O Canada! You probably just associate the great country with winter weather, maple syrup, and friendly folks, but some of the most iconic TV shows ever have come out of Canada! While America dominates the entertainment industry, every so often Canada breaks through the noise, creates shows beloved by people across the world, and gives their downstairs neighbor a run for their money. These are the best Canadian TV shows of all time!
Heated Rivalry
Likely one of the hottest shows to come out of Canada in a long time, Heated Rivalry took the internet by storm at the end of 2025. This fictional hockey romance was inspired by the very real (platonic) rivalry between Russia’s Alex Ovechkin and Canada’s Sidney Crosby.
Made on a shoestring budget, with unknown actors, and produced in under 40 days, Heated Rivalry put a world-wide spotlight on Canadian entertainment. Its massive success despite tiny resources are challenging Hollywood’s obsession with big-budget and big-name productions.
Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek is a Canadian sitcom following an affluent family after they lose their fortune and are forced to move to a small town, Schitt’s Creek, that they bought as a joke.
Since the show’s release in 2015, Schitt’s Creek has been racking up awards and receiving critical acclaim – including 18 Canadian Screen Awards and 19 Primetime Emmy Awards. The show ran for 6 seasons, becoming one of the most popular sitcoms of all time and one of the most well-known Canadian shows.
Shoresy
This hockey sitcom is oozing with Canadian culture. It follows hockey-obsessed Shoresy as he navigates playing for a struggling hockey team in Northern Ontario trying to get butts in seats – or else.
Running on a 5-season streak, Shoresy zoned in on a niche culture most aren’t familiar with. Its Canadian-French lingo, hockey culture, and unique humor is largely unseen in popular television, but has helped make the show a massive hit since it first aired in 2022.
Degrassi
Possibly one of the most famous Canadian TV shows in history, Degrassi is a drama following teens as they navigate their personal lives. The franchise all began in 1979 with The Kids of Degrassi Street, which focused on elementary school children living on De Grassi Street in Toronto, Canada.
The original show ran until 1986 before the Degrassi spinoffs began – Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Degrassi The Next Generation, and more, focusing on the lives and issues teenagers face. The media franchise has received countless awards and nominations, including 28 Gemini Awards.
Anne With an E
Anne With an E is a popular Canadian TV show based on the mega-popular classic children’s novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy M. Montgomery. Set in the late 1800s, the show follows Anne Shirley after she’s adopted as she navigates her childhood, friendships, and family.
The series began in 2017 and ran for three seasons. The beloved series accumulated 54 nominations and 24 awards, including the Canada Screen Award for Best Drama Series.
Total Drama
Released in 2008, the Total Drama franchise is a Canadian animated TV show that parodies popular reality competition shows. The first season, Total Drama Island, parodies the popular American show Survivor, and follows a group of twenty-two young campers as they try to survive on a dangerous island in Muskoka, Ontario.
The series ran for six seasons, with each season offering a new competition, including Total Drama Action and Total Drama World Tour, as well as two spin-offs: Total Dramarama and The Ridonculous Race – a parody of The Amazing Race.
Corner Gas
One of the most popular comedy series in Canadian history, Corner Gas follows a group of workers at a gas station and adjoining coffee shop in Dog River, Saskatchewan where not a lot goes on. The show ran for six seasons, from 2004 to 2009, and led to the production of Corner Gas: The Movie, and Corner Gas Animated.
The beloved series was nominated for over 60 awards and received 6 Gemini Awards – the Canadian version of the Emmys – and drew in nearly one million views per episode!
The Beachcombers
The Beachcombers, with nearly 400 episodes, is Canada’s longest running comedy drama TV show in history! The reason it ran for so long? The show wasn’t just funny – it highlighted Canada’s multicultural heritage, depicted the lives of blue collar workers, and represented the coastal lifestyle present in British Columbia.
Considered an integral part of Canadian culture, The Beachcombers ran from 1972 to 1990 and is regarded as a beloved family-friendly and nostalgic classic. Its popularity changed the entertainment industry as a whole and influenced many popular TV shows, like Corner Gas and The X-Files.
Heartland
Heartland is the longest running scripted drama in Canadian television history! The series began in 2007 and has almost 300 episodes under its belt. Heartland follows the Fleming family as they navigate life on their ranch in Alberta, Canada and rehabilitate troubled horses.
Currently on its 20th season, this iconic tv show has tackled some of life’s toughest battles, including addiction, grief, and love. It’s a heartfelt show loved by people across the world – the show has won Best Family Television series 6 times and has been nominated for 85 awards and counting.
Trailer Park Boys
This laugh-out-loud mockumentary-style sitcom is a Canadian classic! Trailer Park Boys follows the antics of Ricky, Bubbles, and Julian, three residents of the Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
The show was so popular it inspired 4 films, including Countdown to Liquor Day and Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Shitrockers Story and a spin-off called Trailer Park Boys: Jail.
