Ross McLean (civil servant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ross McLean
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| Born | John Ross McLean 5 July 1905 Ethelbert, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | 26 July 1984 (aged 79) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Civil Servant, Journalist |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Manitoba (M.A.) University of Oxford (B.Litt.) University of Oxford (M.Litt.) |
| Spouse | Beverley Cosh |
| Children | Digby, Yolande |
John Ross McLean (1905-1984) was an important Canadian journalist and government worker. He was born in 1905 in a small village called Ethelbert in Manitoba. John was one of 12 children in his family. He later became the head of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in the 1940s. He also played a big part in starting the NFB in the 1930s.
Contents
John McLean's Early Life and Studies
In the 1920s, John McLean went to Brandon College. He then studied at the University of Manitoba. After finishing his studies in Canada, he won a special scholarship. This scholarship, called a Rhodes Scholarship, allowed him to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
After his university days ended in 1931, he moved to the United States. There, he worked to help people who were unemployed. In 1932, he came back to Canada. He worked for a group called the Association of Canadian Clubs. He also started a career as a journalist. He wrote for popular magazines like Saturday Night. In 1935, he became an editor for a political group.
Leading the National Film Board
In 1936, John McLean became the personal assistant to Vincent Massey. Massey was Canada's top diplomat in the United Kingdom. In 1938, McLean and Massey were not happy with the films made by the Canadian government. McLean had seen the great work of a British filmmaker named John Grierson.
McLean suggested that Massey should ask the Canadian government to let Grierson study their film-making. This study led to a big change in 1939. The new National Film Board of Canada was created, with John Grierson in charge.
In the same year the NFB started, Grierson hired McLean. McLean became the Assistant Film Commissioner. In 1945, Grierson left his job. This happened after some disagreements with the government about film content. McLean then took over as Commissioner. He officially got the job in January 1947.
McLean faced many challenges as the head of the NFB. The NFB had less money and fewer staff. There were also conflicts with the powerful American film industry.
Challenges and Protecting His Team
McLean's biggest challenge came from the government's worries about certain ideas. During a time of tension, some government officials thought NFB employees held ideas that were not allowed. The police started an investigation into the NFB. Some employees were seen as "security risks."
But McLean refused to fire any of his staff members. He believed that what his staff thought in their private lives did not matter. What mattered was that they did their work well. In December 1949, McLean was told his job contract would not be renewed. Ralph Foster, his assistant, quit to show his support. Other staff members also wanted to quit. But McLean convinced them to stay. He did not want the NFB to be harmed.
John McLean's nephew, Grant McLean, also worked at the NFB. Grant later became a film director. Grant said his uncle was a very thoughtful person. He strongly believed in the power of film to share information with the public. Grant McLean himself later served as interim Commissioner in the 1960s.
Life After the NFB
In 1950, John McLean moved to Paris, France, with his family. He became the head of the film division at UNESCO. UNESCO is a part of the United Nations that focuses on education, science, and culture. He worked there until 1957.
After that, he returned to Canada. He worked as a writer and broadcaster. He wrote for many different publications. In 1960, he took on a new role. He became the research director at the Broadcast Board of Governors. This board later became the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). He worked there as a special policy advisor until he retired in 1973.
John McLean's Family Life
John Ross McLean married Beverley Bell Cosh. They had two children, a son named Digby and a daughter named Yolande.
His son, Digby, once said that his father loved Canada very much. Digby mentioned that his father was known for standing up to American film companies during his time at the NFB. Yolande, his daughter, shared that her father loved history. He read many books and traveled widely. Sometimes, he would forget to tell his family where he was going next! He could speak several languages. He even taught himself French by translating the Bible.
Later in his life, John McLean suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on July 26, 1984, in Ottawa. This was just a few weeks after his wife, Beverley, passed away on May 17 of the same year.
