Production crews from cbc and Radio-Canada started filming earlier this week in the Strait of Belle Isle and the eastern coast of Labrador on what the corporation is calling ‘the most ambitious documentary series ever undertaken in Canada.’

The 30-hour Popular History of Canada/Une histoire populaire du Canada will be produced over the next two years and will trace the history of Canadian populations from prehistoric times to today. It will premier in the fall of 1999.

cbc exec producer Mark Starowicz is head of production on the series. Louis Martin is responsible for the French-language version.

cbc and Radio-Canada plan to distribute the history series on video cassette, cd-rom and other formats. Episodes will have their own separate Website page.