{{short description|Canadian TV executive and entrepreneur}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Rudy Buttignol | image = Rudy Buttignol.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|6|18}} | birth_place = [[Pordenone, Italy]] | citizenship = Canada and Italy | education = [[York University]] | alma_mater = York University | occupation = Television network executive | years_active = 1975 to 2022 | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | height = <!-- {{height|m=}} --> | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | spouse = Margie Buttignol | awards = | signature = | signature_size = }}
'''Rudy Buttignol''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Order of Canada Appointments|url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16283&lan=eng|website=The Governor General of Canada His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston|publisher=[[Governor General of Canada]]|access-date=December 31, 2015}}</ref> (born June 18, 1951) is a Canadian television network executive and entrepreneur. Buttignol was the president and CEO of [[British Columbia]]'s [[Knowledge Network]], BC's public broadcaster, from 2007 until June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |author=Androich, Alicia |location=[[Toronto]] |date=September 22, 2008 |title=Rudy Buttignol one year into his presidency at Knowledge Network |work=Realscreen |url=http://realscreen.com/2008/09/22/knowledge-20080922/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Cernetig, Miro |date=April 2, 2009 |title=With new focus from new boss, B.C.'s tiny public broadcaster works |newspaper=[[Vancouver Sun]]}}</ref> He was also president of Canadian subscription television channel [[BBC Kids]] from 2011 until it ceased operations in 2018.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Broadcaster – Canada's Communications Magazine |location=Toronto |date=January 17, 2011 |title=BBC Worldwide Partners with Knowledge to Operate BBC Kids}}</ref>
In 2022, following a highly publicized diversity audit of the Knowledge Network, Buttignol was dismissed from his position as president and CEO.<ref name="board-message-2022">{{cite web |title=A Message From The Board – June 17, 2022 |url=https://www.knowledge.ca/media-releases/2022/06/17/message-board-%E2%80%93-june-17-2022-0 |website=www.knowledge.ca |date=June 17, 2022 |publisher=Knowledge Network Corporation |access-date=19 June 2022 |last1=Singh |first1=Ravi }}</ref><ref name="cbc-knowledge-drops-ceo">{{cite news |last1=Schmunk |first1=Rhianna |title=Knowledge Network drops longtime CEO, months after diversity audit |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/knowledge-network-ceo-out-after-audit-finds-funding-disparity-for-filmmakers-of-colour-1.6492860 |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] |date=17 June 2022}}</ref>
== Early life == Rudy Buttignol was born in 1951 in [[Pordenone, Italy]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Maglio, Antonio |date=April 8, 2001 |title=Italians teach the joy of living TVOntario creative head credits his success to Italo heritage |work=Tandem/Couriere Canadese |location=Toronto}}</ref> to Nelda (Caterina) and Marino Buttignol. In 1955 at the age of four, Buttignol and his mother boarded the [[MS Vulcania]] and immigrated to Canada via [[Pier 21]] in [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]]. In [[Toronto]], they were reunited with Marino Buttignol, who had immigrated in 1954 to work for [[Canadian National Railway]] laying rail in northern [[Alberta]]. Buttignol was raised and educated in [[Toronto]]. From 1971 to 1975, he attended [[York University]], Faculty of Fine Arts,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tiff.net/CANADIANFILMENCYCLOPEDIA/content/bios/rudy-buttignol |title=Canadian Film Encyclopedia – Rudy Buttignol |first= |last= |work=tiff.net |year=2012 |access-date=June 22, 2012}}</ref> where he studied film under [[James Beveridge]], Louis de Rochemont III and [[Terence Macartney-Filgate]].
