In March 1998, seven Vancouver City Police Officers, all working the Downtown Eastside beat, an area with an international reputation for its street open drug scene, decided to embark on an educational video for youth on drug abuse. With a common agreement that there was a paucity of reality-based educational videos available for youth, Odd Squad created a Mission Statement: to ‘educate the public on issues affecting the community’. Odd Squad Productions was registered as a non-profit society and each member contributed money to help fund the purchase of a video camera. Camera in hand, the officers then secured permission from the Vancouver Police Department to film while on duty. With the willing participation of the individuals profiled, they immediately began video taping the disturbing lives of this core group of street-entrenched drug addicts on their beat. Little did they know it, but this work was to later become the National Film Board of Canada’s most successful documentary since its inception in 1939.

After a significant amount of video footage had been gathered, a trailer was put together and independent film director Veronica Mannix pitched the project to the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). The NFB supported the endeavour, agreeing to produce the educational video Flipping The World that the Odd Squad members desired for schools, as well as the completion of a one-hour documentary profiling the unique relationship that the police have with the addicts. In return for their footage and assistance, Odd Squad members were able to upgrade their video camera and partake in several workshops on filming. Work on the first documentary, Through A Blue Lens continued for almost two years as officers tracked the lives of their film subjects.

Through A Blue Lens was completed and broadcast nationally on CBC in December 1999. Six years later, this video is still the number one drug education film in Canadian public schools and many other institutions worldwide. It has won national and international awards, it has been profiled by ABC’s 20/20 and Australia’s 60 Minutes programs, and the project was featured in the New York Times, MacLean’s Magazine and a multitude of other printed media. Odd Squad Productions then assisted the NFB in producing another award-winning documentary, Flipping The World. This video was also broadcast nationally, and has gone on to become an integral part of drug education programs in schools throughout British Columbia and across Canada.

Odd Squad secured office space from Henderson Development in the new Tinseltown Mall at 516 Abbott St. After some major fund raising efforts, they put together a small production studio. Three directors left the squad and one new director was added, thereby maintaining an odd number of executives. After producing many small projects, many for the Vancouver Police Department, a good deal of expertise was developed on how to really shoot and produce high quality videos for educational purposes. Members of the Odd Squad have traveled across Canada presenting drug abuse awareness seminars to youth, using their powerful video footage and their work has been featured in numerous newspapers, magazines, as well as on TV shows in Canada, in the U.S., and in Australia.

In 2002 and 2003 Odd Squad Productions teamed up with the Vancouver Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit to produce two anti-speeding television ads (entitled Speeders Club 1 & 2) aimed at reducing the deaths associated with young drivers speeding. For the past several years, these ads continue to be broadcast on local television networks (Global / Chek / Court TV).

In the Fall of 2004, Odd Squad Productions completed a new documentary for the Department of Justice entitled The Revolving Door and the Road to Recovery. This moving story tracks the life of ‘Nicky’, a participant in the Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver, as she progresses through this unique and innovative program.

This year, Odd Squad members are on the move again, working on the sequel to Through A Blue Lens, a gritty and moving documentary on how life has unfolded for the addicts originally profiled. Once completed, Tears for April: Beyond a Blue Lens will have a huge educational role in high school classrooms, providing strong social marketing for youth on making positive choices.

It is hoped that the Odd Squad will continue to shoot street video, produce quality educational products, and serve as disseminators of valuable information in order to shape today’s youth in a positive manner. Odd Squad Productions can only accomplish this meaningful work through the generous support of corporate sponsors.