Gord Downie began The Secret Path as ten poems inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, a twelve-year-old Anishinaabe boy who died on October 22, 1966, while fleeing from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario. Chanie was attempting to walk home to his family over 600 km away. Gord learned about the story of Chanie (misnamed “Charlie” by his teachers) through his brother Mike, who introduced him to Ian Adams’ Maclean’s story from February 6, 1967, “The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack.”

First released in 2016, The Secret Path marks its 10th anniversary this year. The project includes an album, a graphic novel illustrated by Jeff Lemire, and an animated film. Together, the Secret Path project has become a powerful tool for education, reflection and conversation about the ongoing impacts of residential schools in Canada.

Lesson plans for The Secret Path have been generously provided in partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. Join the Legacy Schools program to receive a free Legacy Schools toolkit and gain access to resources throughout the school year.  

Canadian Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire was in command of the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission to Rwanda in 1994 when a bloody genocide erupted. Over the course of 100 days, more than 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutus, the rival tribe in their country.

Dallaire attempted to stop the killing by alerting the world through the United Nations and the international media. Though his attempts were unsuccessful, Dallaire emerged as a hero. Ten years later, Dallaire returns to Rwanda to personally commemorate the anniversary of that holocaust.

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005.

“Dallaire is not only the protagonist of Shake Hands with the Devil, he is a compelling reason to see it.” — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Get ready to feel the “Vinsanity” with this unprecedented look at Vince Carter, the six-foot-six, eight-time NBA All-Star who made waves in Canadian basketball when he joined the Raptors in 1998. This engrossing doc chronicles his role in building the team’s profile and planting Toronto firmly on the world map.

Featuring appearances from Steve Nash, Director X, Mona Halem and Drake, as well as interviews with Carter himself, the film illuminates the thrill of the game and the complexity of the basketball industry.

An entertaining homage to a sports legend, and a love letter to Canada’s largest city, The Carter Effect captures the intoxicating mix of civic pride, music and diversity that makes Toronto so unique. The Carter Effect was nominated for Best Documentary at the Cleveland International Film Festival. 

If you’ve ever watched the Toronto Raptors, chances are you’ve seen Nav Bhatia (aka the “Raptors Superfan”), stationed in the seat he’s sat in for every home game in the franchise’s history. Superfan explores how Nav found a home in Toronto, fell in love with the Raptors, and grew to be so beloved that he became the first fan ever to receive an NBA championship ring, as part of the 2019 championship Raptors team.

Featuring interviews with comedian Russell Peters, Vince Carter, Isiah Thomas, and Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, this compelling doc tells Nav’s inspiring story of perseverance, passion, overcoming adversity and ultimately finding success and joy. 

The fascinating story of Ben Ferencz, a 98-year-old lawyer and last surviving prosecutor of Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials after World War Two.  

Ferencz grew up in New York, where he became a lawyer before enlisting in the Army. After seeing Nazi concentration camps first hand after liberation, then 27-year-old Ferencz became the lead prosecutor in what has been called the biggest murder trial in history. He went on to advocate for restitution for Jewish victims of the Holocaust and for the establishment of the International Criminal Court. His inspiring fight for justice continues today.

Directed with sensitivity and empathy, Prosecuting Evil sheds light on atrocities that should never be forgotten, and asks tough questions about the world we live in today.

This film provides an in-depth look at the legendary Canadian band Rush, one of rock’s most influential groups. Rush ranks third for most consecutive gold or platinum albums after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Despite this success, and their legions of devoted fans, they had been continually overlooked by critics and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (until 2013).

Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with some of rock’s greatest artists, this documentary explores the long career of these Canadian musical heroes.
 

Based on a true story, Isabelle Fortier chronicles her experience as a sex worker in a semi-autobiographical novel under the pen name Nelly Arcan (Mylène MacKay). The book becomes a scandalous international bestseller, leading to unexpected and unwanted fame for Arcan, who must now deal with the pressure of increased scrutiny about the authenticity of her stories and the demand for an equally successful follow-up.

Anne Emond explores the author’s colourful and ultimately tragic life in a multi-layered and stylish mix of make-believe and memoir, revealing the person behind the shocking literary alter ego.

“Mylène MacKay delivers a towering performance” - T’Cha Dunlevy, The Montreal Gazette

Inspired by true events, Alias Grace tells the story of Grace Marks (Gadon), a housekeeper who is convicted of the murders of her employers in the mid-1800s. When a psychiatrist, Dr. Jordan (Holcroft), is brought in to make a report on her condition, Grace is given the opportunity to tell her side of the story and plead her innocence. As a high profile case with the general public waiting on the outcome of their sessions, Dr. Jordan attempts increasingly radical procedures, while at the same time slowly developing romantic feelings for Grace. As their relationship reaches a head, new truths come to light and both of their lives are changed forever.

Adapted from Margaret Atwood’s Giller prize-winning novel of the same name, this miniseries has received universal acclaim, earning 5 Canadian Screen Awards including best limited series.

After spending most of her life working as an Innu language translator and transcriber, Joséphine Bacon rose to fame late in life in her second career as an award-winning poet. This moving profile frames her life and work in a new context, offering a deeply personal look at an important literary figure in Canada.

Je m'appele humain premiered at the Quebec City Film Festival to great acclaim, and went on to receive four Prix Iris nominations, including Best Documentary.

In 2002, when Canadian-born Omar Khadr was 15 years old, he was caught by American troops in a firefight in the village of Ayub Kheyl, Afghanistan. Affiliated with the Taliban at the time, Khadr was imprisoned for throwing a grenade that resulted in the death of an American soldier, despite his being a minor.

His subsequent detention at Guantanamo Bay, a harsh prison on the southern coast of Cuba, became the topic of a major political debate, as child soldiers have not been prosecuted for war crimes since WWII.

Guantanamo’s Child gives Khadr a chance to speak for himself on camera for the first time. More than just a stirring story, this documentary delivers an engrossing intimate portrait of how a teenager from a Toronto suburb became the first juvenile to ever be tried for war crimes.