The CBMF/FMCR was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Laddie Dennis on February 22, 2009. Laddie Dennis had a two decade acting career, which included stage, film, radio and television. She was also a well known travel writer and photographer for 30 years, travelling to over 80 countries. She was married to writer/novelist James Burke for 55 years; he predeceased her in 2006.

Her television career included live weekly commercials for Canadian Westinghouse in 1952–1958 that were shown during The Big Revue and Studio One, as well as appearances Quentin Durgens M.P., Wojeck, Playbill, and Jalna. On radio her roles included announcer and/or actress in hundreds of commercials, co-host of Who Am I?, Casino, and Carnival; interviewer for CBC's Trans–Canada Matinee, Teen Tempo, and Assignment and two years as host, writer and producer on various CFRB shows. Her film career included roles in A Day In The Country, Yours Is The Verdict and The Decision, as well as wide experience in voice-overs and English dialogue dubbing of foreign films. On stage, Laddie appeared in the Manitoba Theatre Centre's 1964 production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, as well as numerous appearances in other Montreal and Toronto theatres.

Her appearance in a live Canadian Westinghouse commercial on CBC's second day on air marked her as the first woman to appear on Canadian television. As it happens, Laddie had a lifelong routine of recording her life and career in her daily diaries which now offer a unique written record of an actress in the earliest days of Canadian television.

Laddie had graciously contributed to the Foundation within the last several years, donating a number of commercials and tapes from her acting career. Unfortunately, despite many conversations about her career in broadcasting, Laddie was reluctant to record an oral history interview so we will never hear her discuss her career and her insights in her own voice.

Sadly, Laddie Dennis is but one of many who have passed on without leaving a voice recording of their personal views, insights, and experiences on a wide range of topics. The history of Canadian broadcasting will be the poorer for it. Among others, Pat Patterson, Russ Germain, Bob McAdorey, Percy Saltzman and Suzanne Rochon-Burnett passed on before creating an oral history.

Oral histories perform an important role in the preservation of history and culture. It presents the opportunity to hear a story directly from the source, in their own words, their own voice, and to capture the emotions and vibrancy of the storyteller.

The Foundation has a significant collection of oral histories, conducted by staff, or donated in whole, from such sources as ACTRA Fraternal Benefits Society, and Knowlton Nash, as well as the background research/interviews with Canadian television performers that were done for the CBC–TV anniversary program, Live to Air. The Collection currently numbers in the hundreds, and is constantly growing. Among those whose oral histories have been captured are: Vincent Tovell, Eric Koch, Michael Maclear, June Callwood, Harry Rasky, Lloyd Robertson, Alex Trebek and Robin Taylor.