Each December, countless families gather around to enjoy “A Christmas Story,” the beloved 1983 film that has become synonymous with the holiday season, much like eggnog and mistletoe. The movie centers on Ralphie Parker, portrayed by Peter Billingsley, and his unwavering mission to secure a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model BB gun.

The film captures Ralphie’s vivid imagination, where he envisions himself as a hero thanks to the BB gun. One iconic scene features Ralphie crafting a school essay to argue why the Red Ryder is the perfect Christmas gift. In his daydream, the essay is so impactful that it brings his teacher, Miss Shields, to tears. Miss Shields, the archetypal strict teacher of the 1940s, is so moved that she awards Ralphie an exaggerated “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” and leads the class in a rousing chant of “Ralphie! Ralphie!”

However, reality proves to be less kind. In the actual world of the film, Miss Shields returns Ralphie’s essay with a less-than-stellar C-plus, along with the crushing remark: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

The actress behind Miss Shields, Tedde Moore, boasts a career spanning numerous films and television shows, many of which might not be widely recognized. Her latest listing on IMDb is for a 2017 TV movie titled “Magical Christmas Ornaments.” Yet, “A Christmas Story” isn’t her sole mark on popular culture. Interestingly, without Tedde Moore, the world might never have known Drake…

More than just an actress, Tedde Moore is part of a celebrated Canadian artistic family. Her father, Mavor Moore, earned the title of the “grandfather of Canadian professional theater,” while her husband, Donald Shebib, holds acclaim as a prominent figure in Canadian cinema, especially for his 1970 classic “Goin’ Down the Road.”

A Legacy of Canadian Creativity

Embracing the family legacy, Tedde and Donald’s son, Noah Shebib, initially embarked on an acting career with roles in series such as “Wind at My Back” and “Goosebumps,” as well as the film “The Virgin Suicides.” Yet, while his on-screen presence was growing, his true passion was developing within the confines of his bedroom studio at home.

Following in the family footsteps, Tedde and Donald’s son, Noah Shebib, initially pursued an acting career. He landed various roles in shows like “Wind at My Back” and “Goosebumps,” as well as the critically acclaimed film “The Virgin Suicides.” But while he was building a respectable resume in front of the camera, his true obsession was taking shape in the bedroom studio of his family home.

From “DJ Chilly” to “40”

In the early 2000s, Noah shifted his focus toward music, performing under the alias DJ Chilly. When he wasn’t DJing parties around Toronto, he was at home obsessively crafting beats and honing his engineering skills. He began working with a roster of local Toronto artists like Empire, Knamelis, Stolenowners, Christopher Morales, and the legendary Saukrates.

It was during these early, grueling sessions that he earned the nickname “40 Days & 40 Nights” (later shortened to simply “40“). The moniker was a tribute to his relentless work ethic. He famously would stay in the studio for days on end without a wink of sleep.

Around 2005, Noah’s path crossed with a 19-year-old Canadian actor who was then starring in a popular teen drama called “Degrassi: The Next Generation.”

That actor, Aubrey Graham, was a household name in Canada for his role as the basketball star Jimmy Brooks, but he wanted to be something more than a Canadian teen soap star. He had a vision of becoming a world-class rapper, and he needed a sound that didn’t exist yet.

When the son of “Miss Shields” from “A Christmas Story” sat down at the mixing board with the star of “Degrassi”, the foundation for a global empire was born.

The chemistry between the two was immediate. While Graham brought the ambition and the lyrics, Noah “40” Shebib brought a revolutionary sonic perspective. Together, they began to craft a sound that was a stark departure from the high-octane, “bling-era” rap dominating the airwaves at the time.

Drake and Noah Shebib (Photo by Noel Vasquez/GC Images)

Creating the “Toronto Sound”

Instead of chasing trends, “40” utilized his background in acting and theater, perhaps a gift from his mother, Tedde Moore, to approach music with a cinematic sensibility. He famously began “filtering” his drums, removing the high frequencies to create a “submerged,” underwater effect. This moody, ambient atmosphere became the perfect canvas for Graham, who would soon go by the rap moniker Drake.

Their collaboration resulted in the 2009 breakout mixtape “So Far Gone,” which featured hits like “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful.” It didn’t just launch Drake to superstardom; it fundamentally shifted the trajectory of popular music, making room for a more emotional, melodic style of hip-hop that remains the industry standard today.

Noah has been nominated for 20 Grammy awards, with two wins. He won his first Grammy in 2013, in the Best Rap Album category, for producing Drake’s second studio album, 2013’s “Take Care.” In 2019, he won his second Grammy, in the Best Rap Song category, for producing Drake’s song “God’s Plan.’

Noah is the co-founder of the OVO Sound record label. He has been the executive producer on every single one of Drake’s major projects, from “Thank Me Later” and “Take Care” to “Certified Lover Boy” and “For All The Dogs”.

So, when you sit down this December to watch “A Christmas Story”, and you see Miss Shields standing at the blackboard grading Ralphie’s paper, you aren’t just looking at a random Canadian actress who has long been forgotten. You are looking at the woman whose son helped define the sound of the 21st century. And for that, she deserves an A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.