A Canadian version of 'Jersey Shore' is in the works, but where will it take place? 5 potential locations for the new reality show
"Jersey Shore" was a cultural phenomenon in the mid-2000s, but what Canadian town could be a stand-in for the show's infamous boardwalk?
The Jersey Shore is coming to Canada, sort of. Paramount+ is gearing up to film the tentatively-titled Canada Shore — a take on the ultra-popular MTV series — this summer. According to the casting call, the show is looking for Canadians between the ages of 19 and 26 to “move in with other like-minded people to experience the most unforgettable, unfiltered summer of their lives.”
"Canadians may have a reputation for being polite, but we can be just as feisty, loud, dramatic, and unapologetic as anyone else," said Erin Brock, showrunner on Canada Shore and Co-Chief Content Officer at Insight Productions in a press release. “And Insight is on the hunt for the wildest, most outrageous young Canadians who want to party with their future chosen family this summer."
Jersey Shore became a cultural phenomenon when it premiered on MTV in December 2009. Millions tuned in each week to watch stars like Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino take over the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., live and die by the ethos of G.T.L. (gym, tan, laundry) and fist pump the night away at the club.
The show and its stars exposed the “guido” and “guidette” aesthetic of Italian-Americans to the world at large. It was hair teased to "pouf" perfection for the women, and highly flammable hair gel for the meathead men. Don't forget about the coloured contacts, tank tops and animal print as far as the eye could see.
Canada Shore is the latest in a long list of spin-offs that include Geordie Shore in the U.K., Floribama Shore in the U.S. and Aussie Shore in Australia. While producers search for the perfect cast of characters, one major question remains: Where will Canada Shore be filmed?
Ahead, we've gathered a list of potential locations we think would be the perfect backdrop to reality TV antics.
Sauble Beach, Ont.
The Lake Huron town is less than three hours from Toronto and has been dubbed Canada's no. 1 freshwater beach. Sauble Beach's small strip of shops and restaurants leans into the kitsch of a beach town but has a more elevated aesthetic thanks to the opening of places like The June Motel, a trendy destination that gained popularity on the Netflix Canada reality show Motel Makeover.
Sauble Beach offers plenty of vacation rentals for girls weekends away, family summer vacations and is an accessible go-to people in the Greater Toronto Area. As the kids say, Sauble is high vibes and could be the perfect town for a Canadian reality show.
Learn more about Sauble Beach and where to stay
Wasaga Beach, Ont.
Wasaga Beach would be an obvious choice for a Canadian version of Jersey Shore. It's a well-known summer tourist trap on the Georgian Bay, less than two hours north of Toronto, and boasts the title of the longest freshwater beach in the world.
Wasaga is a go-to for anyone — but mostly young people — looking to enjoy sun and sand. Much like the Jersey Shore, Wasaga leans into kitsch and embraces the chaos of the summer party scene, making it a front-runner for potential filming location.
Learn more about Wasaga Beach and where to stay
Let us know where you think 'Canada Shore' should be filmed by emailing us at yahoo.canada.lifestyle.editors@yahooinc.com. You could be featured in an upcoming article.
Tofino, B.C.
OK, we recognize that Tofino might not be the first place you think of when you picture a Canadian version of Jersey Shore. However, if producers are looking for a unique location that can highlight Canada's surf culture and eco-tourism, there's no better place than Tofino. The area is visually appealing and a tourist hot spot, with more than 600,00 visitors annually, but it's not a party scene the show requires.
It's a long shot, but there has yet to be a reality show with good looking twenty-somethings set in Tofino. If it's not the setting for Canada Shore, it should be the location for something in the near future.
Learn more about Tofino and where to stay
Grand Bend, Ont.
Grand Bend could be the perfect stand in for Seaside Heights, N.J., since it features 20 acres of sandy beach on Lake Huron, which is approximately three hours west of Toronto.
The town itself has a fairly small population in the off-season but comes alive in the summer months thanks to an influx of tourists who take advantage of the seasonal shops and restaurants. Not only is it a hot spot for water sports and other outdoor activities, it has a bustling bar scene, which is a crucial element for young people running amok in the summer.
The area spawned its own reality show in 2012 called Grand Benders, which aired on MTV Canada for three seasons. Could the area get another chance in the spotlight?
Learn more about Grand Bend and where to stay
Cavendish Beach, P.E.I.
Cavendish Beach is another curveball option for Canada Shore, but it's not as outlandish a choice as it may seem. At first glance, the idyllic backdrop and sandy beaches, which inspired the fictional town of Avonlea in Lucy Maude Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series, might not seem like the best place for 20-somethings to party during the summer — unless your drink of choice is raspberry cordial.
However, Cavendish sees approximately 1.7 million tourists a year, making it the ultimate beach location for a rag tag group of young pups to live and work for an unforgettable summer. Plus, the Cavendish Music Festival draws A-list talent and large crowds; this year Shania Twain, Lainey Wilson and former Florida Georgia Line singer Tyler Hubbard are set to headline. Young people and live music? Seems like a surefire way to reel people in.
Learn more about Cavendish Beach and where to stay
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