Kensington Communications

Television Series

• Museum Secrets (2010–2014) - 22 one-hour episodes for History Channel (Canada), Smithsonian Channel (USA), UKTV, BBC Worldwide. The series explores compelling stories behind the artifacts in 22 of the world's greatest museums.^[4]
• Shameless Idealists (2012) - 5 half-hour episodes series produced for CTV. Each episode provides an intimate portrait of a celebrity who has made an indelible mark through their work for social change.^[5]
• CitySonic (2009) - 3 x ½ hours and 20 short films for AUX TV and online streaming that unlock the hidden history of Toronto's music scene through the artists' stories.^[6]
• Diamond Road (2007) - 3 one-hour episodes for TVO, Discovery Times and ZDF/ARTE. Explores the historical, cultural and political facets of the world's most intriguing gem.^[7]
• 72 Hours: True Crime, (2004 - 2007) - 45 half-hour documentary series produced for CBC and TLC (USA). Blend of documentary and dramatic re-enactments to investigate true crime mysteries from across North America.^[8]
• The Sacred Balance (2002) - a ground-breaking 4-part series produced for CBC and PBS with broadcaster-environmentalist David Suzuki that celebrates the interconnectedness of all life processes on Earth through the stories of scientists, philosophers and Indigenous elders. The series was accompanied by a rich media interactive website, SacredBalance.com.^[9]
• Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science (1997 - 2002) - 65 half-hour episodes produced for Discovery Channel (Canada) and TLC (USA). Hosted by actor Graham Greene, true crime series focused on the role of forensic science in solving some of the most perplexing crimes of our time.^[10]

One-Off documentaries and TV Programs

• Carnival: They Can't Steal Our Joy (2025) - Feature documentary co-produced with Film Garage North for TVO and Knowledge BC.^[1]
• Fluid: Life Beyond the Binary (2024) - One-hour produced for CBC’s The Nature of Things.^[2]
• Why We Dance (2022) - One-hour produced for CBC’s The Nature of Things.^[3]
• Nature's Cleanup Crew (2020) - One-hour produced for CBC’s The Nature of Things and ZDF/ARTE.^[11]
• The Shadow of Gold (2019) - released in two formats: a feature-length documentary and a two-part television series. Co-Produced with Films à Cinq and CAPA Presse for TVO and Arte France.^[12]
• Champions vs. Legends (2017) - One-hour produced for CBC’s The Nature of Things and ZDF/ARTE.^[13]
• Risk Factor (2017), AKA The Truth About Risk - One-hour produced for TVO and Canal D.^[14]
• The Drop: Why Young People Don't Vote (2016) - One-hour produced for TVO and CPAC.^[15]
• The Equalizer (2016) - One-hour produced for CBC's The Nature of Things and ZDF/ARTE.^[16]
• Raw Opium (2011) - Feature documentary and 2-part series produced for TVO and ZDF/ARTE.^[17]
• Return to Nepal (2008) - One-hour produced for the Documentary Channel.^[18]
• Almost Home: a Sayisi Dene Journey (2003) - One-hour produced for CBC Nature of Things, APTN, Knowledge Network and SCN.^[5]
• My Beat: The Life and Times of Bruce Cockburn (2001) - One-hour produced for CBC.^[19]
• River of Sand (1998) - One-hour produced for Vision TV, TVO and Link TV (USA).^[20]
• Separate Lives (1996) - One-hour premiered on Discovery Channel (Canada).^[5]
• A Place in the World (1995) - One-hour produced for Vision TV.^[21]
• The Biggest Little Ticket (1993), One-hour family variety special produced for CTV Television Network.^[22]
• Mariposa: Under a Stormy Sky (1991) - One-hour documentary produced for CTV, TVO, the Discovery Channel (USA), and other networks, co-produced with Close Up Films, Toronto.^[23]
• One Warm Line: The Legacy of Stan Rogers (1988) - One-hour produced for CBC, and broadcast by Bravo, Vision, and many other Canadian broadcasters.^[24]
• Stepdancing: Portrait of a Remarried Family (1987) - One-hour produced for TVO. ^[25]
• Fragile Harvest (1985) - One-hour produced for CBC’s The Nature of Things and the NFB.^[26]
• Joe David: Spirit of the Mask (1982) Produced for CBC.^[27]
• Childhood's End (1981) - Produced for TVO.^[5]

River of Sand Online (1998)

During filming of "River of Sand" in Mali, Kensington developed an accompanying website that was designed to complement the film, providing information on Mali's geography, history, and culture, as well as additional material on the people and locations featured in the documentary.^[29]

The interactive component incorporated daily online phone calls when users could check in with the production team, and explore photographs, maps, audio clips, and educational resources intended to deepen their understanding of the places and issues explored in the film. Users could navigate thematic sections and access background information on Malian music and society. The project was an early exploration of transmedia documentary storytelling and was intended for use by both general audiences and educators interested in African culture and international development.^[29]

The Sacred Balance Online (2003)

Released alongside the documentary series "The Sacred Balance", the accompanying website provided educational and supplementary multimedia materials based on the themes explored in the program. Drawing on the work of Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki, the platform presented interactive content concerning ecology, biodiversity, and humanity's relationship with the natural environment. The project formed part of Kensington Communications' continuing efforts to expand documentary storytelling beyond conventional linear broadcast formats.^[30]

Diamond Road Online (2007)

"Diamond Road Online" was an interactive documentary website created as a companion to the documentary series "Diamond Road". The platform enabled users to explore hundreds of short clips concerning the global diamond industry through a customized recommendation engine and non-linear interface. Features included user profiles, content recommendations, ratings, and the ability to assemble personalized viewing paths and storylines. This innovative project was designed to present multiple perspectives on the subject matter through user-directed navigation of documentary content. It won for Excellence in News and Information at the Canadian New Media Awards in 2008 and was invited to a number of prestigious conferences and festivals worldwide like Siggraph 2008.^[31]

City Sonic (2009)

City Sonic unlocks the hidden history of Toronto's music scene through musicians' eyes. In conjunction with the series of 20 short films and 3 x 1/2 hours, Kensington co-produced with White Pine Pictures locative content specifically for smartphones that was unlocked and accessible in the 20 places that were the subject of the artists' stories. This was a very early use of locative documentary principles that were in their infancy at the time. ^[6]

ScopifyROM (2013)

"ScopifyROM" was a mobile app developed by Kensington Communications in collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum. Designed for use within the museum setting, the augmented reality app provided interactive content related to selected artifacts and exhibits. Features included digital reconstructions, visualizations, and additional interpretive materials accessed through mobile devices. The application enabled visitors to obtain supplementary information while viewing exhibits in person and represented an early application of mobile technologies to enhance the museum experience.^[32]

Risk Navigator (2017)

"Risk Navigator" was an interactive mobile app developed as a companion to the documentary "Risk Factor" (also known as "The Truth About Risk"). The app incorporated educational content and interactive tools to allow users to improve risk perception and decision-making. Users could explore different categories of risk through guided modules and assessments connected to themes presented in the documentary. The project extended the documentary's educational objectives through a digital platform designed to encourage audience participation and self-directed learning.^[28]

Museum Secrets Online (2010 - 2018)

Museum Secrets TV series was supported by a rich media interactive website (online from 2010 to 2018) that further explored the stories behind museum treasures through web-exclusive videos, informational content and online games.^[33]