Don Haig, 68; Producer Boosted Canada Film Industry

Don Haig, who helped produce a number of award-winning films in Canada and was known as the godfather of that country’s film industry, died March 2 of cancer at his Toronto home. He was 68.

Haig was former head of English production at Canada’s National Film Board, and filmmakers credited him with helping aspiring talent by loaning money, assessing their scripts and editing their films.

“He was arguably the most important person on the Canadian film scene because he encouraged so many people and made their films possible,” said Geoff Pevere, film critic for the Toronto Star.

Born in Winnipeg in 1933, Haig moved to Toronto in 1956 and first worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s television film department.

He left CBC in 1962 and began his own company a year later. He was a co-founder of the Canadian Film Editors Guild in 1970 and chairman of the Canadian Film and Television Assn. in 1972.

Haig joined the National Film Board in 1992.