Pressure Point

The Bob Stewart Archives of BC Conference has launched a YouTube channel featuring select digitized episodes of the former television program, Pressure Point.

“They say God always opens a window when fate closes a door and in the mid-70s the window turned out to be Community Cable Television. Nobody thought it would go anywhere; but the indefatigable Lois Boyce [United Church of Canada BC Conference volunteer] was convinced otherwise. She started her (mainly anti-nuclear) cable show while the industry was in its absolute infancy – recruiting fellow students from a BCIT night school course to assist her with the modest production [including R. Wayne Carlow who continued on as the program’s production director throughout much of its duration]. It was to evolve into “Pressure Point,” one of the longest-running, volunteer-operated, community television shows in Canadian television history. It ran weekly for 26 years, ceasing production only in 2001, and some of those original volunteers stayed with it almost to the end.” 

— Rod Booth, then United Church of Canada BC Conference Broadcasting Director, first host and producer of Pressure Point

BC Conference Archives acknowledges the financial support of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre of the University of British Columbia, through the BC History Digitization Program.

		Addressing First Nations Claims
This Land Is Not Our Land, Part 1	1986	George Searcy with Neil Sterritt, Alvin Dixon, & panelists re Native land claims.
This Land Is Not Our Land, Part 2	1986	George Searcy with Neil Sterritt, Alvin Dixon, & panelists re Native land claims.
Treaty Negotiations in BC	1986	Valerie Dudoward with Grand Chief Edward John and Chief Joe Becker.
Unsettled Claims	1990	Brad Newcombe's interview with Jennie Jack re Indian land claims.
Canadian Justice Must Prevail – The Nisgaa Land Question	1995	Valerie Dudoward with Nelson Leeson.
Resolving the Land Question Together	1995	Brad Newcombe and Valerie Dudoward with Hon. John Cashore, BC Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, re Native Land Claims.
		Preserving First Nations Culture and Heritage
Native Spirituality, Part 1	1986	Alvin Dixon's interview with Marie Wilson and Vi Smith.
Native Spirituality, Part 2	1986	Alvin Dixon's interview with Marie Wilson and Vi Smith.
Discovery	1995	Marilou Carrillo with Charlotte Sullivan.
I7imesh – Following in the Steps of Our Ancestors	1997	Carla Robinson with Ian Campbell and Delhia Nahanee re “Spakwus Slulum” the Squamish Nation traditional music and dance group they belong to, including performance segments by the 8-member group.
Remembering Our History with First Nations People	2000	Brad Newcombe with Jessie Oliver, Diaconal Minister, The United Church of Canada.
		Reflecting on the Indian Residential Schools
A Native Brothers Story	1985	Ray Jones tells the story of his life journey to Alvin Dixon.
Broken Children – Wounded Adults	1995	Valerie Dudoward on Indian Residential Schools with Harriet Nahanee, Larry Loyie, & Trud Huebner.
Rebirth in the Face of Darkness	1996	Valerie Dudoward with Residential Schools survivor, Willie Blackwater.
Learning How We Went Astray	1997	Valerie Dudoward with Shirley Harding, Coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, and former United Church of Canada Moderator, the Very Rev. Robert Smith re church responses to Indian Residential schools.
The Struggles over an Apology	1997	Carla Robinson with Residential School survivor Willie Blackwater and United Church of Canada General Council youth delegate Lauren Lee, re the United Church’s apology to Native Peoples at its recent General Council Meeting in Camrose Alberta.
The Residential School Project	2000	Brad Newcombe with Bob Joseph, Shane Pointe, & Sharon Thera.
Questions about Residential Schools	2001	Brad Newcombe with the Rev. Dr. Brian Thorpe.
		Promoting Diversity and Multiculturalism
A Century of Service	1988	Barbara Anderson’s interview with the Rev. James Pan, alongside musical performances celebrating 100 years of Vancouver’s Chinese United Church.
The Wanderer	1989	Ken Wotherspoon's interview with United Church of Canada Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Sang Chul Lee.
