Mae Martin, the acclaimed actor and creator of the Netflix series 'Wayward', is set to lend her voice to the upcoming preschool series 'Hare of High Park'. This news comes as a welcome development for Canadian children's programming, which has been facing significant challenges in recent times. The series, produced by Little Engine Moving Pictures and TVOkids, is a 3D animated and live-action show that follows the adventures of best friends Hare and George, along with their animal companions, in a setting inspired by Toronto's High Park. The show's creators, Tarun Padmakumar and Joanna Fishbein, expressed their excitement about Martin's involvement, praising her ability to bring warmth, humor, and authenticity to the series. This is particularly significant given the current climate in the Canadian media industry, where funding for children's programming has been in decline due to an advertising recession and a standoff between U.S. streaming platforms and Canadian regulators over the Online Streaming Act. The series has secured funding from various local sources, including Knowledge Kids, Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Rocket Fund Canada, National Bank of Canada, and TVOkids. The announcement of this series coincides with a significant development in Canadian media policy. The Canadian government, under pressure from the U.S., recently backed down on its 'foreign streaming tax' and has now committed to providing $600 million annually in support of the country's media and music sectors. This funding is expected to be distributed among traditional funding agencies, Canadian indie film and TV production, and sectors like kids TV and documentaries, which have been particularly affected by the industry's challenges. Additionally, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the largest investor in local documentaries, announced the establishment of two new non-fiction programming funds, The CBC Creator Catalyst Fund and the CBC Co-Production Fund, to support emerging producers and international documentary partnerships. These developments are crucial for the future of Canadian children's programming, which has been facing a difficult funding landscape. Martin's involvement in 'Hare of High Park' not only adds to her impressive body of work but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of Canadian children's content, which is essential for the development of young audiences and the overall health of the Canadian media industry.
