Canadian documentary film and television lost one of its most fierce, uncompromising voices when Brian McKenna passed away at the age of 77. Over a half-century career spanning print journalism, foundational investigative television, and controversial historical documentaries, McKenna challenged how Canadians viewed their country, their military, and global power structures. He didn't chase comfortable consensus. Instead, he dug into archives, confronted powerful institutions, and built a legacy that permanently altered the landscape of Canadian broadcasting.
Early Life and Roots in Print Journalism
Born in Montreal in August 1945, McKenna grew up navigating the distinct cultural and political shifts of Quebec. He attended Loyola College—now part of Concordia University—where he immersed himself in student journalism, eventually rising to editor-in-chief of the Loyola News. That early newsroom grit translated directly into a professional career in print.
Before moving to the screen, McKenna worked as a reporter and parliamentary correspondent for the Montreal Star, served as a story editor for CBC Montreal, and acted as the Quebec correspondent for the national radio program As It Happens. His print footprint extended across major publications, including Maclean's, the Toronto Star, Saturday Night, and Cité Libre. He also co-authored a definitive biography of polarizing Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau. This deep grounding in investigative reporting laid the bedrock for everything he built later in television.
Founding The Fifth Estate and Redefining Investigative TV
In 1975, McKenna stepped into television history as a founding producer of the CBC investigative documentary program The Fifth Estate. Alongside peers who shared a hunger for accountability, he helped shape a show that would become a cornerstone of Canadian investigative journalism. During his thirteen-year tenure on the program, which lasted until 1988, McKenna chased stories that exposed corruption, corporate negligence, and state overreach.
Working on The Fifth Estate taught him how to structure a narrative that held viewers' attention without sacrificing intellectual rigor. He mastered the art of the ambush interview, the meticulous document trail, and the moral urgency required to give voice to the marginalized. This rigorous background prepared him to branch out independently, where he produced and directed more than sixty films over his lifetime.
The Valour and the Horror and Creative Controversy
McKenna never shied away from institutional pushback, a trait best demonstrated by his landmark 1992 three-part documentary series, The Valour and the Horror. Co-created with his brother and frequent collaborator, the series examined Canadian military involvement in three major Second World War campaigns: the Battle of Hong Kong, the Bomber Command offensive, and the battle for Normandy.
The series sparked an immediate, ferocious national debate. Veterans' groups and several prominent historians argued that the documentaries presented an unbalanced, overly critical portrait of Canadian soldiers and leadership. The fallout included a five-hundred-million-dollar lawsuit, intense parliamentary and Senate investigations, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission hearings, and a detailed CBC ombudsman review.
Despite the fierce opposition, the series won Gemini Awards for best direction, best writing, and best documentary series. For McKenna, the backlash confirmed his core belief: public broadcasting's job isn't to comfort the nation with sanitized myths, but to interrogate history honestly. You can read more about his extensive archival collections and academic footprint via the Concordia University Archives.
Exploring Global Injustices and Historical Truths
While The Valour and the Horror remains his most infamous project, McKenna's filmography spans a breathtaking array of global and domestic investigations. He explored state-sponsored torture in The Hooded Men, examined CIA brainwashing experiments at a Montreal psychiatric hospital in Secret Tests, and tackled international drug cartels in The Bribe or the Bullet.
Later in his career, he turned his lens toward systemic economic exploitation. In Big Sugar, he mapped the dark underbelly of the global sugar industry, tracing the line from Caribbean slave labor to modern health crises. Later, in The Secret World of Gold, he exposed the geopolitical greed tied to precious metals. Whether he was investigating the Korean conflict or tracking Canada's role in the First World War through the eyes of descendants retracing Vimy Ridge, McKenna maintained a fierce commitment to humanizing complex history. His contributions to preserving historical memory earned him the prestigious Pierre Berton Award in 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Brian McKenna best known for?
He was best known as a founding producer of CBC's The Fifth Estate and as the director of the highly controversial, award-winning Second World War documentary series The Valour and the Horror. Over his career, he produced and directed over sixty documentary films.
When did Brian McKenna pass away?
He passed away on May 5, 2023, at the age of 77 following a brief illness.
Why was The Valour and the Horror controversial?
The 1992 series challenged traditional narratives surrounding Canadian military leadership and tactics during the Second World War. This triggered intense pushback from veterans' organizations, leading to Senate investigations and a massive legal battle over historical interpretation.
What awards did Brian McKenna win?
Throughout his career, he earned multiple Gemini Awards and Prix Gémeaux for his documentary work. In 2007, Canada's History society honored him with the Pierre Berton Award for his outstanding contributions to popularizing Canadian history.
