each baker can choose how they want the reveal to happen - melting, breaking or any other form of "destroying" the shell - to show the dessert hidden under the shell.
- For the signature on this, Pastry Week and the quarter-finals, the bakers are each asked to make something which many would never have heard of before let alone made, namely eight Kürtöskalács, also known as chimney cakes, which are unusual in that the pastry component is leavened with yeast. Unlike regular chimney cakes, they are to fill what is coiled cone, which may compromise the cake itself, especially if the coiling was not not done tightly enough. Conversely if they make the coils too tight, they risk having the pastry not cooked all the way through. For the technical, they are each asked to make a mango rose tart, the defining characteristic being the fresh fruit top designed to look like a rose, the lily gilded in they also to decorate the tart with mango "caviar". And for the showstopper, they are each to make a baklava tower, using at least two different flavors. The difficulty is that they aren't shopping the freezer section of the supermarket in having to make their own phyllo pastry in it being Pastry Week.
- The contestants arrive back to the ranch from Hawaii without Kimmy, who was the eliminated contestant after the latest weigh-in and vote. Their first task is a pop challenge, one of each packing one hundred fifty 15-20 pound boxes onto a truck, the first person to do so winning a one pound advantage at this week's weigh-in. They also win an over 30,000 pound delivery of food to their local food bank courtesy of Newman's Own. The contestants who don't win that challenge have motivation of their own to complete the challenge. Because of the week's theme of "exercise is boring", the trainers decide to change up their workouts, one of Dolvett's which Buddy allows himself to let loose. Bob decides to focus his attentions this week on Megan, who he feels has not yet reached her potential. The week's challenge is a cooking one where each contestant will have seven minutes to shop and twenty minutes to prepare an entrée which will be judged on creativity, taste and health by three season 12 contestants. The winning contestant wins $1,000 for every pound lost this week. That surprise winner takes the challenge of losing as much weight as possible to heart. Another contestant takes a comment from the challenge also to heart, which may set that person's weight loss journey on a backward trajectory.
- First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes the final six contestants, their families and the trainers into the White House. She congratulates them on their weight loss and associated health journeys. Both Bob and Dolvett lead the group, including the First Lady, in a twenty minute workout at the White House. The contestants also learn from Mrs. Obama that they each are in the running for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. The competition consists of Americans signing up under the banner of one of the six to lead a healthy lifestyle for six consecutive weeks. The contestant who has the most people complete the challenge under their banner will have a furnished gym built in their hometown. Being away from the ranch provides the contestants contact with home, one which leads to an emotional breakdown and a binge eating session. That contestant, who eventually gets back on track with help from his/her trainer, will see if that binge negatively affects the weight loss for the week. At the post weigh-in vote back at the ranch, one contestant who does fall below the yellow line learns that he/she is not as alone in the ranch as he/she believed.
- Princess Lasia just had her 30th birthday, and so far, her life hasn't turned out the way she wanted. She's making less money than ever, and finds herself begging her parents to pay her bills. She's racked up so much debt she can't imagine how she'll ever move out of her grandparents' home. She's stuck! Enter financial expert Gail Vaz-Oxlade who challenges Lasia to re-think her approach to finances and fun.
- In this the semi-finals, the four remaining bakers have to deal with fancy desserts which means that decoration will be even more paramount than usual. For the signature, they will each have to make ten mochi donuts - all making two different varieties - the texture which is key, namely crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. For the technical, each baker will make a sans rival, the Filipino version of the French Dacquiose, the nut used being the cashews instead of hazelnuts. They will have to contend with the fact that it is extremely hot in the tent which can compromise many elements of the dessert. And for the showstopper, each baker will make a jelly art cake, the top layer which will traditionally be a decorative jelly which has to be firm enough to withstand gravity but not too firm to be rubbery to the bite. These three challenges precede the announcement of which three will go into next week's final and which one will receive the heartbreaking news of being eliminated at this last hurdle.
