HALIFAX — Families faced with the emotionally fraught task of downsizing their homes will be able to get some much-needed help thanks to a new five-part Canadian series premiering next month on VisionTV.
The Big Downsize follows two families as they seek expert advice from organizational guru Jane Veldhoven to face the challenge of downsizing their households. Call it de-cluttering, home-reorganizing or simplifying, the process of downsizing can by psychologically daunting, especially after the death of a loved one or a divorce.
The MacNeil siblings (pictured to the right with host Jane Veldhoven, first on the left) are facing the monumental challenge of cleaning out their childhood home to prepare it for sale. The house has been in their family for 50 years — and that means 50 years of accumulated stuff. Having difficulty deciding what to keep, who gets what, and what to give away, Veldhoven steps in and rolls up her sleeves to help the siblings keep on track and get the job done.
Before 64-year-old Pam can start a fresh, new single life, she needs to move from a packed three-bedroom house into a one-bedroom apartment. Side-tracked by decades of memories as a couple, Pam seeks Veldhoven’s help to manage the difficult task of dividing belongings with her ex.
“Working on the series was both challenging and rewarding,” Veldhoven said in a news release. “When families are in a situation where they have to let go of most of the belongings they’ve collected over a lifetime, it’s very difficult but it can also be extremely cathartic. If they embrace the process, they can face their feelings, let go of the past, and move forward with their lives.”
Whether it’s dealing with the estate of a deceased relative, moving from a large house to a small condo, or deciding what to keep during a divorce, The Big Downsize reveals that letting go of possessions can come with some unexpected baggage.
The Big Downsize was co-written by Donna Gabriel and Jennifer Adcock, directed by Jennifer Adcock, and produced by Edward Peill and Erin Oakes from award-winning Halifax-based Tell Tale Productions Inc. (The Power of Play, Radical Age, The Curse of Oak Island) in association with VisionTV, and with support from the Canada Media Fund, The Nova Scotia Film & TV Production Incentive, and Federal Tax Credits.
The Big Downsize will have its world broadcast premiere on Monday, March 11 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on VisionTV.
