Seven media experts selected to help modernize CBC/Radio-Canada before next election
Group will provide policy advice mainly on CBC/Radio-Canada's governance and funding
Seven multimedia experts have been selected to advise Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge as she renews the role of Canada's public broadcaster.
The group will provide policy advice mainly on CBC/Radio-Canada's governance and funding, Canadian Heritage said.
The department says that consultations on the CBC's mandate have already been conducted with the general public.
The new advisory panel will now help St-Onge chart a path forward, with members contributing knowledge from a variety of fields.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge speaks to reporters on Parliament Hill on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/Canadian Press)
St-Onge said committee members have diverse perspectives and experiences that will help her modernize CBC and its French-language arm, Radio-Canada.
"Canadians need a strong, innovative and independent public broadcaster that is ready to meet the challenges of this period of transformation and upheaval in news and content creation," St-Onge said in a media statement Monday.
The panel will help her promote Canadian culture, stories, languages, artists and creators, "while adapting to our rapidly changing broadcast and digital landscape," she added.
The panel includes:
- Marie-Philippe Bouchard, CEO, TV5 Quebec Canada.
- Jesse Wente, chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, founding executive director of the Indigenous Screen Office.
- Jennifer McGuire, managing director, Pink Triangle Press.
- David Skok, CEO and editor-in-chief, The Logic (independent media startup).
- Mike Ananny, associate professor of communication and journalism, University of Southern California Annenberg.
- Loc Dao, executive director of DigiBC.
- Catalina Briceno, professor, Universite du Quebec a Montreal.
CBC president Catherine Tait has been calling for a long-term financial structure for the public broadcaster, such as a multi-year funding agreement through a charter, similar to the BBC in Britain.
The minister's office has previously said it is "open to all ideas" as part of the process.
During a recent appearance at a House of Commons committee, Tait said she's looking forward to conversing with the panel.
CBC president Catherine Tait waits to appear at the heritage committee in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)
"Sustainable long-term funding is one of the solutions" to dealing with the "crisis" media face, Tait said. She pointed to challenges such as competition from foreign tech giants who aren't subjected to the same regulations as Canadian broadcasters, and a decline in revenue from traditional advertising.
CBC/Radio-Canada is projecting a $20 million shortfall for the 2024-25 fiscal year, despite the fact that it has laid off 141 employees and eliminated 205 vacant positions since December, Tait said.
"I've been in this business 40 years and never before have I seen so great pressure on our domestic industry, and it is very worrisome," Tait told the committee. "We see people disappearing, companies disappearing, production houses shutting down."
The public broadcaster relies on an annual parliamentary appropriation of approximately $1.2 billion and supplementary income generated from advertising, subscriptions and other commercial activities.
"In the past, CBC/Radio-Canada had an employee body of about 10,000. Today we're at 7,500," Tait said.
"Ninety per cent of our budget is dedicated to our workforce, so if something hits us, an economic hardship or financial hardship, the only lever we have is through workforce adjustment."
Ottawa has said it wants to redefine the role of CBC before the next federal election, as the Liberals hedge against a possible change in government.
The Opposition Tories have promised to defund CBC and turn its Toronto-based headquarters into "affordable housing," though the party's leader, Pierre Poilievre, has also suggested maintaining support for services tailored to francophone minorities.
A spokesperson for CBC welcomed the news of the advisory panel, saying the corporation will help in any way it can.
"We welcome any discussion on the future of public broadcasting," said Emma Iannetta, "and we appreciate the minister's strong support for the important role CBC/Radio-Canada plays in the lives of all Canadians."
CBC/Radio-Canada
Emma Iannetta
Senior Specialist, Media Relations
647 615-1087
emma.iannetta@cbc.ca
From: St-Onge, Pascale - Députée <pascale.st-onge@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 5:35 PM
Subject: Réponse automatique : Deployment of Emergencies Act expected to pass with support of the NDP because of Trudeau's predictable confidence vote EH Quebec?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Contact Details
Website
http://pascalestonge.libparl.ca
Hill Office
House of Commons *
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada
K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-947-8185
Fax: 613-947-8188
* Mail may be sent postage-free to any member of Parliament.
Constituency Office
Main office - Cowansville
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Cowansville, Quebec
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Website
Hill Office
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Telephone: 613-992-4516
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Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 44th Parliament of Canada
Shadow Cabinet of the 44th Parliament of Canada | |
|---|---|
 Shadow Cabinet of Canada of Canada | |
| September 10, 2022 – Present | |
.jpg) | |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Leader of the Opposition | Pierre Poilievre |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | Melissa Lantsman Tim Uppal |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Official Opposition |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 10 September 2022 |
| Legislature term(s) | 44th Parliament of Canada |
| Predecessor | Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 43rd Parliament of Canada |
The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet in Canada was appointed after the 2021 Canadian federal election in September 2021. A new shadow cabinet was formed after the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.[1] Pierre Poilievre appointed a Shadow Cabinet in October 2022.[2]
October 2022
Critics
- Melissa Lantsman and Tim Uppal - Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition
- Ben Lobb — Digital Government
- John Barlow — Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Security
- Rachael Thomas — Canadian Heritage
- Jamie Schmale — Crown-Indigenous Relations
- Jasraj Hallan — Finance and Middle Class Prosperity
- Tracy Gray — Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
- Gérard Deltell — Environment and Climate Change
- Michelle Ferreri — Families, Children and Social Development
- Lianne Rood — Federal Economic Development Agency for Eastern, Central and Southern Ontario
- Clifford Small — Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
- Michael Chong — Foreign Affairs
- Stephen Ellis — Health
- Scott Aitchison — Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
- Tom Kmiec — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
- Eric Melillo — Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (Associate, Crown-Indigenous Relations)
- Rick Perkins —Innovation, Science and Industry
- Garnett Genuis — International Development
- Kyle Seeback — International Trade
- Brad Vis — Small Business Recovery and Growth
- Matt Jeneroux — Supply Chain Issues
- Scot Davidson — Red Tape Reduction
- Rob Moore — Justice and Attorney General of Canada
- Marilyn Gladu — Civil Liberties
- Todd Doherty — Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
- Laila Goodridge — Addictions
- Bob Zimmer — Northern Affairs and Arctic Sovereignty; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
- Pat Kelly — Prairie Economic Development (Advisor to the Leader, Economy)
- Tako van Popta — Pacific Economic Development
- Richard Martel — Sport; Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
- James Bezan — National Defence
- Adam Chambers — National Revenue
- Shannon Stubbs — Natural Resources
- Joel Godin — Official Languages
- Jake Stewart — Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Raquel Dancho — Public Safety
- Kelly Block — Public Services and Procurement
- Dane Lloyd — Emergency Preparedness
- Dan Mazier — Rural Economic Development & Connectivity
- Anna Roberts — Seniors and Status of Women
- Tony Baldinelli — Tourism
- Mark Strahl — Transport
- Stephanie Kusie — Treasury Board
- Blake Richards — Veterans Affairs
- Michael Barrett — Ethics and Accountable Government
- Leslyn Lewis — Infrastructure and Communities
- Chris Lewis — Labour
- Gary Vidal — Indigenous Services
- Ryan Williams — Pan-Canadian Trade and Competition
- Blaine Calkins — Hunting, Fishing and Conservation
- Michael Cooper — Democratic Reform
Rachael Thomas
Rachael Thomas | |
|---|---|
 Thomas in 2018 | |
| Member of Parliament for Lethbridge | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Hillyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rachael Harder 1986 (age 37–38) Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Victor Thomas |
| Residence(s) | Lethbridge, Alberta[1] |
| Alma mater | Briercrest College and Seminary (AA) University of Lethbridge (BA, BEd) |
Rachael Thomas (née Harder) MP (born 1986)[2] is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Lethbridge in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election. A member of the Conservative Party, she was reelected in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, and has been the Shadow Minister for Canadian Heritage since October 2022. Previously, Thomas has also served as the Official Opposition critic for Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the Status of Women, and Digital Government.
