Michael Desbois SPENCER

SPENCER, Michael Desbois, C.M.
(November 9, 1919 – April 20, 2016)
An error was made in the last name of the two daughters, the family regrets the error and the correction has been made. Film pioneer, producer, director, veteran, birdwatcher. Beloved husband of Maqbool Jung Spencer, he leaves behind daughters Christina Ruth Spencer and Theresa Jane Spencer, a large extended family, and a legacy in the Canadian film industry. Born in London, England and educated at Rugby and Oxford, Michael Spencer was in Canada at the outbreak of the Second World War and joined the Canadian Army. Passionate about documentary filmmaking from an early age, Captain Spencer was one of the four original members of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit that documented Allied war efforts from the front lines in Europe. After the War, he returned to Canada and pursued a career in film at the National Film Board, becoming Head of Studio 'D' in 1950 and Director of Planning in 1960. Dedicated to nurturing a national feature film industry, he was instrumental in the creation in 1967 of the Canadian Film Development Corporation, later renamed Telefilm. He served as Executive Director from 1968 to 1978. After leaving CFDC, Spencer ran the completion bonding firm Film Finance Canada. In these roles over his long career, Michael Spencer participated in the creation of a vibrant Canadian film industry and supported major contributions to our culture by both French and English-Canadian masters of cinema. He backed early films by pioneering Canadian directors like Gilles Carle, Denis Heroux, David Cronenberg and Oscar-winner Denys Arcand and amongst many films, he oversaw the production of such classics of Canadian cinema as Les ordres and The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Stereo and Crimes of the Future, Goin' Down the Road, and A Married Couple. In 1980, he was the first Canadian to serve as a juror at the Cannes Film Festival. He was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1989 and was the recipient of several Genie Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. In 2007 he was inducted as an inaugural member of the Canadian Film and TV Hall of Fame and received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University, Montreal in 2005. He is author of the memoirs Hollywood North and The Accidental Birdwatcher. His vision, intellect, humour, warmth, passion and humility will be missed by the many who admired and loved him. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. at
Mount Royal Funeral Complex,
1297 Chemin de la Forêt,
Outremont, QC
H2V 2P9 (514) 279-6540
(www.mountroyalcem.com)
Knowing Michael's lifelong passion and love for birds, he would appreciate support of "Bird Protection Quebec" in lieu of flowers.