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Growing Up Canadian: Work

2003 46 min
Leaving soon

From working six days a week in a factory to serving up sundaes at the Dairy Queen on weekends, Canadian children have done it all. In the first half of the century many families couldn't get by without financial help from their kids. The nation counted on its young when it came to wartime; from joining up to fight to tucking a love note in a scarf knit for an unknown soldier, witnesses recall their contributions. Recollections of work include cheapskate bosses, the decision to quit and the experience of getting fired. It was tough working in the coal mines …

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Growing Up Canadian: Work

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From working six days a week in a factory to serving up sundaes at the Dairy Queen on weekends, Canadian children have done it all. In the first half of the century many families couldn't get by without financial help from their kids. The nation counted on its young when it came to wartime; from joining up to fight to tucking a love note in a scarf knit for an unknown soldier, witnesses recall their contributions.

Recollections of work include cheapskate bosses, the decision to quit and the experience of getting fired. It was tough working in the coal mines and out in the fishing dories, but even babysitters join in the complaints about lousy conditions and low pay!

Work is one of a 6-part series entitled Growing Up Canadian. These documentaries explore the myths and realities of Canadian childhood through family life, schooling, work, play, health and the media. The series marks the contribution of childhood and youth experience in defining Canada as it grew into full nationhood in the 20th century.
  • executive producer
    Sheila Petzold
    Ken Stewart
    Marcel Clément
  • producer
    Hoda Elatawi
  • series creator
    Sheila Petzold
  • director
    Susan Terrill
  • writer
    Susan Terrill
    Sheila Petzold
  • participant
    Tiffany Beaudin
    Anna Bonokoski
    Carl Brewer
    Erin Brophy
    Hinson Calabrese
    Herménégilde Chiasson
    Pat Cooney
    John C. Crosbie
    Eric Davidson
    Emily Dazé
    Ken Dryden
    Misa Friesen-Kobayashi
    Denise Fung
    Mabel Geary
    Nicolas Guertin
    Jack Gilmour
    Barbara Gowdy
    Raymond Hagel
    Jack Harrison
    Elizabeth Hillman
    Antonia Iachetti
    Ellaina Jancewicz
    George Jordan
    Joy Kogawa
    Clare Laking
    Natalie MacMaster
    Alistair McLeod
    Bob Mellor
    Paul Métivier
    Denis F. Mildon
    Matthew Mitchell
    Art Monk
    Edith Samuel Manierka
    Mary Sexton
    Annie Welsh
    Hellie Wilson
    Jamie Zeppa
  • narration writer
    Sheila Petzold
    Jamie Zeppa
    Susan Terrill
  • narrator
    Becky Rynor
  • interviews
    Susan Terrill
    Sheila Petzold
  • additional interview
    Andrea Hossack
  • original concept
    Sam Kula
  • director of photography
    Karl Roeder
  • music composer
    Andrew Huggett
  • off-line editor
    Tiffany Beaudin
    Douglas von Rosen
    Richard Millen
  • online editor
    Tiffany Beaudin
  • graphic designer
    Ron Allen
  • production manager
    Shelley Coultish
    Kate Yule
  • production coordinator
    Shannan Thomson
  • script editor
    Sheila Petzold
    Penny McCann
    Susan Terrill
  • archival research
    Vivian Hanwell
    Kate Keating
    Kate Yule
    Erin Brophy
  • research
    Helen Dundass
    Jody Nassr
    Isobel Ripley
    Sheila Petzold
  • additional research
    Shelley Coultish
    Pam Gaffield
    Sophia Geeves
    Fern Graham
    Lea Robinson
    Theresa Rowat
    Susan Villeneuve
  • sound recordist
    Eldy Gouthro
    Peter Kettlewell
    Kate Kechnie
    Larry MacDonald
    Jane Porter
    Vaughn Rowsell
    Don Stewart
    Douglas von Rosen
  • additional camera operator
    Mike Tien
    Roland Pirker
    Raymond Hagel
  • production services
    Derek McClintock
  • grip
    Don Black
    Lewis Hill
    Marcus Hutchings
    Mathew Reid
    John Roche
    Henrietta Veerman
    Chris Anderson
  • sound engineer
    Robin Dumas
  • post-production services
    Nancy Bissonnette
  • production accountant
    Cheryl Williams
  • production assistant
    Jason Claude
    Kathy Dunphy
    Sophia Geeves
    Henrietta Veerman

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Education

Ages 12 to 18
School subjects

Warnings: Depictions of war, difficult working conditions

What do you notice about differences in descriptions from the film's participants about working as a child? How does this seem similar to or different from your own experience? What were the working conditions for children in the different industries outlined? How were expectations different depending on gender? How has the history of working children and Home Children impacted the rights of Canadian children today? Which industries were particularly problematic for children to work in? Which are still sometimes used today by children? In your opinion, should children work? If so, which type of work would be acceptable?

Growing Up Canadian: Work
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