Early life and education
Harder was born in Calgary, Alberta and grew up on a small horse farm in Kathyrn, Alberta, where she was the third of five children.[2][3][4] When she was nine years old, she planned a dog kennel business with her parents.[3] Harder engaged in humanitarian work in Mexican orphanages and African health clinics and schools.[3] She graduated from Briercrest College and Seminary in Saskatchewan, and was named its young alumnus of the year in 2012. Harder then moved back to Alberta to attend the University of Lethbridge, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Science.[4]
Harder worked as a youth and young adult consultant and published a paper on emerging trends for young Canadians.[5] The report, Hemorrhaging faith: Why and when Canadian young adults are leaving, staying and returning to church was commissioned by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and was published in 2012 by Harder and her four co-authors. Using 72 interviews and almost 3,000 survey responses, it studied how and why younger Canadians aged 18-34 were increasingly leaving the church. A review of the report by Kelvin F. Mutter, an associate professor at McMaster Divinity College, praised it as "a sound piece of research" and "a vital resource for anyone interested in ministering with youth and young adults". Mutter also gave minor criticisms of the report for being largely limited to description and analysis instead of solutions, and not devoting more time to early childhood and family spiritual practices because of its scope being limited to young adults.[6]
Political career
2015 election and 42nd Parliament
Harder won the nomination race to become the Conservative Party candidate for the riding of Lethbridge for the 2015 federal election. The former MP for the riding, Jim Hillyer, chose to run in the adjacent riding of Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, which was created after the 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution.[7] During Harder's campaign, Harder filled out a survey from the anti-abortion Campaign Life Coalition indicating that she would work to pass laws banning abortion if elected.[8] Later, the Lethbridge Herald reported that she said that all women deserve access to abortion at a campaign town hall.[9] The Campaign Life Coalition then contacted Harder's campaign to verify their "pro-life" rating of her on the organization's website, and restored the profile, claiming that Harder's campaign manager told them that the Herald had misquoted her.[9]
Harder was elected, becoming the first woman MP to represent the traditionally Conservative riding.[2][5] In November 2015, she was chosen by interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose to serve as official opposition critic for Youth and Persons with Disabilities.[5] In April 2016, she also became the assistant critic for Health.[2] In Summer 2016, Harder gave nearly $12,000 of the Canada Summer Jobs Grant funds allocated to her as an MP to two Lethbridge pregnancy care centres that do not perform abortions or refer patients to abortion clinics.[9]
During the 2017 Conservative Party leadership election, Harder endorsed Erin O'Toole, who failed to win the leadership.[10] In August 2017, Andrew Scheer, the new Conservative leader, named Harder to his shadow cabinet as critic for the Status of Women.[9] Anti-abortion group RightNow praised Scheer for choosing Harder for the Status of Women critic portfolio. Shortly after taking on the position, in response to media questions about her position on abortion, Harder issued a statement that she would follow the Conservative Party's official position on not re-opening the abortion issue in Canada.[9]
On September 1, 2017, Harder, along with fellow Conservative MP Tony Clement, were banned from entering Azerbaijan because they visited the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is occupied by Armenia as part an ongoing conflict. The trip to the region was paid for by One Free World International, a Toronto non-profit group. The executive director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, Sevag Belian, accompanied Harder and Clement and arranged for them to meet senior government officials on their trip.[11][12][13]
In late September 2017, Harder was nominated by fellow Conservative MPs to be the Chair of the House Status of Women Committee, which by convention is chaired by an MP from an opposition party. However, Liberal and NDP members of the committee walked out of the meeting to deny quorum during which the vote to fill the Chair position would have been held, in protest of Harder's anti-abortion voting record and her previous endorsement by the Campaign Life Coalition. The following week, on October 3, the Liberals used their majority on the committee, and also with the support of the committee's only NDP MP, Sheila Malcolmson, to instead nominate and confirm Conservative pro-choice MP Karen Vecchio as Chair over her objections. Afterwards, Vecchio, the Conservative critic for families, children and social development, and Harder issued a joint statement accusing the Liberals of politicizing the Chair selection process and of bullying Harder as a distraction from their recent tax changes.[14][15][16]
In October 2018, Harder introduced Bill C-419, the Credit Card Fairness Act.[17] The bill sought to implement measures to end misleading banking practices in the credit card industry and help consumers make informed choices about the use of credit cards.[18] Bill C-419 was defeated at the second reading.[19]
From February 2019 to August 2020, Harder was the Chair of the House Standing Committee for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, as well as its subcommittee on agenda and procedure.[20] In March 2019, Harder spearheaded the creation of a inter-parliamentary friendship group between Canada and the Republic of Artsakh, and held its inaugural meeting in association with the Armenian National Committee of Canada. For her role, Harder received a letter of thanks from Ashot Ghulyan, the President of the National Assembly of Artsakh.[13][21] From April 2019 to February 2020, Harder was a member of the executive of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association.[20]
2019 election and 43rd Parliament
In October 2019, Harder was reelected with 65.8% of the popular vote.[22][23] Harder's Conservative platform for the 2019 federal election included a focus on the expansion of the energy sector, and the completion of pipelines.[24] Her environmental positions included ending carbon pricing in Canada, and prohibiting the dumping of sewage in waterways such as the West Coast and the St. Lawrence River.[24] Harder also cited crime and the opioid crisis as a major issue to be tackled, as well as an advance of aid to local peace officers.[24]
In November 2019, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer removed Harder from her shadow cabinet critic portfolio in a post-election shuffle.[10] In November 2020, Harder received public criticism for sharing on Facebook a Toronto Sun column which highlighted official Alberta Health statistics which showed that up to that point only 10 people who died of COVID-19 in Alberta during the pandemic had no comorbidities. After almost a thousand comments, mostly criticizing her perceived insensitivity to the hundreds dead who had comorbidities, Harder edited her original post to add that it was important to protect the most vulnerable during a pandemic.[25][26]
After Erin O'Toole, whom Harder had backed for leadership in 2017,[10] won the 2020 Conservative leadership election to succeed Scheer as party leader, Harder returned to the shadow cabinet in the February 2021 shuffle as the critic for Digital Government.[27]
In July 2021, Harder was one of 62 Conservative MPs to vote against a bill banning conversion therapy in Canada.[28]
2021 election and 44th Parliament
In September 2021, Harder was reelected with approximately 55% of the popular vote.[23] In November 2021, she legally changed her name to last name to "Thomas" after her marriage earlier in the year, and began using it for her parliamentary work.[29][30] During Erin O'Toole's post-election reshuffling of the shadow cabinet, Thomas was not granted a Shadow Cabinet position, it has been speculated that this is due to her stance on vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[31]
