Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry (1962)

pioneer of tfje Hear: REUBEN W. BOLSTAD AM grateful that God sent us your way and gave us a chance to join hands with you tonight,” Reuben W. Bolstad told the 305 guests who came to the Crystal Ballroom of the King Edward Hotel to honor him as The Pioneer of the Year. The occasion was the tenth of its kind staged by the Canadian Picture Pioneers and ancillary awards were presented to a number of others. "The honor I have been given tonight has been doubled because I have shared the evening with others,” he said, naming the an¬ cillary and special award winners. Bolstad, who came to Toronto from Minnesota 31 years ago for Famous Players and is now its vice-president, was presented with the gold-and-onyx plaque symbolic of the award by John J. Fitzgibbons, Sr., FP president, who spoke of him warmly as “my valued friend and associate.” The guest of honor, speaking of his wife Ethel, said he was "thankful for the wonderful things that have hap¬ pened to our lives since we came to this country.” Their daughter, son-inlaw and two grandchildren were born here and "we are particularly thank¬ ful that as a result of coming to Can¬ ada we found such wonderful friends." With CPP president Frank Fisher as toastmaster, the evening, which began with a welcome to Toronto for visit¬ ing guests from Mayor Nathan Phil¬ lips, moved along in interesting and enjoyable fashion. Mayor Phillips, re¬ calling previous Pioneers of the Year, spoke of them as "giants of the in¬ dustry.” Program of the banquet for The Pioneer of the Year, a very pleasing one carrying pictures and biographies, said this of Bolstad: "We honor him . . . because the 'ships' he launched in the course of his business, fraternal and personal life became golden argosies that bet¬ tered the fortunes and enriched the lives of the members of our industry: those ‘ships’ were ‘Leadership’ and ‘Friendship.’ No worthy purpose or kindly cause, whether unique to our industry or not, has been without the help and encouragement of Reuben W. Bolstad.” Mayor Nathan Phillips, saying that these words were exceedingly apt, read them to the assemblage. Among those at the head table were the Hon. James Allen, Provincial Treasurer, and Philip Clark, Comp¬ troller of Revenue. At the close of the evening Fisher thanked the committee, which did a tremendous job and was made up of Wannie Tyers, Martin Simpson, Her¬ bert Mathers and Len Bishop. The annual CPP service award went to Alberta and was presented by J. F. (Jimmy) Davie to Bert H. Wiber of Edmonton. NEXT PAGE: PHOTOS OF THE PIONEERS' AWARD DINNER In the top photo Reuben W. Bolstad (left), receives The Pioneer of the Year plaque from John J. fitzgibbons, Sr., CBE, the first recipient of that honor nine years ago, while frank H. fisher (right), president of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, looks on. The second photo shows guests congratulating Mr. Bolstad. four winners of special CPP awards are shown in the bottom photo, from left to right they are J. f. (Jimmy) Davie, Vancouver; Len B. Johnson, Vancouver; David O ngley, QC, Toronto, CPP legal counsel; and Robert D. Hurwitz, Winnipeg. Other awards went to Bert Cooper of Calgary, who was absent; Wm. Redpath of Toronto, pre¬ sented by fisher; and the late I. H. (Izzy) Allen, presented to his widow by C. S. Chaplin. The Branch Service award went to Alberta. 16