Shirley Vercruysse, the National Film Board of Canada’s (NFB) Western Documentary Unit executive director, has announced her retirement.

The Vancouver-based Vercruysse (pictured) joined the NFB 11 years ago, and will remain until the end of September to complete remaining projects. The NFB will share the opening for the role in the coming days.

“It was with great emotion that we learned of Shirley’s plans to retire. Her passion for great storytelling and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices have enriched the NFB,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, government film commissioner and NFB chairperson in a statement. “We’re delighted that she will be with us until the fall to ensure a smooth transition with the new executive producer. Shirley is leaving the Western Documentary Unit in excellent shape, and I can’t thank her enough.”

Vercruysse first joined the NFB in 2014, taking over for Tracey Friesen in what was then called the BC and Yukon Studio. Prior to joining the NFB, she was based in Calgary for 14 years as a partner in Burns Films, where she produced Gary Burns’ waydowntown and the NFB coproduction Radiant City.

She has produced features such as Jennifer Abbott’s The Magnitude of All Things, Mirjam Leuze’s The Whale and the Raven, Marie Clements’ The Road Forward, Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper’s Incandescence and Chris Auchter’s The Stand.

Projects from the Yukon include David Curtis’ Sovereign Soil, Fritz Mueller’s Voices Across the Water and David Hamelin and Melaina Sheldon’s Northlore.

In animation, Vercruysse’s credits include the feature Window Horses from Ann Marie Fleming; as well as the shorts I AM HERE from Eoin Duffy, Auchter’s The Way of the SGaana and Hart Snider’s Shop Class.

She also produced Sinakson Trevor Solway’s Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man, a feature doc that explores what it means to be a Blackfoot man across generations of Siksika Nation men and boys. The film is set for its world premiere at this year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, with Vercruysse in attendance.

Photo by Myriam Frenette