Brian Vallée

Brian Michael Vallée (1940-2011) was a Canadian author, journalist, documentary film producer, screenwriter, and public speaker.[1] He is best known for his work reflecting on domestic violence and his role with CBC's award-winning documentary program the fifth estate. His first non-fiction book, Life With Billy focused on the life of Jane Hurshman, an abused wife who's legal case resulted in battered wife syndrome becoming a legal defense in Canadian courts.[2]

Brian Vallée
Brian Vallée at book signing, 1998.
BornBrian Michael Vallée
1940
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
DiedJuly 22, 2011
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupationwriter, journalist, television producer
NationalityCanadian
Alma materMichigan State University
Genrenon-fiction, Canadian literature, fiction
Notable worksLife With Billy
Website
www.brianvallee.ca

Life and career

Brian Michael Vallée was born in Sault Ste Marie Ontario in 1940. In 1967 he graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in journalism. In 1970 he began work as a reporter for the Windsor Star. In 1974 he moved to Toronto and began working at the Toronto Sun where he was employed for 14 months. As a journalist he worked on newspapers in England, the United States, and Canada. In 1978 he went on to work for ten years with the CBC's documentary program the fifth estate.[3] He died on July 22, 2011 in St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto.[4]

Awards and honours

Vallée's work has received considerable critical acclaim. A television movie based on his Life With Billy book won three Gemini Awards in 1995.[5] Two of his CBC documentaries won Actra Awards for the fifth estate and he was an associate producer for the one-hour documentary Cruel Camera, which won an Audubon Society award.[6] In 2012 he was inducted into the Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Walk of Fame.[7]

Advocacy

Brian Vallée was a long time advocate for awareness around domestic violence. Some of his most notable works including Life with Billy, Life After Billy, and The War on Women all focus on bringing the issue of domestic abuse and battered women to the forefront of Canadian consciousness.[8] Many of Vallée's speaking engagements, conference talks, and documentary projects focused on battered women and the need for increased public awareness about the lives of women living with abuse.[3]

Works

Literary
  • Life With Billy (1986) ISBN 0-7704-2239-X
  • Un Femme en Enfer (1986) ISBN 2-7242-4303-X
  • Pariah (novel) (1991) ISBN 0-7704-2351-5
  • Life After Billy (1995) ISBN 0-770-42622-0
  • Edwin Alonzo Boyd: The Story of the Notorious Boyd Gang (1997) ISBN 978-0-385-25657-5
  • The Torso Murder: The Untold Story of Evelyn Dick (2001) ISBN 1-55263-340-3
  • The War on Women (book) (2007) ISBN 1-55263-828-6

Television and Film
  • Just Another Missing Kid Associate producer (1982, went on to win an Academy Award)
  • Life with Billy Writer (1994 Canadian television film, winner of three Gemini Awards)
  • Behind the Mask series (1998 Life and Times (TV series) documentary on artist Ken Danby)
  • Unmaking the Myth: The Life and Times of Edwin Alonzo Boyd (2002)
  • The Notorious Mrs. Dick Writer and researcher (2002 TV documentary)
  • Prince of Pot: The U.S. vs. Marc Emery Researcher (2007)
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References
  1. Hasham, Alyshah (July 23, 2011). "Brian Vallée, 70: 'Terrific journalist' was everyone's best friend". thestar.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. Squires, Darrell (October 17, 2009). "Married to a monster: 'Life with Billy' and the story of Jane Hurshman". The Western Star. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  3. MacKay, Susan Ferrier (August 26, 2011). "Fifth Estate producer Brian Vallée brought spousal abuse to the forefront". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  4. "Brian Michael Vallee Obituary". Toronto Star. July 25, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  5. "Brian Vallée fonds". Algoma University Archives. August 1, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  6. "Award-winning journalist will archive documents at Algoma U." SooToday.com. March 15, 2010. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  7. "Walk of Fame Inductees Announced". SooToday.com. June 15, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  8. Martin, Carol (November 19, 2008). "At the Toronto Star, dogs do better than women". Soo Today. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
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