# Canada Carries On

Canada Carries On (French: En avant Canada) was a series of short films by the National Film Board of Canada which ran from 1940 to 1959. The series was created as morale-boosting propaganda films during the Second World War. With the end of the war, the series lost its financial backing from the Wartime Information Board, but continued as an NFB series of theatrical shorts that included newsreels as well as animated shorts.
The series was initially produced by Stuart Legg, who also directed many of the early films. The first film in the series was Legg's Atlantic Patrol, released in April 1940, about the Royal Canadian Navy's role in protecting convoys from Halifax to the United Kingdom from U-boat attack. One of the most famous films from this series was his Churchill's Island, released in Canada in June 1941 and winner of the first Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).
The narrator for many of the films in the series was Lorne Greene, known for his work on radio broadcasts as a news announcer at CBC. His sonorous recitation led to his nickname, "The Voice of Canada", and when reading grim battle statistics, "The Voice of Doom".
The success of Canada Carries On inspired a second NFB series, The World in Action, which was more tailored to international audiences.

## Canadian distribution

The series was produced in 16mm for the theatrical market. Each film was shown in approximately 800 theatres across Canada over a six-month period. They were distributed by Columbia Pictures, and the NFB had an arrangement with Famous Players theatres to ensure that Canadians from coast to coast could see them. After the six-month theatrical tour ended, the films were made available on 16 mm to schools, libraries, church basements and factories, extending their life for another year or two. They were also made available to film libraries operated by university and provincial authorities. A total of 199 films were produced before the series ended in 1959.

### En avant Canada

The French-language series En avant Canada was distributed in Quebec and New Brunswick by France Film Distribution in some 60 theatres. Eight to 12 films were produced each year in French; some were versions of English titles, others original, for a total of 173 French titles before the program's end in 1959.

## International distribution

Some films were distributed internationally in Australia, the UK and the United States (by Telenews), in India (by Fox Film Corporation) and the West Indies (by Inter-continental). These were usually titles that dealt with international rather than Canadian issues. One such film was Warclouds in the Pacific, released just one week before the attack on Pearl Harbor, warning of an imminent Japanese attack.

## Films in series
### 1940

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Atlantic Patrol | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 10 min. |
| The Children from Overseas | Ruby Grierson Stanley Hawes | Stuart Legg | 10 min. |
| The Front of Steel | John McDougall | Stuart Legg | 11 min. |
| The Home Front | Stanley Hawes | Stanley Hawes | 11 min. |
| Letter from Aldershot | John Taylor | Stuart Legg | 9 min. |
| Squadron 992 | Harry Watt | Alberto Cavalcanti | 23 min. |
| Un du 22e | Gerald Noxon | Stuart Legg | 22 min. |
| Wings of Youth | Raymond Spottiswoode | Stuart Legg | 19 min. |

### 1941

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| The Battle of Brains | Stanley Hawes | Stuart Legg | 13 min. |
| Britain at Bay | Harry Watt | | 7 min. |
| Churchill's Island | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 22 min. |
| Everywhere in the World | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 16 min |
| Food - Weapon of Conquest | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 22 min. |
| Guards of the North | Raymond Spottiswoode | | 10 min. |
| Heroes of the Atlantic | J. D. Davidson | Stanley Hawes | 15 min. |
| Letter from Camp Borden | Raymond Spottiswoode | Stuart Legg | 17 min. |
| Soldiers All | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 20 min. |
| Strategy of Metals | Raymond Spottiswoode | Stuart Legg | 19 min. |
| Warclouds in the Pacific | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 20 min. |
| Wings of a Continent | Raymond Spottiswoode | Stuart Legg | 16 min. |

### 1942

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| The Battle for Oil | Stuart Legg | Raymond Spottiswoode | 19 min. |
| The Battle of the Harvests | Stanley Jackson | James Beveridge | 18 min. |
| Forward Commandos | Raymond Spottiswoode | Stanley Hawes | 22 min. |
| Geopolitik - Hitler's Plan for Empire | Stuart Legg | Stuart Legg | 20 min. |
| High Over the Borders | Raymond Spottiswoode | Irving Jacoby | 23 min. |
| Inside Fighting Canada | Jane Marsh | James Beveridge | 11 min. |
| Quebec – Path of Conquest | Radford Crawley | Raymond Spottiswoode | 11 min. |
| Road to Tokyo | | Raymond Spottiswoode | 10 min. |
| This Is Blitz | Stuart Legg | | 22 min. |
| The Voice of Action | James Beveridge | Raymond Spottiswoode | 16 min. |
| Women Are Warriors | Jane Marsh | Raymond Spottiswoode | 14 min. |

