Série F 695-1 - Administrative Records series

Susan J. Risk was born in Toronto, Ontario on April 13, 1948. She attended Islington Public School and Etobicoke Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke. Risk studied physical education at the University of Toronto and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from York University in 1970.

In 1979, Risk moved from Toronto to Avonlea, Saskatchewan. She operated a store called "Shuttles and Stuff" and did weaving and spinning. In 1982, she moved to Regina, where she was Weaver in Residence at the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre. From 1984 to 1990, Risk was employed with Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO) as a local co-ordinator, which involved public education and finding, preparing and sending people to Third World Countries for three year placements. In 1985, Risk was chosen to represent Canada at the United Nations End of the Decade for Women Conference in Kenya, Africa. After meeting women from the National Film Board and Studio D at the conference, Risk decided to pursue a career in film and video production.

Risk studied film and video at the University of Regina in the late 1980s and in 1988, she established her own company, Live Wire Film and Video. The company was incorporated on October 13, 1988 and on July 26, 1993 it became known as Live Wire Video Productions Inc. Her second company, Sure Fire Productions Inc. was incorporated on April 28, 2003 and dissolved in November 2008. Risk produced a variety of documentaries that explored various environmental and social issues, such as elder care, domestic abuse, and women working in non-traditional trades. She also produced corporate, promotional and educational videos for a variety of organizations and a rock music video for children featuring Noelle Hall and the Stinky Sneaker Band. Risk contributed to two educational websites created for Saskatchewan Learning (www.saskstories.ca). Risk's project "She's Got Her Ticket" won an award at the 1991 Yorkton International Film Festival and she has received recognition for the Saskatchewan Stories website.

After completing the "Breaking Open Burma" project, Risk semi-retired and moved to British Columbia, where she currently (2014) continues to reside.

Risk has three children: Sarah, Matthew and Rebecca.