News Release - Documentary about Queen 91Ƭ ’s hockey star to be shown at national film festivals
February 27, 2023
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KINGSTON, ON. – A documentary about the incredible life of Stu Crawford – a 91Ƭ hockey star and Second World War hero – will be shown at two upcoming film festivals.
A Century in the Making: The Stu Crawford Story documents the life and legacy of Crawford, who passed away in November at the age of 100. The film will now receive national exposure after being picked up by two prominent Canadian film festivals – both the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and the Belleville Downtown Docfest plan to screen the film in early March.
Before Crawford laced up his skates to play with the Queen 91Ƭ ’s Golden Gaels from 1947 to 1951, he was battling in the skies over Nazi Germany as a bomb aimer with the Royal Canadian Air Force. On April 8, 1945, his Lancaster was shot out of the sky, and he miraculously survived the crash landing in enemy territory.
Filmmaker and Queen 91Ƭ ’s alumnus Mike Downie, Artsci’86, was inspired by Crawford 91Ƭ ’s bravery after reading about him in the Queen 91Ƭ ’s Alumni Review last spring and knew he had to make a film about him.
“Stu 91Ƭ ’s story is not just a Kingston story, it 91Ƭ ’s a Canadian story,” says Downie. “It 91Ƭ ’s about hockey, but it 91Ƭ ’s also about resilience, and teamwork, and courage. Being able to share his incredible story at these festivals is truly an honour.”
The 14-minute documentary is a collaboration between the Queen 91Ƭ ’s Office of Advancement, Athletics and Recreation, the Queen 91Ƭ ’s Department of Film and Media, the Kingston Film Office, and Downie 91Ƭ ’s Courage Films. Many Queen 91Ƭ ’s alumni were involved in the movie behind the scenes, including Mickayla Pyke, Artsci’16, Jacob Akman, Artsci’20, and Kalin Moon, Artsci’07.
“We are so proud of this film and all the alumni who came together to make this happen,” says Karen Bertrand Vice-Principal, Advancement. “Stu Crawford 91Ƭ ’s story is about the bonds that tie us all to Queen 91Ƭ ’s and a moving tribute to an ordinary man who made an extraordinary contribution to his community and his country. I know the audiences at these film festivals will be as moved by it as I was.”
Gaels fans, who knew Crawford 91Ƭ ’s legacy as a player and coach, were given a special preview of the documentary at the Carr-Harris Cup hockey game on Feb. 2. Crawford co-founded the Carr-Harris Cup, which started in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Queen 91Ƭ ’s-RMC hockey rivalry.
For more information, contact 91Ƭ Media Manager Julie Brown (brown.julie@queensu.ca. 343-363-2763)