About this project

WILLIAM tells the story of a nine-year-old torn from his family in 1960 and placed by force in one of 139 Indian residential schools that existed in Canada over a period of a hundred years, from 1870 to 1997. These residential schools had a single purpose: to assimilate First Nations, Inuit and Metis into Canada’s colonial society.

Each episode highlights one typical scene in the children’s journey through the system, from their life on the land to their abduction by government agents, their arrival at the school, their experience in the dormitory, the classroom, and their return home.

Fiction at the service of history

Plus sign

Today, most Canadians have at least heard one moving story or seen one touching image related to residential schools. Yet this part of our collective history is barely addressed in school curriculum, and according to a 2021 survey (1), many people admit to knowing very little about Indian residential schools, except for what they read or hear in the media. In a world saturated with information, in a world where it seems like every day there is a new calamity, it is difficult to get out of oneself to feel the empathy that is required when one encounters real suffering. WILLIAM wants to take on the challenge of creating empathy, by allowing everyone to experience this historic reality in the first person.

This series renders reality in its most intimate form by means of a fictional work grounded in historical fact. In its development, WILLIAM benefited from the same rigor that goes into making any truthful documentary. Much research went into developing and designing the six episodes.

The scenarios are based on the testimonies of residential school survivors. Scenes were selected to capture the archetypal moments that every child who went through the residential school system had to live out. The experience of WILLIAM and his peers is the experience of thousands. By living it, we bear witnesses to a tragedy that was repeated each time the government abducted a child from their family or their community.

This project is part of a movement trying to raise awareness and repair the harm done to Canada’s Indigenous communities. It is doing this by putting the power of cinema and virtual reality in the service of education and awareness.

By embodying a character and living their story, the user actively participates in a movement that amplifies empathy and the desire to understand the experience of others.

(1) Canadians React To The Discovery Of Remains At Residential School

Target audience

Plus sign

WILLIAM was firstly conceived for a Canadian anglophone and francophone audience. But since Canada’s colonial legacy is just one instance of the global issue of colonization, the series is part of a worldwide effort to recognize the experience of Indigenous peoples around the world. It is therefore intended for the widest possible audience.

Since the content is based on the conclusions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report, WILLIAM has an important educational component. It is a powerful pedagogical tool that we invite teachers to use when they talk about the residential school system in the classroom.

Episode 1 thumbnail

HOME A look into William’s life before residential school (8+)

5m58sec (2022)

This episode presents the average daily life of an Indigenous family in the late 1950s. We will see William’s parents, grandparents and younger sister.

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Episode 2 thumbnail

THE DEPARTURE The day that William is taken away from his home (13+)

5m58sec (2022)

This experience simulates the painful moment when children are forcefully removed from their families by government representatives. The user will witness the discussion between the Indian agent and William’s parents and the family’s efforts to protect young William.

See credits Institutional sales
Episode 3 thumbnail

THE ARRIVAL A first look at residential school (13+)

6m26sec (2022)

Members of the clergy put the new students through their harsh arrival routine. William will undergo a medical examination as well as have his hair cut and his identity changed to a number.

See credits Institutional sales
Episode 4 thumbnail

THE DORMS An evening in the dorms (13+)

5m27sec (2022)

The boys are grouped in a large dorm room, getting ready for bed. It is time for prayer. While trying to sleep William hears whispering; his neighbor is crying ... a priest comes to get him.

See credits Institutional sales
Episode 5 thumbnail

THE CLASSROOM A classroom lesson (13+)

8m (2017)

The children are in the classroom listening to the nun give a lesson. The children are confused; they don’t understand the language and are trying their best to concentrate and avoid being noticed.

See credits Institutional sales
Episode 6 thumbnail

BACK HOME William returns home (8+)

6m27sec (2022)

William returns home to his family after years away at Residential school. He tries to reconnect with his mother and father with whom he can no longer communicate.

