The Bruce, TVO’s three part documentary series exploring the history of the Saugeen Ojibway Territory and Bruce County, will have its free big screen debut on Saturday, May 12 at The Plex in Port Elgin.

In a media release, episode one, The Fishing Chiefs, will be featured on night one, while the second and third episodes, The Last Frontier, and The Peaceful Path, will screen at The Plex in another free event on Saturday, June 2. A creation of hundreds of volunteers from across the region, The Bruce will be distributed for free to every school and library in Bruce County following the premiere events, along with a curriculum companion.

For both premiere events, doors will open at 6 p.m., with the night beginning at 7 p.m. The screenings will wrap up around 9 p.m. with a reception and light refreshments to follow. Free tickets are available at eventbrite.ca. To get your free tickets – search for The Bruce premiere at Saugeen Shores on Eventbrite.ca. Organizers recommend printing tickets for ease of entry and arriving early for the best seats.

“We can’t wait to share The Bruce with the volunteers who worked so hard to bring these stories to life,” said Director, Zach Melnick, “but also with the larger Ontario community. I think viewers will be surprised by the drama in these stories, and how the events of the past so directly shape the lives of people today,” he added.

The Bruce will be seen across the province this summer on TVO. Part of the non-profit Ontario Visual Heritage Project, The Bruce has been created in partnership with the Bruce County Historical Society, and in collaboration with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Funding in the form of a two-year, $139,100 Grow grant was received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2016, and from partners in the community.

“I believe it is important for future generations to understand our past, and that our future is shaped by our past. The documentary of Bruce County’s history is an important reminder that celebrates our natural, cultural and economic history, and will play a key role in sharing our storied history and engaging people to have pride in our community,” said Bill Walker, MPP, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound.

The Bruce has been in the works since May of 2016, when the project was kicked off by a community brainstorming session. With the guidance of a local steering committee, the project team conducted 50 research interviews and dove deep into the historical literature. Thirty-three historians, knowledge keepers, and elders were subsequently interviewed on camera, and 62 re-enactments of historical events were planned.

In April of 2017, 130 people of all ages and experience answered the open audition call to fill the roles of some of Bruce’s most celebrated and notorious historical figures. With the help of theatre groups, retirement clubs, Ontario Parks and Parks Canada, Bruce County, and countless other organizations – props, costumes and locations were sourced for 24 re-enactment filming days from June through December. As word of the project spread, additional volunteers stepped up with a total of 179 volunteer actors appearing on-camera, and 102 more helping behind-the-scenes. Some of the events that were re-enacted include: the treaties of 1836 and 1854, the land sale of 1854, the burning of the Peninsula in 1908, the coming of nuclear power to Bruce, and the establishment of the National Parks in the 1980s.

Life and landscapes were filmed throughout the county to compliment the re-enactments. Over 4,500 shots or 40 terabytes of footage, were collected for The Bruce. After being edited into three 50 minute parts, archival drawings, paintings, photographs and film, along with 3D and motion graphics were added to each episode to further enrich the stories. Former radio personality and Drayton Theatre veteran, Neil Aitchison, ties the whole series together with his dulcet tones as narrator.

Pre-order your copy of The Bruce on DVD or Blu-ray, from the Bruce County Historical at each of the premieres. For anyone wanting to explore the history more deeply, the Society will also be selling The Bruce companion book by local scribe, Robin Hilborn. All proceeds go towards helping preserve and promote the history of our communities.