Peter Feniak Fonds

1964 – 2019

Biographical History


Date 19?? - present

Peter Feniak was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and holds a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Manitoba and an M.A. from the University of Minnesota. After a move to Toronto in 1976, Feniak worked as a host, interviewer, writer and producer on national television talk-shows such as Global TV’s That's Life, CTV's Lifetime, YTV's Today's Parent, as well as freelance broadcast work for CBC Radio, 90 Minutes Live, and televised charity events.


As a print journalist, Feniak has interviewed many notable figures in entertainment, sports and politics, with features appearing in the Globe and Mail, Good Times magazine, Toronto Star, Saturday Night and the Winnipeg Free Press. He continues to work as a broadcaster and media training consultant in Toronto.

Extent and Medium

3.66 meters of textual records

58 video recordings
54 video cassettes : VHS (ca. 94 hrs.)
4 video cassettes : ¾ in. U-Matic (ca. 1 hr.)

97 audio recordings
52 audio cassettes (ca. 75 hrs.)
3 audio discs : 45 rpm (ca. 16 min.)
42 audio files : mp3 tracks (ca. 30 hrs.)
1 USB

128 photographs
125 prints (2 col. and 123 b&w)
2 prints : colour
123 prints : b&w
3 prints : colour ; polaroid

3 graphic materials
3 posters

2 artworks
1 drawing
1 sketchbook

1 textile
1 t-shirt

10 artifacts
8 button badges
1 flag
1 medal
This fonds consists of 11 series, divided by subject matter, production and format, and reflecting Feniaks’s own division and naming of his files. The series are: “Introduction and Overview”, “Early Days Media, Promo Folders, B&W Photographs”, “90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski / Canada After Dark", “That's Life Global TV”, “Lifetime CTV”, “Freelance Writer / Broadcaster work”, “Feature Articles”, “Good Times features on celebrated Canadians”, “Books autographed by interview subjects”, “Videotapes from Freelance Work” and “Clippings and Periodicals”.

The first series, “Introduction and Overview”, includes resumes, headshot photographs, correspondence, notes, video cassettes and audio cassettes relating to Feniak’s early work. This series also contains a first edition print of the John Lennon book, A Spaniard in the Works, as well an audio cassette recording of an interview with Ray Manzarek of The Doors recorded in 1996.

The second series, “Early Days Media, Promo Folders, B&W Photographs”, includes notes, press clippings, promotional photographs and publicity materials relating to Feniak’s work for Winnipeg Folk Festival, CBC Winnipeg, and Winnipeg Free Press.

The third series, "90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski / Canada After Dark", includes production notes, guest listings, research, and CBC memos relating to the production of 90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski and Canada After Dark on CBC. Some items containing personal information may be restricted.

The fourth series, “That's Life Global TV”, includes press kits, promotional photographs, interview notes, and story notes relating to Feniak’s work as a host for That’s Life on Global TV.

The fifth series, "Lifetime CTV", includes video cassettes, DVD-Rs, promotional photographs, tour itineraries, production notes, interview notes, correspondence, continuity prints, and press clippings for Lifetime seasons 1 through 4 on CTV.

The sixth series, “Freelance Writer / Broadcaster work”, includes production notes, story pitches, video cassette demo reels and article press clippings for Feniak’s work as a freelance writer and television host.

The seventh series, “Feature Articles”, includes audio cassettes, video cassettes and newspaper clippings of Feniak’s interviews and features on notable figures in the world of entertainment.

The eighth series, “Good Times features on celebrated Canadians “, includes audio cassettes, mp3 audio, typed articles and Good Times magazine clippings of Feniak’s interviews and features on notable Canadians, such as Leslie Nielsen, Gordon Lightfoot, William Shatner, Jim Cuddy, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Margot Kidder, Silken Laumann, Arlene Dickinson, Colin Mochrie, Rick Mercer, and Dr. David Sazuki.

The ninth series, “Books autographed by interview subjects”, includes hard cover and soft cover books by authors such as Irving Layton, Dr. David Sazuki and Joan Collins. This series also contains a sketchbook by Friz Freleng, with 6 original pen drawings of Looney Toons characters, signed by the artist.

The tenth series, “Videotapes from Freelance Work”, includes video cassettes of Feniak’s work on television programs such as Today’s Parent, Lifetime, and That’s Life, as well as consumer recordings of other television events such as Live Aid and the Juno Awards 1998.

The eleventh series, “Clippings and Periodicals”, includes newspaper clippings, festival programs, and press credentials for Feniak’s freelance journalist and reporting work. This series also contains some promotional buttons and a medal.


