The CSC was deeply saddened by the loss of two valued community members this month – cinematographer Yuri Yakubiw csc and inventor Walter Klassen.
Yuri was well regarded across the membership and the industry, having been the DP for many seasons on Murdoch Mysteries, as well as productions such as Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye, Famous Jet Jackson and Little Mosque on the Prairie. He received three Canadian Screen Award nominations for Murdoch Mysteries, most recently in 2024. He was also nominated for the 2009 CSC Award for TV Series Cinematography for Anne of Green Gables, A New Beginning.
He was a member of IATSE 667 since 1994.
Walter, an extraordinary innovator, craftsman, and long-time supporter of the Canadian film industry, was the founder of Walter Klassen FX, and he helped shape the future of camera movement technology and on-set innovation. His work was not only technically brilliant but also artistically transformative, enabling cinematographers to realize their creative visions with greater freedom and precision.
In recognition of his outstanding technical achievement and impact on the art and craft of cinematography, Walter was honoured with the CSC’s Bill Hilson Award in 2020. This prestigious award celebrated his commitment to advancing the tools and techniques available to cinematographers across Canada and around the world.
He was more than an inventor; he was a passionate advocate for the cinematography community, always willing to lend his expertise and support. His absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and worked with him.Klassen’s life and inventions were spotlighted in a feature spread in the Fall 2023 issue of Canadian Cinematographer. To honour Walter’s incredible contributions to the art and craft of cinematography, we invite you to watch his 2020 Bill Hilson Award tribute video here.