- Twenty year old Ashley worked as a dispatcher for a towing company, having just lost that job. She likes the feeling when she spends money on herself, feeling incomplete if she leaves a mall without buying something. Ashley's mom, Brenda, spoils Ashley now since she couldn't when she raised Ashley as a single mom. Brenda cannot resist Ashley's pout, which works on her each and every time. Brenda estimates she has spent $10,000 on Ashley in the past year alone. Brenda still is not financially well off nor is Brenda's mom who still works and lives with them, but Brenda still spends on Ashley's wants and needs. Ashley still lives in their rented apartment rent-free. In addition, Ashley owns a car, while Brenda doesn't. What Brenda won't buy for Ashley, Ashley's boyfriend Jordan will, he estimating he spending $7,000 on Ashley in the past year, going into debt himself in the process. Ashley has dreams of living in a mansion and working in her own salon, which are attainable as Ashley does work hard, but she needs to get her spending under control. Ashley is currently $17,000 in debt. Gail makes Ashley contribute in sweat equity to the home she has taken for granted, gives Ashley a sense if hairdressing truly is the career she wants, and makes her work toward what she ultimately chooses as that career goal.
- After receiving a lesson in the skills of reversing from Tim, the eight nominees embark on the first competitive challenge, to reverse through a course. The extra pressure is that they perform the challenge head-to-head with another nominee. They are also given one small twist to see if they understand the theory of reversing taught to them by Tim, rather than doing the task by muscle memory. After receiving a lesson on rear tires not following front tires in a turn from Philippe, the eight embark on their second challenge, driving the trough, which entails knowing where their tires are at all times, especially in tight turns. And after receiving a lesson in the proper shoulder check technique from Tim, they embark on their third challenge, which requires them to do both a left and right shoulder check at high speed before changing lanes to avoid hitting an obstacle straight in front of them. This challenge is especially difficult for Kevin who has no peripheral vision on his right side. Another nominee is given another lesson on this course to overcome his major issue. When meeting the panel after the three challenges, only one of the eight feels ready to graduate. Although there is some hesitancy by the panel to graduate anyone, they do have a short list of two people, one of who is named the first graduate of the season.
- With Robert Cardenas being named the first graduate of the season, seven nominees remain at the Centre. Those seven are given an examination of street signs, at which most are inept. As many of the nominees have a problem of driving while trying to multitask, they are then told to drive a course while doing several other tasks behind the wheel. Their first true challenge is the annual eye of the needle challenge at which they are to drive at 70 kph, which ends up being an issue for some in looking at their speedometer while at the same time driving the course. These first two driving challenges result in three of the worst exhibitions of driving ever at the Centre, with one perhaps being the scariest and potentially the most tragic. The last challenge is to reverse a school bus through a figure eight course, which teaches the nominees the importance of using their mirrors. While talking to the panel, only one nominee feels ready to graduate. Although that nominee is on the short list of two, that person does not receive the most votes. Will the panel graduate the person who feels ready to leave, or the person they feel deserves to leave?
- With Margherita Donato being named the most recent graduate, there are three nominees remaining at the Centre who will be in the finale for the running of Canada's Worst Driver: Kevin Simmons, Flora Wang, and Diane Zbierski. Their first challenge, which they each have ten attempts and fifty seconds per attempt to complete, is a forward and reverse slalom course. The challenge is considered easy, but two still have problems completing it. Their second challenge is the annual mega-challenge, where each is required to use all the knowledge learned at the Centre to maneuver through a set course. The sections on the course include an eye of the needle section, a forward and reverse precision driving section, and reverse and forward 180 flick sections. Their final challenge is to drive through a preset route through the streets and highways around Hamilton, Ontario with Andrew as their passenger and adjudicator. The panel shortlist two as the worst, and come to a split decision with Andrew as the final vote, he who would rather that one of the four experts change their vote to determine this year's titlist of Canada's Worst Driver. Regardless, all five on the panel agree that the two on the shortlist should voluntarily give up driving for their and others' protection.
- As their introduction to the nine new contestants, Alejandra and the judges want to get a sense of who they are on a plate. The first challenge for which the contestants have sixty minutes, the judges want to get to know them as a person by asking them to make what they consider their signature dish. The second challenge for which the contestants have ninety minutes, the judges ask them to make a dish representative of place, namely where they live, meaning that it is their spin on something they consider local. Alejandra and the judges have a surprise announcement to the contestants after the conclusion of the two challenges.
