Jennifer Frees

Serving as a founding board member of the Disability Screen Office (DSO) and working alongside a fantastic board chaired by Yazmine Laroche, ICD.D and the incredible team led by Executive Director Winnie Luk has been a dream come true. The DSO’s vision is to build an accessible and inclusive Canadian screen industry where disabled creatives thrive. As a part of this work, we are thrilled to launch a) our official website with information on our mission, vision and programming and b) Canada’s first-ever multi-year study on the participation of people with disabilities in the Canadian screen sector and the barriers we face in the labour market. The DSO is partnering with Québec-based equity organization Coalition MÉDIA and has commissioned creative industries research firm Nordicity to undertake this research. As part of this study, the DSO has launched Canada’s Screen Industry Survey on Disability to better understand the experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities working in the screen industry. The survey results will lead to the creation of a research report of key findings to inform the DSO’s ongoing advocacy on disability representation and inclusion in the Canadian film and television industry. This report will help the DSO push for industry changes, amplify best practices, and highlight opportunities for members of the industry to improve accessibility and remove barriers. The survey results will also help us create a vital reference document entitled Best Practices Guide to Disability Engagement in the Canadian Film and Television Industry (the Guide), designed to be a foundational resource for industry professionals at all levels. The Guide will provide standards and guidelines for disability representation and inclusion, both on and off screen, across Canada’s Anglophone and Francophone film and television sectors. Check out the links in the first comments to this post for the DSO Website and Survey. Here’s to building a screen sector that is accessible and inclusive! #disability #accessibility #inclusion #screen #film #tv #media #Canada Image description: The board members and staff members of the Disability Screen Office stand in front of a sparkly backdrop. They are smiling happily and hopefully as they contribute to the work of making Canada’s screen industry more accessible and inclusive.

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In this month’s Director Journal from the Institute of Corporate Directors, you’ll find a thought-provoking article called ‘Canada Reimagined’ in which Hon. John Manley was interviewed. It’s about the rare opportunity we have to rethink Canada’s economy and make us stronger in the new global order. Five strategies to remake our economy are proposed, including “Make Canada a Top 10 global tourist destination”. As Mr. Manley notes, and we can confirm, tourism is a high growth sector, with rapid return on investment, and 2 million jobs.   It’s heartening to see the corporate world and policy experts let go of old stereotypes about the travel and tourism sector – recognizing it for the huge value it brings to 5,000 communities and one in ten households, while enabling our broader economy through transportation and trade links. It’s not just the $130 Billion in revenue and $31 Billion in export services revenue that’s delivered every year, it’s also the socio-cultural benefits for our national identity and quality of life.    At Destination Canada, we aspire for tourism to generate wealth and wellbeing for all of Canada and enrich the lives of our guests. We know that $1 invested by us creates $24 for Canada. And for every dollar of traveller spending, 27 cents ends up as government revenue. It’s an industry that’s growing faster than the economy as a whole – both here at home and globally. Tourism industry investments are sustainable and natural attractions are here to stay, giving Canadians the opportunity to live and work where they grew up. Long after other industries may be sunset, the northern lights will still be here.   Our industry is full of ambition, working hard to improve our competitiveness and capture $160 Billion in annual revenue by 2030. Mr. Manley proposed a new annual target of $230 billion, supported by significant investments in accommodation and experiences, transportation infrastructure, and brand promotion.    With the right support, I know our sector can meet that challenge and welcome the world, doing even more to support our global relations.

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There’s a critical difference between co-opting culture and patroning culture. Last week, as part of the Creator Lab launch event in Canada, we held a panel in Toronto with Jamie Milne , Emily Durham Tope Babalola — in a room packed with brands, creators, and industry leaders — to discuss the role brands can play in culture. The takeaway was clear: creators don’t just mirror culture, they make it. When partnerships are approached the wrong way, they become transactional and fleeting. But when brands patron culture — by supporting and empowering creators — they unlock authentic, lasting impact. This is just the start of the conversation. More to come. If you’re interested in learning more about Creator Lab, reach out. Edelman Canada #CreatorMarketing

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