Guy Roberge
Encyclopedia
Guy Roberge was a Canadian
journalist, lawyer, politician and civil servant
. He also served as Canada's Government Film Commissioner during the 1950s and 60s, in which capacity he ran the National Film Board of Canada
. He was the first French Canadian
to occupy this role.
He was born in Saint-Ferdinand, Quebec
, and grew up in Inverness
. He studied at Petit Séminaire de Québec
, and then went on to graduate with a degree in law from Université Laval
. Following his graduation in 1937, Roberge initially pursued a career not in law but in journalism, working for Le Soleil
and L'Événement newspapers. However, in 1940 he switched to practising law, specialising in corporate law
and authors' rights
. During this period of his career he also served as an adviser to the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
(also known as the "Massey Report
").
He entered politics in 1944, when he was elected to the 22nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec
as the Liberal MLA
for Lotbinière
. He held this position until 1948. From 1954 to 1955 he was the President of the Quebec
branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
.
Roberge had been responsible for co-writing a chapter of the Massey Report which dealt with Canadian film, and also served on the Board of Governors of the National Film Board. The NFB began to experience difficulties during the 1950s due to dissatisfaction from many of its French Canadian staff regarding the treatment and status both of themselves and of French language
films. When a new Government Film Commissioner was needed to run the NFB in 1957, Roberge's appointment as the first French Canadian to hold the position helped to ease these political tensions, with his appointment being particularly welcomed by the Quebec newspaper Le Devoir
.
Under Roberge's time in control of the NFB, two of its longest-running series came to an end; Eye Witness and Canada Carries On
. However, he also initiated new series such as Candid Eye and Panoramique. During the early 1960s, Roberge was responsible for ensuring with the Canadian government
that, as government employees, the NFB film-makers' desire to create a trade union
was actually legal. When Roberge had ensured that it was allowed, the Association professionnelle des cinéastes and the Society of Film Makers were established by NFB staff in 1962. The same year, Roberge began to initiate co-production arrangements with NFB counterparts in France
and the United Kingdom
.
Later in the 1960s, Roberge began to feel that there was a need for a Canadian film body that was independent from both the NFB and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC) to provide backing for the country's film-makers. He took his ideas to the government, and this new organisation eventually emerged as the Canadian Film Development Corporation
in 1967. By this time, however, Roberge was no longer in Canada: he resigned from his position at the NFB in March 1966. He had been hoping to become the new President of the CBC, but when this role was not offered to him he accepted an invitation from Premier of Quebec
Jean Lesage
to become Quebec's new Agent-General to London, effectively the province's ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Also in 1966, Roberge was given a Canadian Film Award
to mark his contribution to the country's film industry.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist, lawyer, politician and civil servant
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. He also served as Canada's Government Film Commissioner during the 1950s and 60s, in which capacity he ran the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
. He was the first French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
to occupy this role.
He was born in Saint-Ferdinand, Quebec
Saint-Ferdinand, Quebec
Saint-Ferdinand is a municipality in the Centre-du-Québec region of the province of Quebec in Canada. It is notable for its location on the shores of Lake William on the Bécancour River, nestled within the Appalachian foothills, making Saint-Ferdinand a popular vacation spot in both summer and...
, and grew up in Inverness
Inverness, Quebec
Inverness is a municipality in the Centre-du-Québec region of the province of Quebec in Canada....
. He studied at Petit Séminaire de Québec
Petit Séminaire de Québec
Le Petit Séminaire de Québec is a private French-language Roman Catholic secondary school in the Vieux-Québec area of Quebec City which was originally part of the Séminaire de Québec...
, and then went on to graduate with a degree in law from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
. Following his graduation in 1937, Roberge initially pursued a career not in law but in journalism, working for Le Soleil
Le Soleil
Le Soleil is a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec. It was founded on December 28, 1896 and is published in compact format since April 2006...
and L'Événement newspapers. However, in 1940 he switched to practising law, specialising in corporate law
Corporate law
Corporate law is the study of how shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, and other stakeholders such as consumers, the community and the environment interact with one another. Corporate law is a part of a broader companies law...
and authors' rights
Authors' rights
Authors’ rights are a part of copyright law. The term is a direct translation of the French term droit d’auteur , and is generally used in relation to the copyright laws of civil law countries and in European Union law...
. During this period of his career he also served as an adviser to the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
The Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, otherwise known as the Massey–Lévesque Commission, chaired by Vincent Massey, examined Canada's cultural sovereignty from the United States and various other nations. The report released its findings in 1951 when it...
(also known as the "Massey Report
Vincent Massey
Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....
").
He entered politics in 1944, when he was elected to the 22nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec
22nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The 22nd Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the Quebec, Canada provincial legislature that existed from August 8, 1944 to July 28, 1948. The Union Nationale led by Maurice Duplessis returned to power after defeating the Quebec Liberal Party led by Adélard Godbout who defeated the Union Nationale in...
as the Liberal MLA
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
for Lotbinière
Lotbinière (provincial electoral district)
Lotbinière is a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, the riding was created in 1829...
. He held this position until 1948. From 1954 to 1955 he was the President of the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
branch of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
Canadian institute of international affairs
The Canadian Institute of International Affairs was a Canadian, non-partisan, nationwide forum for the discussion and analysis of international affairs. The CIIA had 13 branches across Canada and a membership of 1,300. It hosted conferences, seminars and a speaker series...
.
Roberge had been responsible for co-writing a chapter of the Massey Report which dealt with Canadian film, and also served on the Board of Governors of the National Film Board. The NFB began to experience difficulties during the 1950s due to dissatisfaction from many of its French Canadian staff regarding the treatment and status both of themselves and of French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
films. When a new Government Film Commissioner was needed to run the NFB in 1957, Roberge's appointment as the first French Canadian to hold the position helped to ease these political tensions, with his appointment being particularly welcomed by the Quebec newspaper Le Devoir
Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It was founded by journalist, politician, and nationalist Henri Bourassa in 1910....
.
Under Roberge's time in control of the NFB, two of its longest-running series came to an end; Eye Witness and Canada Carries On
Canada Carries On
Canada Carries On was a series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada, which ran from 1940 to 1959. The series was initially created as morale boosting propaganda films during World War II...
. However, he also initiated new series such as Candid Eye and Panoramique. During the early 1960s, Roberge was responsible for ensuring with the Canadian government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
that, as government employees, the NFB film-makers' desire to create a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
was actually legal. When Roberge had ensured that it was allowed, the Association professionnelle des cinéastes and the Society of Film Makers were established by NFB staff in 1962. The same year, Roberge began to initiate co-production arrangements with NFB counterparts in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Later in the 1960s, Roberge began to feel that there was a need for a Canadian film body that was independent from both the NFB and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(CBC) to provide backing for the country's film-makers. He took his ideas to the government, and this new organisation eventually emerged as the Canadian Film Development Corporation
Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada or Téléfilm Canada is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada.It is the primary federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry....
in 1967. By this time, however, Roberge was no longer in Canada: he resigned from his position at the NFB in March 1966. He had been hoping to become the new President of the CBC, but when this role was not offered to him he accepted an invitation from Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
to become Quebec's new Agent-General to London, effectively the province's ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Also in 1966, Roberge was given a Canadian Film Award
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 Quebec directors withdrew their participation and prompted a cancellation that year....
to mark his contribution to the country's film industry.