- After last week's surprise announcement that no one would be eliminated at the end of week one, Alejandra and the judges provide the contestants with further surprise announcements before this week's two challenges. First, Michael Thomas has dropped out of the competition and thus will not be returning. And second, all the remaining home cooks will stay for the duration of the competition up until the finale in a different format for this season. In an effort to make the contestants' recipes even better, the judges want to provide their critiques and expertise to all the cooks' dishes which the cooks will hopefully take to heart to improve their cooking week to week. However, Alejandra and the judges will rank each cook in each challenge with the finale solely to consist of the three highest ranked contestants over the entire course of the competition. This week's two challenges focus on the pantry. For the first challenge, for which they have forty-five minutes, the cooks are to make their last minute go-to weekday dinner, namely what they would make with what is routinely stocked in their pantry. For the second challenge, for which they have sixty minutes, the cooks are to make a dish tied to who they are centered on a pantry staple, namely noodles.
- George Quimby is on the campaign trail creating one disaster after another. The 2Petes produce a campaign video for Angus. Daniel continues with his web of deceit and forgets his first date with Lindsay.
- Andrew introduces the nine former students of the Drivers' Rehabilitation Centre who have been brought back to compete for the infamous title of Canada's Worst Driver Ever. As Andrew explains their first task to them, which is to drive to the Centre at Dunnville Airport (about an hour's drive away), he tells a little about who the nine seem to be today compared to who they were when they were first students of the Centre. A few admit to have improved their driving dramatically in large part from their experience at the Centre, a few don't seem to have changed their bad driving habits at all, while some others seem to have picked up additional bad driving habits. One in particular doesn't even attempt this first task for a reason of that person's own doing. At the Centre, they are given an assessment test, in which they are required to reverse in a curved course, maneuver within a confined space, and do a slalom at 50kph. After these first two tasks, Andrew believes there are a few who cannot be rehabilitated, and who should voluntarily stop driving forever. One does make the vow to give up driving if named Canada's Worst Driver Ever. The nine then face the panel of experts for the first time, who deliberate on if anyone should graduate. Andrew explains that as this season is special, there are no set rules meaning no one ever needs to graduate, and more than one person can graduate at any given time. The panel contemplates sending two people home, one as a graduate because of good driving skills, and one for a totally different reason.
- As Natalie awaits the results of her latest biopsy, she continues her relationship with Andrew, who she has not yet told about her cancer. She is given some news about her job, that news which she accepts with mixed feelings. Maggie tries to move on from her decision to quit her less than happy job, which is more difficult than she imagines, while she receives some surprising news concerning her relationship with Simon and Sarah. Matthew and Nicole discuss what the return of Natalie's cancer means for them in their previous offer to act as the guardians for Natalie's children. Oliver continues to feel alienated to his parents, while Janine and thus Gerald learn some news about Oliver's life in Los Angeles, which further demonstrates how alienated he feels to them. Caleb learns some news which affects his living situation with Ariel. In light of her feelings toward Jayden, Emma goes to her Uncle Matthew in a semi-professional context, his response which too is a mixture of him being a doctor yet her uncle. Romy continues to kick and scream going into her first therapy session, which may be the start of a new relationship for someone else in the Lawson family. And D. continues to purge her life of her marriage.
- While avoiding Andrew's texts, Natalie decides to take D.'s advice at least to speak to a woman named Sybil, a "cellular reprogrammer" who D. believes can help Natalie emotionally. Beyond believing what Sybil does a crock, especially in how she purportedly helped D. with her issue, Natalie has to decide what to take away from the session, including whether she should tell the kids about her cancer. While she begins to worry about what she will do for a job, Maggie has to decide what to do about her love and sex life in light of her truly not identifying herself to be either lesbian or bisexual, and Simon's marriage proposal to Sarah. As Matthew and Nicole make Natalie face up to certain legal realizations about her imminent death, Matthew tries to cover up some lies he has been perpetrating to Nicole. The stress that Oliver is feeling about the situation with Tom begins to manifest itself in his life. Caleb receives some news from Ariel which complicates his decision to move home. Through non-disclosure, Emma tries to hide certain things she is doing in becoming closer to Jayden, which does not sit well with Natalie. Natalie places Romy's therapist in a difficult predicament as Romy still does not trust him. And Janine begins to question her religion/family balance.
