Riverdale is a Canadian prime time television soap opera, which ran for three seasons from 1997 to 2000. The series was set in the Toronto community of Riverdale, focusing on a variety of characters and their interactions in everyday life.Riverdale was produced by Epitome Pictures in association with CBC Television. Originally inspired by the socially realistic style of British soaps such as Coronation Street, due to low early ratings it began introducing some more American-style soap opera elements, most notably in the expansion of Melissa DiMarco's character, Irene Stavros, into an American-style soap vixen who dressed in tight clothing to accentuate her sex appeal.Cast member Marion Gilsenan was battling cancer for much of her stint on the series. She won a Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Program or Series at the 14th Gemini Awards in 1999, several months after her death.The series typically attracted low ratings in its initial prime-time airing, but performed more strongly on Sundays after a daytime repeat was added following Coronation Street. 94 half-hour episodes were produced.