SYLVIA SWEENEY Contact Information: (416) 882-9345 [email protected] Executive Producer Elitha Peterson Productions Inc. (Thirty-year broadcast and production professional.) • Award winning producer/director • Executive Producer National Film Board of Canada • Executive Produced/produced more than 150 films/documentaries • Live events producer • Founder of the International ArtsGames Committee • Director, Ontario Media Development Corp. • Director, NBA Toronto Raptors • Vice President; Federation des Journalists du Quebec • Host/Investigative Report CTV W5 • Olympian • Languages: English, French, some Italian • Classical pianist – McGill Changing the picture, one frame at a time! Biography Sylvia Sweeney is one of those rare individuals who has excelled at the highest level of a variety of disciplines. Her career spans over 30 years achievement in journalism, music sports and international event production. , with s documentary film making, performance, Her formationadministration in the broadcast industry include 9 years on air at CBC and CTV television. d Hired as writer/reporter for the CBC supper hour newscasts, she was selected to join a small team of investigative journalists for an experimental segment of long form reports for CBC Montreal NewsWatch. Her skills were recognized by her peers in Quebec. In 1987 she was elected as the Vice President of the Federation of Professional Journalists of Quebec. After several years she of was promoted to host CBC Montreal's in television weekend investigative journalismnewscasts. Thisin Canada. posting lasted 6 months before the first she Africanwas approached Canadian to apply to host CTV's W5, one the few national postings investigativeAfter being hired host/reporter as for CTV’s W5. supper hour news reporter for CBC TV, she paved the way for diversity hires as the first African Canadian Her desire to produce television programs could not be realized within the broadcast industry, which led to her decision to open her first independent Thetelevision first documentary productions producedcompany, byElitha her Petersoncompany, Productions “In the Key of Oscar” was awarded Canada’s top award; a Gemini and an Anik award from CBC for best radio series for her 7-part radio series "About Oscar". Her continued to produce more than 80 documentaries and live events. Ms. Sweeney’s passion is rooted in telling stories that have givencompany voice to the voiceless and was awarded the Order of Canada for her continued effort to provide access to those who have had none. Appointed to the board of Directors for the Ontario Film Development Corporation by the Ontario Minister of Culture, Isabel Bassett, Ms. Sweeney was part of a team of Executives which innovated film tax credits and transitioned the OFDC to the Ontario Media Development Corporation. This innovation is credited for the rise in in Ontario and for the shift from grants to tax credit funding around the world. film making In 2002 Ms. Sweeney was hired as Executive Producer of the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada’s largest production Centre (Ontario). There she was charged with managing over 90 film productions. Her restructuring of its management systems not only brought the NFB’s Ontario Centre in on budget for the first time in its history, but she also orchestrated support for talented .filmmakers, one of which resulted in a documentary being nominated for an Oscar, the first in over a decade for the NFB in that Atcategory the behest of her uncle, the late jazz great Oscar Peterson, Ms. Sweeney continued to develop an international platform upon which artists and entertainers can demonstrate the excellence which exists in all cultures. For two decades she has persisted in staging events at both Olympic and Paralympic Games around the world . , as President of the International SheArtsGames has participated Committee on (IAC) a variety of Boards including the Ontario Premiere’s Council, The Ontario Media Development Corporation, The Portage, The Federation for Professional Journalists of Quebec, The Raptors Foundation and the Steering Committee for the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. ' In 2015 she was appointed, by IOC President Thomas Bach, as a member of the International Olympic Committee's Culture and Heritage Commission and remainsAs an Olympic a member athlete, of that she Commission. was voted the most valuable player at the 1979 FIBA Seoul World Basketball championships and is a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. Sylvia Sweeney – Detailed Résumé Current Executive Producer – Elitha Peterson Productions Inc. Founder: International ArtsGames Committee International Olympic Committee – Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission - member Basketball Canada - Council of Excellence – Member Awards: Order of Canada – Recipient Gemini Award, (In the Key of Oscar) CBC Anik Award – About Oscar Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame TSN/Sylvia Sweeney Award (Annual Award