See credits Institutional sales

This episode was produced with the financial participation of

Fonds des médias du Canada
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Canada Council for the Arts

Producer
Jason Brennan

Project Manager
Maud Loranger

VR Project Manager
Sébastien Gros

Director
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Scriptwriter
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Production Manager
Jacynthe Turcotte

Emerging Director Intern
Abraham Cote

First Assistant Director
Ariane Caumartin

Second Assistant Director and Production Coordinator
Laurianne Caron

Union des artistes
William's mother Kwena Bellemare Boivin
William's father Owen John Mayo
William’s grandfather Roger Echaquan
William's grandmother Madeleine Basile
William's sister Alexa Morency Dubuc

Unit Manager
Geneviève Guilmette

Production Assistant
Nicolas Legault

Health and Safety Compliance Officer
Dominique Laplante

Psychological Support
Maude Paul St-Jacques

Indigenous Content Advisors
Madeleine Basile
Denise Coocoo
Raoul Quitich

VR Script Advisor
Nicolas S. Roy

Consultant in psychology
Ariane Leroux-Boudreault, Ph.D./D.Psy
Stéphanie Limoges, D.Psy

Director of Photography
Sébastien Gros

1st Camera Assistant
Dominic Lapointe

2nd Camera Assistant
Alex Desjardins

Chief Electrician
Roland Marckwort

Grip
Peter Chartier

Sound Recordist
Tobias Haynes

Assistant Sound Recordist
Kyel Loadenthal

Artistic Director
Colleen Williamson

Art Department Assistants
Brandon Torrens
Dez Fitzgerald
Cheryl Batten
Lorie Nesbitt
Dylan La Frenière

Costume Designer
Celyne Gaspé

Assistant Costume Designer
Julie Gaspé

Makeup Artists
Cinthia Burke
Natasha Pereira

Hair Stylist
Christel Marilyn Gossé

Driver
Daryl Cupples

Security
Montreal Elite Security

Filming location and Catering
Sucrerie de la Montage

Editor
Martin Morissette

VFX Technical Director
Sébastien Gros

VR Compositing
Geneviève Coulombe
Carl Richard
Alain Baril

Music provided by
Nagamo Publishing Inc.

Peak expérience visuelle et sonore
Sound Designer and Mixer
Martin Lemay

Sound Post-Production Manager
Catherine Pelletier

Dubbing

Patricia Grant MELS - Project Manager
Maria Bircher MELS - Adaptation
Katherine Lauzon MELS - Stage Manager
William's mother Kwena Bellemare Boivin
William's father Owen John Mayo
William’s grandfather Bruce Dinsmore
William's grandmother Jennifer Seguin
William's sister Talula Dinsmore

System Integrators
Nicolas S. Roy
Hugues Bruyère

Web Designer
Alexandre Lafontaine

Photographer
Randy Kelly

Production Accountant
Karine Hein

Accounting Assistant
Catherine Lemieux

Legal Advisors
Me Robert Y. Cousineau
Joe Sisto, Sisto Entertainment & Business, Law Services Inc

Insurance
BFL Canada risques et assurances Inc.

Controller
PwC Canada

Special thanks
Affinity Productions
Yan Dufort
Pierre Faucher
John Hamilton
Odile Joannette
Véronique Ménard
Kevin Péloquin
Monica Perazzo
Marc-Alexandre Reinhardt
Caroline Vézina
9th grade students from Collège Saint-Hilaire

Nish Media

4412826 Canada inc. © All rights reserved 2022

This episode was produced with the financial participation of

Fonds des médias du Canada
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Canada Council for the Arts

Producer
Jason Brennan

Project Manager
Maud Loranger

VR Project Manager
Sébastien Gros

Director
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Scriptwriter
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Production Manager
Jacynthe Turcotte

