Billy Beal Movie and Plaque Dedication: October 21-22

ValleyBiz Story |

Billy is an award winning feature film based on the true life story of Billy Beal who lived in the Swan River Valley from 1906 to 1955. The film has received rave reviews across North America and has received the following awards:

2010 – Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award
2011 – Best Narrative Feature Award – Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival

A public showing of the film will be held:
Friday, October 21, 2011 & Saturday, October 22, 2011
7:00 p.m. at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School
Tickets $10 at the door

Watch the Movie Trailer

Billy was written & produced by Winston Moxam & Ernesto Griffith.

Lasting Impressions – Historical Sketches of the Swan River Valley,
written by Ed Dobbyn and Gwen Palmer
and published by the
Swan Valley Historical Society
includes these sentiments on Billy Beal,

His life probably can be summarized by these few words of a neighbor and good friend, …
“We, the people of Big Woody, were honored by his presence there. He was a good citizen, a very honorable man … a man to be admired in every way.”

A Billy Beal Commemorative Plaque will be unveiled at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at the NorthWest Regional Library

Read more about Billy Beal …

The Manitoba Historical Society:
Memorable Manitobans: William Sylvester Alpheus “Billy” Beal (1874-1968)

The Winnipeg Time Machine:
Billy Beal – One of the First Blacks in Manitoba by George Siamandas