- Natalie finally tells her children about the return of her cancer without ever using the words "die" or "death". Each of the three takes the news differently based partly on other things happening in their lives. As Caleb already knew seeing news of Natalie's biopsy on D.'s refrigerator, he wants especially Emma to step up more this time around than she did during Natalie's first bout of cancer, as he is currently preoccupied with Ariel's pregnancy and what it means holistically for his life, the pregnancy about which he has not yet told anyone. Romy wants to know everything so that she can prepare herself for what is to come. Emma is the one who takes the news the hardest, the news which she wallows in with other issues going on in her life. With her children now in the know, Natalie reaches out for emotional support of her own from wherever she can find it, even from her extremely devout mother. Maggie takes some steps to get back into the workforce, while she receives an unexpected proposition from Simon and Sarah. Matthew continues to hide a certain aspect of his life from Nicole, who begins to suspect that he indeed is keeping something from her, not knowing what that something is. Oliver begins to suspect that his parents know about Tom, not having told anyone in his family except Matthew. Gerald has his own thoughts about Oliver in light of the situation. Oliver also runs into Lucas, Romy's therapist, socially.
- Natalie organizes a birthday dinner for Emma that nobody wants.
- Natalie struggles to convince Caleb to accept responsibility for his criminal actions.
- With Natalie's decision to switch the focus of her remaining columns to her illness and imminent death, she gets reaction from all sides. With it, she also comes to some conclusions about a question previously asked of her: "Do you want to die happy?" As such, she decides to go on an overnight retreat with Andrew, the nature of which she doesn't tell him until they get there. Natalie designates Emma as the head of household while she's away as Caleb has an engagement he would rather not miss, he not divulging to his mother that it is a date with D. Emma gets into situations which end up being over her head, but which may provide her with a clearer picture of certain aspects of life, while Romy is the one who makes a connection from the situation. Matthew's lies catch up to him, and he unexpectedly turns to the one person available for guidance. Maggie makes a decision about her relationship with Simon and Sarah. Oliver, still in Los Angeles, makes some decisions of his own about his Los Angeles life, past, present and future.
- It's the summer. Caleb, who is supposedly taking classes toward his architecture degree, has told no one in his family that he has dropped out, wanting to do something else with his life. Natalie wants Emma to get her first ever summer job so that she can feel comfortable that Emma will have some sense of responsibility after she's gone, something that Emma does not understand in her want to have yet another fun, relaxing, work-free summer. And Romy is in summer school. Natalie has entered the drug trial, which she is writing about in her column. Beyond the positive feedback she has been receiving about those recent columns, Natalie will discover there are negative consequences to her writing about it. In general, Natalie is feeling good health-wise, which is a double-edged sword in that she has not felt any of the trial drug's known side effects, which in her mind probably means that she is in the control group taking placebos. Romy takes it upon herself to find out as much as she can about her mother's position in the drug trial to have a sense of comfort. What is causing Natalie grief is that David has retained legal counsel so that he will have some say in what happens with Emma and Romy if Natalie passes. Natalie is determined to keep the fact that Matthew and Nicole are having marital issues from David, that fact which David would probably use against her in the guardianship issue. Meanwhile, Nicole will still not speak to Matthew unless necessary in her anger about his infidelity. Matthew, who is living with his parents, wants truly to be a part of Julian's life as his father, while wanting Nicole and he to reconcile, the two which may be incompatible. And Oliver has moved out of Maggie's apartment, leaving her in a financial bind in making rent. Beyond working extra shifts at the restaurant to earn more money, Maggie may find an alternative to her problem.
- Natalie will learn the results of her latest scan - the first scan done since she started the drug trial - at the end of the working day, the results which could provide some clue as to her prognosis. As such, she is a bit anxious as she tries to take her mind off the appointment. Of her two offspring that know about the appointment, she has told Emma and Romy that they need not accompany her. Emma has to work anyway, and Romy is still secretly trying to eke out an independent life if and when her mother passes. Beyond the bittersweet task of returning Jude to his rightful owner, Natalie, in mapping out her day, has decided to help Matthew in the move to his new apartment, and in a separate visit talk to Nicole about an issue in light of her and Matthew's separation. But it's an unexpected stop in her travels for the day that may bring the issue of the scan home for her. Meanwhile, Maggie confides in Raza her concern about Oliver, that concern based on what she saw of his apartment. What Maggie is unaware of is how desperate Oliver is in making good on the one window of opportunity he has found in making a go of his art career in Montréal. Maggie's concern for her brother takes a back seat to a last minute item in her day: a lunch invitation which Raza has accepted for the two of them with her parents. Janine's efforts to place Maggie and Raza's marriage into a context she can understand and accept may not sit well with her rebellious daughter, especially based on what Maggie saw of her own parents' marriage while she was growing up.
