Multilingual National News Series Voices of Canada Explores the Rise of Canada's New Mother Tongues, Beginning Oct. 24 on OMNI Television

- OMNI News series features in-depth stories examining the latest findings of Statistics Canada's 2011 Census data on Canada's national language identity -
- Five-part series airs within OMNI Television's six multilingual newscasts, OMNI News: South Asian, Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Italian editions -

To tweet this release: bit.ly/RijFpZ

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The face of Canada is changing, and as Canada's multilingual broadcast news leader, OMNI Television goes beyond the statistics with the five-part special series Voices of Canada. Coinciding with the latest Statistics Canada report on Canada's new language identity, Voices of Canada explores the country's diverse communities and shines a light on the local and national impact of these new rising languages.

Voices of Canada airs from October 24 to 30 within OMNI Television's six multilingual newscasts, OMNI News: South Asian, Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Italian editions.

"With our multilingual reporters deeply rooted within Canada's diverse ethnocultural communities, we're able to bring a unique perspective and wide range of stories to this national topic across all of our language newscasts," said Madeline Ziniak, National Vice-President, OMNI Television.

Reporting on national stories, Voices of Canada examines the growth of Asian languages spoken in Canada, as well as the shift of mother tongues in certain mature communities and its impact on preserving the culture within these groups. Voices of Canada also explores the new rising phenomenon of multi-language households as a result of inter-marriage between different cultural groups.

With reports from OMNI News bureaus in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, Voices of Canada also features regional stories that delve into the impact the rapid rise in Chinese languages and Punjabi have on business, schools, and government services. Highlights include the increase of non-Chinese students studying Chinese language classes in Alberta, and the expanded offering of Punjabi in both government and business services in Calgary, Surrey, and Brampton.

Voices of Canada five-part series airs within the following newscasts, daily from Wednesday, Oct. 24 to Tuesday, Oct. 30:

• OMNI News: South Asian Edition at 8 p.m. ET/MT on OMNI.2 and OMNI Alberta
• OMNI News: Punjabi National Edition at 11 p.m. ET/MT on OMNI.2 and OMNI Alberta, and 9 p.m. PT on OMNI BC
• OMNI News: Cantonese Edition at 9 p.m. ET/MT on OMNI.2 and OMNI Alberta, and 5 p.m. PT on OMNI BC
• OMNI News: Mandarin Edition at 5 p.m. ET on OMNI.2, 9:30 p.m. MT on OMNI Alberta, and 8 p.m. PT on OMNI BC
• OMNI News: Italian Edition at 8 p.m. ET on OMNI.1
• OMNI News: Portuguese Edition at 9:30 p.m. ET on OMNI.1

Social Media Links
Official Website, OMNI News: OMNINews.ca
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About OMNI Television
OMNI^™ is a free, over-the-air multilingual/multicultural television system committed to reflecting Canada's diversity by delivering an array of ethnocultural programming, serving multiple language communities.  With five television stations in B.C.; Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) and Ontario (OMNI.1 and OMNI.2), OMNI has a combined reach of 16.5 million households in major market areas.  In addition to weeknight newscasts and weekly community magazine programs, OMNI is also home to well-known International series and films, including Bollywood Movies, Asian Cinema, Italian and Portuguese telenovelas. OMNI Television is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited., a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company.  For more information visit www.OMNItv.ca.

SOURCE: OMNI Television

Media Contacts  
Nicolas Brancaccio, OMNI News, 416.764.3261, [email protected]
Charmaine Khan, OMNI News, 416.764.3071, [email protected]