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Toronto, ON (May 5, 2020)—Women in Film & Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) is pleased to announce the election of its Board of Directors including a new Chair. Elected Monday, May 4, 2020 at the virtual AGM of WIFT-T, Linda Stregger, Vice-President of Finance | Entertainment, Spin Master Entertainment and former WIFT-T Vice-Chair & Treasurer, will now serve as Chair of the Board of Directors, with Susan Alexander, Production Executive, Corus Entertainment, taking on the role of Vice-Chair. Additionally, Janet Chant, Director of Finance, Toronto Blue Jays was elected as Treasurer and Sonia Brar (Bell Media) will continue her role as Secretary.

Re-elections included Noora Abu Eitah, VP, Product Operations  - Innovation Lab, Secret Location, Susan Karnay, Business & Legal Affairs, Tangent Animation; Gloria Ui Young Kim, Writer/Director; Sam Linton, VP, Head of Original Content, Blue Ant Media; Dylen Postinkoff, VP, Global Brand Strategy, Shaftesbury; and Virginia Thompson, President and Co-founder, Vérité Films.

WIFT-T also announced the election to the board of Argie Eliopoulos, Director, Partnerships and Events, Canadian Film Centre (CFC); Tanya Green, Head of Animated Series, Sinking Ship Entertainment; Terry E. Markus, Lawyer, Independent Business & Legal Affairs Consultant; Cailyn Michaan, Marketing Manager, Media and Experiential Marketing (XM), Walt Disney Studios; and Karen Walton, Screenwriter/Executive Producer, Inkling Entertainment Inc. These leaders from the film and television industry will provide further expertise and insights as WIFT-T continues to evolve and grow during these unprecedented times.

“I am very excited about the new challenges and opportunities that the organization will consider in the year ahead,” said Linda Stregger. “We are ideally positioned to navigate how the future of the industry will unfold and our role within this changing landscape. On behalf of the entire Board and the organization, I am so grateful for the leadership that both Jocelyn Hamilton (Chair, WIFT-T) and Alex Lalonde (Chair, Foundation for WIFT-T) have demonstrated during their tenure and look forward to continuing their efforts”.

The Foundation for WIFT-T appointed Terry E. Markus as Chair, new board member, Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival and Playback as Vice-Chair, and Helen Argiro (Rebel Street Productions) as Secretary. Janet Chant will continue her role as Treasurer.

Marilyn Orecchio, Consultant was re-appointed and joining the Foundation for WIFT-T Board of Directors are Carolyn Allain, Account Manager, National Bank of Canada; Argie Eliopoulos, Director, Partnerships and Events, Canadian Film Centre (CFC); and Laura Heath-Potter, Independent Producer.

“We are honoured to welcome Argie, Cailyn, Karen, Tanya and Terry to the WIFT-T Board; and Argie, Carolyn, Jenn and Laurato the Foundation for WIFT-T Board,” said Karen Bruce, Executive Director, WIFT-T. “All of these incredibly successful women bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from various facets of the industry which will be invaluable as we fight for gender and diversity equality and inclusion for all. I look forward to working with them over the next few years as we ensure opportunities to empower, engage and educate women in our industry.”

WIFT-T extends a sincere thank you to the following outgoing directors for their significant contributions over the past five years on the Board of Directors: Chair, Jocelyn Hamilton, President, Canada, eOne Television; Sasha Boersma, Partner/Executive Producer, Sticky Brain Studios; Michelle Daly, Senior Director, Comedy, CBC; Anne Loi, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Wildbrain; and Andra Sheffer, CEO, Independent Production Fund, Cogeco Program Development Fund; as well as Alex Lalonde, Chief Operating Officer, Stratagem Rx, who served as Chair on the Foundation for WIFT-T Board for six years.

ABOUT WIFT-T

Women in Film and Television - Toronto is a non-profit member-based organization of enthusiastic people committed to the development and advancement of women in the screen-based industry. With over 900 members representing all levels of experience and fields of the screen-based industry, we provide professional development, mentoring and networking opportunities that educate and encourage equality and inclusion. 

For information on membership and programming visit www.wift.com

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR WIFT-T

The Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto is a registered charity that raises funds to support the empowerment of women working in media through professional development programs and bursaries. Please consider making a donation here.

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For more information, please contact:

Karen Bruce

Executive Director, WIFT-T

416-322-3430 ext. 223, kbruce@wift.com

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