In December 2021, Thomas posted a Facebook Live video, in which she asked for respect and appreciation for unvaccinated Canadians and falsely suggested that the vaccinated were more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than the unvaccinated. Thomas also suggested that being unvaccinated and taking rapid tests was safer than vaccination. At the time of the video being posted, two-thirds of those hospitalized in Alberta for COVID-19 were unvaccinated, despite only making up one-fifth of the population.[32] According to Timothy Caulfield, the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta, Thomas's video incorrectly portrayed science as supporting her claims and was harmful misinformation that could lead to vaccine hesitancy.[33]
In March 2022, Thomas made a statement in the House of Commons defining a dictator as "a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force" and said that many Canadians agree that such a definition applied to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She then said that whether Trudeau is a dictator would be determined in the next federal election.[34] The statement was criticized by Mark Gerretsen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader, fellow Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, and United Conservative premier of Alberta Jason Kenney, among others, for inaccurately equating Trudeau to actual dictators.[35]
In October 2022, new Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre named Thomas Shadow Minister for Canadian Heritage.[36]
Personal life
In June 2021, Harder married Victor Thomas at the Banff Springs Hotel.[30] Harder is a Christian.[3]
Responsible and trustworthy news: CBC/Radio-Canada takes you behind the headlines and into its newsrooms
CBC/Radio-Canada's Annual Public Meeting was held virtually yesterday.
This year, the public broadcaster took you behind the headlines and into our newsrooms. Journalists, newsroom leaders and ombudsmen answered your questions about their roles, the challenges they encountered, and our commitment to deliver responsible and trustworthy news content to Canadians.
“People trust our news because our journalistic standards are among the best in the world. They're publicly available. And we're held to account publicly through an independent ombudsman.”
– Brodie Fenlon, Editor in Chief, Executive Director of Programs and Standards, CBC News
" We get to be storytellers and tell people's stories. People who are giving us their time, their thoughts, their feelings, their opinions, and they're trusting us with that information to be able to share it with the rest of the world. That is a huge honour. "
– Juanita Taylor, Host and Reporter, CBC North
This event was also an opportunity for Catherine Tait, President and
CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, and Michael Goldbloom, Chairman of the Board of
CBC/Radio-Canada, to inform Canadians about the essential role the
public broadcaster plays in news coverage across the country.
“We’re living at a time when public confidence in Canadian institutions is dwindling — including the media, private and public. It’s essential in any democracy that people trust their institutions. That’s why it’s important to explain how we practice journalism, so that Canadians can understand and have confidence in what we do.”
– Michael Goldbloom, Chair, Board of Directors, CBC/Radio-Canada
“We have to remember that we are the only national media organization — national being coast-to-coast-to-coast in both official languages and eight Indigenous languages. We're covering the country like no other news organization.”
– Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada
The Annual Public Meeting is available in three versions on our corporate website:
- English version, with simultaneous interpretation, ASL interpretation and subtitles
- French version, with simultaneous interpretation, LSQ interpretation and subtitles
- Bilingual version, with subtitles
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada's trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
Media contact:
Minister St-Onge appoints Advisory Committee on the Future of CBC/Radio-Canada
News release
GATINEAU, May 13, 2024
As the national public broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada occupies a unique place in Canada’s cultural and information landscape, reflecting Canadian values and sharing our stories from coast to coast to coast. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the public broadcaster is well positioned to continue delivering vital services for Canadians, now and in the future.
The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced today the appointment of an Advisory Committee who will provide policy advice on how to strengthen and renew the public broadcaster so it can continue to fulfill its important social, cultural and democratic functions.
The committee is composed of seven experts and specialists who will contribute their knowledge and experience from a variety of fields:
- Marie-Philippe Bouchard, CEO, TV5 Québec Canada
- Jesse Wente, Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, founding Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office
- Jennifer McGuire, Managing Director, Pink Triangle Press
- David Skok, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, The Logic (independent media startup)
- Mike Ananny, Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California Annenberg
- Loc Dao, Executive Director of DigiBC
- Catalina Briceno, Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
This Advisory Committee will meet regularly with the Minister to discuss a range of questions dealing with funding, governance and mandate.
Quotes
“CBC/Radio-Canada is a cornerstone of Canadian culture. For almost 90 years, our public broadcaster has been a daily presence for Canadians, sharing our stories across the country. But the world has changed since the broadcaster started in 1936. Canadians need a strong, innovative and independent public broadcaster that is ready to meet the challenges of this period of transformation and upheaval in news and content creation. This advisory committee, with its diverse perspectives and experiences, will help me fulfil my mandate to modernize CBC/Radio-Canada. It will be able to better promote our culture, our stories, our languages, our artists, and our creators, while adapting to our rapidly changing broadcast and digital landscape.”
—The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Quick facts
-
The Broadcasting Act entrusts CBC/Radio-Canada with a mandate to provide a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains. The Act also sets out several objectives for its programming, including that it should be predominantly and distinctively Canadian, actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression, and reflect the different needs and circumstances of each official-language community.
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CBC/Radio-Canada delivers its mandate through a variety of traditional and digital services that are used by millions of Canadians every month. To finance its operations, it relies on an annual parliamentary appropriation of approximately $1.2 billion and supplementary income generated from advertising, subscriptions and other commercial activities.
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Since CBC/Radio-Canada was established almost 90 years ago, sweeping changes have transformed Canada’s media landscape, vastly increasing the number and variety of programs and services available. However, CBC/Radio-Canada has innovated to meet audiences on digital platforms, while still being consistently rated as a highly trusted source of news and information for Canadians. (Source: Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2022)
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CBC/Radio-Canada’s programming can be heard, read or watched in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. Their mandate and national presence in Canada, available coast to coast to coast and free from commercial or political influence, is unique within the news and entertainment spheres. Many countries around the world have public broadcasters, including all other G7 countries. There are also several provincial public broadcasters in Canada.