for the Best University Basketball Player) Merite Sportif, Temple Renommé (Quebec Sports Hall of Fame) Most Valuable Player (World Championships Seoul, Korea) Arts and Letters Music Festival (First place Classical Piano) Quebec Music Competitions (2nd Place Classical Piano) McGill University Faculty of Music Scholarship (Early admissions Classical Piano) Previous Positions Director, Ontario Media Development Corporation President, Portal Entertainment Services Inc. Board of Directors, Obsidian Theatre Board Member, Toronto Raptors Steering Committee for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting (1994- 1996) Director of Women’s Programs, Ministry of Tourism and Recreation of Ontario (1991) Premiere’s Council, Province of Ontario (1994-1995) Executive Producer, National Film Board of Canada, Ontario Center Elitha Peterson EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 2008 Productions Film and TV credits Olympic/Paralympic Presentation Tour – Beijing 2008 “Marriage of Excellence” “Quest for Excellence” (Bravo, Estonia TV, CaribMedia, Hubei Television China) EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 2005 CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE Sportsnet Series, 3 ½ Hour Shows EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 2004 CELEBRATE CBC National Broadcast DIRECTOR 2000 CENTRE STAGE CHRONICLES TVO and Vision – ½-hour documentary in a 13-part series on multicultural artists DIRECTOR 1999 AN ACT OF GRACE (The Grace Bagnato Story) History Television - ½ hour documentary in a 13-part series, A Scattering Of Seeds on immigrants DIRECTOR 1997 BREAKING THE ICE – THE MARY ANN SHADD STORY History Television 13-part documentary series, A Scattering Of Seeds on immigrants DIRECTOR 1994 THE PACKWOOD FAMILY - HYMN TO FREEDOM 1-hour documentary in a four part history series on black communities DIRECTOR 1994 SPORTS TODAY Promotional Video for Women in Sports series DIRECTOR 1991-92 IN THE KEY OF OSCAR Gemini award-winning television documentary biography of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson Film and TV Credits (continued) PRODUCER/DIRECTOR- 1994-96 LANDED, 26-part series profiling the lives and contributions of immigrant women EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/PRODUCER– JULY 1999 The Blueprints Arts and Entertainment Festival – A 3 DAY ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL - Bringing diversity to the world stage. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – JULY 1996 1996 CANADIAN OLYMPIC GALA ‘SALUTE TO THE ATHLETES’ CBC - 1 hour variety special - Canadian Olympic Team Salute in Atlanta EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/PRODUCER 1991-92 IN THE KEY OF OSCAR Gemini award-winning television documentary biography of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson PRODUCER MARCH 97 HUNGRY TO HELP Raptors Foundation Video PRODUCER 1994 FINISH LINE CBC Newsworld - documentary on the environment of sports that created Ben Johnson CO-PRODUCER 1993 ABOUT OSCAR Anik award-winning, radio series PRODUCER/ANNOUNCER 1987-88 RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL USA, Asia Pacific, Africa, Caribbean, Latin American Services PRODUCER 1986 BATTLE OF THE SEXES featuring the All World Women’s Basketball Team vs. Montreal Alouettes (CBC) PRODUCER 1985 GOSPEL CHRISTMAS SHOW (CBC TELEVISION) PRODUCER 1984 Australia Olympians Vs the All Star Americans (Melbourne Australia) COORDINATOR/CHOREOGRAPHER JULY 1997 A Cool Dry Place 20th Century Fox, Feature Film, basketball scenes COORDINATOR/CHOREOGRAPHER AUG 1997 BAD AS I WANNA BE ABC Television Made For TV Film, basketball scenes On Air Actor – Mary Ann Shadd – WITNESS TO YESTERDAY (1997) Actor – Reporter - BAD AS I WANNA BE (1997) Presenter – 1996 CANADIAN OLYMPIC GALA (1996) Host, POV WOMEN/TAKE 3 (WTN)1995 Host, WHO’S MINDING THE SET, (Rogers)1994 Host, THE CUTTING EDGE, (Vision TV) 1993-1994 Host/Investigative Reporter, W5 (CTV) 1991-1992 News Anchor, NEWSWATCH CBMT 1988 THE NATIONAL (CBC) Special Assignment Reporter, 1988 Calgary Olympics Reporter, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT (CBMT) 1987 Sportscaster CBMT (CBC Montreal) 1984-1986 Investigative Reporter, Current Affairs Department, NEWSWATCH (CBC) 1986-1987 Teaching Experience Dawson College, Television Writing and Production Course (1988-89) Kahnasatake Reserve, Radio and Television Processing (1989) Corporate Affairs President - Producers Access Network, PAN TV (Specialty Channel Application) Vice President, Federation of Professional Journalists of Quebec (1987-88) Board of Directors, Raptors Foundation - Director Director -Corporate & Community Development, Portage Centre for Drug Rehabilitation Administrative Director, Cobourg Basketball Stadium, Melbourne, Australia (1983-84) Assistant Athletic Director, Concordia University Montreal Quebec (1985-86) President - Victoria Lee Communications Competitor – Classical Piano International Stepping Stones Composer / Performer “Breaking the Ice” – The