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Telemiracle

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Telemiracle
GenreTelethon
Presented byKinsmen and Kinettes of Saskatchewan
Opening themeThank You by Beverley Mahood
Ending themeO Canada
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons48 (as of 2024)
Production
Production locationsSaskatoon or Regina
(alternating)
Running time20 hours, except 2016 (21 hours) All include a 30-minute break for national news.
Original release
NetworkCTV Saskatchewan (1977-present)
Release1977 (1977) –
present

Telemiracle is an annual telethon organized by the Kinsmen and Kinettes in Saskatchewan, Canada, for the benefit of the Kinsmen Foundation. Initially broadcast on both CTV and CBC affiliates in Saskatchewan, it is now broadcast, commercial-free, exclusively on the province's CTV affiliates–CKCK in Regina, CFQC in Saskatoon, CIPA in Prince Albert and CICC in Yorkton.

The telethon is generally broadcast the first full weekend of March, but in a rare and COVID-19-induced exception to that rule, the 45th edition of the telethon was based at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon on February 27 and 28, 2021. Like the 2021 telethon, the 46th edition of the telethon took place without a live audience, in Regina's International Trade Centret on March 5 and 6, 2022. Telemiracle 47 returned to Saskatoon's Prairieland Park on February 25 and 26, 2023. The most recent edition, Telemiracle 48, returned to Regina's REAL District on February 24 and 25, 2024, with a limited live audience and, per the telethon's website, the next edition will take place on March 1 and 2, 2025.

History

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One of the many totals during the telethon

Originally, the Kinsmen had the idea to have a car raffle to raise funds to help with all the requests for assistance they received but the government wouldn't allow it. So instead, they came up with the idea for a telethon.[citation needed] In 1977, the first telethon raised more than CAD $1 million, which at the time was considered a record for per capita telethon fund-raising in a 20-hour period (the province had a population of less than 1 million people at the time). The telethon passed the $2 million mark for the first time in 1983, and the $3 million mark in 2001. Telemiracle has exceeded the $4 million mark sixteen times and $5 million twelve times, most recently in 2024. Telemiracle exceeded the $7 million mark for the first time on March 4, 2018, and the $8 million mark for the first time on March 6, 2022. The 2024 telethon marked the first time the total finished above $6 million but below $7 million.

Early broadcasts of the telethon featured a mix of national and international celebrities such as John Allan Cameron, Gloria Loring, Alan Thicke, the Irish Rovers, Arte Johnson of Laugh-In, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, game show personality Jim Perry, his daughter Erin Perry, singer and TV host Blake Emmons (who was the telethon's de facto host during the first few years, a post later taken over by Thicke in the 1980s and most recently by Beverley Mahood and Brad Johner), pianist Frank Mills and Saskatchewan-born motivational speaker Alvin Law. In recent years, the event has mostly attracted Canadian talent. Traditionally, the telethon alternates between the two major Saskatchewan cities of Saskatoon and Regina.

Bob McGrath, a regular fixture on Telemiracle for 38 years, was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan for this work by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Lynda Haverstock, on March 3, 2006.[1] He announced during the 2015 telethon that it would be his last, but returned for the final four hours of the 2018 telethon.

Telemiracle 31 (2007), the first telethon to exceed the $5,000,000 pledge total, broke all previous records, with an official final total of $5,604,682. This record was broken in 2012 (Telemiracle 36) with a final total of $5,906,229. This record was once again broken on March 4, 2018 (Telemiracle 42) with a final total of $7,151,256. One bequest of over $1.2 million and one bequest of over $1.5 million contributed to the 2018 total. The current record is held by the 46th Telemiracle (2022); the total of $8,002,722 included a bequest of $1,779,771.20, the largest pledge—bequest or otherwise—in the telethon's history.

A scheduling mixup resulted in Telemiracle 32 being relocated to Saskatoon in 2008. A convention was booked in Regina for the days leading up to the telethon, meaning that the usual setup time was not available. Telemiracle was held in Saskatoon for 3 consecutive years. The telethon returned to Regina in 2010.[2]

Format

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Telemiracle brings in many volunteers from across Canada.

Shown annually on CTV affiliates, the broadcast starts at 9 pm local time on the first Saturday in March (though for the first half of its history, it was often scheduled in February). The broadcast goes live to the host auditorium, where members of the national cast are introduced.

The previous theme was Mike + The Mechanics' 1986 hit "All I Need is a Miracle." it was replaced in 2011 with "You are the Miracle" by Brad Johner and Donny Parenteau.[3] The theme song was replaced again in 2021 with "Thank You" by Beverley Mahood.

The broadcast takes its only break at 11pm local time to allow for the CTV affiliates to broadcast the CTV National News (anchors from which have appeared on the telethon itself, most notably Lloyd Robertson and Harvey Kirck in the late 1970s). The telethon (and live broadcast) continues during this 30 minute news break and at 11:30pm stations that aired the newscast once again rejoin the broadcast until the conclusion of the show on Sunday evening at 5pm Central Standard Time. The broadcast always concludes with "O Canada" and a balloon and confetti drop during which time some of the volunteers take to the stage to celebrate; up through 2010, a rendition of "With a Little Help from My Friends" was included with the closing festivities.

