Gordon Henderson is a Canadian documentary film producer, director, writer, and chairman of his production company, 90th Parallel Productions. Henderson has directed, written, or produced hundreds of films over his career. His films have been nominated for 10 Geminis, winning two, and In 2023 he received the Canadian Screen Award for Best Factual Series. Henderson has a reputation for running one of Toronto's most successful production houses.
Career Henderson began his career as a Global TV parliamentary correspondent. He went on to produce documentaries for CBC and was the senior field producer at CTV's W5. He has directed many documentaries with Lloyd Robertson and worked closely with Bill Cameron. Henderson was the senior series producer for Canada: A People's History for which he won a Gemini award. Mark Starowicz wrote, "The series would have been totally impossible without Gordon Henderson, his respect for the human story, and his sense of wonder at Canadian history.” In 1987 Henderson founded his own production company, 90th Parallel. Henderson credits the 1994 film "The Choirmaster" with putting 90th Parallel on the map and John Haslett Cuff of the Globe said of the film, “This is an intelligent, restrained, and thoughtful film that poses a number of difficult questions about the case.” International broadcasters soon picked it up despite its local focus. 90th Parallel is respected throughout Canada as a premier high-end documentary production house. Henderson has been involved in the production of many films, including Inconvenient Indian, Bipolarized, Nahanni: River of Forgiveness, and The Skin We're In (film).
Henderson has authored or co-authored three books:
Man In The Shadows: A Novel. Published by HarperCollins in 2014. Sandy Mackenzie, why Look So Glum?: Rhymes and Pictures about Our Prime Ministers. Published by Deneau and Greenberg in 1980. Don't Go That Way Mr. Baffin. Published by Deneau Publishers in 1986.
For over a decade, Henderson was an instructor in the journalism department at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Awards Henderson was won two Gemini awards and has been nominated 8 times. His films have won awards in New York, Chicago, Houston, Columbus, Yorkton, Telluride, Banff, China, and Paris.
Awards and nominations
+YearCeremonyCategoryFilmResultRef199813th Gemini AwardsBest Science, Technology, Nature and Environment Documentary ProgramSuperbugs200015th Gemini AwardsBest History/Biography Documentary ProgramAmbition: The Life & Times of Ted RogersBest Performing Arts Program or Series, or Arts Documentary Program or SeriesTall Tales From The Long Corner: The Life and Times of Ronnie Hawkins200116th Gemini AwardsBest Documentary SeriesCanada: A People's HistoryBest Performing Arts Program or Series, or Arts Documentary Program or SeriesThe Life & Times of Alex Colville200217th Gemini AwardsBest Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary ProgramThe Cold Embrace200520th Gemini AwardsBest Biography Documentary ProgramThe Life and Times of Peter C. NewmanBest Sports Program or SeriesThe Hockey Nomad200621st Gemini AwardsBest History Documentary ProgramThe Secret Mulroney Tapes200722nd Gemini AwardsDonald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary ProgramFaith Without FearBest Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary ProgramLight at the Edge of the World200924th Gemini AwardsBest Documentary SeriesThe Adventurers201126th Gemini AwardsBest Cross-Platform Project - Non-FictionWe Will Remember ThemBest Documentary SeriesGeologic Journey20142nd Canadian Screen AwardsScience or Nature Documentary Program or SeriesWind Rush20176th Canadian Screen AwardsSocial/Political Documentary Program (Donald Brittain Award)The Skin We're In (film)20198th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Feature Length DocumentaryInvisible Essence: The Little Prince20209th Canadian Screen AwardsScience or Nature Documentary Program or Series (Rob Stewart Award)The Nature of Things202311th Canadian Screen AwardsBest Factual SeriesWe’re All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel)
Personal life and family
Henderson is the son of Canadian Lawyer Gordon F. Henderson and Joan Parkins. He is married and has three grown children, including Stuart Henderson, who works alongside him at 90th Parallel.
He has sat on multiple volunteer boards, including Face the Future, Opera Atelier, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.
References
External links