== Career == Buttignol's career spans more than four decades. At the beginning of his career, he worked as an independent producer, director, writer and editor of documentary and children's programs, and later as a commissioning editor, television programmer, and broadcast executive.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wagler, Jenny |date= April 10–16, 2012 |title=Knowledge base: Knowledge Network's President and CEO is launching new platforms and tapping new funding streams |work= Business In Vancouver |url=http://www.biv.com/article/20120410/BIV0201/304109944/0/SEARCH/Rudy-Buttignol:-Knowledge-base}}</ref><ref name="Canadian film encyclopedia">{{cite web |title=Rudy Buttignol Biography |url=http://tiff.net/CANADIANFILMENCYCLOPEDIA/content/bios/rudy-buttignol |publisher=Canadian Film Encyclopedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://film.athabascau.ca/person/rudy-buttignol |work=Films |publisher=Athabasca University |title=Rudy Buttignol}}</ref> He has been called "Canadian broadcasting and documentary guru"<ref>{{cite journal |author=Glassman, Marc |title=Rudy Buttignol: Passion for documentaries |journal=Playback |location=Toronto |date=September 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://playbackonline.ca/2009/09/28/buttignol-20090928/ |title=Rudy Buttignol: Passion for documentaries|date=September 28, 2009 |author=Marc Glassman |publisher=Playback Online}}</ref> and "friend of the auteur in Canada and abroad".<ref>{{cite journal |author=Rayman, Susan |date=May 1999 |title=Friend of the auteur in Canada and abroad: TVOntario's Rudy Buttignol |journal=Realscreen Toronto}}</ref> Buttignol is acknowledged for his roles developing Canadian cultural policy related to documentary film funding and broadcasting<ref>{{cite book |author=Hogarth, David |title=Documentary Television in Canada: From national public service to global marketplace |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |location=Montreal |year=2002 |isbn=0773523391}}</ref> and advancing the creative documentary genre in Canada<ref>{{cite journal |author=Mossanen, Moze |title=TV Docs: Missing in Action:A veteran director wonders what has happened to Canada's point-of-view docucmentaries |journal=[[Point of View (magazine)|Point of View]] |location=Toronto |date=Spring 2013}}</ref> and on the world stage.<ref>{{cite book |author=Lees, Nicola |title=Greenlit: Developing factual/reality TV ideas from concept to pitch |publisher=[[Methuen Drama]]/[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |location=London |year=2010 |isbn= 978-1-408-12267-9}}</ref> Rudy Buttignol originated the idea behind the 2014 television series ''[[Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH]]''. He stressed the distinction between the genre of the series, which is a [[Television documentary|documentary]], and that of reality-based entertainment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lederman |first=Marsha |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/a-new-er-pulls-back-the-curtain-on-public-health-care/article16177576/ |title=A real-life ER pulls back the curtain on public health care |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=January 7, 2014 |access-date=January 14, 2014}}</ref>
From 1975 to 1993, Buttignol worked as an independent filmmaker creating film and video works. His early documentaries were about an Italian dairy (''The Dairy'' (1977), a Canadian artist (''Jack Bush'' (1979), a pop history of neon lights (''Neon, an Electric Memoir'' (1984), an Apollo-era astronaut who became an artist (''Allan Bean: Art Off This Earth'' (1990), and the early history of the Russian space program (''Soviet Space: The Secret Designer'' (1992).<ref name="Canadian film encyclopedia"/>
In 1993, Buttignol began work as a public broadcaster when he joined [[TVOntario]] as commissioning editor and creative head of independent production. From 2000 to 2006, he was [[TVOntario]]'s creative head of network programming, [[green-light|green lighting]] commissions such as: *Genie Award-winning Champagne Safari (1995) by George Ungar *Gemini Award-winning ''[[Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows]]'' (1998) by [[Paul Jay]] *Emmy Award-winning ''Let it come down: The Life of Paul Bowles'' (1999) by [[Jennifer Baichwal]] *''[[The Corporation (2003 film)|The Corporation]]'' (2003) by [[Joel Bakan]], [[Mark Achbar]] and [[Jennifer Abbott]] *Multiple Gemini Award-winning ''Dying at Grace'' (2004) by [[Allan King]] *Oscar-nominated ''[[Hardwood (film)|Hardwood]]'' (2005) by [[Hubert Davis (filmmaker)]] *''[[Manufactured Landscapes]]'' (2006) by [[Jennifer Baichwal]]
In 2004, he shared the Gemini's [[Donald Brittain]] Award with documentary filmmaker [[Allan King]] for ''Dying at Grace'' (2003).<ref name="Canadian film encyclopedia"/><ref name=academy.ca>{{cite web |url=http://www.academy.ca/hist/history.cfm?nname=Buttignol&winonly=0&awards=0&rtype=1&curstep=4&submit.y=8 |title=Buttignol – All Awards |publisher=Canada's Awards Database |work=academy.ca}}</ref> In 2007, Buttignol was awarded the inaugural Hot Docs' Doc Mogul Award.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Glassman, Marc |date=April 16, 2007 |title=Hot Docs back and bigger than ever |journal=Playback |location=Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://playbackonline.ca/2007/04/16/hotdocs-20070416/ |title=Hot Docs back and bigger than ever |author=Marc Glassman |publisher=Playback Online |date=April 16, 2007}}</ref> All together, Buttignol was the recipient of nine [[Gemini Awards]],<ref name=academy.ca /> from the [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television]].
