My very first job as a teenager was with the CBC, back in the day when they had CBC variety. There were big productions that used Canadian musicians and live bands. Canadian designers did the costumes, sets were designed--and the productions were live. My first production was on the du Maurier Search for Stars, which was a cross-Canada production with representatives from all across Canada. I have managed to grow and learn in my profession through the CBC.
When variety disappeared there was radio and drama, and you learned to grow. You had your resume—as we call it—by doing different types of media. That sort of thing is gone because there just aren't the opportunities, and a lot more independent productions are now coming in. Today I can be in a production like Little Mosque on the Prairie, which is a uniquely Canadian experience. It has created worldwide interest because it's something that could happen in Canada, from a Canadian perspective and Canadian experience. I give that credit to the CBC and the fact that it's in existence.