On Guard For Thee
Encyclopedia
On Guard For Thee was a Canadian
documentary television miniseries which aired on CBC Television
in 1981.
, particularly the national security role which the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
held until it the formation of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
in 1984. Episodes included historic footage, dramatized reconstructions, excerpts from the 1948 motion picture The Iron Curtain
and new interview footage. It was a co-production of the National Film Board of Canada
and CBC.
Television in Canada
Television in Canada officially began with the opening of the nation's first television stations in Montreal and Toronto in 1952. As with most media in Canada, the television industry, and the television programming available in that country, are strongly influenced by the American media, perhaps...
documentary television miniseries which aired on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
in 1981.
Premise
This series concerns the history and status of Canadian national security following World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, particularly the national security role which the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
held until it the formation of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
in 1984. Episodes included historic footage, dramatized reconstructions, excerpts from the 1948 motion picture The Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain (film)
The Iron Curtain is a 1948 black-and-white thriller film starring Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. The film was supposedly based on the memoirs of Igor Gouzenko . The film was directed by William Wellman with photography done on location in Ottawa, Canada by Charles G. Clarke. The film was later...
and new interview footage. It was a co-production of the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
and CBC.
Scheduling
This hour-long series was broadcast Sundays at 10:00 p.m. as follows:- 18 October 1981: "The Most Dangerous Spy" features Igor GouzenkoIgor GouzenkoIgor Sergeyevich Gouzenko was a cipher clerk for the Soviet Embassy to Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. He defected on September 5, 1945, with 109 documents on Soviet espionage activities in the West...
who defected to Canada in 1946 and revealed Soviet Union spy activities in Canada - 25 October 1981: "A Blanket Of Ice" regards the Cold War, with investigations of the diplomatic and public service sectors, and RCMPRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
secret operations up to the 1970 October CrisisOctober CrisisThe October Crisis was a series of events triggered by two kidnappings of government officials by members of the Front de libération du Québec during October 1970 in the province of Quebec, mainly in the Montreal metropolitan area.The circumstances ultimately culminated in the only peacetime use... - 1 November 1981: "Shadows Of A Horseman" features the actions and controversies of the RCMP since the McKenzie Commission report of 1969 which recommended that national security operations be separated from the RCMP, and the 1977 establishment of the McDonald CommissionRoyal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMPThe Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP, better known as the McDonald Commission, was a Royal Commission called by the Canadian government of Pierre Trudeau to investigate the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after a number of illegal activities by the RCMP Security Service...