About Us

Awards: 2007 Circle of Honour Recipients

Brett Mitchell - Education - 2007

As a producer for C T V W-FIVE, Brett put childhood disability issues centre-stage in over one million Canadian homes through two in-depth documentaries on Bloorview Kids Rehab.

Brett created the documentary entitled Help and Hope (2005), in which he told the story of childhood disability through the stories of the children. They were given a chance to tell their own story and in turn, these stories challenged the stereotypes surrounding kids with disabilities by showcasing their rich and complex personalities.

Brett was meticulous in his research and spent months filming to truly understand the issues facing children with disabilities and their families. “It’s not the kind of story that W-FIVE does often, but we made an exception because we found the story so compelling,” Brett says.

Taking a professional risk, Brett pushed the idea of a one-hour documentary on Bloorview – instead of the typical 30-minute segment – a leap from the typical, mainstream and investigative focus of W-FIVE.

After the success and satisfaction of his first documentary, Brett didn’t hesitate when Bloorview suggested a second documentary on The Independence Program (TIP). TIP is a program where youth with disabilities from across Ontario learn what it takes to live in residence at Ryerson University over a three-week period. His second documentary, On Their Own (2006), captured the lives of three young adults attending this one-of-a-kind experiential program that helps build independence. 

In speaking about Brett’s approach to the documentary, Kim Jones- Galley, Coordinator for TIP, said: “Most importantly, he respected the wishes, integrity and privacy of our clients participating in the documentary.” As one of the teens who was profiled in the TV segment said: “ He knew how to make me feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.” He even allowed one participant to help with the filming because she was more comfortable behind the camera.

The C T V W-FIVE documentaries put a spotlight on Bloorview’s programs, services and research, resulting in calls from families and therapists across North America, leading to at least three new industry collaborations and generating numerous requests from students and volunteers to train and work here.  Brett’s work has been instrumental in raising the profile of Bloorview Kids Rehab, both nationally and internationally.

Brett’s Award Acceptance Speech (Windows Media Video file)

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