HERE'S HOWIE! 2009 INDUCTEE HOWIE MANDEL IS BACK TO HOST THE 13TH ANNUAL
CANADA'S WALK OF FAME TRIBUTE

2010 Inductees Include David Clayton-Thomas, Nelly Furtado, Doug Henning, Clara Hughes, Eric McCormack, Farley Mowat and Sarah Polley

Tribute Show Airs Wednesday, October 20 - 9pm ET/PT on Global and Slice^TM

For additional photography, press kit materials and inductee bios visit: www.canwesttvmedia.com

TORONTO, Sept. 27 /CNW/ - Canwest and Canada's Walk of Fame have announced Howie Mandel as Host of the 13^th annual celebration of Canadian achievements, exclusively revealed tonight on ET Canada. The internationally renowned comedian, much-beloved Canadian and 2009 inductee returns home, leading the 2010 ceremony as his fellow Canucks come together to be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

Airing Wednesday, October 20 - 9pm ET/PT on Global and Slice^TM, the annual star-packed gala event will be held at Toronto's Canon Theatre featuring highlight reels and special performances to be announced in the coming weeks.

"Howie Mandel lights up the stage wherever he goes and we're honoured to have him back as the host for this year's Tribute Show," commented Christine Shipton, SVP, Drama and Factual Content, Canwest Broadcasting. "Howie's a gifted performer through and through; we can only begin to imagine the wonderful things he has in store for the inductees and our audiences nationwide." 

A constant force in show business for over 30 years, Howie's versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage. He is best known for his work on the Emmy^®-Award winning "St. Elsewhere," his international animated children's series "Bobby's World," and as the host of "Deal or No Deal," both in the US and in Canada. Howie recently received an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Reality/Competition Host" and a Daytime Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Game Show Host" for the syndicated version of the show. This summer Howie embarked on his latest endeavor as a judge on the hit talent competition series "America's Got Talent" alongside Sharon Osborne and Piers Morgan.

"Howie has made me laugh since I first saw him perform in a Toronto night club, so I don't find it surprising at all that his charisma and wit have had audiences worldwide falling in the aisles for years now," said Peter Soumalias, CEO and President, Canada's Walk of Fame. "But when I asked him to host our show this year, I didn't think that this shining yet incredibly busy Canadian ambassador would be able to fit it in. Howie was as thrilled with the offer as we were at the prospect of having him at the helm, and he accepted without pause. It'll definitely be a lot of fun!"

Howie helps shine the spotlight on the amazing roster of 2010 inductees on Saturday, October 16^th: musician David Clayton-Thomas; singer Nelly Furtado; magician, the late Doug Henning; Olympian Clara Hughes; actor Eric McCormack; author Farley Mowat; and actor Sarah Polley.

The two-hour Walk of Fame Tribute is presented to a selection of internationally recognized Canadian luminaries for their lifetime achievements in the fields of music, sport, film and television, as well as the literary, visual and performing arts, science and innovation.

About Canwest Originals
Canwest is the proud home of the most diverse slate of Canadian Original programs across the Dramatic, Lifestyle and Entertainment genres. As a steadfast supporter of the Canadian production community, Canwest is dedicated to bringing the best of the country to audiences nationwide - including shows such as: Rookie Blue, Pitchin' In, Holmes Inspection, Ice Pilots: NWT, Lost Girl, 16:9, The Opener, Princess, William Shatner's Weird or What? and Canada's most trusted entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight Canada.

About Canwest Broadcasting
Canwest Broadcasting operates Global Television and nineteen of the country's most popular specialty channels, including HGTV, Mystery TV, National Geographic Channel, Showcase, History Television, Food Network and TVtropolis. Canwest Broadcasting is a division of Canwest Media Inc.

About Canada's Walk of Fame:
Established in 1998, Canada's Walk of Fame aims to educate, inform, and inspire through the permanent celebration of achievements in Canadian music, sport, film and television as well as the literary, visual and performing arts, and science and innovation.  The annual celebration culminates in a televised tribute special that honours Canada's finest. Each inductee is immortalized, their names forever cemented into the sidewalks of Toronto's Entertainment District. A total of 124 Canadians have been honoured, including Margaret Atwood, Howie Mandel, Steve Nash, Michael J. Fox and Blue Rodeo. A complete list of inductees along with more information on Canada's Walk of Fame can be found at www.canadaswalkoffame.com

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