Next week, CTV will debut Change & Action: Racism in Canada – a 90-minute Bell Media Studios special aimed at amplifying voices in the fight against racism and fostering a national conversation about systemic racism in Canada.

Hosted by Marci Ien (The Social), Tyrone Edwards (eTalk), Lainey Lui (The Social) and Anne-Marie Mediwake (Your Morning), Change & Action: Racism in Canada will feature leaders from across Canada advocating for change and will discuss how people can stand in solidarity as allies of Black Canadians and marginalized communities both now and moving forward.

Change & Action: Racism in Canada will air on June 13 at 8 p.m. on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app, and on June 14 on streaming service Crave. Guests are expected to be announced in the coming days, according to a press release.

“Bell Media is committed to engaging Canadians in a conversation about the racism and social injustice that exists in our country,” Bell Media president Randy Lennox said in a statement introducing the special. “Change is never easy, but it’s the uncomfortable conversations that ultimately lead to action.”​

Host Ien also added that it’s important to keep this conversation going now. “​We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and say we don’t have a problem in Canada. We’re hearing from people and communities across the country that we do. Right now, we have a unique opportunity to grab hold of this moment and talk about things that have made us uncomfortable for too long, because that’s how we can create meaningful change,” she added.

Change & Action: Racism in Canada follows other recent specials such as Unsinkable Youth, a one-hour celebration in support of Canadian youth presented by non-profit Unsinkable, Kids Help Phone and Bell Media; and 90-minute special Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble, a massive collaboration between Bell Media, CBC, Corus Entertainment, Groupe V, Rogers Sports & Media Blue Ant Media, OUTtv, Super Channel and more.

Image courtesy of Bell Media