Peter Robb Pearson (March 13, 1938 – April 2, 2025) was a Canadian film director and screenwriter.

Life and career

Pearson was born in Toronto on March 13, 1938. He studied

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

and economics at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

and television production at

Ryerson Institute of Technology Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU, or Toronto Met), formerly Ryerson University, is a public research university located in Toronto, Canada. The university's core campus is situated within the Garden District in downtown Toronto, although i ...

before attending film school in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. Upon his return to Canada, his first job was as a journalist for the

Timmins Daily Press The ''Timmins Daily Press'' is a newspaper in Timmins, Ontario, which publishes six days a week. It is notable as the first paper founded by press baron Roy Thomson in the 1930s, who would eventually own more than 200 newspapers including ''The ...

. In 1964 he was hired by the

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

and worked there for two years as a director-producer-writer. He joined the NFB in 1966 where he began making documentaries, including three with American social activist

Saul Alinsky Saul David Alinsky (January 30, 1909 – June 12, 1972) was an American community activist and political theorist. His work through the Chicago-based Industrial Areas Foundation helping poor communities organize to press demands upon landlord ...

. His work received nineteen

Canadian Film Award The Canadian Film Awards were the leading Canadian cinema awards from 1949 until 1978. These honours were conducted annually, except in 1974 when a number of Quebec directors withdrew their participation and prompted a cancellation. In the 1970s ...

s – more than any other Canadian director. His two most notable features – ''

The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar ''The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar'' is a 1968 National Film Board of Canada (NFB) drama directed by Peter Pearson, produced by John Kemeny and written by Joan Finnigan. The 49-minute drama stars Chris Wiggins and Kate Reid, alon ...

'' and '' Paperback Hero'' (1973) – are landmarks in English-Canadian cinema. From 1975 to 1981 he served as a director on the TV series '' For The Record'', and was responsible for the innovative and controversial episodes ''The Insurance Man from Ingersoll'' (1976), ''Nest of Shadows'' (1976), ''Kathy Karuks is a Grizzly Bear'' (1976), ''The Tar Sands'' (1977) and ''Snowbirds'' (1981). Pearson, like many of his contemporary filmmakers, was continually frustrated by the lack of opportunity in the Canadian film industry and remained a persistent lifelong activist and champion in the cause of Canadian cinema. From 1972 to 1975 he served as president of the

Directors Guild of Canada The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC; ) is a Canadian labour union representing more than 5,500 professionals from 48 different occupations in the Canadian film and television industry. Founded in 1962, the DGC represents directors, editors, assist ...

and as chairman of the 15,000-member Council of Canadian Filmmakers. After teaching film for one year at Queen's University (1982–83), he headed the Canadian Film Development Corporation's newly created Broadcast Program Development Fund from 1983 to 1985. The corporation became

Telefilm Canada Telefilm Canada is a Canadian Crown corporation that supports Canada's audiovisual industry. Headquartered in Montreal, Telefilm Canada provides services to the Canadian audiovisual industry with four regional offices in Vancouver, British Colu ...

and he served as its executive director from 1985 to 1987. He was appointed an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

in 2023. He resided in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

. Pearson died due to

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

and dementia at a hospital in Montreal, on April 2, 2025, at the age of 87.

Selected filmography

*''

'' (1968) *''The Dowry'' (1969) *''Seasons in the Mind'' (1970) *'' Paperback Hero'' (1973) *'' Along These Lines'' (1974) *''A Thousand Miles of Holidays'' (1974) *''Only God Knows'' (1974) *'' The Insurance Man from Ingersoll'' (1976) *'' Snowbird'' (1981) * '' Heaven on Earth'' (1987) *''Bananas from Sunny Quebec'' (1993) *''L'Or et le Papier'' (1994)

References

External links

*
Complete Peter Pearson Filmography at CITWF

Films by Peter Pearson at NFB
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearson, Peter 1938 births 2025 deaths Film producers from Ontario Canadian male screenwriters Film directors from Toronto Screenwriters from Toronto National Film Board of Canada people Canadian television directors Canadian documentary film directors Canadian film executives Best Director Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners Canadian documentary film producers 20th-century Canadian screenwriters 20th-century Canadian male writers Directors of Genie Award winners for Best Theatrical Short Officers of the Order of Canada Film producers from Quebec Film directors from Montreal Writers from Montreal Screenwriters from Quebec Best Screenplay Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners