PM Carney Praises Heated Rivalry at Ottawa Conference

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with stars and creators of the hit Canadian TV series "Heated Rivalry" during the Canadian Media Producers Association's annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa on Thursday, where he praised the show for its bold storytelling and alignment with national values.

The event featured a surprise panel titled "In Conversation with Heated Rivalry," attended by lead actor Hudson Williams, who plays Shane Hollander; co-star Sophie Nélisse, portraying Rose; and creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady. Carney joined the discussion, highlighting the series' international success and its role in challenging traditional notions of masculinity in sports through its depiction of queer love between two professional hockey players. Distributed by Bell Media's Crave streaming service, the six-part drama, adapted from romance novels by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid, has garnered record audiences worldwide, including on HBO Max in the U.S. and other platforms across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and New Zealand.

Earlier in the evening, on the red carpet outside the conference venue, Carney and Williams shared a warm embrace as the actor presented the prime minister...