# 1986 in Canadian television

This is a list of Canadian television related events from 1986.

## Events

| Date | Event |
| May 2 | 7th Genie Awards. |
| May 2 | The opening of Expo 86 in Vancouver airs on all the main television networks. |
| November 10 | Juno Awards of 1986. |
| November 30 | The Life Channel ceased broadcasting. |
| December 4 | The 1st Gemini Awards airs on CBC Television. |

### Debuts

| Show | Station | Premiere Date |
| The World Challenge (Le Défi mondial) | SRC (French) CBC (English) | January 3 (French) June 14 (English) |
| Dear Aunt Agnes | TVOntario | January 7 |
| Airwaves | CBC Television | January 27 |
| The Campbells | CTV | September 1 |
| Adderly | Global | September 24 |
| Camp Cariboo | CTV | Unknown |
| Night Walk | Global | Unknown |

### Ending this year

| Show | Station | Cancelled |
| The Edison Twins | CBC Television | Unknown |
| Global Playhouse | Global | Unknown |

## Television shows
### 1950s

* Country Canada (1954–2007)
* Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
* The National (1954–present)
* Front Page Challenge (1957–1995)
* Wayne and Shuster Show (1958–1989)

### 1960s

* CTV National News (1961–present)
* Land and Sea (1964–present)
* Man Alive (1967–2000)
* Mr. Dressup (1967–1996)
* The Nature of Things (1960–present, scientific documentary series)
* Question Period (1967–present, news program)
* The Tommy Hunter Show (1965–1992)
* W-FIVE (1966–present, newsmagazine program)

### 1970s

* The Beachcombers (1972–1990)
* Canada AM (1972–present, news program)
* City Lights (1973–1989)
* Definition (1974–1989)
* the fifth estate (1975–present, newsmagazine program)
* Live It Up! (1978–1990)
* Marketplace (1972–present, newsmagazine program)
* Polka Dot Door (1971-1993)
* You Can't Do That on Television (1979–1990)
* 100 Huntley Street (1977–present, religious program)

### 1980s

* Bumper Stumpers (1987–1990)
* Check it Out! (1985–1988)
* Danger Bay (1984–1990)
* Fraggle Rock (1983–1987)
* Guess What (1983–1987)
* Hangin' In (1981–1987)
* The Journal (1982–1992)
* Lorne Greene's New Wilderness (1982–1987)
* Midday (1985–2000)
* Night Heat (1985–1989)
* The Raccoons (1985–1992)
* Seeing Things (1981–1987)
* Switchback (1981–1990)
* Today's Special (1982–1987)
* Thrill of a Lifetime (1981–1987)
* Venture (1985–2007)
* Video Hits (1984–1993)

## TV movies

* The Marriage Bed
* Turning to Stone

## Networks and services
### Network launches

| Network | Type | Launch date | Notes |
| TQS | Over-the-air, cable and satellite | September 7 | TQS (Télévision Quatre-Saisons, now V) is a French language television network distributed over-the-air via owned-and-operated stations and a few affiliates in the province of Quebec, and also serves neighboring portions of New Brunswick and Ontario |
| Ontario Parliament Network | Cable and satellite (also available over-the-air in certain Northern Ontario communities) | Unknown | The Ontario Parliament Network was launched to broadcast the parliamentary proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario |

## Television stations
### Debuts

| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Affiliation | Notes/References |
| January 1 | Pembina, North Dakota (United States) | KNRR | 12 | Independent | KNRR is a satellite of KVRR in Fargo, North Dakota. KNRR provides over-the-air coverage in southern Manitoba south of Winnipeg, on the same frequency as KCND-TV (1960–1975). |
| August 20 | Montreal | CFTU-TV | 29 | French independent | |
| September 7 | Gatineau, Quebec (Ottawa, Ontario) | CFGS-TV | 34 | TQS | |
| September 7 | Montreal, Quebec | CFJP-TV | 35 | TQS | |
| September 7 | Quebec City, Quebec | CFAP-TV | 2 | TQS | |
| September 7 | Rimouski, Quebec | CJPC-TV | 18 | TQS | |
| September 7 | Sherbrooke, Quebec | CFKS-TV | 30 | TQS | |
| September 7 | Trois-Rivières | CFKM-TV | 16 | TQS | |
| December 1 | Edmonton, Alberta | CJAL-TV | 9 | Independent | |

### Network affiliation changes

| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Old affiliation | New affiliation | References |
| October 9 | Pembina, North Dakota, US | KNRR | 12 | Independent | Fox | KNRR, part of a 4-station regional network anchored by KVRR/Fargo, North Dakota, that provides OTA coverage to southern Manitoba, becomes a charter affiliate of the Fox network. |