Prominent figures who have questioned the narrative surrounding the Kamloops residential school graves say they were flown to Vancouver and paid for interviews on a CBC and APTN show, only to discover it was an elaborate ruse.
Deceptive Production Tactics
Journalist and activist Lindsay Shepherd described being deceived by social activists in a scheme involving a fake production company called Heritage Figures Canada. She was lured with a friendly interview about her book on Sir John A. Macdonald, but the second interview turned hostile, aiming to demonize the former prime minister and smear her. Shepherd posted on X that the project was taxpayer-funded by CBC and APTN.
Conservative candidate Mark Johnson also received a deceptive email from Forge Media, inviting him to Vancouver for a docuseries on Canadian historical memory. He declined, suspecting a setup. The show's producers set up fake websites and identities to entice participants.
Writer Jerry Amernic, who flew to Vancouver for an interview and was paid in cash, expressed anger at being deceived and is considering writing an essay about the experience.
Professor Turns Tables
Dr. Frances Widdowson, a former professor skeptical of the 215 buried children claims at Kamloops, participated in the interview but turned the tables when producers dumped shoes on a table. She exposed the prank on video, with a man identifying himself as Mike Smith admitting it was a social experiment for a reality TV show.
CBC confirmed involvement, stating the project is in early production for CBC Entertainment and APTN, produced by independent producers NLT1 Productions. The Indigenous Screen Office announced a $6.3 million investment in Indigenous productions, including a comedy series described as using pranks for social action, akin to Borat and The Yes Men.
The scandal raises questions about taxpayer funding for such productions, with critics arguing that while pranks are permissible, they should not be bankrolled by federal heritage departments or public broadcasters.
