“Destination: Oshawa,” a new comedy series produced by Combo Bravo, is currently streaming on Bell Fibe TV1 following its premiere at the Biltmore Theatre on May 26. The show invites viewers to explore the city through humour, centring on a fictional tourism task force dedicated to rebranding Oshawa as a prime vacation spot. The series consists of four episodes and highlights the municipality through a lens of satire and local pride.
The creative team behind the project includes directors and writers Dave Luca, Jon Riera, and Hannah Veldhoen. Veldhoen, who also serves as a lead actor, transitioned into stand-up comedy five years ago during the pandemic. Her personal material about Oshawa, which she often used in her routines, served as the catalyst for developing this television series. For Veldhoen, this marks her first major acting role, allowing her to translate her comedic perspective on the city into a broader narrative format.
To capture the essence of the city, the cast and crew filmed four episodes over a nine-day period at numerous recognizable locations across Oshawa. Key sites featured in the show include the scenic lake shore, Memorial Park, the Robert McLaughlin Public Library, and the Midtown Mall. Veldhoen specifically noted that the mall serves as a visual anchor for the series, stating it sums up the “grungy but resilient vibe of Oshawa.” These locations were chosen to reflect the authentic atmosphere and unique character of the municipality.
The production is a self-funded, bootstrapped effort that relied heavily on the generosity of local businesses and institutions. Producer Bella Randazzo emphasized that the project was a labour of love for the team, driven by a desire to showcase their home. “Oshawa is my home and it’s very important to me,” Randazzo said. The crew secured support from various community partners, including Teddy’s Restaurant and Deli, Kops Records, NEB’s Fun World, Treetop Adventure Park, and the Biltmore Theatre, which provided both filming locations and financial assistance.
Despite the community support, the production faced significant constraints due to its limited resources. Randazzo described the intensity of the filming schedule and the financial realities of independent media production. “We were a very humble production with a small budget, throwing together all the support we could to make it something special,” she explained. She further elaborated on the collaborative effort required to finish the project, noting, “We had donations and sponsorship and support that helped us get to where we were. We had to move fast, and it was really tight.”
Stylistically, “Destination: Oshawa” draws inspiration from established sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation, Letterkenny and Trailer Park Boys. The series aims to present a version of Oshawa that is accessible to a wide audience, regardless of their familiarity with the city. Veldhoen stated that the creative objective was to ensure viewers recognize the universal aspects of the community, saying, “That’s what we had in mind, that even if you’ve never been to Oshawa, we wanted you to feel like, ‘Oh, this is a city in Canada that I understand.’”
The rise of community-driven content platforms like Fibe TV1 provides a crucial launchpad for independent voices in the Canadian media landscape. By focusing on hyper-local narratives, ‘Destination: Oshawa’ not only entertains but also contributes to the cultural documentation of the city. The series stands as a testament to the thriving creative sector within Durham Region, proving that compelling stories are waiting to be told in every corner of the province.
Commissioned by Bell’s Fibe TV1, a platform that focuses on community-based storytelling, the series was encouraged to feature extensive shots of the city and involve local residents. While the show pokes fun at the municipality, the creators were careful to maintain a spirit of affectionate satire. Veldhoen addressed the show’s tone, asserting, “We wanted it to be funny and uplifting and we want Oshawa to know that we’re in on the joke, and they’re in on the joke. At the end of the day, what makes Oshawa great is the people, so we really wanted that to come through.”