For the first time in 2009, the show went to other various locations in Saskatchewan outside of Saskatoon or Regina. It went to many of the smaller towns and cities across the province showcasing what the local residents have done to raise money. The practice continued in 2010 and, for COVID-induced reasons, again in 2021.

Telemiracle was streamed online on CTV's website for the first time in 2010.[citation needed]

While the show is now carried only on Saskatchewan CTV stations, the production crew is composed of approximately 200 volunteers representing several broadcast networks, many traveling from outside of the province.

In 2018 a pre-show called the Countdown Show was added. It starts at 6:30 pm local time and runs till approximately 8:45 pm. It is streamed live to Telemiracle's YouTube channel, from the lobby of the host auditorium. The Countdown Show is hosted by two members of the national cast and features 12 Saskatchewan Talent performances.

Since 2021, Telemiracle has been held in a modified format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no live audience and primarily pre-recorded performances. The production has also been held in a studio at Prairieland Park or International Trade Centre, rather than at TCU Place or Conexus Arts Centre as has been customary. A limited live audience of invited guests was reintroduced for 2023.[4][5][6]

Annual totals

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Telemiracle's website doesn't display the annual totals and they don't set annual goals, but their FAQ notes that the telethon raised over $111 million [7] through Telemiracle 39 in 2015, an amount that includes the $5,604,682 raised by Telemiracle 31 in 2007 and $5,906,229 at Telemiracle 36 in 2012.

At the 37th Telemiracle in 2013, the Kinsmen and Kinettes were proud to announce that the lifetime total for Telemiracle had surpassed 100 million dollars. Telemiracle has an all-time total raised of $165,428,063, up to and including the 2024 event.

At the 42nd Telemiracle in 2018, a brand new record total was raised, thanks in large part to two individual bequeaths of over $1 million each. When the final tally was totalled up at 5:00 pm, a then-record of $7,151,256 was established.[8] The current record is held by the 46th Telemiracle (2022), which raised a total of $8,002,722.[8]

Year Telemiracle Host City Total Ref
1977 1 Saskatoon $1,214,210
1978 2 Regina $1,443,092
1979 3 Saskatoon $1,401,422
1980 4 Regina $1,551,837
1981 5 Saskatoon $1,800,924
1982 6 Regina $1,902,480
1983 7 Saskatoon $2,010,120
1984 8 Regina $1,920,215
1985 9 Saskatoon $2,012,424
1986 10 Regina $2,004,367
1987 11 Saskatoon $2,085,785
1988 12 Regina $2,470,577
1989 13 Saskatoon $1,965,721
1990 14 Regina $1,803,177
1991 15 Saskatoon $1,825,092
1992 16 Regina $2,003,610
1993 17 Saskatoon $2,114,688
1994 18 Regina $2,126,734
1995 19 Saskatoon $2,451,783 [9]
1996 20 Regina $2,306,420
1997 21 Saskatoon $2,740,578
1998 22 Regina $2,546,637
1999 23 Saskatoon $2,500,562
2000 24 Regina $2,683,424
2001 25 Saskatoon $3,515,611
2002 26 Regina $3,026,723
2003 27 Saskatoon $3,027,912
2004 28 Regina $3,528,410
2005 29 Saskatoon $3,440,296
2006 30 Regina $3,491,538
2007 31 Saskatoon $5,604,682
2008 32 Saskatoon $3,648,310
2009 33 Saskatoon $3,802,308
2010 34 Regina $4,010,314 [10]
2011 35 Saskatoon $4,635,768 [11]
2012 36 Regina $5,906,229
2013 37 Saskatoon $5,546,712
2014 38 Regina $5,285,744
2015 39 Saskatoon $4,312,457
2016 40 Regina $5,200,071
2017 41 Saskatoon $5,000,274
2018 42 Regina $7,151,256
2019 43 Saskatoon $5,619,214
2020 44 Regina $5,523,472
2021 45 Saskatoon $5,630,215
2022 46 Regina $8,002,722 [8]
2023 47 Saskatoon $5,519,229
2024 48 Regina $6,112,717

Notable guests

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National and international

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Saskatchewan

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SSAME STREET LEGEND BOB MCGRATH RECEIVES CENTENNIAL MEDAL". Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Government of Saskatchewan.
  2. ^ "Telemiracle returns to Regina in 2010". CJME.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ "TeleMiracle Changes Theme Song". Discover Moose Jaw. February 28, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "TeleMiracle 46 kicks off with group skate at Iceville". CTV News Regina. March 4, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Telemiracle 47 to honour longtime host McGrath". thestarphoenix. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Telemiracle in 2021 a mix of old and new, organizers say". thestarphoenix. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Telemiracle FAQ". Telemiracle. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Dahlseide, Dallas (March 6, 2022). "TeleMiracle 46 surpasses $8 million mark to break all-time record". 650 CKOM. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "Saskatchewan Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. March 4, 1996.
  10. ^ Grummett, Danny (March 7, 2010). "Saskatchewan Performs Another Miracle". 980 CJME. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  11. ^ CTV Regina (March 6, 2011). "Telemiracle is truly a miracle". CTV News. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  12. ^ MacClean, Rory (March 5, 2011). "Telemiracle starts today, features Andrea Menard". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  13. ^ "Bob McGrath gives tearful goodbye at Telemiracle fundraiser". CBC News. March 8, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
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