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Archival description
CA ON00340 F515-10 · Series · 1968-1982
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Special projects were created by the United Church to use the media, especially television, to bring the message of the Church to the general public. The Division of Communication and specifically the departments dealing with av were heavily involved. These projects included attempts to generate interest in United Church activities in selected locales under the auspices of Media Plans I-III in the 1970s. The results of these broadcasts were analysed and the remaining work was left to the Conferences. Three television specials, "Mediamix," 1971, "The Fiftieth Anniversary National Event," 1975, and "These Things We Share," 1981, which promoted the mission of the Church, were contained under the rubric of special projects.

Series contains seven subseries: 1) Records relating to R.S.V.P. Telecasts, 1968-1969, 2) Records related to Mediamix, 1970-1973, 3) Records related to Media Plan I, 1973-1974, 4) Records related to Media Plan II, 1974-1975, 5) Records related to Media Plan III/Media Outreach, 1975-1980, 6) Records related to the Fiftieth Anniversary National Event, 1974-1975, 7) Records related to the United Church Television Special “These things we share”, 1974-1982.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-10-1 · Subseries · 1968-1969
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Respond by Sharing in a Variety of Projects (R.S.V.P.) Telecasts were fundraising campaigns to promote a million dollar increase in contributions to international aid and development. The telecasts were produced by the Broadcasting Department. They were filmed in Winnipeg and featured United Church Moderator Dr. Bob McClure. The spots aired in late 1968 and surveys were collected in 1969.

Subseries contains correspondence, reports and press concerning R.S.V.P. Telecasts 1968-1969.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-10-5 · Subseries · 1975-1980
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

In 1975 Media Outreach replaced term Media Plan to reflect the change of moods, motives and emphases in the media strategies developed by the Conferences and supported by the National Division. The focus of Media Outreach was on faith that makes people “tick” rather than faith in action. Hence, material was produced in co-operation with the Division of Mission in Canada. The Division of Communication developed a Media Outreach Task Force to encourage and assist the Maritime Conference and the Saskatoon Presbytery to design these informational-motivational campaigns. The same task group also communed with local congregations, presbyteries etc. to create a guidebook for media outreach.

Subseries contains reports, correspondence and notes re Media Outreach 1975-1980.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-12-5 · Subseries · 1956-1973, predominantly 1964-1973
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Subseries contains the records of Assistant Director of Radio and Television Nancy Edwards 1956-1973. Files include production files, correspondence, financial records, committee records and communications planning. Also included are production files of the programmes “When a Child Asks” and “Tell Us a Story” which were under Nancy Edwards’s purview.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-12-6 · Subseries · 1961-1972
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Subseries contains production files concerning projects produced by Religious Television Associates in partnership with the Department of Broadcasting 1961-1972. Included are files kept by Keith Woollard and Peter Flemington, a producer for RTA and liaison with the Department of Broadcasting.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
Records of Berkeley Studio
CA ON00340 F515-13-3 · Subseries · 1955-2007, predominantly 1973-1995
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Berkeley Studios opened in 1956 at the site of the former Berkeley Street United Church in Toronto, and was housed there for 40 years. The building provided a dedicated facility for photographs, film and film strips, recordings and radio and TV production that aided all Church Departments in promoting the work of the United Church.

Berkeley Studios was initially formed under the Audio-Visual and Radio and Television Units of the Board of Information and Stewardship, at its inception in 1956 (authorized by the Sixteenth General Council). In 1968, Berkeley Studios became a part of the newly created Division of Communication, an amalgamation of the Board of Publication, and most operations of the Board of Information.

In the 1970s, a re-organization within the Division of Communication occurred. In 1973, Berkeley Studios became a part of the Department of Media Services, which was established as a result of the union of the Audio-Visual Resources and Broadcasting and the Communication Education units; its goal was to educate Church members in the use of communications media.

