2023 Canadian Screen Awards.

WINNER
Best Writing, Factual

Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Graham Chittenden, Steve Dylan

Still Standing

"Oxford, NS"

Synopsis:

Still Standing follows Canadian comedian Jonny Harris as he sets off across the country, veering off the main highway to discover the hidden comedy in Canada’s far-flung small towns. Each week, Jonny takes a hilarious and heart-warming journey to find humour in the unlikeliest of places — small towns on the ropes. After immersing himself in the lives of local characters and unearthing the tall tales in these tiny towns, Jonny delivers a rousing original stand-up comedy routine — a toast, not a roast — for the whole community. From coast to coast to coast, Still Standing showcases Canada’s vast beauty and highlights the country’s unique and diverse characters. Viewers ride shotgun with Jonny on the ultimate cross-country road trip.

Episode Synopsis:
Oxford, Nova Scotia has always been famous for blueberries and two years ago it became famous for its 40 meter in diameter sinkhole. In this depressed area of Nova Scotia, neighbouring towns have had to amalgamate but Oxford (known as the blueberry capital of Canada) has been holding out. 2018 was a tough year; a rare June frost wiped out 70% of Nova Scotia's wild blueberry crop making it the second year in a row where the cost of production outstripped crop prices. Then, in mid-July, a 'goffer-hole', the size of a dinner plate, appeared and grew into a sinkhole close to 40 meters in diameter. It shut down the children's park, took over the parking lot of the Lion's club, and cracks continue to appear. With more research, more sinkholes were discovered and now it's going to cost over $100 000 just to find out why. Despite the damage, Oxford has found the humour in their sinkhole. They've made shirts, cakes, even twitter accounts for it - a song about the sinkhole has 10k hits. Oxford, NS is fiercely proud of its community, its independent spirit - and its sinkhole.
Nominees:

Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Graham Chittenden, Steve Dylan

Channel:

CBC

Broadcaster:

CBC

Production Company:

Frantic Films