- At Janine's funeral, which takes place five days after Natalie's surgery to repair her ruptured intestine, there is a late arrival in the form of Caleb, who finally gets the messages left for him regarding the goings-on in the family, including what happened to his mother. Caleb comes with unexpected "baggage". Janine's death marks a turning point for many in the family. Oliver, who has been the lost one in the family of late, knows that he has to be there for his father, and makes a decision concerning his new relationship with JD in light of all that is going on, including his continued financial issues. Maggie has to decide what to do about her fake marriage to Raza in light of the fact that she is in love with him while he doesn't return her affections in that way. Matthew is blindsided by a declaration by Nicole despite the resumption of their sexual relationship. Matthew also receives some news from Béatrice which adds an extra layer of complexity with regard to his two families. And Natalie learns that the ruptured intestine was probably the result of her body unable to tolerate the increased dosage of the trial drug. As such, she is removed from the trial indefinitely. Viewing this as a setback in her recovery, Natalie has to make some tough decisions regarding what she feels is best for herself, both with regard to her health and her family, especially Emma and Romy. Emma shows that she is growing up faster than she had previously demonstrated as witnessed by a decision she makes regarding work. And in light of Romy's decision that she wants to live with her father instead of Matthew if Natalie passes away, Natalie decides to give Romy some freedom to make an informed decision regarding all aspects of her life.
- It's the day of Maggie's housewarming party, to which she's invited the entire family minus Matthew, the two who still are not speaking to each other. Despite Maggie having moved frequently in her life, she has ulterior motives for holding this party, which the guests will discover, her family members who may or may not tell her to her face what they think about her decision based on that motive. Prior to the party, Natalie, believing that her dizzy spells are signs that she is actually taking the experimental drug in the blind drug trial, wants to have what she considers a perfect day - a "normal" day doing something special - which means spending time with her kids. As they are all busy - most just wanting to avoid issues they are hiding from her - Natalie instead turns to Tia, her new friend from the support group, who may have a different view of what a perfect day constitutes. The offspring who truly does have a planned morning is Emma, who has probably decided to accept her father's invitation for lunch, the invitation which she has not told her mother. Matthew, in trying to mend his own broken family, has a day outing planned with Abby, and figures the best way to get back on Nicole's good side is accommodation. Following the party, Matthew decides to confront David in learning what he is trying to do in reentering Emma and Romy's lives. In the process, Matthew may get a better picture of his own family dysfunction. And Oliver seriously considers Romy's request to live with him instead of Matthew if her mother passes away.
- It's the day after Maggie's housewarming and Natalie's special day out with Tia. Natalie is not feeling well to the point of being incapacitated, she and Dr. Basra believing the symptoms side effects of the trial drug. On Dr. Basra's orders, Natalie, who does not want her parents involved, calls in her siblings for support, which may be difficult for Matthew and Maggie, who still are not talking to each other. Natalie doesn't want to burden her children, each who is going through his or her own issue. The one offspring of who she does request something is Caleb, which is to provide testimony against David in any legal proceedings involving Emma and Romy's custody if and when she dies, David who has been trying to negotiate with Natalie without lawyers without she even taking his calls. Caleb also decides to act the head of the house by tackling the broken refrigerator on his own without professional assistance. Emma is preoccupied with the one job for which she has an interview today, which she doesn't really want to admit she wants for self-esteem. And Romy decides to be more proactive in dealing with her anxiety. Natalie is unaware that her siblings are in turn dealing with their own issues, about which they probably would have turned to her for support. Matthew believes he may have opened a door with Nicole in dealing with their marital problems, that belief which may not be reality. Maggie may not be as emotionally prepared for her "marriage" to Raza as she thought. And Oliver learns that he and Romy are not quite on the same page regarding her custody following Natalie's death, Oliver who is reconsidering Romy's want to be his ward instead of Matthew's.
