TORONTO — Announced earlier this year, the HireBIPOC initiative created by BIPOC TV & Film and Bell Media launched today with CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media throwing their support behind the industry-wide effort to facilitate the hiring of Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) media and entertainment professionals.
With more than 500 members already registered, HireBIPOC is a web portal which provides an online roster of Canadian BIPOC creatives and crew working in screen-based industries.
Bell Media, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media have committed to making the use of HireBIPOC a specific condition for greenlighting original productions, ensuring the site is used by internal groups and external companies, says the press release announcing HireBIPOC’s launch today. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada is urging all producers to use resources such as HireBIPOC and similar industry sites dedicated to amplifying talent from BIPOC communities, says the release.
“If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that now is the time for brave steps towards radical change. HireBIPOC is one step amongst many, in order to transform the face of our industry. We need measurable commitments to hiring more Black, Indigenous and people of colour. We all have a circle of influence and it is up to each one of us to use it,” said Nathalie Younglai, founder of BIPOC TV & Film, in the press release.
“Creating real, systemic change to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Canadian media industry is a long-term commitment, and a top priority for Bell Media,” added Randy Lennox, president of Bell Media. “We’re proud to make use of HireBIPOC among our production partners a condition of green light for Bell Media original productions. It is our ardent hope that HireBIPOC is a game-changer for Canadian content in seeing more Black, Indigenous, and people of colour on screens across the country.”
“HireBIPOC is a transformational industry commitment that will drive real, sustainable change to ensure we are advancing diversity both on and off air,” said Doug Murphy, president and CEO of Corus Entertainment. “This initiative complements our proactive and comprehensive approach to diversity and inclusiveness and we are confident it will have meaningful long-term impact to our audiences, our people and our partners.”
“The past several months have provided ample opportunity for reflection about the important role we all play in uplifting our most vulnerable communities. At Rogers Sports & Media, we have been listening intently and learning from our team members and partners about the steps we can take to eliminate systemic racism in Canada. This is why we recently launched our action-oriented program All IN, and now HireBIPOC is another critical initiative that will help to ensure the Canadian media industry more fairly and accurately represents the communities we serve. While there is still much work to be done, we are stronger together,” said Jordan Banks, president.
“CBC/Radio-Canada is committed to supporting all industry efforts to advance the inclusion and representation of Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Latinx talent in our creative communities and original programming,” said Catherine Tait, president and CEO. “Resources like this new database will ensure greater access and exposure for more racially diverse producers and creatives, both in front of and behind the camera, in order to better reflect our country across all areas of the industry.”
The HireBIPOC initiative is a collaboration between more than 20 Canadian industry and community partners, which in addition to the broadcasters include:
- Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
- Banff World Media Festival
- Canadian Film Centre (CFC)
- Canada Media Fund (CMF)
- Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
- CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
- City of Toronto
- Content Canada
- Focus Media Arts Centre
- Hot Docs
- ImagineNative
- Indigenous Filmmakers Association
- Inside Out
- National Screen Institute (NSI)
- Ontario Creates
- Playback
- Pride Toronto
- Reel Asian International Film Festival
- Racial Equity Media Collective (REMC)
- Remix Project
- Touchwood PR