Associated links
Contacts
For more information (media only), please contact:
Ariane Joazard-Bélizaire
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
ariane.joazard-belizaire@pch.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
1-819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
Marie-Philippe Bouchard
Présidente-directrice générale
Marie-Philippe Bouchard occupe les fonctions de présidente-directrice générale de TV5 Québec Canada depuis le 8 février 2016. Elle est responsable de tous les aspects de la gestion des chaînes TV5 et Unis TV, ainsi que de la filiale Épilogue Services Techniques Inc. Depuis septembre 2019 elle occupe aussi les fonctions de présidente-directrice générale de TV5 Numérique. Elle est également présidente du Conseil de direction du Centre de recherche en droit public de l’Université de Montréal (CRDP), administratrice du conseil d’administration de la Société de développement commercial du Vieux Montréal (SDC), membre du conseil d’administration du Festival international de Lanaudière, membre de l’Assemblée des dirigeants et vice-présidente des Médias francophones publics (MFP) et présidente du comité consultatif de philanthropie de la Faculté de droit de l’Université de Montréal. Tout récemment, elle a obtenu un Certificat en éthique et conformité de l’École des dirigeants HEC Montréal
De 1987 à 2016, elle a occupé différents postes de gestion et de haute direction à Radio-Canada en planification stratégique et affaires réglementaires, aux nouvelles et aux affaires publiques télévisées, à l’information radio, aux services numériques et en musique, dont elle était la directrice générale jusqu’en janvier 2016.
Membre du Barreau du Québec depuis 1985 et détentrice d’une Maîtrise en droit public de l’Université de Montréal, elle s’est jointe aux services juridiques de la Société Radio-Canada en 1987, après avoir enseigné le Droit des communications comme chargée d’enseignement et agente de recherche au Centre de recherche en droit public de la Faculté de droit de l’Université de Montréal en tout début de carrière.
One frame at a time: The road to reviving New Brunswick's film industry
Government department says grant caps on film, TV productions lifted
There's been a lot of buzz in Saint John about a new feature film being shot in the Port City, and while the project is big news on its own, it could have even greater influence.
Stephen Foster, president of Media New Brunswick, said there was a huge exodus of people who were working full-time jobs in the industry when the provincial government cancelled the film tax credit in 2011.
He said those people left and went to places with a stronger film industry.
Now, Foster says the industry is rebuilding, and he hopes to see that continue with more of the younger generation sticking around and working on productions in the province.
"We need to have a consistent amount of shows — whether that's feature films or TV series — basically, we need to have things that are shooting in New Brunswick consistently," said Foster.
"What's happening now is you'll have a crew come in and they'll shoot for two months … but then it's downtime for four or five months until the next thing comes along, and that makes … working in film full time very, very challenging."
Stephen
Foster, president of Media New Brunswick and co-producer of the movie
Unseen, said getting rid of the cap for film and TV grants is a great
step. (Michael Heenan/CBC)
Foster said that's because people in the film industry can't make a reliable income if there is only work every two or three months.
He said in order to achieve that consistency, the province needs to be on par with other regions in the country in terms of how funding works.
But he thinks progress is being made with New Brunswick's grant system — a step toward reviving the industry.
Unseen, a feature film, is being shot in multiple locations in Saint John. (Michael Heenan/CBC) Before this year, film and TV production projects had a grant cap of $1.5 million per project or $2 million per producer, according to a spokesperson with the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.
Foster said this was a challenge because if a larger production with a bigger budget wanted to come to New Brunswick, it would sometimes be more financially wise to go to a neighbouring province with fewer restrictions on assistance.
But as of this year, the grant caps have been removed, a spokesperson with the department said.
"Now those projects can come here," said Foster. "I'm hoping what will happen is, as they come here, they'll keep coming back and we'll have that consistent work for all of the folks."
Taylor Olsen, director, writer and actor, wanted to tackle the topic of homelessness in this film. (Michael Heenan/CBC)
Foster said this is important, not just for the directors, producers and actors in the film world, but the other people that shooting a movie requires, including costume designers, painters, electricians, accountants, drivers and caterers.
"It's so all-encompassing that if you have a strong industry, you're going to have a strong economy."
Homelessness key theme in movie
Foster is also the co-producer on Unseen, a feature film being shot in Saint John. It's being shot in multiple locations around the city and is funded by Telefilm Canada, Crave, the Canadian Media Fund and the governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The movie follows Gideon, a swim coach who falls on hard times and is forced to live in his van. The character, played by Canadian actor Taylor Olsen, tries to hide the fact that he's homeless from everyone in his life.
Olsen, also the film's writer and director, said the film drew from some of his own experiences. When he was 19, he said he was living out of a van while driving across the country swimming and coaching. After that, he said he ended up in Halifax working with the homeless community.
Sandy Hunter, co-producer on Unseen, said the film has a $1.3 million budget, which is tiny in the film industry. (Michael Heenan/CBC)
"The houseless community is growing larger and larger day by day, and the housing crisis is getting worse day by day," said Olsen. "This is an opportunity to see a story of helplessness and visible helplessness, in this case, through the eyes of one person [and] hopefully create empathy for folks who are dealing with this."
This winter, several people who were homeless in New Brunswick died, and the homeless population has nearly doubled in each of the province's three major cities over the past two years.
Sandy Hunter, the film's other co-producer, said he hopes to have the film become available around mid-2025, depending on film festival schedules.
He said there will also be a local premiere and it will be available in theatres before going to the streaming platform, Crave.
Hunter said the biggest challenge with getting the film off the ground has been personnel. He said they brought in people from four provinces in order to make it happen.
Unseen is also being done with a $1.3 million budget, which Hunter said is tiny in the film industry,
"I mean, that's probably like the sword budget in an episode of Game of Thrones."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Julia Wright
'Unseen' film largest English-language movie to be shot in New Brunswick in more than a decade
It’s the largest English-spoken film to be filmed in New Brunswick in more than a decade.
“Unseen,” starring Canadian actor Taylor Olson(opens in a new tab) (who also wrote and is directing the project), is in its final week of filming in Saint John, N.B. The movie follows Taylor’s character Gideon, who is a dedicated father and swim coach, but a few financial decisions leave him on the streets, battling the tough reality of invisible homelessness.
“Gideon’s plight as a regular citizen of Canada who winds up living in his van and hiding this fact from his friends, colleagues, and family members was very pressing and timely,” says Sandy Hunter, one of the films producers. “As we know, for many with rising housing costs, this situation can be a paycheque away for many Canadians and many New Brunswickers.”
Producer Steve Foster says he and Olson spent time with those who work with and live in encampments in Saint John leading up to production. Empathy towards those in a tough spot is the film’s overarching message.
“Homelessness can fall into four categories,” Foster notes. “There’s sort of the addiction and mental health, there’s the nomadic life in people who choose to be homeless, and then there’s folks who are one bill away from being homeless and that’s where we find ourselves in this story.”
The feature is a joint effort by Nova Scotia film company Brass Door Productions(opens in a new tab), New Brunswick’s Hemmings Films(opens in a new tab) and Cazador Inc(opens in a new tab). Vortex Media(opens in a new tab) will also play a role in distributing the film once completed.
