REPORT TO DONORSEDITION 4 • WINTER 2011

TVO.org

On behalf of all of us here at TVO, I’d like wish you and your family best wishes for a very happy Holiday Season. I hope that you will be spending time with those near and dear.

As 2011 draws to a close, I’d like to share with you a few of the great things we’ve accomplished this year because of your support.

If you have children in your life, you’ll be happy to know that earlier this year, we launched the TVOKids Homework Zone. It’s an online tool that supports kids’ learning needs in and out of the classroom. It’s the only website where kids can practice concepts they’ve learned in school and get support for the three core curriculum areas: math, science and history. It’s also great for parents who want to learn how to help their kids with their homework. You can find it at TVOKids.com.

At TVO, we believe that promoting science and technology literacy is essential to the long-term success and prosperity of Ontario. As part of our commitment to making science more accessible to everyone in the province, we solidified a long-term partnership with Canada’s Perimeter Institute in September at the grand opening of the Stephen Hawking Centre. As the presenting media partner, we offered live streaming of the celebrations on TVO.org, giving more people access to the great scientific minds of our time.

I’ve heard from many people just how much they appreciated TVO’s unique election coverage. Your Vote 2011 was a great opportunity to hear about what mattered most to you during the election. We even received accolades from former Ontario Premiers Bill Davis, David Peterson and Bob Rae for our yourvote2011.ca resources. It’s what we do best – engage people directly in the political process – and we couldn’t do it without you!

I hope you’re as proud as I am to be involved with TVO. The commitment and generosity of donors like you have allowed us to accomplish so much. Together, we’re making a difference in life in Ontario.

Happy holidays from all of us at TVO and wishing you all the best for a safe and happy holiday season!

Lisa de Wilde Chief Executive Officer

A Year in ReviewA Message From Lisa de WildeIn ThIs Issue

Mark’s Moments: Page 2

Resources for Parents: Page 2

Meet Our Donors: Page 3

Original TVO series: Page 3

December Programming highlights: Page 4

sponsor spotlight: Page 4

Sponsor Spotlight: TD Bank Group

Saturday December 24, 2011 ~ Beginning at 8pm ET

The Meaning of the Holidays: SNAM celebrates the holidays with four films scheduled for Christmas Eve. Joyeux Noël and Oliver! show how the holidays bring

people together, especially in extraordinary circumstances. The Interviews features discussions with actors, writers, directors, and producers about what the films mean to them.

◄ JOYEUX NOËL (2005): A touching story about a group of French WWI soldiers spending the season on the front lines.

◄ OLIVER! (1968): Based on the Dickens novel, this beloved musical follows a young orphan boy caught up in the world of pickpocketing.

◄ EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU (1996): Woody Allen directed this musical about a New York girl who sets her father up with a beautiful woman in a shaky marriage while her half-sister gets engaged.

A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (1964): This iconic film follows a ‘typical’ day in the life of the Beatles, including many of their hit songs.

The Queen’s Palaces North American Premiere

Monday, December 5, 12, 19 at 10pm & December 25 (marathon beginning at 8:00pm)

Presented by Fiona Bruce, The Queen’s Palaces showcases the art and architecture, interior decoration and treasures stored

inside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Viewers discover the surprising and fascinating stories behind these magnificent buildings.

The Story of the Costume Drama

December 26 to 30 at 8:00pm

This five-part series recounts the history of the televised costume drama, celebrating the stars, costumes, locations and themes of the genre from the past 40 years.

Each episode, narrated by Keeley Hawes, focuses on a different aspect of the genre - from how costume dramas have evolved to the process of creating some of the most beloved dramas seen on British television.

December Programming Highlights

TVO Documentaries

Saturday Night at the Movies

The Queen’s Palaces

In this issue of the Impact Report you will find holiday programming for everyone in the family. Watch exciting new programs and catch old favourites.

The Story of the Costume Drama

We are pleased to announce that longtime sponsor, TD, has renewed its sponsorship of TVO’s literacy-themed programming and events. TD has been a TVO supporter for over ten years as the presenting partner of TD Reading Rangers, an on-air and online series that promotes books, reading and libraries, and Gisèle’s Big Backyard Book Club. This fall, TD is raising awareness of children’s financial literacy by sponsoring episodes of Gisèle’s Big Backyard and Tumbletown Tales that cover themes such as coin recognition, budgeting, saving and borrowing money.

A solid grounding in understanding financial literacy from an early age results in children learning financial responsibility, decision-making, and independence and leads to a stronger, healthier economy for the future. We are grateful for the support of our friends at TD and for their commitment to promoting literacy and numeracy skills to Ontario children.

Patricia Rocco

Alex & Tyler Mifflin, Water Brothers

TVOParents.com is a curated space for parents looking for in-depth information on their children’s learning and education as offered by experts. Host Cheryl

Jackson describes how TVOParents.com “helps parents, grandparents and caregivers understand child development, brain development, social and emotional issues, the school system, curriculum and changes that come along with ages and stages.”

