'History in 60' Unearths Canada's Overlooked Disability Narratives

TORONTO, ON – March 10, 2026 – A new television series is set to challenge what Canadians think they know about their own history. Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has announced the debut of History in 60, a six-part series hosted by award-winning journalist John Loeppky, which promises to unearth the pivotal moments and unsung trailblazers of Canadian disability history. The show, premiering Monday, March 30, on AMI-tv and AMI+, aims to fill a significant and long-neglected void in the nation's collective memory.

Correcting the Historical Record

For decades, academic studies and advocacy groups have highlighted a glaring omission in mainstream education: the near-total absence of disability history. The stories of activists who fought for accessibility, the inventors who revolutionized mobility, and the artists who challenged perceptions have largely been relegated to footnotes, if mentioned at all. History in 60 arrives as a direct and accessible response to this cultural blind spot.

The series moves beyond the traditional, often somber, portrayal of disability to present a vibrant and complex history of innovation, resilience, and community. As stated in the announcement, the show's creators contemplated "the relative lack of knowledge when it comes to disability history, including within disabled communities." By pairing archival footage with modern-day interviews with torchbearers, the series intends to build a bridge between the past and present, demonstrating how historical struggles and triumphs continue to shape the lives of disabled Canadians today. This approach aims not just to educate but to empower, providing a historical foundation for a community whose contributions have been systemically undervalued.

A Mission of Accessible Storytelling

The series is a flagship project for Accessible Media Inc., a media company whose entire mandate is built around serving, informing, and empowering Canadians with disabilities. AMI operates as a unique entity in the Canadian broadcast landscape, with its services—AMI-tv, AMI-audio, and the French-language AMI-télé—all designed with integrated accessibility features like described video and closed captioning from the ground up.

History in 60 exemplifies AMI's mission to create content that is "led by and for people in the disability community." By commissioning a series dedicated to disability history and placing a disabled journalist at its helm, the company reinforces its commitment to authentic representation. This move is significant in a media industry still grappling with how to tell diverse stories without resorting to stereotypes or tokenism. The series, along with its companion podcast produced by Metamorphosis Media Group, represents a multi-platform strategy to ensure these crucial stories reach the widest possible audience in the most accessible formats.

The Dynamic Vision of John Loeppky

At the heart of the series is host John Loeppky, a disabled freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, and Teen Vogue. Loeppky is not a passive narrator; he is an active and energetic guide. Known for his RTDNA award-winning CBC op-ed series "Taking A Sitting Stand," he brings a sharp, insightful, and deeply personal perspective to the material. The show's producers promise this will not be a "sleepy, monotone lecture."

A key innovation is the "John-alogue," a high-energy, 60-second segment at the end of each episode where Loeppky summarizes the theme while undertaking a related, often difficult, activity. This could involve "hitting the floor during a wheelchair rugby practice, joining a disability-led dance troupe, or having to give a political-style speech about something personally meaningful." These segments are designed not only for television but as standalone, shareable content for social media, a savvy strategy to engage a younger, digitally native audience. This modern approach aims to make history feel immediate, relevant, and exciting, breaking down the perceived stuffiness of historical programming.

A Coalition of Creative and Financial Support

Bringing such an ambitious project to the screen required a collaborative effort. The series is co-produced by Saskatchewan-based 3 Story Pictures and Danny Rockett Productions, led by producer Brent Kawchuk. Both companies have a track record of producing compelling, diverse Canadian content. 3 Story Pictures, with credits like the historical series Treaty Road, has experience navigating complex social narratives, while projects like ZARQA show an ability to create fresh, character-driven work. This partnership suggests a blend of historical rigour and dynamic, engaging storytelling. Kawchuk also brings experience from producing eight Historica Minutes, which served as an inspiration for this series.

The production was made possible through a coalition of provincial and federal funding bodies, including the Canada Media Fund (CMF), Creative Saskatchewan, The SaskTel Max Equity Fund, and the Government of Alberta. The involvement of these organizations underscores the project's recognized cultural importance. The CMF, in particular, has a mandate to foster diverse Canadian stories, and its support signals that History in 60 is viewed as a vital contribution to the nation's cultural landscape. This broad base of support reflects a growing consensus that stories from underrepresented communities are not niche, but essential.

The debut episode will focus on the uniquely Canadian invention of wheelchair rugby, also known as "murderball." Loeppky meets one of its inventors, the legendary "quadfather" Duncan Campbell, and traces the sport's journey from a Winnipeg gymnasium to the world stage of the Paralympics. By taking to the court himself, Loeppky embodies the show's immersive and personal approach to making history come alive. History in 60 is poised to become more than just a television show; it is a public education initiative, a historical corrective, and a celebration of a history that has been hidden in plain sight for far too long.