Hank White

Hank White’s story is basically a wild ride through the heart of Nova Scotia’s film and activist scene. Born and raised in Halifax, this guy’s been hustling in the arts since he was a kid—like, age ten and already acting in local theatre. Not just a one-trick pony, either. He’s Mi'kmaq and Acadian, so his roots run deep, and you can see that everywhere in his work. He kicked off Hank White Productions in ‘79—back when disco was still a thing—and became Nova Scotia’s go-to casting director for more than a decade. If you saw diverse faces in movies up there, odds are Hank had a hand in it. But he’s not just about making movies. He’s pushed for Indigenous and visible minority representation way before it was “in.” The Aboriginal and Visible Minority Shadow Program? Yeah, that’s his baby. He helped found the Alliance of Aboriginal Media Professionals, sat on national anti-racism committees—seriously, the dude’s résumé is stacked. Film-wise, he’s co-owner of Redemption Pictures and behind award-winners like Charlie Zone—the first Indigenous-produced feature film out of Nova Scotia. He’s got his hands in all kinds of projects: documentaries about Annie Mae Aquash, hard-hitting stuff about suicide in Indigenous communities, and more. Oh, and he’s still teaching, still volunteering, and somehow found time to work three decades as a Real Estate Advisor. Basically, if you’re talking film or activism in Nova Scotia, Hank’s name pops up every time.