Between 1972 and 1995, a hybrid of American and Canadian production, known as Sesame Street Canada and later, Canadian Sesame Street, became an institution for preschool Canadian children.
In 1972, the bulk of Sesame Street's content was licensed out to CBC Television, originally as five minute interstitials during "commercial" breaks. CBC then added live action and animated segments teaching about Canadian culture and French bilingualism, replacing segments on Spanish and American history on the original program. (Some Spanish segments still aired in Canada, although fewer in number). Most of the production of the Canadian segments took place in Winnipeg and Montreal.
In 1981, the amount of Canadian content per show was increased to 30 minutes. In 1987, a series of specially made Canadian Muppet characters were introduced, including Basil the Bear (played by Bob Stutt), French-Canadian Louis the Otter, Dodi, a bush pilot, and Katie, a girl in a wheelchair.
The Henson Muppet shop also provided some Anything Muppets which could be redressed to become whatever characters the script called for, including Barbara Plum (a parody of CBC broadcasting legend Barbara Frum). Beau Beaver, an animated character, would discuss national symbols, particularly those appearing on Canadian money.
Read more about this topic: Sesame Park