- Host Andrew Younghusband talks about unlucky number thirteen, this season being being the thirteenth for the show, before he introduces the eight nominees for this season chosen from the approximately five hundred applications. They are: twenty-five year old Adam Bourre, who has been fearful of driving ever since he had an accident on an icy road and which belies the fact that he had dreams of being a driver or driving instructor as a career when he was younger; Ashley Dunne, as fearful and emotional behind the wheel as her nominator, season 11's Canada's Worst Driver Jillian Matthews, who professes now to be reformed in her lack of fear behind the wheel; Shayne Greer, an overly cautious driver due to being struck as a pedestrian when he was thirteen, that accident in which he sustained serious injuries including possibly a still problematic brain injury which may be affecting his cognitive skills; Melanie Lautard a single mother of four, two who have special needs, with her biggest driving issue being self-doubt; Travis Murray, a timid man, his timidity which translates into his driving as demonstrated by often waiting several minutes at intersections before entering; Joe Palozzi, a reckless driver who constantly flaunts rules to get a thrill, but who mistakenly believes his driving is not unsafe; nineteen year old Breanna Pratley, who has been paranoid about dying behind the wheel ever since she and some friends were T-boned in a serious accident several years ago, which has led to her refusing to drive on the highway; and Julie Wrzesien, who has had several accidents due to impatience, but who never feels the financial burden of her accidents as others in her life bail her out. With the exception of Travis who is provided an exemption due to needing to attend a previously agreed to engagement, the nominees have as their first task to drive the predetermined approximately ninety minute route with their nominator in the back seat to the Drivers' Rehabilitation Centre at Dunnville Airport. At the Centre, all eight nominees are then subjected to an assessment drive, consisting of a enclosed and slightly curvilinear reversing section, a tight maneuvering section through a concrete-barriered course, and a 50kph slalom. The car they will be using, a new 2017 Camaro, is equipped with a back-up camera - a first in the show's history - to provide use of the latest automobile technology and thus simulate real life driving in today's world. The eight then meet the expert panel for the first time, the panel who provide their initial thoughts.
- With Shayne Greer being named the latest graduate, there are three nominees remaining at the Centre who are in the finale for the running of Canada's Worst Driver: Adam Bourre, Ashley Dunne, and Melanie Lautard. Their first challenge, which they each have ten attempts and forty-five seconds per attempt to complete, is a forward and reverse slalom course. Andrew decides at the last second to implement something new to the challenge to help the drivers succeed. Their second challenge is the annual mega-challenge, where each is required to use all the knowledge learned at the Centre to maneuver through a set course. The sections on the course include a combined eye of the needle/slalom section, a forward and reverse precision driving section which includes a turnaround corral, a reverse flick section, and an icy corner section the approach to which has two more needles. Their final challenge is to drive through a preset route through the streets and highways around Hamilton, Ontario with Andrew as their passenger and adjudicator. The final challenge is altered this year to deal with specific issues of the three finalists and to keep them and Andrew as safe as possible. The person named Canada's Worst Driver may come down to one event during the public drives, and if the panel believes the seriousness of that event makes that driver the worst.
- With Ryan Whittier being named the first graduate of the season, he the first ever to do so at the end of the first episode in a regular season of the show, there are six nominees left in the running for the title of Canada's Worst Driver. The first challenge is the annual riding the rails, which the nominees must do forward and in reverse, the challenge designed to see if they know where their wheels are at all times. The one change this season is that the car will be equipped with a bird's eye camera which will allow the drivers to see where their wheels are via the screen attached to the camera. The question then becomes whether any of them will use the technology and if it will help. The second challenge is a head to head reversing challenge through a curvilinear enclosed course. Tim will give the nominees a lesson in reversing which will also include how to use their backup camera which should only be used as an aid, and not a means to the end. Tim also gives special instruction to Brandon, who cannot reverse in traditional means due to his broken left arm in a cast. And as Darris has shown in the assessment that he knows how to reverse, Tim instead takes him on a two hour public drive to gauge his on road emotions and if the rage is still there. And the third challenge is the annual eye of the needle, with the five needles being set in a random pattern, and the course need to be driven at 70 kph. Philippe provides a lesson to each of the drivers as to the principle of looking where one wants to go in completing this challenge successfully. During the evaluation, the experts' only question is whether to graduate Darris, who knows how to drive, and even if they don't believe he is telling the truth in being a reformed person, whether there is anything else they can do for him at the Drivers' Rehabilitation Centre. Some things that Darris divulges about his family history may factor into the decision.
