Canada’s first closed circuit parenting network is up and running at three of Ontario’s major birthing hospitals.

Called The Parent Channel, the new venture is running on the closed circuit tv services of Mount Sinai Hospital and Women’s College Hospital, both in Toronto, and at Kitchener-Waterloo General Hospital in southwestern Ontario.

The Parent Channel is the work of Marvin Berns and Kathy Kastner, veteran producers of the Mom’s The Word tapes, and award-winners in Canada and the u.s. for their You Be Safe video.

Berns says The Parent Channel provides hospitals and new mothers with the most up-to-date programming available on baby care, parent care, and growth and development.

He says Canadian content will be used where available and will reflect the country’s multicultural nature.

The Parent Channel provides all necessary technical equipment to the hospitals as well as free program guides and posters.

Kastner says some of the sponsors of The Parent Channel are Apple Canada, Ford of Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart and Procter & Gamble through several of its brands, including Pampers diapers.

Berns says he hopes to be reaching 60% of Canada’s new mothers within two years.