February 2005 and Canada's inaugural National Spelling competition 'CANSPELL' is launched by CanWest Media Works in 11 different regions across the country.
More than 80,000 spellers across Canada in grades 5 to 8, would participate in school, district and regional competitions to determine the first champion of the CanWest CanSpell national spelling bee. Along the way, parents, teachers and judges would be hanging on not just every word - but every letter.
The first and second place finishers in each region would qualify to compete in the CANSPELL National Spelling Bee Finals - to be held at the National Arts Centre in the nation's capital on the 16th of April.
The rules were simple. Spell your word correctly and continue on the Road to CANSPELL. Spell your word incorrectly and you're eliminated. And although lady luck would certainly play a role in declaring CANSPELL'S first champion as well, in the end - only one of the tens of thousands of spellers who began the competition, would successfully complete THE FINAL WORD.
Each of the regional winners would also earn a trip to Washington DC during the first week in June to represent Canada at the 78th annual edition of the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.
MidCanada Entertainment is pleased to introduce 'THE FINAL WORD- The Road to CanSpell' - a compelling one-hour documentary that will follow the fascinating journey of the regional winners and runners-up through this remarkable competition. MIDCAN'S production crews have been tracking the kids since the regional finals began on March 5th - riding the emotional roller coaster right along with them. We've traveled from Victoria to Montreal and back - documenting stories on winners from each region. We've met their friends, their families, their dogs and their cats. We've talked to teachers, principals, coaches and music instructors - we know these kids and you'll get to know them too.
And you'll be amazed by them - their intellect, their aptitude and their grit. And just when you think they're superkids, you'll discover their vulnerabilities too.
Everyone is hanging on THE FINAL WORD: the Road to CanSpell . . . an astonishing one hour documentary laced with real life drama, from MidCanada Entertainment.
