Linda Schuyler

Born in London, Linda Schuyler emigrated to Canada as a child and used her later experiences as a teacher to create the iconic teen drama "Degrassi High." She got her start making a documentary about the children she taught in a Toronto-area junior high school, and produced two short films in 1979 with Canadian government funding. This led to "The Kids of Degrassi Street," a low-budget teen drama made for Canadian television, and the first of three incarnations of the Degrassi show. Created by Schuyler and partner Kit Hood, "Degrassi High" debuted in 1987 and was originally known as "Degrassi Junior High." The show became a hit with viewers in both Canada and the U.S., and was known for its unflinching look at the issues affecting teenagers. The series ended with the TV movie "School's Out" in 1992. Schuyler followed up with a similarly themed show about teens called "Liberty Street," then in 2001 created "Degrassi: The Next Generation." She also created "Instant Star," which ran from 2004 until 2008, about the winner of a music competition. In 1993 she became a Member of the Order of Canada.