- With Karlene Bowen named the most recent graduate, albeit under less than usual circumstances, four nominees remain at the Centre in the running for the Season 14 title. Before the nominees embark on their challenges for the week, Andrew acknowledges a letter received from a viewer, Will Banda, who credits the show for saving his and others' lives in teaching him how to do the swerve and avoid which prevented a serious accident from occurring. Unlike aware Mr. Banda, Tim has noticed that all four of the remaining nominees suffer from a lack of focus which is a large part of the reason for their respective bad driving history and which could be improved by using the technique of the running commentary: saying everything out loud about what is relevant to them while behind the wheel. The first challenge is the know your limits challenge, where they must do a slalom at 70kph with the barriers around which they will slalom being forty meters apart, this course which should be easily doable. They then will be given another opportunity to do the course again with whatever distance between the barriers they choose, to see if they truly understand their driving limits, thus not placing themselves in unnecessary dangerous situations on the road in the real world. The second challenge is the cross, where in an enclosed corral, the nominees will have to back into each of the four spokes set at right angles in the corral. The third challenge, which Andrew considers the most difficult to master of all the regular challenges, is the icy corner, where the nominees have to reach a speed of 50kph before hitting a simulated icy patch, out of which they must turn ninety degrees to the left to avoid hitting a wall straight ahead. Going into the panel deliberation, the experts face an unprecedented scenario of having the three finalists decided for them. The question becomes whether the fourth nominee should join the other three in next week's finale, or whether he/she should graduate this week.
- A look at the history of arctic travel and the perils confronting early explorers.
- Legends associated with the lost treasures of Incan gold, thought to be located at the bottom of one of the many shafts of what is called the Hawk's Nest above the city of Cusco, Peru are presented. These stories begin in 1531 with the arrival of explorer Francisco Pizarro, under the direction of King Charles V of Spain, Pizarro who is in search of the gold associated with the legendary El Dorado. Pizarro holds captive the Emperor of the Incas, Atahualpa, to discover the location of the gold. Atahualpa, in turn, promises a cave full of gold for his release. Receiving some gold, Pizarro, not trusting Atahualpa, murders him without ever finding the location of the gold, thought to be twenty thousand shiploads full, worth, in today dollars, in the billions. Legend now has it that the Incas have placed a curse on the gold to avenge Atahualpa's murder, the several attempts by outsiders to locate it leading to tragedy. Coincidence or curse?
- With his dog, a boy is out in a meadow flying his kite. What happens is that the kite starts to fly the boy instead as they are whisked upward into the clear blue sky. The boy and the kite encounter things in the sky that he could see from the ground, but the higher and higher they go, the more otherworldly are the things he encounters. But if he goes up, is there a way he will make his way back down?
- After his discharge from the military and a stint in the war, young Bruce Adams returns to his home town and his work in the coal mine, the primary industry in the town. Despite not liking the work, he believes it's his destiny as his philosophy is "once a miner, always a miner". His father, Bob Adams, was a miner, who died in an accident in the mines. Without a place to stay, Bruce is taken in by John Roberts, who knew his father as a fellow miner but who Bruce does not know personally. Despite the hardships and the meager pay, John is fiercely proud of his work. As Bruce gets resettled into life in the town, he sees his life there through renewed eyes, especially after attending a union meeting and hearing about their work with respect to the war effort.
- We live our lives on land that was never ceded or sold by those who were living here at "first contact" and yet we know precious little about the Lower Mainland before real estate.
- Doing what he believed was a good deed, happy-go-lucky and somewhat absentminded Joe Sands, who lives for the moment, is instead picked up by the Toronto police for what ended up being a minor infraction. What he expects to be a small fine or minor jail time since he would probably be unable to pay any fine turns into a eight year sentence at Kingston Penitentiary on a twenty-eight year old parole violation, he simply not having not checked in with his parole officer when he received his ticket of leave in year seven of his fifteen year sentence for robbery, hence this current eight year sentence the remaining time. His current classification officer refers his case to the non-profit John Howard Society, Fred Dawson assigned to the file to see if Joe would once again be immediately eligible for a new ticket of leave, Fred's eventual report which is solely to provide the facts without embellishment to the classification board who will make the ultimate decision. Fred's task may not be an easy one in Joe being unable to provide much information in his forgetfulness.