On Monday the team was at the Irving Field House shooting a scene, one of the many locations used in Saint John for the movie. Other locations include the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Parkway Mall, and various locations in the cities uptown.
Sean Moore has been an extra actor in various scenes along with his two daughters. He is looking forward to seeing the Port City feature on the big screen.
“What’s going to be a lot of fun when we do finally get to watch is going, ‘I know that spot, I know that spot, I grew up not far from there,’” Moore says with a smile. “It’s going to be really, really cool.”
Moore and his two daughters are just a few Saint Johnners who will make their “acting debut” in the film playing extras. “Unseen” also has hired professional actors from across the country for production, including a pair of young actresses from Halifax.
“It’s been amazing and really fun,” says Polly Gallant-McLean, who has had a variety of previous roles. “Honestly you would not have to pay me to do this.”
“I like how it’s, like, you can act, like, character out,” says her colleague Cora Wintringham, who also comes to the set with plenty of experience. “And you can express the characters feelings and personality.”
Foster says he among others have been working hard over the last few years to revitalize the film and television industry in New Brunswick. Working with the province, Media New Brunswick has been revived, giving the sector one voice to help communicate with the legislature.
He hopes this film signifies the return of large-scale filmmaking in his home province.
“I like to think this is one of many more to come and we are really excited about this,” says the Saint John native. “Sandy and I really wanted this and it was actually a non-starter, we needed this to be in Saint John. Just the amount of access and the amount of people who have come out to support this has been really nice to see.”
“Saint John has also been able to provide us with the breadth and spread of locations that you can’t get in a lot of places,” Hunter points out. “You’ve got you heavy industry, you’ve got your uptown, and high end locations as well as one of our favourite chestnuts the Parkway Mall.”
“Unseen” is slated to make its debut at film festivals next year, and will shortly after hit the big screens in theatres and be available to stream through Crave(opens in a new tab).
https://www.signalhire.com/profiles/steve-foster%27s-email/112426059
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenfosterhhp/?originalSubdomain=ca
Steve Foster
Media NB is committed to championing the interest of film, television, animation, and industry professionals in New Brunswick in order to foster a unified and competitive provincial media industry. Our primary goals are to improve program funding for incentives and to ensure stability, reliability, growth, and sustainable crew development within the sector.
Join now and receive a complimentary membership that will automatically be renewed on August 31st, 2024
info@medianb.ca
https://hemmingshouse.com/team/
Hemmings House Pictures is an award-winning film production company that specializes in social change-making. Founded by Greg Hemmings in 2006, Hemmings House and its creative production teams have produced a broad scope of world-class, purpose-driven media.
CEO
Steve is an accomplished executive producer and businessperson with over 20 years of experience, leading a variety of productions for some of Atlantic Canada’s most influential brands and advertising agencies, in addition to global entertainment networks. Steve began his career in production in the sound and camera departments. He then moved into directing and assistant-directing, eventually falling in love with producing. Steve is well-versed in developing creative talent during conceptualization, production, and distribution.
Outside of his enthusiasm for all things advertising and long-form content, Steve enjoys mentoring and volunteering. When he’s not working, Steve can be found cooking and gardening with his wife, Lindsay, and their two sons, Francis and Gabriel.
133 Prince William Street
Suite 502
Saint John NB E2L 2B4
hello@hemmingshouse.com
506-642-0872
Jesse Wente
Jesse Wente is a First Nations Canadian arts journalist and chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts. He is an Ojibwe member of Serpent River First Nation.
Background
Jesse Wente was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1974. His maternal grandmother Norma was Indigenous from the Serpent River First Nation. His paternal grandparents were executives.[1] He attended the Toronto private school Crescent School.[1] He received funding from the federal government through the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (later Indspire)[2] to attend the University of Toronto where he studied cinema studies. He graduated in 1996.[3]
Career
Wente broadcast for CBC Radio One's Metro Morning on films and pop culture for 20 years,[4] and was appointed as chair of the board of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2020.[5]
An outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art,[6] Wente is active in a number of areas in the sphere of Canadian media.
He has been a culture critic with Metro Morning for more than 20 years and on CBC Radio One's national Unreserved program.[7][8] Wente is actively involved in Canadian film in a number of roles and is an advocate for increasing the presence of underrepresented voices.[9] He previously served as director of film programmes at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, where he oversaw theatrical, Cinematheque and Film Circuit programming.[10]
Wente was named as the first director of Canada's new Indigenous Screen Office in January 2018.[11][12] This program of the Canadian federal government is intended to support the development, production and marketing of Indigenous screen content and storytelling in Canada.[11]
He was appointed to the board of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2017 and became its chairperson in July 2020.[5] Previously, he served as director of the Toronto Arts Council.
Wente's memoir, Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance, was published in September 2021.
https://canadacouncil.ca/about
The Canada Council reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage. It submits regular reports to several other government departments in line with schedules and regulations set by legislation and the departments.
Those reports include action plans or updates on meeting the requirements of:
- the Official Languages Act
- the Canadian Multiculturalism Act
- the Employment Equity Act
- the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act
An Annual Public Meeting is held early in each calendar year, usually in our Ottawa offices. Members of the public and the arts community are invited to participate in person, or via our livestream and social media channels.
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
The Council operates the Canadian Commission for the UNESCO (CCUNESCO). The Commission oversees UNESCO activities in Canada, serving as an independent forum for consultation and reflection on the opportunities to build a peaceful, equitable and a sustainable future. It is managed by a 17-member executive committee composed of representatives of government departments, academics and other experts in education, culture and world heritage. It helps governments, organizations and individual Canadians share information and makes recommendations to the federal government on UNESCO programs and budgets.
Governance
The Canada Council, a federal Crown corporation, is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage and is governed by an 11-member Board. The Board consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair and nine other members from across Canada. Along with the Director and CEO, they are appointed by the Governor in Council for fixed terms. The Board meets at least three times a year and is responsible for the organization’s policies, programs, budgets and grant decisions.
https://canadacouncil.ca/about/governance/board-members
Board Members
Jesse Wente
Toronto, Ontario
Jesse Wente is a husband and father, as well as a writer, broadcaster, speaker and arts administrator. Born and raised in Toronto, his family comes from Chicago and Genaabaajing Anishinaabek and he is an off-reserve member of the Serpent River First Nation.
Jesse is best known for more than two decades spent as a columnist for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. In 2018, Jesse was named the founding director of the Indigenous Screen Office. He received the Arbor Award from the University of Toronto in 2021 for his volunteer contributions and was recently appointed a Senior Fellow of Massey College.
His first book Unreconciled: Family, Truth and Indigenous Resistance is a national bestseller and was picked as one of best books of 2021 by Chapters-Indigo, Apple Books and The Globe and Mail. Jesse recently won the Kobo Emerging Writers Prize in Non-Fiction.
Jesse Wente was appointed Chair of the Board of the Canada Council for the Arts for a five-year term effective July 28, 2020, to July 27, 2025.
https://canadacouncil.ca/about/governance/senior-management
Senior Management
The Canada Council’s senior management is responsible for day-to-day operations and for establishing and implementing the organization’s overall strategic direction, as well as for fulfilling governance decisions made by the Board.
