Series F 709-4 - The Pedestrian series

Stephen Alexander Onda was born on February 23, 1958 to Ed and Helen Onda. He was raised on the family farm in the Atwater, Saskatchewan district. Onda received his primary and secondary education in Atwater and Esterhazy. He studied Brass Instrument Technique and Music Theory at Mary College in Bismark, North Dakota (1977-1979) and Special Education and Developmental Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon (1979-1981). From 1981 to 1983, Onda attended the University of Regina, where he studied film and video production.

Onda's professional career as an independent producer began in 1983, when he established Framework Productions Inc., a film and video production company in Regina. Onda served as the company's president and produced the majority of its productions. After the dissolution of Framework Productions Inc., Onda established Heartland Motion Pictures Inc. He served as president and worked as a producer, co-producer and line producer from 1988 to 2000. Onda then worked as a contract producer with WestWind Pictures Inc. (2000-2003) and was CEO of Tyndal Stone Media Inc., a multi-media production company. In 2003, Onda established Stephen Onda Productions Inc. He currently (2014) continues to serve as president of that company and do production work.

Onda was one of the founding members of the Saskatchewan Film Producers Association and served as president of the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association (SMPIA) for the 2009-2010 term. He helped SMPIA lobby the Saskatchewan Government for the creation of SaskFilm and the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit Program. He is currently a member of the Canadian Media Producers Association and Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association (SMPIA). Onda regularly attended national and international film and television festivals and participated in numerous workshops and seminars.

Onda's work has received numerous award nominations and critical recognition and has won awards at major competitions and festivals at the provincial, national and international level. He was the recipient of a 1992 Gemini Award for Best Children's Drama for The Garden.

Onda and his wife, Tannis, have two children: Zach and Olivia.

Lori Kuffner was born on November 12, 1954 at Lafleche, Saskatchewan to Leon and Gwendoline (Poliquin) Kuffner. She was raised in Glentworth, Saskatchewan and completed here early education there. She attended college at Camrose, Alberta, and later the University of Regina from 1989 to 1991 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Film and Video studies. After graduation, Kuffner worked for CBC Saskatchewan and as a contract producer for film and video production companies including Heartland Motion Pictures and Independent Moving Pictures Inc.

Kuffner incorporated Cooper Rock Pictures Inc., a video production company, on April 7, 1998. In addition to the role of president of Cooper Rock, Kuffner was the producer, writer and/or director for the majority of its productions. The productions profiled human-interest stories in subject areas including: suicide; drug and alcohol abuse awareness; athletic achievements; the Second World War; and personal accomplishments. Documentaries produced by Cooper Rock have been broadcast throughout Canada and internationally via: History Television; Knowledge Network; Saskatchewan Communications Network; CTV; CBC; Vision TV; and Canadian Learning Television. Several productions have been recognized with nominations or wins at local and national film, video and television competitions.

Kuffner holds membership in the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Film and Video Screenwriters Group. She is a past board director of the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Association, and the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund. In 2013, Kuffner relocated to Airdrie, Alberta and gained membership to the Alberta Media Production Industries Association. She continues (2014) to reside there, and remains president of Cooper Rock Pictures Inc.

Cooper Rock Pictures Inc. focus has been on the production of "entertaining yet thought provoking and socially conscious programming, with an approach that is innovative, reflective and dynamic," including documentaries on sports, health, and war. Lori Kuffner has served as president of Cooper Rock Pictures.