1 Thanks to our Sponsors 2019 CHILDREN, YOUTH & MEDIAThis version CONFERENCE only to be used on a WHITE Background . MAIN SPONSORS PRESTIGE SPONSORS EXCELLENCE SPONSORS 2 Thanks to our Youth Media Sponsors Alliance BOARD OF DIRECTORS CO-CHAIRS Judith Beauregard | Tobo J.J. Johnson | Sinking Ship Entertainment SECRETARY Michele Paris | Knowledge Network TREASURER Jonathan Finkelstein | Apartment 11 Productions DIRECTORS Christiane Asselin | Radio-Canada Nadine Dupont | Groupe Média TFO Frank Falcone | Guru Studio Athena Georgaklis | Nelvana Sarah Haasz | Pillango Productions Monika Ille | APTN Marie McCann | Kids’ CBC Peter Moss | PDM Entertainment Marney Malabar | TVO Jennifer Twiner-McCarron | Atomic Cartoons and Thunderbird Entertainment TABLE OF CONTENTS Word from Co-Chair 6 Word from Executive Director 7 Word from Workshop Host (TFO) 8 Word from Conference Host (Corus) 9 Schedule and Venues 10 Diversity and Inclusion Workshop 12 General Conference 13 Prix Jeunesse International Screening 16 Speakers’ Biographies 20 YMA OFFICE AND CONFERENCE TEAM Chantal Bowen | Executive Director Claudia Marcoux | Special Events and Communications Cabana Séguin | Graphic Design Patricia Rioux | Graphic Artist Meg Matera | Photographer Jamie Whitecrow | Workshop Coordinator 3 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2020 French-Language Awards of Excellence Gala Montreal, May 27, 2020 Save the Date! 4 Special Thanks TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Jennifer Burkitt | Pipeline Studios Marcia Douglas | CMPA Nadine Dupont | TFO Sarah Haasz | Pillango Productions Maria Kennedy | Little Engine Moving Pictures Trent Locke | Portfolio Entertainment Erin Mackie | Guru Studio Marney Malabar | TVO Marie McCann | CBC Kids Michelle Melanson Cuperus | Headspinner Productions Peter Moss | PDM Entertainment Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy | marblemedia John Rooney | Johnromedia Kate Sanagan | Sinking Ship Entertainment TO THE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE KIDS INTERVIEW VIDEOS: Kat Kelly Hayduk | Turtlebox Productions, Hamilton ON Cam Hayduk | Turtlebox Productions, Hamilton ON Jennifer Burkitt | Pipeline Studios, Burlington ON Pascale Cusson | Au-delà du réal, Montreal QC Amanda Duriano Gavidia | Apartment 11, Montreal QC Julie Stewart | Go Team Stewart, Victoria BC Maria Kennedy | Little Engine Moving Pictures, Toronto ON Ben Mazzotta | Little Engine Moving Pictures, Toronto ON AND THE VOLUNTEERS: Maia Bastidas Jaylin Chan Alexis Chronis John Curtis Danielle Fahey Molison Farmer Nicole Honderich Benji Tang Daryl Wallbank Rebecca Zala 5 Word from Co-Chair CONGRATULATIONS! Ten years ago, we all recognized an obvious New data out of the Geena problem. Ten years from now, Davis Institute on Gender let’s ensure that every kid in Media as well as the feels a little less alone by Ryerson Children’s Media Lab seeing themselves represented has found that we have now on screen. reached gender parity in children’s television! Thank you again and congrats for continuing to be This is, in no small part, the change makers, I hope you because people in this room have an incredible conference, woke up to the obvious ridiculousness of 51% of the population representing only 33% of on screen roles. But rather than call this mission accomplished, let’s J.J. JOHNSON instead call it mission begun. CO-CHAIR, Because though the YOUTH MEDIA ALLIANCE headwinds are in the right direction we still have a ways to go: 74% of all characters in live action and animation are caucasian, characters with physical differences are virtually non-existent and girls are twice as likely to be portrayed as thin or very thin. 6 Word from Executive Director of platforms that they can learn about the uniqueness of our Canadian culture, so it was with this in mind that we looked to access young Canadians’ answers and impressions. Thanks to Maria Kennedy for initiating the idea and to the professional volunteers who helped us gather the clips from Newfoundland to Vancouver. It is by joining forces with our global partners that we will be Welcome to our 2019 edition! able to share our stories and We’re thrilled to be welcoming in view of this we have initiated you in two locations this a call for projects with year! First on College Street international buyers! This at Groupe Média TFO for our session should be fun and workshop on Diversity and will certainly offer a great Inclusion as well as at Corus opportunity for learning and Quay, for the main Conference relationship building for the and the Prix Jeunesse Suitcase. chosen candidates. Thanks to both venues for the We are very glad you are joining great support! us today! Many special thanks Yet again, this conference will to the Board of Directors, be the occasion to announce the Conference Advisory the winners of the 4th YMA Committee, the sponsors Andra Sheffer Scholarship. for their special financial We are fortunate to be able to contribution, the moderators, award a second winner for 2020 the volunteers and above all, to and I want to thank the you, our dear industry members ShawRocket Fund for this who have been supporting the exceptional contribution. Many organization