In 2007, Buttignol was appointed as president and CEO of British Columbia's [[Knowledge Network]]. In 2011, he became president of [[BBC Kids]]. His mandate includes outreach through events throughout British Columbia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theomega.ca/2013/03/10/knowledge-network-ceo-discusses-its-evolution/ |title=Knowledge Network CEO discusses its evolution |date=March 10, 2013 |author=Devan C. Tasa |publisher=Thompson Rivers University |work=The Omega.ca}}</ref>
Along with his professional success, Buttignol contributed to and participated in a number of organizations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/BRDO/memView.asp?Member=218077 |title=Mr. Rudy Buttignol – Biography and Memberships |work=Board Resourcing and Development Office |author= |publisher=[[British Columbia]] |date=December 7, 2011 |quote=Directory of Agencies}}</ref> He is current Chair of the International Advisory Council of the [[Hot Docs]] Documentary Forum, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Association of Public Educational Media; and a Director on the Boards of the [[Vancouver International Film Festival]], and the Cultural Properties Export Review Board which is a Canadian federal government tribunal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1317752094316 |title=Appointment to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board – Newsroom – The Department |publisher=Pch.gc.ca |date=October 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/bcm-mcp/cebc-cperb/cntct/membr-eng.cfm |title=Canadian Heritage – Members of the Review Board |publisher=Pch.gc.ca |date=June 13, 2012}}</ref> Buttignol is also a director on the board of the Britannia Mine Museum, [[Britannia Beach, British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://britanniaminemuseum.ca/about_us/board_of_directors.html|title=Board of directors|publisher=Brittania Beach Museum}}</ref> In the past, he was founder of the [[Hot Docs]] Financing Forum, elected chair of the board of the [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television]] from 1997 to 2003,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://playbackonline.ca/1997/06/02/16162-19970602/ |title=Journal |publisher=Playback Online |date=June 2, 1997}}</ref> President of the [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television]] Foundation, director on the boards of Banff Television Foundation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchua.com/robertchua.com/PROFESSIONAL/recentpress/BoardofGovernorsMediaRelease1.htm |title=Media Release: New Members Appointed to Banff Television Foundation's Board of Governors |work=robertchua.com |date=January 21, 2002}}</ref> [[Canada Media Fund]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.cmf-fmc.ca/?index=403798&calln=2&lastq=%28++%28annual+OR+%2522annual%27s%2522%29+OR+%28reports+OR+%2522report%27s%2522%29+%29+AND+403798partitioneng&psel=eng&doc0=0&query=BUTTIGNOL&search=Search&opt=ANY |title=Annual report 20092010 financial contributors the canadian television fund (ctf) receives contributions |format=PDF |work=cmf-fmc.ca |date=March 16, 2012}}</ref> [[Canadian Conference of the Arts]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ccarts.ca/from-the-desk-of-the-director/cca-annual-general-meeting-ushers-in-new-board-members-and-bylaw-changes/ |title=CCA Annual General Meeting Ushers in New Board Members and Bylaw Changes | Canadian Conference of the Arts |work=ccarts.ca |date=June 18, 2008}}</ref> and moderator at the [[Hot Docs]] Documentary Festival Summit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotdocs.ca/conference/doc_summit/ |title=Hot Docs | Conference : Doc Summit |publisher=Hotdocs.ca |date=March 5, 2012}}</ref> Buttignol was also a member of the European Television and Media Management Academy's Advisory Council in Strasbourg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/BRDO/memView.asp?Member=218077 |title=Mr. Rudy Buttignol – Biography and Memberships |work=Board Resourcing and Development Office |author= |publisher=[[British Columbia]] |date=December 7, 2011 |quote=Directory of Agencies}}</ref> In 2013, Buttignol was awarded the [[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]] in recognition of his contributions to British Columbians and Canadians, and for his role in transforming the Knowledge Network, British Columbia's public broadcaster.