In the 1980s reorganization of the Division of Communication continued. In 1983, the Department of Media Resources/Services was established by adding the Education for Mission function. Thus, Berkeley Studios, AVEL, the Audio Visual Consultant and the mission interpretation and education programme became components of this new Department. In 1984, the Department of Media Services and Education for Mission were amalgamated to form the Department of Media Resources. Participating in inter-church and interfaith associations, its biggest challenge by 1988 was Vision TV, the interfaith religious television network in Canada.

With restructuring and the office move to 3250 Bloor Street West in 1995. Berkeley Studio which housed both the broadcast and educational/resource video teams moved as part of the Division of Communication's overall move to the new premises. In the wake of the 2001 restructuring when the divisional structure was eliminated, Berkeley became part of the Resource Production and Distribution (RPD) Unit. In 2007, Berkeley Studio was closed and its broadcasting relationship with Vision TV ended. A small video edit suite was maintained by a producer and renamed the Multimedia Unit as part of RPD. That exists today within the Communications Unit.

Subseries consists of records of the Berkeley Studio Manager, and later of the Studio Administrator. Subseries includes files regarding production data, correspondence relating to personnel, and programmes produced at Berkeley Studio, and records of committees.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-13-4 · Subseries · 1963-2007
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

The Television and Film Unit and its predecessor body, the Department of Broadcasting, produced television materials as well as children's programming.The Unit was housed at Berkeley Studios. United Church Television was created to produce programing for public broadcast on a network. Most of the content was shown on Vision TV but there were a few co-productions with CBC and some relationships with European broadcasters. The other stream of work for the unit were the productions done for other Division’s of the Church. They were distributed through AVEL. The Unit was also a participant in Religious Television Associates, an interdenominational production group and produced various material in partnership with RTA. In addition it worked on or produced several film projects on human rights, development, and subjects related to priorities of other Divisions of the Church. The Unit also took responsibility for work in the field of cable television. One of the priorities after 1986 was the production of "Spirit Connection," a weekly half-hour television programme seen on Vision TV, the interfaith network.

Subseries consists of correspondence with other Divisions of the Church, interdenominational and international bodies and with Canadian broadcasting regulators; production files for films, television and radio; and miscellaneous files. Includes correspondence, legal agreements and contracts of Religious Television Associates.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-13-6 · Subseries · 1948-1980
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Nancy Edwards joined the Department of Radio and Television of the Board of Information and Stewardship as an Assistant to the Director in 1956, and until her retirement in 1980 held various positions (subsequently in the Departments of Broadcasting and Media Services) relating to radio production. During her involvement with the Departments she hosted two radio shows, "Nancy Edwards Reports" and "The Human Gamut," which were short broadcasts featuring interviews with people of varied backgrounds, the sole topic being the interaction of people with the world around them. In addition, Edwards participated in several media organizations, especially those concerned with women in the media.

Subseries contains Nancy Edwards’ correspondence relating to her programming, reports and miscellanea. Also included are program materials and production files relating to the Nancy Edwards Reports and The Human Gamut.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-13-7 · Subseries · 1962-1989
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Audio/Video Production became a unit within the Department of Media Services in 1976, with Betty Richardson as producer. The Unit produced mostly audio cassettes. Responsibilities included recording of General Councils, Divisional meetings, and special events, and production of materials in response to programmes of the several Church Divisions, as well as maintaining an active library. In particular it produced "Godshow," an ecumenical radio magazine show, “Make My Day” which succeeded Godshow, and "Inside Track," an information series on audio cassette for the order of ministry, and it also publishes Visual Catalogue, which lists the holdings of its library.

Subseries contains administrative files, production files and files pertaining to Godshow, Make My Day and Inside Track 1962-1989.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-13-10 · Subseries · 1976-1988
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

Mission interpretation, previously part of the Committee on Education for Mission and Stewardship, became part of the new Department of Media Resources in 1983. Interpretation enjoyed special relationships with the Division of World Outreach and the Division of Mission in Canada, as well as active work at the congregational level to ensure a devotion to mission understanding and support. One of its principal activities was arranging tours by missionaries in Canada on furlough. In 1989 Mission Interpretation was transferred to the new Department of Education and Information.

