Celebrating the art, style, and history of the men and women that recorded our nation's cinematic past.

Pioneers

Rosemary Bergeron – Canadian Film History Pioneer

It is with a very sad and heavy heart to announce the passing of a much loved, and respected friend of the Canadian Film Archival community; Rosemary Bergeron, January 9th,…

January 10, 2023

History·People·Pioneers

Michal Ann and Patrick Lawrence CRAWLEY, CROSLEY

It is with a sad heart that I share the news of the passing of Michal Ann Crawley, and her son Patrick Lawrence Crosley. I first met Michal when working…

October 20, 2025

History·People·Pioneers

Crawley College

by James A. Forrester F. R. “Budge” Crawley (1911-1987) was a notable Canadian pioneer film producer who co-founded Crawley Films in Ottawa with his wife Judith (Sparks) Crawley (1914 -1986),…

February 20, 2025

History·People·Pioneers·Research·Technology

Beyond the Printed Word: Interview with Rosemary Bergeron

"All too often people dealing with history, studying history, think only of what's in a book, what's in the printed word. So, we wanted to tell people that really, there's…

January 3, 2025

History·People·Pioneers·Technology

Roy Tash Meets Captain Power, and the Soldiers of The Future

November, 2022 phone interview with James Crowe, Associate Member, CSC, who purchased legendary Canadian newsreel cameraman, Roy Tash’s Eyemo in 1974. As the vintage Bell & Howell Eyemo motion picture…

February 7, 2023

History·People·Pioneers

George H. Valiquette, Pioneer Canadian Newsreel Cinematographer

George H. Valiquette, pioneer Canadian newsreel cinematographer, risked his life to get footage of the flooding Ottawa River in April 1922. At the time he was the cameraman for the…

January 7, 2022

History·Pioneers

The Perfect Order of a Canadian Crowd: Cinema in Ottawa, 1894-1896

When projected moving pictures appeared for the first time in Ottawa during the summer of 1896, they were not greeted with the sort of uncomprehending astonishment suggested by some historical…

April 18, 2017

History·Pioneers

Port Arthur Amateur Cinema Society: Lady Lumberjack

The film, Sleep-Inn Beauty, presented by the Amateur Cinema Society, was directed by Harold Harcourt, from a story adapted by M. Dorothea Mitchell.…

April 5, 2017

History·People·Pioneers

CANADIAN NEWSREELS: A Personal Reminiscence by Gordon Sparling

I never really worked directly in the newsreel side of film-making, so my knowledge of the Canadian newsreels has been picked up along the way.…

September 5, 2016

People·Pioneers

John C. Foster: Messin’ With Old Thunder

John C. Foster, csc, July 13th, 1927 – September 30th, 2012 I was very fortunate to have received an email in 2007 from NFB legend, John C. Foster, csc, while…

April 11, 2016