Dear Aunt Agnes facts for kids

Dear Aunt Agnes was a fun Canadian TV show that aired on TV Ontario (TVO) from 1986 to 1989. This comedy-drama series was filmed in Toronto, Ontario. It told the story of two kids, Alex and Andrew, and their unique Aunt Agnes. The show ran for three exciting seasons.

Meet the Main Characters

• Heather Conkie played Agnes Peabody, the cool aunt.
• Mya Rimon played Alex Stefanidis, the older sister.
• Bradley Phillips played Andrew Stefanidis, the younger brother.
• Bruce Tubbé played Gary Hutchins, a university student living with them.

Other Important Characters

• Elias Zarou played Mr. Stefanidis, Alex and Andrew's dad.
• Rachael Crawford played Marsha, Alex's friend.

What's the Show About?

Teenage Alex and her younger brother Andrew live in Toronto. Their parents are separated. The story begins when their mom goes away for a short time to work in Senegal. That's when their Aunt Agnes comes to stay and look after them. A university student named Gary also lives in their house as a boarder.

The show explores many everyday challenges that young people face. It looks at things like dealing with friends, changes in family life, and figuring out what's important to you and others. Aunt Agnes helps Alex and Andrew learn and grow through these experiences.

How the Show Was Made

Dear Aunt Agnes was created because TV Ontario (TVO) wanted more shows for kids around 8 to 12 years old. They found that young people needed shows to help them understand real-life situations. Many teachers also said that more kids were coming from families where parents lived apart. They asked for shows that could help these young people feel better and cope with changes.

The character of Agnes Peabody was already popular. Heather Conkie, who played Agnes, had created her for an earlier TVO show called It's Mainly Music. Both Heather Conkie and the show's executive producer, Ruth Vernon, thought Agnes would be perfect for the new series. They believed her fun and wise personality would appeal to viewers. She could also be a great guardian and mentor for Alex and Andrew.

Heather Conkie also produced the show, wrote some episodes, and even composed the theme music! She explained that Agnes wasn't like a parent who could always say "yes" or "no." This meant Alex and Andrew were free to try things out and ask questions about what adults believed.

The show became very popular, even with parents! By the end of its second season, it was TVO's most-watched show in its early evening time slot. However, in 1987, the Ontario government reduced funding for TVO. This meant the show had to be cancelled after only two seasons.

Fans were very upset! They called and wrote to TVO, with some even saying they wouldn't donate money unless new episodes were made. Since TVO relied on viewer donations, they listened. They decided to bring the show back! A third season was made in 1989 after a one-year break. In these new episodes, Alex and Andrew faced challenges that were more common for teenagers.

Most of the filming happened on a TVO set. Outdoor scenes were shot in different parts of Toronto. These included neighbourhoods like Rosedale, Forest Hill, and Summerhill. They also filmed at the University of Toronto campus. The house shown in the opening credits was actually owned by Heather Conkie at the time.

When It Aired

The series first aired from January 1986 to December 1989. Episodes were shown again until September 1993. Since then, TVO has not made the episodes available to the public. In 2011, a few episodes from other shows were put on TVO's online archive. However, it costs a lot of money to get permission from actors, writers, and composers to show old dramas again. Because of this, the archive project mostly focuses on news and current events programs.

Episode Guide