TVO Today Live sparks conversation with a new season focused on Northern Ontario issues

First event of the season is in Sudbury on October 2

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2026 /CNW/ -- TVO Today Live returns for a fourth season of free public-engagement events with a new focus on Northern Ontario, leveraging its civic-focused debates to bring topics facing northern communities to audiences across the province.

This live event series, hosted by lauded moderator, Steve Paikin, brings together diverse voices to explore democracy and public policy. Fitting right into TVO's current affairs journalism, TVO Today Live aims to help Ontarians better understand the issues shaping their communities and fosters informed dialogue and civic engagement across the province. This year's slate includes events in Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins and Thunder Bay, along with a Toronto Mayoral debate and other discussions.

"This season's focus on Northern Ontario marks an important step for TVO Today Live," says Pary Bell, CEO of TVO. "Having grown up in northern Ontario, I know firsthand the strong local voices and important stories rooted in these communities. Our goal at TVO is to listen, learn, and help share those conversations across the province."

Opening the TVO Today Live series in Sudbury on October 2, Steve Paikin and Senator Farah Mohamed will be joined by Megan Conway, CEO of Volunteer Canada, civics educator Amanda Kingsley Malo, and writer and Volunteer Peterborough founder Lois Tuffin to discuss how volunteering strengthens civic action, resilient communities and will explore the event's title question: 'Can Helping Others Help Democracy?'

Joining TVO Today Live this season on different stops across Northern Ontario will be The Rundown with Jeyan Jaganathan, #onpoli, Steve Paikin and John Michael McGrath's weekly podcast on all things politics, and Nam Kiwanuka's (MIS)Treated, a podcast that investigates how the medical system historical and systematically fails women. Each of these shows will explore additional topics and issues unique to the northern communities, bringing forward the voices of local experts and those with lived experiences.

"As a trusted source for intelligent and informative programming, TVO has a responsibility to reflect the full complexity of Ontario," says Vanessa Case, VP of Media at TVO. "By bringing TVO Today Live, The Rundown, #onpoli and (MIS)Treated to communities across Northern Ontario, we're deepening our current affairs presence and connecting local experience to the civic and policy conversations shaping the province."

TVO Today Live is made possible through the generous support of The Wilson Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen and enrich Canada in education leadership, community, history and heritage, and public service. The live events will be recorded and broadcast at later dates on  TVO.org, YouTube, TVO Today Smart TV app and TVO's broadcast channel.

Visit the TVO Today Live series page and sign up for email updates to learn more.

ABOUT TVO TODAY LIVE

TVO Today Live is part of a broader TVO Media Education Group initiative aimed at fostering civic engagement through informative discussions with community leaders and experts across Ontario and is in line with TVO's mission to inspire learning that changes lives and enriches communities. TVO Today Live is made possible through generous support from The Wilson Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen and enrich Canada in education leadership, community, history and heritage, and public service.

ABOUT TVO MEDIA EDUCATION GROUP

TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through our brands TVO Today, TVOkids, TVO Docs, TVO Learn and TVO ILC, we're investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. Visit TVO.me for more information. Stream TVO on your favourite device.  

SOURCE TVO

Media contact: Andrea MacBeth; [email protected]