TORONTO – CTV's long-running investigative series W5 is teaming up with Vice Canada on long and short-form documentary projects that will include an examination of the impact and root causes of Canada's opioid crisis.
The first production, a 30-minute documentary, will look beyond the perception of the opioid crisis as an “urban" problem and examine the toll it has taken on small-town Canada. The documentary is set to air on W5 in early 2018.
"W5 is a national institution, with incredible reach across the country," said Vice Canada's director of news and digital Tom Henheffer, in the news release. "This partnership is a natural fit for us as it combines Vice's expertise in telling the stories of those at the frontlines of Canada's opioid crisis, with the years of experience and wide national audience that W5 brings to the table. We know this partnership will help to take Vice News, and the Vice brand to the next level in Canada."
"W5 has spent 52 years investigating the most significant issues facing our society, and we're very excited to further expand our journalism efforts by partnering with Vice Canada," added W5 executive producer Anton Koschany. "We're looking forward to blending our investigative strategies to tell compelling stories, exposing both outlets to new audiences. By coupling two strong investigative organizations and the talented journalists on our respective teams, we are producing quality, timely, and valuable journalism."
Bell Media-owned Much already airs news program Vice News Tonight as part of an exclusive deal with Vice Canada announced in September.
