The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has made appointments in two roles it calls “critical” to its operations: Marcia Douglas as VP, growth and inclusion, and Janine Steele as its first director of interactive digital media (IDM).

Douglas (pictured left) will take on her role effective April 3 after serving as the CMF’s director of English content, international and export since last July. Steele (pictured right) joined the funder in the new role on Monday (March 6), according to a news release.

Douglas will report to Mathieu Chantelois, EVP of marketing and public affairs. She’ll lead the CMF’s growth and inclusion strategy to build on the work of the previous VP, growth and inclusion, Tamara Dawit, who was promoted to that position in March 2022. Dawit “has completed her agreed-to contract and workplan with the CMF and will return to her award-winning filmmaking projects,” said the release.

Douglas has more than 20 years of experience in the development and production of Canadian screen-based content, and led files related to advancing the industry’s equity, diversity, and inclusion at organizations including the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), where she was VP, industry and business affairs.

Douglas joined the CMPA in 2015 and previously served as its director of digital strategy and business affairs, and senior director of business affairs. She was also the founding co-chair of Ontario Green Screen.

Vancouver-based Steele reports to Rod Butler, VP of content and regulatory at CMF, and will help develop policy and programs “to ensure the funder’s mandate is fulfilled in consistency with the distinctiveness of Canada’s IDM market,” said the release.

Steele is a media producer and arts administrator who has held senior roles for two decades, most recently as programs manager at Creative BC, where she was responsible for the Domestic Motion Picture Fund and the Interactive Fund. In that role, she also designed several funding programs, including the first digital media funding available in B.C., and the first targeted funding for equity seeking motion picture creators in the province.

Steele has also worked at the National Film Board of Canada, where she was responsible for their digital products and platforms, and managed award-winning collaborations with partners including Google, the Guardian, imagineNATIVE, and Vice Media.

“These two roles are critical for the Canada Media Fund’s continued support of the industry we serve, and our ability to reach more communities and creators,” said Valerie Creighton, president and CEO, CMF, in a statement.

“Marcia has played a key role in our organization since joining last year, and I know she will have a long-lasting impact as she leverages her expertise to realize our growth and inclusion strategy. Janine’s experience will be essential in shaping our increasingly larger role with interactive digital media communities while ensuring we have a strong presence on the west coast, and with her help we’ll continue to find unique and exciting opportunities to serve the IDM industry.”

Photos courtesy of the Canada Media Fund