Emerging Trainee Director
Abraham Cote

First Assistant Director
Ariane Caumartin

Second Assistant Director and Production Coordinator
Laurianne Caron

Union des artistes
William's mother Kwena Bellemare Boivin
William's father Owen John Mayo
William’s grandfather Roger Echaquan
William's grandmother Madeleine Basile
William's sister Alexa Morency Dubuc
Indian agent Cédrick Lavigne-Larente
RCMP Officer Vincent Archambault
Gabriel Reed Oshawee

Unit Manager
Geneviève Guilmette

Production Assistant
Nicolas Legault

Health and Safety Compliance Officer
Dominique Laplante

Psychological Support
Maude Paul St-Jacques

Indigenous Content Advisors
Madeleine Basile
Denise Coocoo
Raoul Quitich

VR Script Advisor
Nicolas S. Roy

Consultant in psychology
Ariane Leroux-Boudreault, Ph.D./D.Psy
Stéphanie Limoges, D.Psy

Director of Photography
Sébastien Gros

1st Camera Assistant
Dominic Lapointe

2nd Camera Assistant
Alex Desjardins

Chief Electrician
Roland Marckwort

Grip
Peter Chartier

Sound Recordist
Tobias Haynes

Assistant Sound Recordist
Kyel Loadenthal

Artistic Director
Colleen Williamson

Art Department Assistants
Brandon Torrens
Dez Fitzgerald
Cheryl Batten
Lorie Nesbitt
Dylan La Frenière

Picture Car Wrangler
Guillaume Perrault
Cinémobile

Costume Designer
Celyne Gaspé

Assistant Costume Designer
Julie Gaspé

Makeup Artists
Cinthia Burke
Sarah Kryszak

Hair Stylist
Christel Marilyn Gossé

Driver
Daryl Cupples

Security
Montreal Elite Security

Filming location and Catering
Sucrerie de la Montage

Editor
Martin Morissette

VFX Technical Director
Sébastien Gros

VR Compositing
Geneviève Coulombe
Carl Richard
Alain Baril

Music provided by
Nagamo Publishing Inc.

Peak expérience visuelle et sonore
Sound Designer and Mixer
Martin Lemay

Sound Post-Production Manager
Catherine Pelletier

Dubbing

Patricia Grant MELS - Project Manager
Maria Bircher MELS - Adaptation
Katherine Lauzon MELS - Stage Manager
William's mother Kwena Bellemare Boivin
William's father Owen John Mayo
William’s grandfather Bruce Dinsmore
Indian Agent Bruce Dinsmore
William's grandmother Jennifer Seguin
William's sister Talula Dinsmore

System Integrators
Nicolas S. Roy
Hugues Bruyère

Web Designer
Alexandre Lafontaine

Photographer
Randy Kelly

Production Accountant
Karine Hein

Accounting Assistant
Catherine Lemieux

Legal Advisors
Me Robert Y. Cousineau
Joe Sisto, Sisto Entertainment & Business, Law Services Inc

Insurance
BFL Canada risques et assurances Inc.

Controller
PwC Canada

Special thanks
Affinity Productions
Yan Dufort
Pierre Faucher
John Hamilton
Odile Joannette
Véronique Ménard
Kevin Péloquin
Monica Perazzo
Marc-Alexandre Reinhardt
Caroline Vézina
9th grade students from Collège Saint-Hilaire

Nish Media

4412826 Canada inc. © All rights reserved 2022

This episode was produced with the financial participation of

Fonds des médias du Canada
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Canada Council for the Arts

Producer
Jason Brennan

Project Manager
Maud Loranger

VR Project Manager
Sébastien Gros

Director
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Scriptwriter
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Production Manager
Jacynthe Turcotte

Emerging Trainee Director
Abraham Cote

First Assistant Director
Ariane Caumartin

Second Assistant Director and Production Coordinator
Laurianne Caron

Union des artistes
Gabriel Reed Oshawee
Doctor Claude Guertin
Religious Father Carol Beaudry
Sister Agnes Isabelle Myre Lacasse
Sister Bertha José Morissette
Emilie Melody Dumont
Julie Sigon Nottaway
Marc John Mahgoosh Commonda

