Extraordinary Canadians, a 12-part documentary series from Montreal-based prodco PMA Biographies, is a key element in Discovery Communications’ expanding offerings in the streaming-video education niche.

Details of the new strategy involving a partnership with PMA were announced Tuesday by Discovery Education Canada, which provides curriculum-focused digital content, professional development and assessment resources to Canadian schools.

Extraordinary Canadians, which sees well known Canadian writers such as David Adams Richards (pictured), Mark Kingwell and John Ralston Saul discussing notable historical figures such as Pierre Trudeau, Glenn Gould, Norman Bethune and Lester B. Pearson, includes tie-in books from Penguin Canada.

The programs first aired on Citytv and The Biography Channel beginning in the fall of 2011.

As part of the new initiative, Discovery Education says it has enhanced its streaming services with hundreds of new podcasts and exclusive videos from across Discovery Communications’ family of networks.

Discovery Education Canada will provide PMA Biographies’ videos to teachers and students through its streaming and streaming plus services.

The services are said to provide access to more than 150,000 digital resources.

They include more than 380 podcasts including from HowStuffWorks show Stuff You Should Know, the Discovery Channel special Scanning the Skies: The Discovery Channel Telescope and the SCIENCE special Ramses: Mummy King Mystery.