Grant H. CRABTREE

CRABTREE, Grant H. MARGAREE & SYDNEY N.S. One of Canada's pioneer filmmakers, director and cinematographer, in his 96th year. Reluctantly, after an heroic struggle to overcome multiple hospital infections, Grant departed on October 14th, smothered with love and enjoying it to the last second. Grant grew up in Rockliffe, Ottawa and his first film job was an offer from John Grierson of the NFB in 1939. His career spanned six decades and his films won many awards. He filmed in Quebec with Palardy and Barbeau and A.Y. Jackson; in Emily Carr country for Klee Wyck; on the Columbian icefield, in Resolute and Pond Inlet; in logging camps and national parks; with wheat scientists and marine biologists, Ukrainian farmers and new immigrants, with Helen Creighton for Songs of Nova Scotia and on the last of the Grand Banks schooners. He made the classic "Loons Necklace" and "Morning on the Lievre" and films for children and about children. He went everywhere where there was a story to be told about the promise of a youthful Canada. His life was lived in the outdoors: a championship rower at the Edinburgh Canoe Club; building rinks and log cabins and ski runs in the Gatineau,; evenings of screenings and broomball and hilarity at Meech Lake; maple syrup every spring until he was 94; countless canoe trips, hikes, picnics and stopping by for tea. But the love of his life was Cape Breton, begun in 1942, never diminished, especially for Margaree and its people. He made many films there and was always along the river and shore searching for the perfect light. His last film Song of Seasons was a love song to an-innis-aigh, his own piece of heaven. He was married for fifty years to his beautiful wife, a filmwriter, Marjorie Morse (2000) of Toronto. He is survived by daughters Lauren (Kenzie) MacNeil, and Carla Kalberlah, Halifax; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchilden. He deeply missed his brothers John and Graham, and sister Elizabeth, all artists from Ottawa. Donations appreciated to the Margaree Salmon Association: margareesalmon.ca Condolences to 1 Ankerville St. Sydney N.S. B1P 1X8. Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 10/25/2008