Unit Manager
Geneviève Guilmette

Production Assistant
Nicolas Legault

Health and Safety Compliance Officer
Dominique Laplante

Psychological Support
Maude Paul St-Jacques

Indigenous Content Advisors
Madeleine Basile
Denise Coocoo
Raoul Quitich

VR Script Advisor
Nicolas S. Roy

Consultant in psychology
Ariane Leroux-Boudreault, Ph.D./D.Psy
Stéphanie Limoges, D.Psy

Director of Photography
Sébastien Gros

1st Camera Assistant
Dominic Lapointe

2nd Camera Assistant
Alex Desjardins

Chief Electrician
Roland Marckwort

Grip
Steven F. S. Bruni

Swing
Fabian Grimes
Kevin McMillan

Sound Recordist
Tobias Haynes

Assistant Sound Recordist
Juan Cruz Fernandez

Artistic Director
Colleen Williamson

Art Department Assistants
Brandon Torrens
Dez Fitzgerald
Cheryl Batten
Lorie Nesbitt

Costume Designer
Celyne Gaspé

Assistant Costume Designer
Julie Gaspé

Makeup Artists
Cinthia Burke
Sarah Kryszak

Hair Stylist
Christel Marilyn Gossé

Driver
Daryl Cupples

Security
Phoenix Private Security

Filming location
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

Catering
LunchBox Sandwiches Inc.

Editor
Martin Morissette

VFX Technical Director
Sébastien Gros

VR Compositing
Geneviève Coulombe
Carl Richard
Alain Baril

Music provided by
Nagamo Publishing Inc.

Peak expérience visuelle et sonore
Sound Designer and Mixer
Martin Lemay

Sound Post-Production Manager
Catherine Pelletier

Dubbing

Patricia Grant MELS - Project Manager
Maria Bircher MELS - Adaptation
Katherine Lauzon MELS - Stage Manager
Sister Bertha Jennifer Seguin

System Integrators
Nicolas S. Roy
Hugues Bruyère

Web Designer
Alexandre Lafontaine

Photographer
Randy Kelly

Production Accountant
Karine Hein

Accounting Assistant
Catherine Lemieux

Legal Advisors
Me Robert Y. Cousineau
Joe Sisto, Sisto Entertainment & Business, Law Services Inc

Insurance
BFL Canada risques et assurances Inc.

Controller
PwC Canada

Special thanks
Affinity Productions
Claudette Commanda
Yan Dufort
John Hamilton
Odile Joannette
Kevin Péloquin
Monica Perazzo
Rachel Perkins
Marc-Alexandre Reinhardt
Caroline Vézina
City of Ottawa
9th grade students from Collège Saint-Hilaire

Nish Media

4412826 Canada inc. © All rights reserved 2022

This episode was produced with the financial participation of

Fonds des médias du Canada
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Canada Council for the Arts

Producer
Jason Brennan

Project Manager
Maud Loranger

VR Project Manager
Sébastien Gros

Director
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Scriptwriter
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Production Manager
Jacynthe Turcotte

Emerging Trainee Director
Abraham Cote

First Assistant Director
Ariane Caumartin

Second Assistant Director and Production Coordinator
Laurianne Caron

Union des artistes
Gabriel Reed Oshawee
Religious Father Carol Beaudry
Marc John Mahgoosh Commonda
Raymond Kaden Raymond
Charles Carter-Jay Stevens
André Odeshkan Thusky

Unit Manager
Geneviève Guilmette

Production Assistant
Nicolas Legault

Health and Safety Compliance Officer
Dominique Laplante

Psychological Support
Maude Paul St-Jacques

Indigenous Content Advisors
Madeleine Basile
Denise Coocoo
Raoul Quitich

VR Script Advisor
Nicolas S. Roy

Consultant in psychology
Ariane Leroux-Boudreault, Ph.D./D.Psy
Stéphanie Limoges, D.Psy

