Hinterland Who's Who
Encyclopedia
Hinterland Who's Who is best known as a series of 60-second public service announcement
s profiling Canadian
animals and birds, produced by Environment Canada
Wildlife Service and the National Film Board of Canada
in the 1960s and 70s, and re-launched by the Canadian Wildlife Federation
in the 2000s. In the original announcements, a distinctive refrain of flute music (John Cacavas' Flute Poem) opens the ad, and is accompanied by the low-key style of the narrator, John Livingston, describing the animal over footage of it taken in the wild. These announcements became a widely recognized and often-parodied feature of Canadian pop culture. At the end of each message viewers were reminded, "For more information on the [animal], contact the Canadian Wildlife Service
, in Ottawa." Newer segments end with: "For more information on the [animal], why not contact the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa?", with later installments including its postal code, K1A 0H3.
A French
version of this series was also produced, as Faune et flore du pays (The country's fauna and flora).
In 2003 the Canadian Wildlife Federation
, in cooperation with the Government of Canada, began producing new episodes of Hinterland Who's Who, featuring two versions:
These versions are often hosted on-camera and voiced by a female Canadian Wildlife Service worker, concluding with, "To learn more about [subject], and how you can protect it, visit www.hww.ca."
In both cases, the new Hinterland Who's Who narrative includes suggestions for conservation along with the description of the animal and its behaviour.
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s profiling Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
animals and birds, produced by Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
Wildlife Service and the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
in the 1960s and 70s, and re-launched by the Canadian Wildlife Federation
Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is Canada’s largest nonprofit organization which is committed to protecting the plants, animals and habitats of Canada . The CWF is a non-governmental organization, however it remains closely tied with the Government of Canada in order to establish environmental...
in the 2000s. In the original announcements, a distinctive refrain of flute music (John Cacavas' Flute Poem) opens the ad, and is accompanied by the low-key style of the narrator, John Livingston, describing the animal over footage of it taken in the wild. These announcements became a widely recognized and often-parodied feature of Canadian pop culture. At the end of each message viewers were reminded, "For more information on the [animal], contact the Canadian Wildlife Service
Canadian Wildlife Service
The Canadian Wildlife Service or CWS is a branch of the Department of the Environment, also known as Environment Canada, a department of the Government of Canada....
, in Ottawa." Newer segments end with: "For more information on the [animal], why not contact the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa?", with later installments including its postal code, K1A 0H3.
A French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
version of this series was also produced, as Faune et flore du pays (The country's fauna and flora).
In 2003 the Canadian Wildlife Federation
Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is Canada’s largest nonprofit organization which is committed to protecting the plants, animals and habitats of Canada . The CWF is a non-governmental organization, however it remains closely tied with the Government of Canada in order to establish environmental...
, in cooperation with the Government of Canada, began producing new episodes of Hinterland Who's Who, featuring two versions:
- those containing the quiet narrative of the original series of commercials
- those containing modern background music, directed at younger viewers
These versions are often hosted on-camera and voiced by a female Canadian Wildlife Service worker, concluding with, "To learn more about [subject], and how you can protect it, visit www.hww.ca."
In both cases, the new Hinterland Who's Who narrative includes suggestions for conservation along with the description of the animal and its behaviour.
In popular culture
- SCTVSecond City TelevisionSecond City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
: Episode #142 featured a spoof of the Hinterland Who's Who "Woodchuck" episode, voiced by John CandyJohn CandyJohn Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
. The Woodchuck also makes a brief appearance in Episode #143.
External links
- Hinterland Who's Who homepage (current series)
- Hinterland Who's Who: The Robin (original series)