Led by the Director and CEO, it includes senior decision-makers from the organization’s main divisions and offices: the Chief Financial, Administration and Security Officer; the Chief Information Officer; the Director General, Strategy and Public Affairs; the Director General, Communications and Arts Engagement; the Director General, Arts Granting Programs; and the Secretary-General, CCUNESCO.
They work together to advance priorities across the Council.
Michelle Chawla
Contact Michelle Chawla
Michelle Chawla is the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Council for the Arts, a role in which she began on June 26, 2023, for a five-year term.
Michelle has worked at the Council since 1995. Most recently, she was the Director General of Strategy, Public Affairs and Arts Engagement, responsible for the executive leadership and direction of a wide range of functions, including communications, strategic planning, international coordination and cultural diplomacy. Michelle has held many other senior positions at the Council, including Corporate Secretary and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Secretary-General for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and Head of Arts Services.
Through her nearly three decades at the Canada Council for the Arts, Michelle has gained extensive leadership experience in arts and culture policy, program development, equity, corporate governance, government and stakeholder relations, transformation initiatives, international engagement and cultural relations.
From a Punjabi and Quebecois background, Michelle is a member of the Sikh community. She is fluently bilingual, and she is passionate about leading a workplace where all voices are heard and respected through arts and culture.
Got a call from 613 566 4414 telling me to send the email to Chair
chair@canadacouncil.ca
michelle.chawla@canadacouncil.ca
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/canadacouncil/K23-57-2011-eng.pdf
Canada Council for the Arts
15
The development process begins with extensive consultation across all divisions, providing
opportunity for all staff to engage in the budgeting process. This also allows for a discussion
regarding the status of the Strategic Plan priorities. The budget process includes a mid-year
review of the budget for the current year, as well as preparation for the upcoming year’s budget.
This presents the opportunity to propose mid-year reallocations within divisional and sectional
budgets in order to address arising initiatives and the implementation of the Action Plan.
The budget process is coordinated by the Finance and Administration Division, however, the
Finance and Administration Division does not decide the budget recommendations. The final
decision for the budget recommendations presented to the Board rests with the Executive
Management Group and the Director and CEO. After review by management, the budgets are
presented first to the Audit and Finance Committee and then to the Board for approval.
3.3 Amendments to the Governance Policy
The Council Secretariat will continue to monitor and revise the policy on a regular basis, ensuring that
the Canada Council’s practices and procedures are kept current with acceptable standards, under the
direction of the Governance and Nominating Committee. The policy is reviewed by the Governance
and Nominating Committee on a regular basis. Any questions regarding this document may be directed
to the Corporate Secretary.
Approved by the Board in December 2009. Revised June 2011.
For further information, contact:
Michelle Chawla
Corporate Secretary and Director, Strategic Initiatives
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5V8
1.800.263.5588 | 613.566.4414 x5086
michelle.chawla@canadacouncil.ca
Minister Rodriguez announces appointment of Michelle Chawla as Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts
News release
GATINEAU, May 8, 2023
The Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced today the appointment of Michelle Chawla as Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Council for the Arts for a five-year term, effective June 26, 2023.
Chawla has worked at the Canada Council since 1995. In her role as the Council’s Director General of Strategy, Public Affairs and Arts Engagement, she is responsible for the executive leadership and direction of a wide range of functions including communications, strategic planning, international coordination and cultural diplomacy. Chawla has also held many other senior positions at the Canada Council, including Corporate Secretary and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Secretary-General for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and Head of Arts Services. Through her nearly three decades at the Canada Council, she has gained extensive leadership experience in arts and culture policy, program development, equity, corporate governance, government and stakeholder relations, transformation initiatives, international engagement and cultural relations.
From a Punjabi and Quebecois background, Chawla is a member of the Sikh community and is passionate about working in an environment where all voices are heard and respected through arts and culture. She is fluently bilingual.
The Canada Council for the Arts is a Crown corporation in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio.
Quotes
“Michelle Chawla’s impressive leadership and extensive experience in various senior roles at the Canada Council for the Arts makes her uniquely qualified for this position. I am delighted that she will take on the role of Director and CEO to lead the Canada Council as it continues to support the Canadian arts sector and cultural experiences from coast to coast to coast. I would also like to thank Simon Brault for his exemplary leadership and vision at the helm of the Canada Council for the last several years.”
—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Quick facts
-
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public art funder. It contributes to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene through grants, services, prizes and payments to Canadian artists and arts organizations.
-
The Canada Council for the Arts is governed by an 11-member board. It consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and nine other members from across Canada. Along with the Director, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, board members are appointed by the Governor in Council.
-
In 2015, the Government of Canada adopted a new approach to Governor in Council appointments. This approach respects the principle of diversity and is based on an open, transparent and merit-based selection process. It results in the recommendation of competent, high-quality candidates that reflect Canadian diversity.
-
As they become available, all appointment opportunities in the 16 organizations in the Canadian Heritage Portfolio are posted on the Governor in Council appointments website. Those interested can apply online.
Associated links
Contacts
For more information (media only), please contact:
Laura Scaffidi
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
laura.scaffidi@pch.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
https://iso-bea.ca/news-events/2022/09/07/indigenous-screen-office-announces-executive-director-transition/
Toronto ⏤ The Board of Directors of the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) announces that Jesse Wente is stepping down as the organization’s Co-Executive Director. The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Kerry Swanson – who currently serves as Co-Executive Director with Wente – as incoming Executive Director. Wente will remain with ISO until the end of the calendar year and continue to engage with the organization on future strategic initiatives.
“The Board thanks Jesse Wente for his invaluable contributions as the ISO’s founding Director. The broader Indigenous production community has benefited greatly from the impact of his presence, voice and advocacy for Indigenous narrative sovereignty,” said Jean La Rose, Chair of the ISO Board of Directors.
“The Board congratulates Kerry Swanson, who has accepted the position of Executive Director,” said La Rose. “Kerry is a leader who embraces the values of the ISO and her proven commitment and deep knowledge of the Indigenous media sector will ensure the organization’s continued growth and success.”
Jesse Wente started with the ISO at the beginning of 2018, with a modest operating budget provided by a consortium of funding partners. Early in his tenure, he was a strong advocate for changes to the Canadian Broadcasting Act, now poised to be passed as legislation in Bill C-11.
Together with Kerry Swanson, who started the following year, they subsequently secured a $40-million three-year allocation from Canadian Heritage and have built Canada’s first independent Indigenous-led screen-based funding body. In the last two years, ISO has delivered over $20m in funding directly to Indigenous storytellers across Canada, and developed innovative partnership programs with organizations including Netflix, Directors Guild of Canada, Amazon Studios, MIT, Sundance Institute, and the Banff World Media Festival. They have continued to develop initiatives with founding partners CMF, APTN, Telefilm Canada and CBC.
