Adventures in Rainbow Country
Encyclopedia
Adventures in Rainbow Country was a Canadian
television series, which aired on CBC Television
in 1970 and 1971.
A half hour family drama, the show starred Lois Maxwell
(of James Bond fame) as Nancy Williams, a widow raising her children Billy (Stephen Cottier) and Hannah (Susan Conway
) in rural Northern Ontario
. Other characters included Billy's Ojibwa
friend Pete Gawa (Buckley Petawabano) and bush pilot Dennis McGubgub (Wally Koster).
The show was filmed around Whitefish Falls, which is near Espanola
. Many scenes were also shot at Birch Island and on Manitoulin Island
in 1969. There were 26 episodes of the series. It has continued to air in repeats, both in Canada and internationally — in Canada, the show had been seen on DejaView
, and is currently seen on Silver Screen Classics
without commercial breaks. The show was very popular and technically never cancelled, but no further episodes were produced.
Popular actors who made appearances on the show included Gordon Pinsent
, Margot Kidder
, Percy Rodrigues, and Eric Christmas
.
and Manitoulin
Districts are to this day known as the Rainbow Country tourist region, as a result of this series.
A cast, crew and fan reunion event took place in Whitefish Falls from August 11 to 14, 2006.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television series, which aired on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
in 1970 and 1971.
A half hour family drama, the show starred Lois Maxwell
Lois Maxwell
Lois Maxwell was a Canadian actress.Maxwell began her film career in the late 1940s, and won a Golden Globe Award for the New Actress of the Year for her performance in That Hagen Girl...
(of James Bond fame) as Nancy Williams, a widow raising her children Billy (Stephen Cottier) and Hannah (Susan Conway
Susan Conway
Susan Conway Mitchell is a Canadian actress.- Television series :* 1963-1966: The Forest Rangers as Junior Ranger Kathy * 1966: The King Kong Show as Susan Bond...
) in rural Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
. Other characters included Billy's Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
friend Pete Gawa (Buckley Petawabano) and bush pilot Dennis McGubgub (Wally Koster).
The show was filmed around Whitefish Falls, which is near Espanola
Espanola, Ontario
Espanola is a town in Northern Ontario, Canada, and is the seat of Sudbury District. It is situated on the Spanish River, approximately 70 kilometres west of downtown Sudbury, and just south of the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 17.- History :The name "Espanola" has been attributed to a story...
. Many scenes were also shot at Birch Island and on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and...
in 1969. There were 26 episodes of the series. It has continued to air in repeats, both in Canada and internationally — in Canada, the show had been seen on DejaView
DejaView
DejaView is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. It airs television shows from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.-History:In November 2000, Global Television Network Inc...
, and is currently seen on Silver Screen Classics
Silver Screen Classics
Silver Screen Classics is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Channel Zero Inc. Silver Screen Classics broadcasts films from the 1930s to the 1960s; including feature films, silent films, serials, shorts, and more.-References:...
without commercial breaks. The show was very popular and technically never cancelled, but no further episodes were produced.
Popular actors who made appearances on the show included Gordon Pinsent
Gordon Pinsent
Gordon Edward Pinsent, CC, FRSC is a Canadian television, theatre and film actor.-Early life:Pinsent, the youngest of six children, was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, the son of Flossie ; originally from Clifton, Newfoundland, and Stephen Arthur Pinsent, a papermill worker and cobbler;...
, Margot Kidder
Margot Kidder
Margaret Ruth "Margot" Kidder is a Canadian-born American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Lois Lane in the four Superman movies opposite Christopher Reeve, a role that brought her to widespread recognition....
, Percy Rodrigues, and Eric Christmas
Eric Christmas
Eric Cuthbert Christmas was a British stage and screen actor, with over 40 films and several more television roles to his credit. He was well-known for his role as Mr. Carter, the principal of Angel Beach High School, in the 1982 hit comedy Porky's, the 1983 sequel Porky's II: The Next Day, and...
.
Legacy
The SudburySudbury District, Ontario
The Sudbury District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1894 from townships of eastern Algoma District and west Nipissing District....
and Manitoulin
Manitoulin District, Ontario
Manitoulin District is a district in Northeastern Ontario within the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1888 from part of Algoma District. The district seat is Gore Bay....
Districts are to this day known as the Rainbow Country tourist region, as a result of this series.
A cast, crew and fan reunion event took place in Whitefish Falls from August 11 to 14, 2006.