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2013CITZ0006-000499.htm |title=Diamond Jubilee Medal presented by Minister of Citizens' Services and Open Government |date=March 14, 2013 |author= |work=news.gov.bc.ca}}</ref> On December 30, 2015, it was announced that Buttignol was appointed as a Member of the [[Order of Canada]] for his contributions as a champion of Canadian documentary filmmaking and for his transformative leadership at the [[Knowledge Network]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16283&lan=eng|title=The Governor General of Canada|date=September 20, 2017 }}</ref> In 2017, Buttignol's arts advocacy was recognized with an honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] from [[Thompson Rivers University]], Kamloops, British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tru.ca/convocation/history/honorary-degree/tru-2017-honorary-degree-recipients.html#buttignol|title=TRU 2017 Honorary Degree Recipients}}</ref> That same year, he was the recipient of [[York University]]'s Tentanda Via Bryden Alumni Award. The Tentanda Via Award reflects York University's motto, “The Way Must Be Tried”.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alumniandfriends.yorku.ca/bryden-alumni-awards/2017-bryden-award-recipients|title = Alumni and Friends | Meet, stay connected and get involved}}</ref>
In August 2023, Rudy Buttignol was appointed as President and Board member of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons).
==Controversy== In February 2022 an internal audit<ref>{{cite web |title=BC Knowledge Network Prelicenses 2014-2021 Independent Equity Audit Report |url=https://www.knowledge.ca/sites/default/files/PDFs/Equity-Audit-Report-on-BC-Knowledge-Network_FINAL_November%2026-2021.pdf |website=www.knowledge.ca |publisher=Knowledge Network Corporation |access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref> revealed that under Buttignol's leadership only 1.7% of the Knowledge Network's $2.054 million pre-licence funding, over a seven year period, had been awarded to production companies owned by people of colour. Indigenous filmmakers meanwhile had received no funding.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=Nathan |title=Audit shows deep racial inequities at B.C.'s Knowledge Network |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/television/funding-audit-shows-deep-racial-inequities-at-b-c-s-knowledge-network |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=[[Vancouver Sun]] |date=9 February 2022}}</ref>
Buttignol stated that he had "major reservations" with the audit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Britten |first1=Liam |title=Audit finds 'clear disparity' in Knowledge Network funding for filmmakers of colour |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/audit-finds-clear-disparity-in-knowledge-network-funding-for-filmmakers-of-colour-1.6344573 |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] |date=9 February 2022}}</ref> Members of the IBPOC film community claimed that Buttignol's response "contributed to an increased distrust and lack of confidence from filmmakers of colour and other concerned British Columbians".<ref>{{cite news |title=Joella Cabalu, Kris Anderson, and Meghna Haldar: Sound of silence |url=https://www.straight.com/news/joella-cabalu-kris-anderson-and-meghna-haldar-sound-of-silence |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=[[The Georgia Straight]] |date=1 April 2022}}</ref> A petition on [[Change.org]] was started calling for his replacement.
On June 17, 2022, the Knowledge Network's Board released a statement that Buttignol's contract had been terminated and that a national search would begin to find his replacement.<ref name="board-message-2022" /><ref name="cbc-knowledge-drops-ceo" />
== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=25em}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id= 0125372|name=Rudy Buttignol}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buttignol, Rudy}} [[Category:1951 births]] [[Category:Canadian people of Italian descent]] [[Category:Canadian television executives]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Pordenone]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Toronto]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Vancouver]] [[Category:York University alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Order of Canada]]