L!VELY MEDIA SERVES UP THE ULTIMATE CULINARY COMPETITION FOR VIEWERS

September 23, 2008

Toronto-based Lively Media announced today that it has begun production on a seven-part television series giving viewers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Gold Medal Plates, Canada's most coveted culinary competition.  Called Gold Medal Plates: The Quest for Canada's Best Chef, the series will air on Travel + Escape in the spring of 2009. 

"Lively Media is extremely happy to be working with the Gold Medal Plates team and the Canadian Olympic Committee to take this competition to a larger audience," said Leanna Crouch, president of Lively Media and executive producer of the series. "It's the most exciting culinary competition in the country and it's time the entire country learned about it, especially since the nationwide events support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes."

Gold Medal Plates is a celebration of Canadian excellence in the areas of cuisine, wine and athletics.  Through its national pursuit to crown Canada's best chef, Gold Medal Plates has donated more than $2 million to Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes.  Annually, regional competitions are held in six Canadian cities - Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal - with winning chefs representing each city coming together for the National Culinary Championship.

"Gold Medal Plates is a terrific event that helps directly support Canada's athletes," said Chris Rudge, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee. "It helps fund the programs that get our future medal hopefuls to the next level. And allowing Canadians to see behind the scenes like this will help keep athletes and their funding in the public eye, which is very important."

It's a classic story of upstarts challenging veterans, underdogs pinning overdogs, heartbreaking losses and overwhelming victories, of passion, dedication and grit while going for the gold. Only this time it's the chefs going back to basic training and pulling out all the stops to win the hardware. 

Olympians trade in their paddles or skates to assume sous chef roles in the regionals, working shoulder to shoulder with their assigned chef to present a winning dish to some of the country's toughest culinary judges.  The finals - this season held in Banff, Alberta - are stretched out over two grueling days, beginning with Mystery Wine Pairing event, a Black Box competition and culminating in the Grande Finale event where the best chef is crowned.

Gold Medal Plates has earned its place in the hearts and minds of Canadians because of the support it has given to athletes with an Olympic or Paralympic dream.  Beginning in Ottawa on October 15, 2008, Lively Media will capture every nuance and sizzle in each episode as they follow 60 leading Canadian chefs on their quest to be Canada's best.

"It is exciting to welcome the Lively Media team to Gold Medal Plates nationwide," said Stephen Leckie, CEO and founder of Gold Medal Plates. "We are sure the viewing audience will find this unique competition of chefs, athletes and wineries a great and gripping story."

"Canada has so much talent to be proud of," said Crouch. "Lively Media is pleased to help build national pride through this unique program that blends the worlds of food, wine and sports.  Get ready for the action."
Lively Media is a Toronto-based production company with credits including: The Chefs' Domain and Breeder of the Pack, which air on Travel + Escape and Animal Planet respectively.  Gold Medal Plates is the third commission for the company this year, which is also developing several other series.

For more information contact: 
Devon Searle 
L!vely Media
416-644-1792

Steve Keogh
Director of Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
416-324-4146

Karen Petcoff
Gold Medal Plates  
416-275-6844