{"id":2258240,"date":"2026-01-30T16:41:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2258240"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:41:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:41:52","slug":"black-canadian-icons-share-their-journey-to-the-top-in-new-cbc-series-the-legacy-lounge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/black-canadian-icons-share-their-journey-to-the-top-in-new-cbc-series-the-legacy-lounge\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Canadian icons share their journey to the top in new CBC series, The Legacy Lounge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"ttsIcon-cIBsl\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/a\/assets\/texttospeech.svg\" alt=\"Text to Speech Icon\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>Estimated 4 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"toggletip-tKLKF ttsToggleTip-DSCNQ\">\n<p>The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The Legacy Lounge, a new 4-part series now streaming on CBC Gem, is where culture meets conversation. Each episode will honour an influential Black Canadian celebrity whose work has had a lasting impact in their field, on culture and their community.<\/p>\n<h2>What is The Legacy Lounge?<\/h2>\n<p>Born from The Legacy Awards, The Legacy Lounge is a reimagined format that continues to honour the legacy and achievements of Black Canadians. The series explores each honouree\u2019s journey \u2014 from personal struggles to creative breakthroughs \u2014 and reflects on the legacy they\u2019re building, in their own words. It\u2019s a deeper storytelling experience that highlights Black excellence across Canada.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\" custom content\" class=\"customHtml\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Because the hosts are peers themselves, the conversation focuses on a shared experience making the audience feel like they\u2019re listening to a private conversation.<\/p>\n<p>The series is a behind the curtain look at the people who have shaped Canadian culture, making the celebration more intimate and accessible to viewers across the country.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who is hosting The Legacy Lounge?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Shamier Anderson (John Wick) and Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk) are two brothers and actors from Scarborough, Ontario who founded The Black Academy, a national organization to showcase Black talent in Canada. \u201cWhat we want to do here is really let people know that we want to celebrate, elevate, and inspire both the Anglophone community and the Francophone community of Black talent across this country,\u201d Anderson told <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/arts\/shamier-anderson-and-stephan-james-are-bringing-the-first-all-black-award-show-to-canada-and-it-s-about-time-1.6056100#:~:text=HH:%20What%20do%20you%20hope,can%20read%20more%20stories%20here.\" target=\"_blank\"><u>CBC Arts<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Filmed at Toronto\u2019s King &amp; Bay Bespoke Solutions, the series also includes appearances by Kevin &#8220;k-os&#8221; Brereton, Christian Thompson, Barb Godfrey, Weyni Mengesha, Walied Soliman, Clement Virgo, Adrian Holmes, Willow Smith, Ann Merriam, O-T Fagbenle and Andrew \u201cKing Bach\u201d Bachelor who join the brothers in a wide-ranging conversation with the honourees.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who are the honourees featured on The Legacy Lounge?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A tri-plate photo of three celebs in evening wear.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/67d288ab-c588-4f4a-b2e9-f0e6749b971e,1769785638603\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/67d288ab-c588-4f4a-b2e9-f0e6749b971e,1769785638603\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/67d288ab-c588-4f4a-b2e9-f0e6749b971e,1769785638603\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px\" src=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/67d288ab-c588-4f4a-b2e9-f0e6749b971e,1769785638603\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3B\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777\" data-cy=\"image-img\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Fefe Dobson, Wes Hall and Amanda Brugel are featured in The Legacy Lounge (Sarah Del Angel)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The series begins with prominent Canadian businessman, philanthropist, entrepreneur and investor on CBC Dragons\u2019 Den, Wes Hall who talks about his journey from rural Jamaica to Bay Street. \u201cMy Blackness is my superpower,\u201d says Hall, \u201cif you walk into a room and you\u2019re the only one that looks like you there, how could that not be an advantage to you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Episode 2, multi-platinum recording artist Fefe Dobson shares how she found her voice and carved her own lane in pop-punk music. \u201cI remember in elementary school, they asked me, \u201cwhat do you want to be when you grow up?\u201d [I said] \u201cI want to be a famous singer\u201d or something. And they were like, \u201cSo, what is your plan B?\u201d I remember that. And I said, \u201cI don\u2019t have a plan B.\u201d It\u2019s just what it is,\u2019 she shares.<\/p>\n<p>Then, international award-winning actor and producer Amanda Brugel (Dark Matter, The Handmaid\u2019s Tale) talks about journey from a childhood \u2018movie brat\u2019 to celebrated actor.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve never, ever wanted to be the lead. I\u2019ve never felt that I deserved to be the lead,\u201d she says, \u201cbut I felt like I deserved to be someone with integrity, someone with a first and last name and I wanted to perpetuate a fully formed, nuanced woman.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Three Black young men sit at a table.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/793ac171-a403-4f68-81d2-41674d25b2fc,1769785881825\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/793ac171-a403-4f68-81d2-41674d25b2fc,1769785881825\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/793ac171-a403-4f68-81d2-41674d25b2fc,1769785881825\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px\" src=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/793ac171-a403-4f68-81d2-41674d25b2fc,1769785881825\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1920%2C1080%29%3B\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777\" data-cy=\"image-img\"\/><\/div>\n<p>The Basement Gang (L-R) Kadeem Hemmings, Nathaniel James, Nicholas McDonald (Sarah Del Angel)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The series wraps with Nathaniel James, Kadeem Hemmings and Nicholas McDonald of the viral TikTok dance trio, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@basementgang?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Basement Gang<\/u><\/a> who talk about how their dance sessions turned into a viral movement celebrating Black joy and community. \u201cThat became more of our trademark. A daily dose of serotonin. So even when there were some days when you didn\u2019t really want to dance, but it\u2019s like, you could really do it today, \u2018cause you\u2019re bringing so much joy to people,\u201d says McDonald.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Where can I watch The Legacy Lounge in Canada?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The 4-part series The Legacy Lounge is streaming on CBC Gem now.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\" custom content\" class=\"customHtml\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The series will also be available during Black History Month on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/CBCtv\" target=\"_blank\"><u>CBC\u2019s YouTube channel<\/u><\/a> with weekly episodes beginning Monday, February 2; and on CBC TV at 7:30 p.m. (8 p.m. NT) on Fridays beginning February 27.<\/p>\n<p>CBC Gem is available for free as an App for iOS, tvOS, Fire TV, Android TV, Android phones and tablets, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Roku, and Xbox One\/S\/X.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cbc.ca \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen to this article Estimated 4 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. The Legacy Lounge, a new 4-part series now streaming on CBC Gem, is where culture meets conversation. Each episode will honour [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2258241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2258240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Black-Canadian-icons-share-their-journey-to-the-top-in.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2258240"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2258242,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258240\/revisions\/2258242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2258241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2258240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2258240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2258240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}