This fonds includes textual and audio-visual material relating to the following television productions:
• 90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski
• Canada After Dark
• Lifetime
• Live it Up
• That’s Life
• Today’s Parent

This fonds includes textual material relating to articles in the following publications:
• Frank (periodical)
• Globe and Mail (newspaper)
• Good Times (magazine)
• Saturday Night (magazine)
• The City (Toronto Star magazine)
• Toronto (magazine)
• Toronto Star (newspaper)

Conditions governing access

A) Some items containing personal information may be restricted.
B) Material is subject to copyright restrictions; please consult an archivist.

Peter Feniak Fonds

Description
This fonds consists of 11 series, divided by subject matter, production and format, and reflecting Feniaks’s own division and naming of his files. The series are: “Introduction and Overview”, “Early Days Media, Promo Folders, B&W Photographs”, “90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski / Canada After Dark", “That's Life Global TV”, “Lifetime CTV”, “Freelance Writer / Broadcaster work”, “Feature Articles”, “Good Times features on celebrated Canadians”, “Books autographed by interview subjects”, “Videotapes from Freelance Work” and “Clippings and Periodicals”. The first series, “Introduction and Overview”, includes resumes, headshot photographs, correspondence, notes, video cassettes and audio cassettes relating to Feniak’s early work. This series also contains a first edition print of the John Lennon book, A Spaniard in the Works, as well an audio cassette recording of an interview with Ray Manzarek of The Doors recorded in 1996. The second series, “Early Days Media, Promo Folders, B&W Photographs”, includes notes, press clippings, promotional photographs and publicity materials relating to Feniak’s work for Winnipeg Folk Festival, CBC Winnipeg, and Winnipeg Free Press. The third series, "90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski / Canada After Dark", includes production notes, guest listings, research, and CBC memos relating to the production of 90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski and Canada After Dark on CBC. Some items containing personal information may be restricted. The fourth series, “That's Life Global TV”, includes press kits, promotional photographs, interview notes, and story notes relating to Feniak’s work as a host for That’s Life on Global TV. The fifth series, "Lifetime CTV", includes video cassettes, DVD-Rs, promotional photographs, tour itineraries, production notes, interview notes, correspondence, continuity prints, and press clippings for Lifetime seasons 1 through 4 on CTV. The sixth series, “Freelance Writer / Broadcaster work”, includes production notes, story pitches, video cassette demo reels and article press clippings for Feniak’s work as a freelance writer and television host. The seventh series, “Feature Articles”, includes audio cassettes, video cassettes and newspaper clippings of Feniak’s interviews and features on notable figures in the world of entertainment. The eighth series, “Good Times features on celebrated Canadians “, includes audio cassettes, mp3 audio, typed articles and Good Times magazine clippings of Feniak’s interviews and features on notable Canadians, such as Leslie Nielsen, Gordon Lightfoot, William Shatner, Jim Cuddy, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Margot Kidder, Silken Laumann, Arlene Dickinson, Colin Mochrie, Rick Mercer, and Dr. David Sazuki. The ninth series, “Books autographed by interview subjects”, includes hard cover and soft cover books by authors such as Irving Layton, Dr. David Sazuki and Joan Collins. This series also contains a sketchbook by Friz Freleng, with 6 original pen drawings of Looney Toons characters, signed by the artist. The tenth series, “Videotapes from Freelance Work”, includes video cassettes of Feniak’s work on television programs such as Today’s Parent, Lifetime, and That’s Life, as well as consumer recordings of other television events such as Live Aid and the Juno Awards 1998. The eleventh series, “Clippings and Periodicals”, includes newspaper clippings, festival programs, and press credentials for Feniak’s freelance journalist and reporting work. This series also contains some promotional buttons and a medal. This fonds includes textual and audio-visual material relating to the following television productions: • 90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski • Canada After Dark • Lifetime • Live it Up • That’s Life • Today’s Parent This fonds includes textual material relating to articles in the following publications: • Frank (periodical) • Globe and Mail (newspaper) • Good Times (magazine) • Saturday Night (magazine) • The City (Toronto Star magazine) • Toronto (magazine) • Toronto Star (newspaper)
Extent and Medium
3.66 meters of textual records

58 video recordings
54 video cassettes : VHS (ca. 94 hrs.)
4 video cassettes : ¾ in. U-Matic (ca. 1 hr.)

97 audio recordings
52 audio cassettes (ca. 75 hrs.)
3 audio discs : 45 rpm (ca. 16 min.)
42 audio files : mp3 tracks (ca. 30 hrs.)
1 USB

128 photographs
125 prints (2 col. and 123 b&w)
2 prints : colour
123 prints : b&w
3 prints : colour ; polaroid

3 graphic materials
3 posters

2 artworks
1 drawing
1 sketchbook

1 textile
1 t-shirt

10 artifacts
8 button badges
1 flag
1 medal
Date Range
1964 – 2019