Heritage Minute: Edwin A. Baker

Edwin A. Baker was born in 1893 in Ernestown Township, Ontario. He graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in electrical engineering just before the First World War. In 1915, Baker went overseas with the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Lieutenant. Baker’s life was upended when he was blinded by a German sniper while repairing a trench.

While recuperating at St. Dunstan’s Hostel for the Blind in London, England, he was introduced to a mantra of self-reliance by Sir Arthur Pearson. After coming back home and experiencing the lack of services available for blind Canadians, Baker and six other men came together to form the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

For more information about Edwin A. Baker and the CNIB:

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edwin-a-baker
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-national-institute-for-the-blind
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/blindness-and-visual-impairment 

Credits:

Edwin A. Baker: Bruce Horak
End Narrator: Donovan Tildesley
Director: Elad Tzadok and Hayley Gray
1st Assistant Director: Rachel Rose
Director of Photography: Naim Sutherland
Steadi Operator: Leo Harim
1st Assistant Camera: Christian Cummins
Editor: Elad Tzadok
Composer: Iman Habibi
Production designer: Louisa Birkin
Head of wardrobe: Nicole McCormick
Key makeup: LK Gifford
Key Hair: Emma Garland
Written by Elad Tzadok and Hayley Gray 

Producers:

Produced by Scopitone Films and Raynor Shimabukuro

Thank you to Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV for donating their services.