“It has been my great honour to work for the ISO since its inception and to advocate for the many talented and inspiring Indigenous storytellers in our community. I have achieved the goals I set out to accomplish when I joined the organization and I will continue to use my voice to advance Indigenous sovereign rights to tell our own stories,” said Jesse Wente.
Kerry Swanson is an experienced executive and fundraiser dedicated to the growth and development of some of Canada’s leading Indigenous arts organizations and initiatives over the last seventeen years. In the last three years, she has been responsible for building the ISO’s administrative infrastructure, partnerships, and funding framework. Her experience as former Executive Director and Board Chair of imagineNATIVE, and leadership roles at Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council, have made her uniquely qualified for the leadership role at ISO.
Kerry has a Masters in Communication and Culture from Toronto Metropolitan University. She was born and raised in Chapleau, northern Ontario, in a Cree/Ojibwe, Irish and French family. She is a member of Michipicoten First Nation with familial ties to Chapleau Cree First Nation.
“I look forward to continuing my work in service to Indigenous storytellers, and to the exciting next chapter of the ISO. I can’t thank Jesse enough for the rewarding partnership we have had and which will only continue in a new form,” said Kerry Swanson.
For more information please contact:
Jean-François D. O’Bomsawin
Director of Marketing & Communications
jfobomsawin@indigenousscreenoffice.com
(438) 826-6291
www.iso-bea.ca
About the Indigenous Screen Office
The Indigenous
Screen Office (ISO) is an independent national advocacy and funding
organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators of screen
content in Canada. The ISO’s mandate is to foster and support narrative
sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous
storytelling on screens and promoting Indigenous values and
participation across the sector.
Jennifer McGuire goes from CBC to Xtra
As Pink Triangle Press' new chief content officer, the former head of CBC news will help further its growth and impact goals.
Pink Triangle Press, the publisher of LGBTQ2S+ outlet Xtra, has brought on Jennifer McGuire, former head of CBC News, as its chief content officer.
In her new role, McGuire will lead all of the teams in Canada the U.S. producing content for PTP. In addition to Xtra, PTP has also produced television projects like travel series Bump! and The Gayest Show Ever, as well as documentaries Small Town Pride and Unnatural Disasters.
McGuire was named general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News in 2009, leaving in 2020 as part of a digital restructuring. Under McGuire’s watch, CBC relaunched Newsworld as CBC News Network, transformed CBC Radio 2 into CBC Music and launched programming like The Current, Missing and Murdered, The Debaters, Q, O’Reilly on Advertising and The Signal. After leaving, she spent time as a visiting fellow at the Reuters’ Institute of Journalism at Oxford University.
In a statement, McGuire said she was excited to join a “mission-driven organization” at a time when it has bigger ambitions for further growth and impact of its existing content offering.
Over the last several years, Xtra has been transforming itself from a magazine focused on news affecting queer communities in Toronto and Canada, to a digital outlet providing news, analysis and feature writing on culture, politics, sex, relationships and health that is more relevant to a global LGBTQ2S+ audience.
According to figures provided to MiC by PTP, Xtra had just under 250,000 visitors in December, doubling from the same period in 2020. They generated 300,000 visits, a 2.5x year-over-year increase. The majority of its audience is also under the age of 35.
That transformation was led, in part, by Rachel Giese, who was named editorial director at Xtra in 2018 and whose previous duties are included in McGuire’s new role. Giese left Xtra prior to the holidays and began a new job as deputy national editor for health, education and families at The Globe & Mail this week.
Press Releases
Pink Triangle Press names Jennifer McGuire Chief Content Officer
TORONTO (January 4, 2022) — Pink Triangle Press (PTP), Canada’s leading LGBTQ2S+ media organization, announced today the appointment of Jennifer McGuire as Pink Triangle Press’ Chief Content Officer, effective January 4, 2022.
McGuire, the former and the longest serving Editor-in-Chief of CBC News, is a media executive with deep experience across many genres of content in audio, video and digital production. “Jennifer McGuire is an innovator with a track record of success particularly with transformational change,” says the Executive Director of Pink Triangle Press, David Walberg. “Her fingerprints are on a lot of the most successful programming at CBC, on all platforms. We are lucky to have her,” he says. McGuire will lead our content teams in Canada and the United States, and all content produced by Pink Triangle Press across its many channels.
McGuire comes to Pink Triangle Press after time as a Visiting Fellow with the Reuters’ Institute of Journalism at Oxford University. McGuire has led significant change initiatives at the public broadcaster including the digital transformation of CBC News, the relaunch of Newsworld as CBC News Network, and the launch of an inclusive music strategy for CBC Radio 2 and audio, now CBC Music. It was under McGuire’s leadership at CBC that programming such as The Current, Missing and Murdered, The Debaters, Q, O’Reilly on Advertising, Afghanda, Canada Live and The Signal were launched, among many other initiatives.
“Pink Triangle Press is a mission-driven organization that has been serving LGBTQ2S+ Canadians for decades, McGuire says. The content offer is wide, and PTP has even bigger ambitions for growth and impact. I believe in representation. I believe in equity. I am very excited to join this team and I am confident that we will do some amazing things together.Jennifer McGuire
Jennifer (she/her) is responsible for the vision, voice and strategy of all content and content-driven product development across platforms at Pink Triangle Press (PTP), which publishes Xtra. Prior to PTP, McGuire was a visiting fellow with the Reuters Institute of Journalism at Oxford University. Before that she held many key roles at the CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, including the leadership of CBC Radio, Local CBC, and from 2009-2020 she was the general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News, the longest serving in CBC history. McGuire is known for leading the development of The Current and other iconic CBC shows. She lives in Toronto. She speaks English and is functional in French.
Pink Triangle Press
2 Carlton Street
Suite 1600
Toronto ON M5B 1J3
Phone: 416-925-6665
Toll Free: 1-800-268-9872
Email: pinktrianglepress@ptp.media
Loc Dao (he/him), Executive Director
Loc is the co-founder of the groundbreaking NFB Digital and CBC Radio 3
studios and their industry shifting bodies of work. He has won over 100
awards including Top Digital Producer (Digi Awards), Site of the Year (Favourite Website Awards), a Cannes Cyber Lion and 15 Webby Awards.
. He was recently the Chief Digital Officer for the National Film Board
of Canada, and throughout his career has advised the Government of
Canada, Canada Media Fund, Sundance, Tribeca, IDFA and VIFF Film Festivals.
Professeure
Catalina Briceño has been examining the digital transition of the audiovisual and interactive media sectors for almost 25 years. After a career as a Television and Web producer followed by several management positions in government-related organizations, she is now a Professor at the Media School of the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research interests include the political economy of media platforms, governance and public policy in the audiovisual sector, as well as strategic intelligence and foresight approaches applied to cultural and creative industries. To this end, she is pursuing her analyst and consultant practice as one of the co-founder of La Société des demains (https://demains.co/), as well as an author and lecturer.
