Don HICKEY
Don Hickey says…
“I love connecting with people. But I love watching young people grow and discover what they thought was unimaginable for them. I have witnessed this same process with adults and seniors working with us. During shooting in the summer of 2019 of several films I witnessed the huge co-operative team-work of iFilmGroup’s Production Team leaders and crew members pull off unbelievable accomplishments. The roster of actors that studied and rehearsed (mostly on their own), but under direction, were also amazing! As a volunteer group, we shot a ‘feature film’ in 9 days (spread out over 4 week-ends), under pressure of very hot-weather days. No one would believe that our group of new-talent and seasoned-talented actors and crew could pull it off. We did! One of the films is called- ‘Not Ready’ (see press release or articles).
I love watching youth working and developing their skills with seniors. The seniors themselves get teary-eyed as they engage with the youth. It's like a renewed hope has entered their hearts... the hope is for these beautiful young people- because the awaiting future for these young people has been mindful in the eyes of the seniors working/sharing with them.
It's not only the film crew and actors that get excited working with us, even our financial supporters and contributors of locations to shoot have enjoyed our teamwork.
Film work is very exciting, from writing to the finished filmed product. Even after the film is finished, more work is done to promote and present the film in festivals. It's always an awesome feeling when the film or individuals wins awards.”
Accolades to Don Hickey
by Sara Froese
Printing Museum Owner
by Seyyed M. Hesabgar
Researcher in Bio-medical field (UWO)
by Sina Kazemian
Researcher at Western University
Fund Raising Accomplishments
Don Hickey [et al] has raised over
$1.3 Million
since 1993 for non-profit.
- - -
Long-standing member of the Kent Writers' Guild.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Biography of Don Hickey
Don has a lively past in a few trades. As a child he was a model for Hush Puppies shoes, working out of the C.B.C. building in Toronto. As a teenager, he took up graphic arts. His first job after school found him heading up a full graphics department with M.S.S.B. in Toronto. Within two years, a head hunter found Don and guaranteed him a foreman position with a large specialized printing company from Montreal during the mid-1970's.
Don had always wanted to venture into a broadcast or a movie career. In 1976 he quit working for privately-owned companies. He promised himself that he would one day own his own production company. In 1976 he switched trades and began working in a different trade that was connected to municipal government. In 1977 Don did some voice-over work in Toronto at Metro 1430, CJCL AM Radio. Also in 1977, he wrote, directed/filmed and voiced "safety training film strips" for municipal government. With investments, in 1989 he bought a printing and publishing company in southwestern Ontario.
In the mid-1990's he began volunteer work with three organizations. One especially he liked... "Heritage Days". Canada's largest 1812 Military re-enactment. This was held every first weekend in October. Friday was "student days", where school systems would bus in hundreds of students to partake in the acting. Students that were actors studied weeks before their part and most made their own costumes. On Saturday & Sunday, the gates were opened to the public for all to see the billing of "Faire at the Forks".
It is during these days that he started his writing career and joined a writer's guild. It is here that he knew that many youths had great acting talents and it should be mined. Sadly the Faire closed after 16 years (1992 - 2008). Don wanted to tap into the talents of the many youth that passed that way in making their own acting history. So with some young children & teenagers (that were now adults) from the Heritage Days' venue, he started a specialized production company.
Some of the youth from the past are now adults with children of their own. Babies that were actors during those Heritage Days are now young actors in award-winning movies produced by Donald Michael Hickey and his associates.
Don Hickey is a senior, but his philosophy is helping young people. Over the past 25 years, he has helped young people achieve their goals in the arts - photography, printing and film. He's "paying it forward" for so many reasons.
Don's networking abilities have astounded many people that have worked with him. The production companies that work with Don are amazed by his drive. He is a long-standing member of the Kent Writers' Guild.
T-DH-07-26 + B-DH-07-26