Subseries contains Coordinator and Unit Staff correspondence, Coordinator Carolyn Wilkinson’s correspondence and documents re overseas guests visiting Canada as part of various mission themes, files on Native Ministry Interpretation, general correspondence with overseas personnel including some annual (Christmas) letters to Canada, and photographs and plans for speaking tours during furloughs.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-2-8 · Subseries · 1996-2010
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

The Publishing Group was formed to focus on resources produced to animate a program. Specifically the Executive looked over book proposals and approved them, and then managed and oversaw the subsequent work.

Subseries contains minutes, correspondence, proposals and accompanying documents of the Publishing Group 1996-2010.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-6 · Series · 1969-2016
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

The Department of Press and Information originated in the Board of Information and Stewardship, and became part of the Division of Communication in 1968. This Department was the liaison between the Church and the news media. It also produced several publications for distribution within the Church including editorial work on Mandate, Unchurched Editorials (a series distributed to Canadian publications on behalf of the Board of Evangelism and Social Service and later the Division of Mission in Canada), Words to Live By, Profiles (biographical sketches of church workers) and News/News Releases. The Department also played a role in developing communications awareness among church employees through presentations and seminars. In 1972 The Department changed its name to News Services, and in 1982 it was renamed News and Public Relations.

In 1985 the Statistics and Information Office was transferred from General Council to the Division of Communication’s Department of Finance and Administration as part of a new Information Services Unit. This unit also took over the News and Public Relations functions. The unit was also responsible for producing the General Council Record of Proceedings, the United Church of Canada Yearbook, and press releases by the publicist. The position of Publicist was first created in 1987. The position was held by Mary-Frances Denis from 1987-2017 however the title changed various times through subsequent departmental changes. Marketing was never an official part of her job description but there were de facto marketing elements due to the public image impact that media relations involves.

In 1989, Information Service Unit functions were transferred to a new Department of Education and Information. The Department combined Information Services (from the Department of Finance and Administration) with Mission Education, Interpretation, and AVEL (from the Department of Media Services), and also absorbed the responsibility of the Publicist.

In the 1996 the responsibilities of the Department of Education and Information, including publicity and statics, were transferred to the Public Relations and Information Unit in the Division of Communication’s General Secretaries Office. That unit became a part of the Public Relations and Marketing Cluster in 1999. After the re-organization of General Council administrative units in 2001, the responsibility of publicity was moved from the Division of Communication to the General Council Support and Services Unit under the new position of Communications Officer. When the Office of the Moderator and General Secretary was created in 2003, the position became a part of that unit.

Under another re-organization in 2005, the Communications Officer position was moved to the newly created Resources, Production and Distribution Unit (formerly the Division of Communication). In 2010 the Resources, Production and Distribution Unit was re-named Communications, and the position title was changed to Manager, Public Relations and Information.

Fonds contains nine series: 1) Correspondence of the Director of Press and Information/News Services/News and Public Relations 1973-1982; 2) Office Files, 1969-2012; 3) Records re Editorial Work, 1972-1981; 4) Records re Communication Education Work, 1976-1979; 5) Records of the Information Services Unit, 1970-1988; 6) Records of the Publicist and Antecedent Positions, 1986-2008; 7) Records of the Department of Education and Information, 1975-2000; 8) Records of the Public Relations and Information Unit, 1996-1998; 9) Communication Documents, 1969-2016.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.
CA ON00340 F515-6-1 · Subseries · 1973-1982
Part of United Church of Canada Division of Communication fonds

In 1968, the position of Director of Press and Information was created. Norman K. Vale held this position from 1968-1971, though the position title changed to Director of News Services in 1971. From 1971-1984, Alayne Scanlon held the position and the title change from News Services to Director of News and Public Relations in 1981.

Subseries contains correspondence and accompanying documents collected by the Directors 1973-1982.

United Church of Canada. Division of Communication.