### 1943

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Banshees Over Canada | James Beveridge | Sydney Newman | 19 min. |
| Coal Face, Canada | Robert Edmonds | Graham McInnes | 20 min. |
| Fighting Norway | Sydney Newman | | 10 min. |
| The Gates of Italy | Stuart Legg Tom Daly | Stuart Legg Tom Daly | 21 min. |
| Pincer on Axis Europe | | | 20 min. |
| Proudly She Marches | Jane Marsh | Raymond Spottiswoode | 18 min. |
| Thought for Food | Stanley Jackson | James Beveridge | 15 min. |
| Tomorrow's World | | Raymond Spottiswoode | 20 min. |
| Train Busters | Sydney Newman | Raymond Spottiswoode | 13 min. |
| Up from the Ranks | Julian Roffman | Raymond Spottiswoode | 19 min. |

### 1944

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Air Cadets | Jane Marsh | | 15 min |
| Break-through | | James Beveridge | 11 min. |
| Fighting Sea-Fleas | Sydney Newman Julian Roffman Nicholas Read | Sydney Newman Julian Roffman Nicholas Read | 11 min. |
| Flight 6 | Sydney Newman | Guy Glover | 10 min. |
| Future for Fighters | | Stuart Legg James Beveridge | 10 min. |
| Look to the North | James Beveridge | James Beveridge | 22 min. |
| Mosquito Squadron | | Ernest Borneman | 11 min. |
| Target - Berlin | Ernest Borneman | Raymond Spottiswoode | 15 min. |
| Trans-Canada Express | Stanley Hawes | Stanley Hawes | 19 min., 26 sec. |
| Universities at War | | | 11 min. |
| U.N.R.R.A. presents In the Wake of the Armies ... | Guy Glover | | 18 min. |
| Wounded in Action | | | 22 min. |
| Zero Hour | | Stuart Legg | 22 min. |

### 1945

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Atlantic Crossroads | Tom Daly | Grant McLean Tom Daly | 10 min. |
| Back to Jobs | Nicholas Balla | | 9 min., 35 sec. |
| Gateway to Asia | Tom Daly | Tom Daly | 21 min. |
| Headline Hunters | | Alan Field | 11 min. |
| Music in the Wind | | Guy Glover | 10 min. |
| Ordeal by Ice | Tom Daly | Tom Daly | 10 min., 39 sec. |
| Road to the Reich | Tom Daly | Tom Daly | 10 min. |
| Salute to a Victory | | | 10 min. |
| Suffer Little Children | Sydney Newman | Sydney Newman | 1o min. |
| This Is Our Canada | Stanley Jackson | Stanley Jackson | 20 min |
| Toronto Symphony No. 1 | Julian Roffman | Alan Field | 12 min |
| Toronto Symphony No. 2 | Julian Roffman | Alan Field | 9 min |
| The War on Want | Gordon Burwash | Nicholas Balla | 15 min |

### 1946

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Bronco Busters | | Laurence Hyde | 10 min. |
| Canada, World Trader | | Tom Daly | 11 min |
| The Challenge of Housing | | Tom Daly | 10 min. |
| A City Sings | Gudrun Parker | Nicholas Balla Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Everyman's World | | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| Fashions by Canada | | | 11 min. |
| The New North | Hamilton Wright | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| Science Goes Fishing | Jean Palardy | Guy Glover | 11 min. |
| Ski Skill | Bernard Devlin Roger Blais | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| Small Fry | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| To the Ladies | | Nicholas Balla | 10 min. |
| Voice of Canada | | Guy Glover | 10 min. |
| White Safari | Hugh Wallace | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |

### 1947

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Canada Dances | Nicholas Balla | Sydney Newman | 9 min. |
| Careers and Cradles | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 mn. |
| Eyes on Canada | | | 11 min. |
| Johnny at the Fair | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Mexico Today | | | 10 min. |
| Montreal by Night | Jean Palardy Arthur Burrows | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Peoples of Canada (revised) | James Beveridge | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| River Watch | Roger Morin | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Tomorrow's Citizens | Gordon Weisenborn | Stuart Legg | 11 min. |
| What's on Your Mind? | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |

### 1948

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Arctic Jungle | Sydney Newman | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Art for Everybody | Laurence Hyde | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| Champions in the Making | | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| The Home Town Paper | Morten Parker | Gudrun Parker | 23 min. |
| Inside the Atom | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min |
| It's Fun to Sing | Roger Blais | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Maps We Live By | Gudrun Parker | James Beveridge | 11 min. |
| Mercy Flight | Evelyn Spice Cherry Lawrence Cherry | Evelyn Spice Cherry Lawrence Cherry | 11 min. |
| Pay-Off in Pain | Robert Anderson | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Science in Bloom | Nicholas Balla | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |

### 1949

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| 55,000 for Breakfast | Lawrence Cherry Evelyn Spice Cherry | Lawrence Cherry Evelyn Spice Cherry | 11 min. |
| Ballet Festival | Roger Blais | Don Mulholland | 11 min. |
| A Capital Plan | Bernard Devlin | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Famous Fish I Have Met | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Passport to Canada | Roger Blais | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Red Runs the Fraser | E. Taylor | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Sight and Sound | Gudrun Parker Nathan Clavier | Don Mulholland | 11 min. |
| Summer Is For Kids | Stanley Jackson | Sydney Newman | 11 min., 42 sec. |
| Valley of Gold | David Bairstow | Don Mulholland | 10 min. |
| Welcome, Neighbour! | Leslie McFarlane | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| What's Under the Label? | Ron Weyman | Don Mulholland | 11 min. |
| White Fortress | Leslie McFarlane Ron Weyman | Don Mulholland | 10 min. |

### 1950

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| City in Siege | James Parker Allen Stark | Sydney Newman | 17 min. |
| Cliff Hangers | | Don Mulholland | 10 min., 27 sec. |
| Gentleman Jekyll and Driver Hyde | David Bairstow | Don Mulholland | 8 min., 18 sec. |
| Hunters of the North Pole | Nils Rasmussen | Don Mulholland | 10 min. |
| Life Under A Leaf | Ron Weyman | Don Mulholland | 30 min. |
| Our Town is the World | Stanley Jackson | Don Mulholland | 11 min. |
| Snow Fiesta | Harry Foster | Harry Foster | 10 min. |
| Thunder in the East | Douglas Tunstell | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Unto the Hundredth Generation | Donald Fraser | Don Mulholland | 11 min. |

### 1951

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| After Prison, What? | Ron Weyman | Sydney Newman | 11 min., 29 sec. |
| Cadet Holiday | David Bairstow Robert Humble Douglas Wilkinson | Sydney Newman Michael Spencer | 11 min. |
| Flying Skis | Harry Foster | Harry Foster | 9 min. |
| Gangway for Navy | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Inside Newfoundland | Sydney Newman Roger Morin | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| It's The Fashion! | Ron Weyman | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| The Man in the Peace Tower | Roger Blais | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| The Outlaw Within | Morten Parker | Guy Glover | 11 min. |
| Penitentiary | Ron Weyman | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Rescue Mission | Ron Weyman | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Screaming Jets | Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Struggle for Oil | Ronald Dick | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |
| Talent Showcase | Roger Blais Douglas Tunstell Sydney Newman | Sydney Newman | 10 min., 45 sec. |
| Toronto Boom Town | Leslie McFarlane | Sydney Newman | 10 min. |
| Yoho: Wonder Valley | Roger Blais Jack Olsen | Sydney Newman | 11 min. |

### 1952

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Arctic Saga | Douglas Wilkinson | Nicholas Balla | 11 mn. |
| Beyond the Frontier | Ronald Dick | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Canada's Atom Goes To Work | Roger Blais | Guy Glover | 11 min. |
| Horizons of Quebec | Raymond Garceau | Guy Glover | 11 min. |
| The Mountain Movers | Ron Weyman | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| The Romance of Transportation in Canada | Colin Low | Tom Daly | 11 min., 20 sec. |
| Singing Champions | Roger Blais | Nicholas Balla | 10 min. |
| Winter Week-end (Revised) | Bernard Devlin | Guy Glover | 10 min., 23 sec. |
| Singing Champions | Julian Biggs | Michael Spencer | 16 min. |

