The Kids of Degrassi Street
The Kids of Degrassi Street
The *Degrassi* legacy didn’t start with teen drama — it began on the quiet streets of a fictional Toronto neighborhood. *The Kids of Degrassi Street*, which aired from 1979 to 1986, was the first installment of what would become a groundbreaking Canadian TV franchise.
Created by Linda Schuyler, a former schoolteacher turned filmmaker, the series was born from a desire to reflect real children’s lives with honesty and authenticity. The concept originated with a short film called *Ida Makes a Movie*, based on a children’s book Schuyler had discovered. That film’s unexpected success led to a series of half-hour episodes under the new Degrassi banner, focusing on a diverse group of children growing up in a relatable, working-class neighborhood.
Unlike other children’s programming at the time, *The Kids of Degrassi Street* wasn’t afraid to tackle heavy topics: death, divorce, illness, and socioeconomic struggles were all explored without sugarcoating. The show stood out for using non-professional child actors, giving the performances a raw, realistic tone that resonated with viewers of all ages.
Produced by Playing With Time, Inc., the show quickly gained critical praise for its storytelling approach and moral grounding. It aired on CBC in Canada and was later syndicated internationally, making early waves in educational programming. While its audience was primarily children, the depth and emotional maturity of the episodes gave it a cross-generational appeal.
*The Kids of Degrassi Street* paved the way for future installments in the Degrassi franchise — including *Degrassi Junior High*, *Degrassi High*, and later *The Next Generation*. Several characters and actors transitioned from this original series into the next, forming a unique, evolving television universe that reflected real-life coming-of-age experiences over decades.
More than just a kids’ show, *The Kids of Degrassi Street* set the tone for everything that followed. Its commitment to realism, diverse storytelling, and empathy-first approach earned it a lasting place in Canadian TV history and cemented its status as the cornerstone of the Degrassi franchise.
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