Mr. Speaker, last night on the occasion of the 71st Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Mr. Norman Jewison with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
Celebrated before the eyes of the world a Canadian was recognized for his lifelong commitment to film making.
Mr. Jewison made his debut in London, as a comedian and a screen writer for the BBC. In the fifties, he came back here to work with the CBC and then pursue an impressive career as a producer and director. Mr. Jewison is also the founder of the prestigious Canadian Film Centre, in Toronto.
With a total of 12 Oscars and 46 nominations for films such as The Russians are Coming , Fiddler on the Roof , A Soldier's Story , In the Heat of the Night and Moonstruck , he has taught us how important it is to choose stories worth telling and then tell them brilliantly.
I ask the House to join me in congratulating Mr. Jewison for his achievement of excellence and making Canada so proud.