Multiculturalism 2001	1990	Barbara Anderson's interview with Dr. Brian Teixeira.
Overcoming Racism	1992	May Komiyama, President of BC Conference, talks about growing up Japanese in WWII Canada and the role of the Christian faith in her life.
Finding and Reclaiming Our Voices – Asian-Canadian Women Speak	1993	Marilou Carillo talks with Dr. May Komiyama, Dr. Greer Anne Ng, and Jin-Sun Yoon.
		Reaching Out to the Underprivileged
Christ in the Inner City	1980	Filmed on location in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, this video portrays the work of First United Church, St. James Social Service, and the Salvation Army.  Host is Doug Goodwin, student and the Vancouver School of Theology.
A Place to Call Home	1984	Rod Booth interviews John Cashore of First United Church (Vancouver) and Lawrence Bentleman of the First Church Housing Society, talking about Bill Hennessey Place, affordable housing for people on welfare.
Homes for the Homeless	1987	Barbara Anderson's interview with Henri Lock, President of First Church Housing Society.
Forget Me Not – Adoption Reunion	1996	Valerie Dudoward with Cecelia Reekie and Nancy Kato of the Forget Me Not Family Society.
Inner City Children – A Child Is Not a Toy	1996	Brad Newcombe and Marilou Carrillo with Sheila Baxter, Milton Hsu, Gary Gaudin, & Liz Allen.
Open Door	1996	Brad Newcombe with the Rev. Allen Tysick of Victoria’s Open Door ministry with street people.
Responding to the Homeless Crisis	1997	Brad Newcombe with Judy Graves (Manager, Vancouver Tennant Assistance Program), & John Van Luven (Executive Director, St. James Society Community Services) re how agencies are working together to address the problem of Vancouver’s homeless.
The Changing Face of Homelessness	1997	Brad Newcombe with Karen O’Shannacery and Doug Peat.
Urban Native Youth	1997	Brad Newcombe with Rob Lind.
		Making History
WCC Assembly Hi-Lites #1	1983	Highlights and drama of the World Council of Churches Sixth Assembly held in Vancouver, August 1983.
WCC Assembly Hi-Lites #2	1983	Highlights and drama of the World Council of Churches Sixth Assembly held in Vancouver, August 1983.
A Mark in Church History	1985	Lois Boyce interviews the Rev. Dr. Lydia Gruchy, the first woman to be ordained to the ministry in the United Church of Canada.
One Hundred Years Later	1985	In Port Simpson with the Thomas Crosby V, celebrating 100 years of United Church work on the BC Coast.
Vancouver School of Theology – A look Back and a Step Forward	1987	Barbara Anderson’s interview with the Rev. Dr. Gerald Hobbs and the Rev. Lynne McNaughton.
From the Trapline to the Pulpit	1988	Barbara Anderson's interview with the Rev. Bill Robinson.
Two Centuries of Coastal Mission	1989	Bishop Remi de Roo, Rev. Bill Howie, and Ron Shepherd tell West Coast Mission stories.
Affirm – 10 Dynamic Years	1992	Brad Newcombe talks with Affirm Members Bill Siksay and Rosemary Carnahan about the struggle for gay rights in Canada and within the Church.
A Conversation with the Rev. Tim Stevenson	1993	Brad Newcombe talks with the Rev. Tim Stevenson about his pilgrimage as one of the first openly gay candidates for ordination in the United Church of Canada.
		Living in the Christian Community
Todays Youth, Tomorrows Church	1981	Rod Booth and a panel of United Church young people.  Tricia Dixon, Kent O’Neil, and Alison Gear look at the state of the youth movement in the contemporary church.
An Interview with the Moderator	1984	Ken Wotherspoon interviews new United Church Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Robert Smith, talking about his childhood and the justice issues facing the church.
Learning in Community, The Naramata Experience	1985	George Searcy's interview with Rev. Bob Stobie, Director of Naramata Centre.
Songs for a Gospel People	1987	Barbara Anderson interviews the Rev. Dr. Gerald Hobbs, with performance by the Vancouver School of Theology choir.
Meet the Moderator – Marion Best	1994	Marilou Carrillo and Brad Newcombe with United Church of Canada Moderator, Marion Best.
Journey to Healing	1996	Valerie Dudoward and Brad Newcombe with Shirley Harding and Graeme Keirstead.