Speaking on: Defining Canadian Content: The future of the industry
Catalina BricenoQC/CA
Université du Québec à Montréal
As a seasoned executive and scholar, Catalina Briceno (she/her) addresses the digital transition of the media and cultural industries in her research work. Her expertise is based on 20 years’ hands-on experience as an executive producer, followed by decision-making positions within government-related organizations. She is currently a professor at the School of Media of the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) where she teaches Media Economy, Strategic watch and Foresight, as well as Information and Network architecture. Briceno is also co-author of the book Parents living in a world of Screens, published at Éditions de l’Homme (2019).
MikeAnanny
He is also on the faculty advisory committee of USC’s Center on Science, Technology, and Public Life and co-leads the interdisciplinary research collective “MASTS” (Media as SocioTechnical Systems). He was a 2019-2021 faculty fellow with USC’s Society of Fellows in the Humanities, a 2018-19 Berggruen fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and has held fellowships and scholarships with Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Harvard’s Berkman-Klein Center on Internet and Society, Stanford’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, LEGO, and Interval Research. He was a founding member of Media Lab Europe, a postdoc with Microsoft Research’s Social Media Collective, and has consulted for LEGO, Mattel, and Nortel Networks.
His PhD is from Stanford University (communication), SM from the MIT Media Lab (media arts and sciences), and BSc from the University of Toronto (human biology and computer science). He regularly publishes in various academic and popular venues (including The Atlantic, WIRED, and the Nieman Lab), is the author of Networked Press Freedom (MIT Press, 2018), co-editor (with Laura Forlano and Molly Wright Steenson) of Bauhaus Futures (MIT Press, 2019), and is preparing a manuscript on the public power of silence and mediated absences (under contract with Yale University Press).
Awards and honors:
Faculty fellow with USC’s Society of Fellows in the Humanities (2019-2021)
Berggruen fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (2018-2019)
Fellow at Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism (2017-2018)
Fellow and faculty associate at Harvard University’s Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society (2010-2014)
Doctoral scholar with Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation (2006-2010)
David Skok
Before founding The Logic in 2018, David Skok was the associate editor and head of editorial strategy at the Toronto Star. He has also served as the managing editor and vice-president of digital for the Boston Globe, and as the co-creator and director of digital for Global News. David is a leading thinker on digital transformation who co-published a seminal paper on disruption in the news industry with the Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen. David sits on the advisory board for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University and has served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes in journalism.
Mailing address:
The Logic Inc.
204-390 Dupont St.
Toronto, ON
M5R 1V9
Phone number:
416-927-0555
Why I’ve agreed to provide advice on the future of the public broadcaster
Earlier this spring, the heritage minister’s office asked me to serve on a non-partisan expert panel that will advise the government on the future of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada.
I was torn. The CBC is a public institution—the biggest player in Canada’s media sector, it gets $1.3 billion in taxpayer dollars each year—and this was a call to public service. I worried, though, that my involvement would be seen as a political act, or torqued to seem like one by those wanting to undermine The Logic’s reputation for impartiality and editorial independence.
I sought the minister’s pledge that the panel would be nonpartisan, which she and her team provided, though they didn’t go so far as to tell me who else would be asked to serve. Discussions with The Logic’s leadership team assured me this would not compromise our newsroom’s ability to cover the CBC or, more broadly, our ability to do our jobs as journalists, so I accepted the appointment.
In keeping with The Logic’s policies, I have declined any reimbursement or honoraria offered. To avoid conflicts of interest, I have also recused myself from any future coverage of the CBC or of Heritage Canada. If The Logic’s newsroom covers this file, I’ll be reading what they report at the same time you do.
Related Articles
I believe that democracy requires a free and independent press—so much so that while I have spoiled ballots, I have never voted, donated to any political campaign or publicly supported any political party or government.
I was born in South Africa in the late 1970s, growing up under an apartheid regime without a free press. I hadn’t heard the name Nelson Mandela until I left the country when I was nine years old. On our way to starting a new life in Canada, my family visited relatives in the U.K. A television screen showed me a broadcast from London’s Wembley Stadium, where a tribute concert was celebrating Mandela’s 70th birthday. The future South African president was in the middle of his 25th year in prison. The South African government had not released a single photo of him in all that time. Few people knew what he looked like. It’s hard to describe what government censorship looks like unless you’ve experienced it firsthand.
Arriving in Canada awakened my interest in journalism. I would sit at the foot of my parents’ bed at night watching coverage of some of the most formative events of the 20th century: The fall of the Berlin Wall, the massacre in Tiananmen Square, the standoff between a group of Mohawk people and Canadian soldiers and police officers at Oka, the massacre at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, the Quebec referendum, the first Gulf War, the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
The dichotomy of spending my youth in an environment where the government controlled the media and my formative years in a place where journalism thrived has given my life its driving purpose.
That drive led me to launch The Logic six years ago. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’m optimistic about both our future and the future of Canadian media more generally.
I’ve never bought into the idea that this business has to be a fight between journalism startups and legacy media. I think all news outlets contribute to a healthy and vibrant media ecosystem that should ultimately challenge Canadians to take part in the hard and necessary conversations. Investigations by The Globe and Mail or The Narwhal, podcasts from Canadaland, columnists from The Line and YouTube videos from J.J. McCullough, local reporting from Village Media or La Presse—a vibrant free press needs all kinds of players.
Of course, there’s no bigger player than the public broadcaster, and none whose future sparks more debate.
These are difficult days for the CBC. More than a third of Canadians say they are strongly in favour of completely defunding the Crown corporation.
President Catherine Tait has said the corporation starts every year with a $36-million structural deficit because of inflationary pressures, and that “the public broadcaster faces chronic underfunding.” After CBC warned of massive layoffs, the Liberal government gave it a $42-million boost in last month’s federal budget. Meanwhile, its executives remain under scrutiny for failing to answer questions about bonus payouts, even when asked directly by politicians and by the CBC’s own journalists.
The CBC’s impact on Canadian culture is massive. As for the news side, while it’s hard to find recent data on how many journalists there are in Canada, it’s believed that CBC and Radio-Canada employ roughly one-third of them. What it chooses to do or not to do—and what we choose to do with it—matters.
Before I accepted this invitation, I made it clear to the minister and her staff that if they were looking for a rubber stamp, someone to populate a photo op or someone who wouldn’t challenge assumptions, they should look elsewhere.
While the deliberations will remain confidential, the panel will look at ways to modernize CBC-Radio Canada’s funding, governance and mandate.
My hope is that the panel’s work will be helpful—not just for this government, but for any future government weighing decisions about the CBC.
Being an entrepreneur means being a pragmatic optimist, so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt—but I’m tired of the doom-and-gloom messaging about the future of media. As I’ve written, people have a fundamental desire to be informed. It is how we preserve our families, our self-interests, our communities and our cultures. I see my service on this panel as simply another way of trying to help build a brighter future for Canadian journalism.
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