Canada’s first Catholic television network is now available coast to coast through Bell ExpressVu satellite television on channel 654. Salt + Light Television is currently on free preview for Bell ExpressVu subscribers until mid-January.

The media and global communications giant came on board as a carrier in October. By Dec. 15, Cogeco will also carry the Catholic network. ROGERS and Videotron (Illico) digital cable services already carry it.

Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation began in 2002 with a staff of four and a $5-million funding grant from the Toronto-based Gagliano family. It now has 25 employees, and the Gaglianos have pumped another $5 million into the project, reported Canadian Catholic News. The network is also in the process of seeking corporate funding.

In a recent visit to Canada, Sr. Nirmala Joshi, Mother Teresa’s successor as mother general of the Missionaries of Charity, granted the network an exclusive interview for a new series that is currently in production, called Witness.