TVOParents.com is now fully integrated with TVOKids.com and shows you how every TVOKids program or game addresses the Ontario school curriculum. The site offers an extensive video library, audio podcasts, blogs, and feature articles. It also gives you access to essential tools like the TVOKids Homework Zone. This one-of-a-kind resource aggregates TVO’s extensive inventory of curriculum-linked videos, games and activities

into an easy-to-navigate environment where your kids can practice math, science and literacy concepts they’ve learned in school.

T VO Pa re nt s . c o m gives parents tools and guidance to really understand their children and help them along their path to success. Jackson sums it up best, “TVOParents.com makes parents think about their kids… what makes them tick, how they learn, and how they’re doing in school. These are some of the most important things parents can ‘think’ about.”

Community Impact

Resources for Parents

Mark’s Moments Mark’s Moments introduces viewers to amazing Ontario kids living with challenges such as vision or hearing loss, epilepsy, Down Syndrome, amputation or cerebral palsy. It’s the type of programming that makes a real impact in kids’ lives by teaching empathy and compassion. At the 2011 Gemini Awards the program won in the category of Best Children’s or

Youth Non–Fiction Program or Series in Canada.

Mark’s Moments is unique in children’s programming. Host Mark Sykes describes the value of the program

this way: “Our guests and their parents usually contact us after their episode airs on TVOKids to tell us how amazing they feel to see their story finally being told. A number of our guests use the show as a resource to educate their classmates and school

about who they are and how they want to be treated.”

The program is a learning opportunity for both adults and kids to understand more about the differences in people and also encourages kids to be more social and inclusive. Sykes says, “Never judge a book by its cover. The Mark’s Moments guests are outstanding individuals. Don’t be afraid to make new friends and learn about who they are. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!”

By supporting TVO, you make it possible to create kids’ programming that is not only educational, but teaches empathy and compassion. Here’s how Ryan D. explains his family’s experience:

“As the parent of a child with special needs, I specifically like that you choose to highlight what the child can do, rather than focusing on the things that they can’t do. Although my daughter may do some things differently from her peers, there are many things that she can do just the same or even better. It is important for “typical” children to see the similarities and not just the differences between themselves and children with special needs. Education leads to understanding and understanding leads to acceptance. Thank you for educating your viewers.”

-Ryan D., Thunder Bay, ON

Meet Our Donors

Original TVO Series

Patricia Rocco Fonthill, OntarioAs an artist and teacher, Patricia Rocco had always turned to TVO to inspire not only her students, but her own work. As part of the regular curriculum, Patricia often has her students tune in to TVO to spark their creativity and originality.

On a personal level, Patricia had always been involved in her community but was looking for more ways to really make a positive impact. She got that opportunity when she participated in The Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 AgendaCamp in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “The Niagara-on-the-Lake town hall event really brought TVO to my door. It was up close and personal and I felt that it was part of my community.”

Patricia believes that public television can be a teaching tool and also empower people. Interactive community forums

like AgendaCamp bring people together to discuss issues that are important and reflect the needs of citizens. “TVO gives me a voice, but more importantly, gives all Ontarians a voice. This is democracy in action. It is not a frill.”

Her appreciation for TVO is not only shared with her students, but it is also a family affair. “My brother, a construction worker, watches TVO religiously and relies on it to feed his soul - for him, TVO is a lifeline.” She has fond memories of how much her late father, a grade 8 graduate, also enjoyed TVO. “My father would call me up to tell me about some great show that was on TVO. I miss those calls. I treasure TVO for making a difference in the lives of all my family members, regardless of educational background.”

Although Patricia has been watching TVO for the past 20 years, it was her experience at AgendaCamp that led her to become a monthly donor. Being a donor is Patricia’s way of giving back and helping to build a stronger Ontario. “I give now because I can, at least in a small way. I believe that TVO is more important now than ever.”

Water BrothersMake sure you watch for Water Brothers –TVO’s exciting original documentary series currently in production. Water Brothers is a new eco-adventure series exploring the most important resource on our planet—water. It’s the brainchild of Alex and Tyler Mifflin, two brothers from Toronto, Ontario with backgrounds in environmental studies and film. The series is slated to air in early 2012 and will take viewers around the world from the Mekong River in South-East Asia, to the frozen Arctic Circle, the disappearing coral reefs of the Caribbean and the carp infested waters of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Water Brothers is a great example of how your support directly helps people learn about important issues like the environment and what we

can all do to protect our natural resources. Water Brothers is sure to fascinate and enlighten minds of all ages and interests. To find out more information on Water Brothers, visit www.thewaterbrothers.ca.

Have a story about how TVO touched your life? We’d like to hear from you. Contact us at donations@tvo.org

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