
Barbara Sears
Writing
Biography
Barbara Sears was a Canadian editorial and visual researcher and a founding member of the Visual Researchers' Society of Canada. Over the course of her career, she worked not only in print, but also as a documentary film director, producer, writer and narrator. She worked for many years with journalist and historian Pierre Berton. Her contribution to Canadian history is evident in her work on dozens of books and many documentaries created by some of Canada's best producers and directors, including the late Donald Brittain of the National Film Board.
Known For
This series of seven one-hour films examines the nature, evolution and consequences of modern warfare. Filmed in ten countries, on two oceans, and with the co-operation of the armed forces of six nations, War features interviews with top-level NATO and Soviet military leaders and strategists, eminent historians and other professional observers of combat. Drawing as well on film and picture archives worldwide, with footage of important battlefields on three continents, this documentary series argues that war, an institution invented to settle disputes between nations, no longer serves its purpose. It concludes that nations must find other ways to resolve their differences. The on-camera host for the War series is Gwynne Dyer, Canadian international affairs analyst and military historian.
War
This film explores how Canada wavers between rejection and acceptance of closer ties with the United States, tracing the historical precedents of current issues between the two nations. Canada continues to question her identity despite the influence of a powerful neighbour.
The Relationship

Women have always sought ways to terminate unwanted pregnancies, despite powerful patriarchal structures and systems working against them. This film provides a historical overview of how church, state and the medical establishment have determined policies concerning abortion. From this cross-cultural survey--filmed in Ireland, Japan, Thailand, Peru, Colombia, and Canada--emerges one reality: only a small percentage of the world's women has access to safe, legal operations.
Abortion: Stories from North and South

This candid documentary opens the door on the riskiest labour negotiations in the history of the Canadian Auto Workers (now UNIFOR), Canada's largest private sector union. For veteran negotiator Buzz Hargrove, president of the union, the de Havilland/Bombardier talks turn out to be the toughest of his career. Hargrove finds himself doing battle not only with the company, but with his own union locals. Everything goes wrong. Hargrove has to choose between solidarity with his workers or saving thousands of jobs. His decision, the battle that led up to it, and the outcome make for high drama in this no-holds-barred portrait of organized labour in the 1990s. Played on the shifting ground of a globalized economy, "The Negotiator" is a revealing look at democracy, leadership and its price in a high stakes fight for jobs and power.
The Negotiator

This feature film is a documentary portrait of Joseph Idlout, a man who was once the world's most famous Inuit. Unknown to most Canadians today, Idlout was the subject of many films and books, and one of the Inuit hunters pictured for many years on the back of Canada's $2 bill. In this film Idlout's son, Peter Paniloo, takes us on a journey through his father's life - that of a man caught "between two worlds."
Between Two Worlds

Details the life and work of 19th century Canadian photographer William Notman. Includes interviews with Nora Hague, Roger Hall, Dr. Lilly Koltun, Jeff Nolte, Dennis Reid, Joan Schwartz and Stanley Triggs.