Tom Perlmutter

Director general, English Program, National Film Board

My first extended contact with Peter had little to do with the industry, but much to do with children.

We had jointly rented a van to transport the motley worldly goods of his daughter and my son to Montreal from Toronto. Through no doing of our own, the two had become fast friends in high school and had decided to begin their university adventure together as flat-mates.

I cannot remember all the topics of conversation on that long and jolting ride. What I recall is the tenor of the journey. We were acquaintances thrown together at a seminal moment in our lives – the first of our children leaving home. Not that we talked about that (hey, we are guys after all), but in everything else – attitude, gesture and the stories he told – Peter spoke loudly of a way of being with children. Passionate, committed, irreverent, honest, caring, inventive. Exactly the traits that have characterized his work, the work that he has supported, commissioned, inspired and created as a director for stage and screen.

Thank you, Peter, and congratulations.

Paul Robertson

President, Corus Television

We liked Peter so much in his first stint with YTV that we hired him again! He is like a shot of adrenaline for our programming initiatives. Peter takes joy in challenging conventional thinking. He brings a unique perspective to our management team… it often happens that when we are zigging he thinks we should be zagging. This helps us to make better decisions.