Canwest is hoping to build on the popularity of US import Glee by encouraging talented singers in Canadian workplaces to form glee clubs for a new reality competition series, the broadcaster announced on Monday.

Tentatively titled Canada Sings!, the one-hour series will challenge ordinary Canucks to collaborate with their co-workers and compete in a ‘glee-off,’ where they will be judged by a panel of celebrity judges for a chance to win a donation to the charity of their choice.

The series will travel to two Canadian workplaces each week to scout talent for a glee club that will audition, rehearse and perform in front of a live studio audience.

Set to debut in early 2011, there will be integration opportunities available to marketers, confirms Melissa Barron, account executive, Canwest marketing ventures and brand partnerships. Specifics are still to be determined, she says, but possible areas of integration include backstage makeup and hair, wardrobe, green room, judges’ tables, red carpet and confession cams.

The new show is a ‘complementary extension of our ongoing slate of programming,’ Barb Williams, EVP content, Canwest Broadcasting, tells MiC.

‘We continuously strive to maintain an entertaining balance of drama, comedy and reality programming on Global. We’ve already experienced great success with our Canadian original reality shows, Deal or No Deal Canada and Are You Smarter Than a Canadian 5th Grader?, and we also know Canadians love to see their fellow Canucks duke it out in these competition shows like Battle of the Blades and So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Canada Sings! is an exciting new project that combines the best of these elements.’

Auditions are currently underway and the show’s host and judging panel will be announced closer to the broadcast date.

From Playback Daily with files from Media in Canada