Director of Photography
Sébastien Gros

1st Camera Assistant
Dominic Lapointe

2nd Camera Assistant
Alex Desjardins

Chief Electrician
Roland Marckwort

Grip
Steven F. S. Bruni

Swing
Fabian Grimes
Kevin McMillan

Sound Recordist
Tobias Haynes

Assistant Sound Recordist
Juan Cruz Fernandez

Artistic Director
Colleen Williamson

Art Department Assistants
Brandon Torrens
Dez Fitzgerald
Cheryl Batten
Lorie Nesbitt

Costume Designer
Celyne Gaspé

Assistant Costume Designer
Julie Gaspé

Makeup Artists
Cinthia Burke
Sarah Kryszak

Hair Stylist
Christel Marilyn Gossé

Driver
Daryl Cupples

Security
Phoenix Private Security

Filming location
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

Catering
Prestige Catering

Editor
Martin Morissette

VFX Technical Director
Sébastien Gros

VR Compositing
Geneviève Coulombe
Carl Richard
Alain Baril

Music provided by
Nagamo Publishing Inc.

Peak expérience visuelle et sonore
Sound Designer and Mixer
Martin Lemay

Sound Post-Production Manager
Catherine Pelletier

Voice Recording
Bartmart Audio Inc.

Dubbing

Patricia Grant MELS - Project Manager
Maria Bircher MELS - Adaptation
Katherine Lauzon MELS - Stage Manager
Gabriel Ryan Hill
Raymond Ryan Hill
Religious Father Bruce Dinsmore
Young boy Jackson Broome

System Integrators
Nicolas S. Roy
Hugues Bruyère

Web Designer
Alexandre Lafontaine

Photographer
Randy Kelly

Production Accountant
Karine Hein

Accounting Assistant
Catherine Lemieux

Legal Advisors
Me Robert Y. Cousineau
Joe Sisto, Sisto Entertainment & Business, Law Services Inc

Insurance
BFL Canada risques et assurances Inc.

Controller
PwC Canada

Special thanks
Affinity Productions
Claudette Commanda
Yan Dufort
John Hamilton
Odile Joannette
Kevin Péloquin
Monica Perazzo
Rachel Perkins
Marc-Alexandre Reinhardt
Caroline Vézina
City of Ottawa
9th grade students from Collège Saint-Hilaire

Nish Media

4412826 Canada inc. © All rights reserved 2022

This episode was produced with the financial participation of

Fonds des médias du Canada
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Canada Council for the Arts

Producer
Jason Brennan

Director
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Scriptwriter
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Project Manager
Maud Loranger

VR Project Manager
Mike Wetmore

Union des artistes
Sister Céleste Dubé
Evelyne Patience Brazeau
Marie Khloé Jacobs
James Creed Commando
Dorothy Mady Pridham
Student Nolan Shecapio
Michel Samuel Gabriel-Ringuette
Student Mercedes Cote
Simon Wishe Diabo
Issac Kyran Jarrett

Assistant Director and Production Coordinator
Martin Leclerc

Production Assistant
Annie Tanguay

Consultant in psychology
Ariane Leroux-Boudreault, Ph.D./D.Psy
Stéphanie Limoges, D.Psy

Technology Director
Dave Bigelow

Chief Electrician
Roland Marckwort

Grip
Benjamin Dionne

Sound Recordist
Brian Maier

Artistic Director, Costumes and Accessories
Colleen Williamson

Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist
Maria José Moreira

Driver
James Brennan

Security
Securia Global

Filming location
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

Catering
Rosalynn’s

Editor
Dave Bigelow

Colorization
Sébastien Gros

Music provided by
Nagamo Publishing Inc.

Sound Mixer
Bartmart Audio Inc.

