Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry (1954)

To Them: ffiimnr THE CANADIAN PICTURE PIONEERS NOTES THE WORK OF THE WORTHY HONORED by the Canadian Pic¬ ture Pioneers with its Pioneer of the Year Award in the presence of a crowd that filled the banquet hall of Toronto’s Royal York Hotel on November 25, 1953, John J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players Can¬ adian Corporation, on expressing his thanks, spoke of the man, named McQuestin, who had taught him how to project motion pictures. “I don’t know where he is now — but if he’s in Heaven, I hope God has made a good spot for him,” he said, “for he gave me the key that opened the door that has meant so much to me and my family.” The simple, sentimental thanks of were “distinguished and unique.” (Miss Lewis, editor and publisher of the Cana~ dian Moving Picture Digest for many years, passed away on July 5, 1954 after a long illness.) Fitzgibbons was presented with a bronze portrait plaque designed by the famed Canadian sculptor, Emmanuel Hahn, while Miss Lewis, Lt.-Col. Cooper and Mr. Norrish were presented with rich testimonials made up of two in¬ scribed gold plates on a field of black velvet and richly framed. The presenta¬ tion to Fitzgibbons was made by N. A. Taylor, president of the Canadian Pic¬ ture Pioneers, who acted as toastmaster, while the other three came through A. J. Mason, president of the Motion Picture Part of the General Scene at the Dinner Fitzgibbons, the most beloved figure known to this generation of Canadian motion picture people, climaxed a fine and enjoyable evening during which Ray Lewis, John A. Cooper and Ben Nor¬ rish also received honors, theirs being for contributions to the industry that Industry Council of Canada, one of those honored at last year’s dinner. In his brief thanks Mr. Fitzgibbons observed that he believed in prayer. “Remember those who have gone ahead in your prayers, for we owe them so much.” He hoped, he said, that “the 23