### 1953

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Citizen Varek | Gordon Burwash | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Farewell Oak Street | Grant McLean | Gordon Burwash | 17 min. |
| Germany - Key to Europe | | Nicholas Balla | 21 min. |
| The Harbour | Earnest Kirkpatrick | Nicholas Balla | 9 min. |
| Here's Hockey! | Leslie McFarlane | Nicholas Balla | 10 min., 40 sed. |
| Herring Hunt | Julian Biggs | Guy Glover | 10 min., 47 sec. |
| In Search of Home | Roger Blais | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Inland Seaport | Ron Weyman | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Mission Ship | Robert Anderson | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Mister Mayor | Raymond Garceau | Roger Blais | 11 min. |
| Tempest in Town | Raymond Garceau | Bernard Devlin | 13 min. |
| Today in South Asia | Donald Fraser | Donald Fraser | 11 min. |
| The Wind-Swept Isles | Jean Palardy | Bernard Devlin | 9 min., 50 sec. |
| The World at Your Feet (Revised) | Larry Gosnell | Michael Spencer | 10 min. |

### 1954

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Bottleneck | Leslie McFarlane | | 11 min. |
| British Empire and Commonwealth Games | Jack Olsen | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Bush Doctor | Jean Palardy | Roger Blais | 10 min., 48 sec. |
| College in the Wilds | Julian Biggs | Guy Glover | 10 min. |
| Corral | Colin Low | Tom Daly | 11 min., 27 sed. |
| Diggers of the Deeps | Grant McLean |
| Sorel | Jean Palardy | Roger Blais | 11 min. |
| Thousand Million Years | | Tom Daly | 10 min |
| Vigil in the North | Fergus McDonell | Nicholas Balla | 11 min |

### 1955

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| The Dykes | Roger Blais | Roger Blais | 9 min., 52 sec. |
| Gold | Colin Low | Tom Daly | 10 min., 32 sec. |
| Harvest in the Valley (short version) | Larry Gosnell | Larry Gosnell | 8 min |
| High Tide in Newfoundland | Grant McLean | Nicholas Balla | 21 min. |
| The Jolifou Inn | Colin Low | Tom Daly | 10 min., 47 sec. |
| The Lumberjack | Jean Palardy | Roger Blais | 29 min. |
| The Maple Leaf | J. V. Durden | J. V. Durden | 9 min., 33 sec. |
| Needles and Pins | Roger Blais | Roger Blais | 11 min |
| Problem Clinic | Ron Weyman | Nicholas Balla | 12 min. |
| Return of the Indian | Grant McLean | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |

### 1956

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Fishermen of Pubnico | Léonard Forest | Victor Jobin | 10 min., 32 sec. |
| Frontiers to Guard | Ian MacNeill | Nicholas Balla | 17 min. |
| The Lively Pond | | Nicholas Balla | 8 min., 41 sec. |
| The Shepherd | Julian Biggs | Julian Biggs | 11 min. |

### 1957

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Bridge Under the Ocean | Raymond Garceau | Nicholas Balla | 11 min. |
| Carnival in Quebec | Jean Palardy | Roger Blais | 12 min., 13 sec. |
| Snow Fighters | Leslie McFarlane | Roger Blais | 10 min. |
| Wildlife of the Rocky Mountains | William H. Carrick | | 8 min., 40 sec. |

### 1958

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| The Awakening Mackenzie | Hector Lemieux | John Howe | 9 min. |
| Fraser's River | Gordon Sparling | Stanley Hawes | 14 min., 38 sec. |
| Industrial Canada | Guy L. Coté | Guy L. Coté | 18 min., 27 sec. |
| The Man From Karachi | Leslie McFarlane | Nicholas Balla | 12 min. |
| Songs of Nova Scotia | Grant Crabtree | Roger Blais | 11 min. |
| Street to the World | Louis-Georges Carrier | | 14 min., 33 sec. |
| Treasure of the Forest | Roger Blais | Nicholas Balla | 12 min., 50 sec. |
| The World on Show | Roger Blais | Tim Wilson | 13 min. |

### 1959

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| The Atom - Servant of Man | Edmund Reid | Nicholas Balla Grant McLean | 14 min. |
| The Chairmaker and the Boys | | Tim Wilson | 20 min., 3 sec. |
| The Magic Mineral | Roger Blais | Tim Wilson | 13 min., 20 sec. |
| Man of Music | Roger Blais | Tim Wilson | 18 min., 13 sec. |
| The Modern Prospector | Jean-Yves Bigras | Tim Wilson | 14 min., 27 sec. |
| Portrait of Canada | Hector Lemieux | Tim Wilson | 10 min. |
| Railroaders | Guy L. Coté | Nicholas Balla | 16 min., 55 sec. |
| Wheat Country | Roger Blais | Roger Blais | 20 min., 2 sec. |

### 1960

| Title | Director | Producer | Length |
| Railroaders (revised) | Guy L. Coté | Nicholas Balla | 16 min., 55 sec. |