Spatial Audio
Martin Lemay
Peak
Peak expérience visuelle et sonore

Dubbing

Patricia Grant MELS - Project Manager
Maria Bircher MELS - Adaptation
Katherine Lauzon MELS - Stage Manager
Sister Patricia Sumersett
Students Talula Dinsmore

Web Designer
Alexandre Lafontaine

Web Content Writing
Jean-François Martel

Photographer
Patrick Kaplin

Market Research
Sophie Tremblay

Production Accountant
Karine Hein

Legal Advisor
Me Robert Y. Cousineau

Insurance
BFL Canada risques et assurances Inc.

Controller
PwC Canada

Special thanks
Affinity Productions
Clint Commando
Gascon & Krukowski
Brahm Lewandowski
Rachel Perkins
Monica Perazzo
City of Ottawa

Nish Media

4412826 Canada inc. © All rights reserved 2022

This episode was produced with the financial participation of

Fonds des médias du Canada
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Canada Council for the Arts

Producer
Jason Brennan

Project Manager
Maud Loranger

VR Project Manager
Sébastien Gros

Director
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Scriptwriter
Sonia Bonspille Boileau

Production Manager
Jacynthe Turcotte

Emerging Trainee Director
Abraham Cote

First Assistant Director
Ariane Caumartin

Second Assistant Director and Production Coordinator
Laurianne Caron

Union des artistes
William's mother Kwena Bellemare Boivin
William's father Owen John Mayo
William's grandmother Madeleine Basile

Unit Manager
Geneviève Guilmette

Production Assistant
Nicolas Legault

Health and Safety Compliance Officer
Dominique Laplante

Psychological Support
Maude Paul St-Jacques

Indigenous Content Advisors
Madeleine Basile
Denise Coocoo
Raoul Quitich

VR Script Advisor
Nicolas S. Roy

Consultant in psychology
Ariane Leroux-Boudreault, Ph.D./D.Psy
Stéphanie Limoges, D.Psy

Director of Photography
Sébastien Gros

1st Camera Assistant
Dominic Lapointe

2nd Camera Assistant
Alex Desjardins

Chief Electrician
Roland Marckwort

Grip
Peter Chartier

Sound Recordist
Tobias Haynes

Assistant Sound Recordist
Kyel Loadenthal

Artistic Director
Colleen Williamson

Art Department Assistants
Brandon Torrens
Dez Fitzgerald
Cheryl Batten
Lorie Nesbitt
Dylan La Frenière

Costume Designer
Celyne Gaspé

Assistant Costume Designer
Julie Gaspé

Makeup Artist
Cinthia Burke

Hair Stylist
Christel Marilyn Gossé

Driver
Daryl Cupples

Security
Montreal Elite Security

Filming location
Sucrerie de la Montage

Editor
Martin Morissette

VFX Technical Director
Sébastien Gros

VR Compositing
Geneviève Coulombe
Carl Richard
Alain Baril

Music provided by
Nagamo Publishing Inc.

Peak expérience visuelle et sonore
Sound Designer and Mixer
Martin Lemay

Sound Post-Production Manager
Catherine Pelletier

Dubbing

Patricia Grant MELS - Project Manager
Maria Bircher MELS - Adaptation
Katherine Lauzon MELS - Stage Manager
William's grandmother Jennifer Seguin

System Integrators
Nicolas S. Roy
Hugues Bruyère

Web Designer
Alexandre Lafontaine

Photographer
Randy Kelly

Production Accountant
Karine Hein

Accounting Assistant
Catherine Lemieux

Legal Advisors
Me Robert Y. Cousineau
Joe Sisto, Sisto Entertainment & Business, Law Services Inc

Insurance
BFL Canada risques et assurances Inc.

Controller
PwC Canada

Special thanks
Affinity Productions
Yan Dufort
Pierre Faucher
John Hamilton
Odile Joannette
Véronique Ménard
Kevin Péloquin
Monica Perazzo
Marc-Alexandre Reinhardt
Caroline Vézina
9th grade students from Collège Saint-Hilaire

Nish Media

4412826 Canada inc. © All rights reserved 2022