Canada's own version of 'Dateline' launches next month
Fans are in for a treat as one of America’s most popular true crime series is finally getting its own Canadian version.
Citytv announced today the launch of Dateline Canada, marking the first international expansion of NBC’s long-running series, now in its 35th season.
Actually, Dateline has had a Canadian connection for years, even before the announcement.
One of the show’s most popular hosts, Keith Morrison, was born in Lloydminster, Sask., and worked at local stations in Saskatchewan, as well as in Vancouver and Toronto, before moving to the U.S. and joining the Dateline team in 1995.
Morrison was also the stepfather of the late Friends actor Matthew Perry, who died in 2023 at age 54.
Morrison won’t be hosting Dateline Canada, though. That honour goes to Diana Swain, a former senior investigative correspondent for CBC News.
Die-hard fans of the original series will know that Dateline features multiple correspondents, but Citytv has yet to reveal whether any other hosts or producers will be joining the Canadian edition.
“To see the franchise expand with Diana Swain leading the new Canadian edition is an exciting evolution for the broadcast,” Morrison said in a press release.
Canada has no shortage of chilling unsolved mysteries and high-profile murders.
The broadcaster announced that the series will kick off by revisiting the 1990 disappearance of University of Toronto student Elizabeth Bain, and the wrongful conviction of her then-boyfriend Robert Baltovich.
“With Dateline Canada, we have an opportunity to re-examine a complex story through a fresh lens, connect pieces that may have been overlooked, and bring viewers a deeper understanding of the events that shaped this case and investigation,” said Swain.
Other high-profile Canadian cases that could make compelling subjects for future episodes include the unsolved murders of billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman, as well as the killing of former wrestler Dino Bravo.
No synopses have been released for upcoming episodes yet.
Dateline Canada premieres with a two-hour special on Thursday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv and Citytv+.