Biografia
A passion for storytelling has always been central, with a particular emphasis on sharing personal stories rooted in truth. Often, reality proves to be stranger—and more impactful—than fiction.
Heather is a hands-on, set-savvy creative producer with over 20 years of industry experience. After graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University's then RTA program, she gained expertise across multiple roles, from PA to Post Assistant Editor to AD/LP, eventually advancing to Supervising Producer/LP and then Producer/Executive Producer as an independent. Her diverse skill set was shaped by working in every genre and format—live and taped half-hour multi-cam comedies, live events, game shows, music specials, documentaries, single-camera dramas, and HD productions—both on location and in-studio.
From 1999 to 2016, Heather co-owned Screen Door, an independent Canadian production company renowned for award-winning dramatic films, event mini-series, and series for major broadcasters with strong international sales. Screen Door specialized in dramas featuring deeply authentic characters who often triumphed against the odds. Their projects earned accolades across numerous categories, including Gemini Awards in Canada and honors at international festivals. Notable movies of the week include Spirit Bear, Burn: The Robert Wraight Story, Prom Queen, Shades of Black, and Tagged; major event mini-series such as Shattered City and Everest; and primetime dramas like MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives and Committed for Lifetime US—a thriller distributed by BETA. The live-action children's puppet series Tati's Hotel, a Canada-UK (Wales) co-production, expanded their reach thanks to the talents of director Delyth Thomas and Welsh co-producers the Janes.
Significantly, Heather’s producing career began before Screen Door with the groundbreaking 35mm film Where the Spirit Lives (WTSL), shot by Rene O’Hashi. WTSL was the first drama to confront the silence surrounding Indigenous residential schools in Canada, featuring a score by the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie. Supported by Canada’s Norman Jewison, the film enjoyed theatrical releases at TIFF and VIFF and won six Gemini Awards, including Best TV Movie and acting honors for Michelle St John and Ann Marie MacDonald. Numerous international awards followed. Filmed on the Blood Reserve near Cardston, Alberta—the home of the Kainaiwa Nation—this hard truth became a powerful gift. The Indigenous community has continued to acclaim the film for bringing their long-overlooked story to light, marking a meaningful shift.
Another Screen Door/Painted House production was Maudie (2017), released by Sony Pictures Classics internationally and Mongrel Media in Canada. The film tells the inspiring story of Canadian artist Maud Lewis, starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, with notable performances from Kari Matchett, Gabrielle Rose, Zachary Bennett, and Billy MacLellan. An international co-production with Ireland’s Parallel Films Inc. (co-producers of Brooklyn) and directed by the talented Aisling Walsh, Maudie won seven Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, including Best Picture, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Performances for Hawkins and Hawke. It also earned four IFTA Awards (Irish Film and TV), including Best Picture, and continues to receive festival recognition and critical acclaim.
It remains a continual privilege and joy to discover that unique voice capable of telling a compelling story—and to assemble a creative team that can bring that story to life on screen, captivating audiences. To borrow the words of Star Trek’s Spock: More to come.