for 45 years! thanks to Brunico as well, who Have a wonderful day! has been involved from Day One in providing these outstanding candidates with registration and opportunities for youth creators! CHANTAL BOWEN Yes, the world is changing and so are the ways children seek out their content. Nevertheless, it is by accessing a varied range 7 Word from Workshop Host We’re sure of one thing: our This is content that tells our differences are a strength stories, reflects today’s values, and they enrich our society. To shares our past and prepares ensure that future generations our future generations for evolve in a social and cultural the society of tomorrow. This landscape shaped by tolerance passion for our organisational and equality, we all have a duty mandate and mission drives to create intelligent, creative us every day to adopt new and engaging educational innovative approaches, at the content which supports cutting edge of technological Bienvenue chez TFO ! children in shaping their and educational trends to We are delighted to welcome identity and fostering their stay ahead of the social, civic you to our offices in order to cognitive, intrapersonal and and democratic curve. discuss the theme of Diversity interpersonal growth. Let’s continue to challenge and Inclusion, for a very simple That is why, through its the media status quo to reason: from our very first characters and stories involving overcome stereotypes and days on air to today, years of handicaps, homosexuality, underrepresentation. In doing transformation later, TFO has First Nations, immigration, so, communities across the always had a head start on and so on, TFO’s French- country and the world will diversity representation in language Youth and Childhood find themselves reflected in the content it produces programming transmits to its our content. and distributes on multiple young audiences the essential platforms. skills, values and abilities they Our commitment to break- will need to grow and become NADINE DUPONT ing down barriers to inclusion enlightened citizens of the CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER in our country and abroad world. That is also why TFO’s is largely supported by our content is recognized history. As a public media worldwide for its excellence. company working in a minority Such content serves as a Francophone environment, we living and breathing reflexion care dearly about valuing and as who we are and guarantor celebrating diversity and all its for our public values, forms. notably freedom of opinion and expression. 8 Word from Conference Host fundamental to serving our young viewers and audiences. Kid’s content, on whatever platform, should reflect the broad and rich range of what children see in themselves, in their schools and in their neighbourhoods. Once again, we are thrilled to host the Youth Media Alliance We have the added advantage Conference at our building and in Canada of being a culturally extend a warm greeting to each diverse country – and with that, of you as you spend the next comes a wonderful foundation two days with us. where stories can be found. What makes this year extra special is 2019 marks the Enjoy the Conference! YMA’s 45TH anniversary! In that time, the YMA has continued to support quality kid’s content and celebrate excellence in children’s programming. Please join us in congratulating the YMA on their anniversary. This year’s conference is PRESIDENT AND focused on diversity and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER inclusion in the kid’s content CORUS ENTERTAINMENT space, something that we, as producers, creators and broadcasters, see as 9 Schedule and Venues NOVEMBER 6 PRESENTED BY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WORKSHOP Workshop Venue / Groupe Média TFO / 21 College St #600, Toronto, ON M5G 2B3 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Registration & Coffee LUV Production Studio at TFO – Tour (optional) 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Opening Remarks by YMA, Host and Sponsor APTN 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. On-screen Protocols & Pathways: Working with First Nations, Metis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories 12:00 – 01:15 p.m. Lunchbox & Mingling 1:15 – 02:30 p.m. Growing up with Indigenous Stories 2:30 – 03:45 p.m. Opportunity to increase diversity and inclusion in our productions 03:45 – 04:30 p.m. Networking & Drinks LUV Production Studio at TFO – Tour (optional) NOVEMBER 7 COCKTAIL RECEPTION GENERAL CONFERENCE − ATRIUM PRESENTED BY Conference Venue / Corus Entertainment / 25 Dockside Dr, Toronto, ON M5A 0B5 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast 9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Opening of the Children, Youth & Media Conference 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. Discoverability 2.0 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Ruling the Middle Kingdom 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Coffee Break 11:15 – 12:15 p.m. How to Enter the Global Content Space from Canada 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Networking 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.