Born in Ottawa, trained at the National Film Board of Canada and winner of dozens of international awards, Peter Raymont has enjoyed a distinguished career as one of Canada’s top documentary filmmakers. His White Pine Pictures has been behind such acclaimed titles as Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire,Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould. and Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band.
I first met him on the set of The Border (2008-2010), a CBC security forces series he co-created with his late wife Lindalee Tracy. That series starred James McGowan, Graham Abbey, Catherine Disher, Sofia Milos and Grace Park.
Raymont just received CSA Award nominations for two 2022 efforts: Buffy Sainte Marie — Carry It On and Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children. He also recently teamed with previous brioux.tv podcast guest Robbie Hart on Ice-Breaker: The ’72 Summit Series. He described Sainte-Marie, now 82 and living in Hawaii, as “the nicest famous person I have ever met.”
Raymont begins this episode by paying tribute to the late Peter Herrndorf, the universally respected CBC and TVO broadcast executive, Toronto Life publisher and CEO of the National Arts Centre. “He was like a second father to me,” says Raymont.
The Emmy and Gemini award winner also shares his thoughts on a commercial-free CBC, at least in prime time and for all news broadcasts. Corporate sponsorship, such as in the PBS model in the United States (where several White Pines projects have aired), would provide a better environment both for the makers of documentary films and, he feels, for viewers.
Celebrate Peter’s birthday Feb. 28 by listening all the way to the end, where he reveals his rousing choice for favourite all-time TV theme song. Simply click on the blue and white arrow above to link directly to this episode.
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