‘The Bachelorette Canada’ to air on W Network next fall

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TORONTO – Prepare the roses and the tissues: “The Bachelorette Canada” is headed to W Network and will include Canadian Jillian Harris, an alum of the U.S. version who has some sage advice for hopefuls.

“I think people are scared of what people will think of them, but I think if you believe in yourself as a person and you think you’re fun and exciting and you’re a great catch, you really have nothing to lose,” said the finalist from 2009’s “The Bachelor” and star of 2010’s “The Bachelorette.”

“I think people are afraid of rejection, but rejection is really good for the soul… You never want to be with somebody that isn’t a good fit, and the show really helps you find people that are a good fit.”

“For me, I did find love and then it didn’t work out, but I gained so many other things from it.”

Corus Entertainment announced on Thursday that it’s commissioning the dating series from Good Human Productions Inc., and plans to premiere it next fall.

It’s the first ever Canadian version of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” franchise and it comes after two seasons of “The Bachelor Canada” aired on City.

Corus says it will announce in the coming months who will star on the show, which follows one woman’s search for love amongst 20 men.

Interested bachelors can apply online and through upcoming casting calls across the country.

Harris, who lives in Kelowna, B.C., said she will have a role in the show but she doesn’t know what it is yet.

She’d love to host but she isn’t sure she’d have time for it, given her current starring role on the real estate series “Love It or List It Vancouver.”

Such opportunities are the perks of once being on “The Bachelorette,” she said.

“That’s one of the things I’m most grateful for from the experience, is that I have a voice and I’m able to have a brand and make a career from it.”

Harris said interested bachelors should be prepared to take about eight weeks off work, in case they make it far, like she did.

They, along with the bachelorette, should also be prepared for the low points.

“Being on the show brought some of the best parts of my life and some of the worst parts of my life,” said Harris, 35.

“There were times when my parents were so proud and so excited for me, and there were times that I saw my dad break down and cry and say, ‘I hate to see you like this. I wish you would’ve never gone on the show.

’”

“There were times that I was under 90 pounds, I was so stressed and I couldn’t deal with the bullying and the heartbreak and the attention. You never have any privacy and everywhere you go, people are pulling you away… But it really strengthened me as a person.”

For those looking to be on the show just for the fame, Harris warned: “Fame is not as comfortable as you think it is.”

If love is the main agenda, “it’s possible” to find it, added Harris, who hopes the show will “be a little less formal” than its U.S. counterpart.

“‘The Bachelorette’ U.S.A. is all about the big mansions and the fancy dresses and the fancy dates. I would like to see this as truly Canadian,” she said.

“I want to see the bachelor and bachelorette go fishing in Tofino (B.C.), or camping in Tofino and be able to tell funny fart jokes or go to a hockey game.”