Author and journalist Janice Landry in a promotional head shot from CTV Atlantic during her time as an anchor and reporter between 1987-1999.
Credit: CTV Atlantic
How it started.
Janice began her career in the mid to late 1980s as a traffic reporter and script writer at CBC Radio in Halifax while she was studying journalism. She worked split shifts and wrote for the hosts of Information Morning and Mainstreet.
Janice is a stickler for deadlines, something she learned from her early work in broadcasting at both CBC and reporting at CTV Atlantic (then ATV/ASN), as well as from her late father, Capt. Basil (Baz) Landry of the former Halifax Fire Department.
Janice started writing longform to honour Baz, a Canadian Medal of Bravery recipient. That early book, The Sixty Second Story, shines a light on her lifelong heroes, her dad and his peers, their gripping 1978 rescue of a baby, and all firefighters.
How it's going.
In 2024, in a career highlight, Janice was deeply honoured to work with Dr. Afua Cooper and her team from a Black People’s History of Canada, based at Dalhousie University. Dr. Cooper is a highly respected, multi-award-winning, preeminent scholar, author, spoken word artist, historian, researcher and Order of Nova Scotia recipient.
As a humble ally, Janice was the principle writer for Dr. Cooper’s documentary, “The Hanging of Angélique, the history of a Canadian slave,” which features an in-depth interview with Dr. Cooper, a spoken word recording of the historian, highlights from the scholar’s book on the subject, as well as Dr. Cooper’s painstaking, decades-long research into the history of slavery in Canada.
“Janice Landry wrote a poignant, thought-provoking, and moving narrative for the documentary, Angélique. In this work, commissioned by a Black People’s History of Canada, Janice declared her formidable skills as a writer and storyteller. I am truly impressed by the result.” - Dr. Afua Cooper
Janice wishes to sincerely acknowledge the support, guidance, and generosity of Dr. Cooper and all staff at a Black People’s History of Canada who helped her during this months-long 2024 project, especially in the final script editing, polishing, and ultimate elevation of Janice’s writing on this important and groundbreaking national work.
Additional thanks to film DOP/editor, Paul Darrow, and the production team.
View Dr. Cooper’s documentary here: https://vimeo.com/1014589292
Photo 1:
Dr. Afua Cooper and script writer, Janice Landry, during principle photography for Dr. Cooper’s groundbreaking “Angélique” documentary, February 28, 2024, at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Credit: Paul Darrow Photography
(DOP and editor on shoot)
Photo 2:
Dr. Afua Cooper does a book reading for the documentary from her national bestseller, “The Hanging of Angélique - The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal.”
Credit: Author Photo
Photo 3:
“The Hanging of Angélique - The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal,” written by Dr. Afua Cooper and featuring her painstaking research into the history of slavery in Canada. It is a must-read. Buy Dr. Cooper's book.
Credit: Author Photo
Photo 4:
For the documentary’s moving conclusion, Dr. Afua Cooper presented a powerful live-to-tape recording (done in one take) of her spoken word masterpiece poem, focusing on the horrific murder of Angélique.
Credit: Author Photo
Photo 1:
Dr. Afua Cooper and script writer, Janice Landry, during principle photography for Dr. Cooper’s groundbreaking “Angélique” documentary, February 28, 2024, at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Credit: Paul Darrow Photography
(DOP and editor on shoot)
Photo 2:
Dr. Afua Cooper does a book reading for the documentary from her national bestseller, “The Hanging of Angélique - The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal.”
Credit: Author Photo
Photo 3:
“The Hanging of Angélique - The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal,” written by Dr. Afua Cooper and featuring her painstaking research into the history of slavery in Canada. It is a must-read.
Credit: Author Photo
Photo 4:
At the documentary’s moving conclusion, Dr. Afua Cooper presented a powerful live-to-tape recording (done in one take) of her spoken word masterpiece poem, centering on the death of black slave, Angélique.
Credit: Author Photo