Bell Fund executive director Nancy Chapelle is retiring after more than 40 years in the Canadian media industry.

The Bell Fund announced Monday (Aug. 14) that Chapelle will depart the organization after nine years in the role, effective Dec. 31. She will continue to work with the Toronto- and Montreal-based independent production fund for an additional three months as a part-time consultant, according to a news release.

The search for Chapelle’s replacement is now underway. The Bell Fund’s board of directors has selected a recruitment firm to aid in the search, with details to be posted on the Bell Fund website in the coming weeks.

Chapelle’s decades-long career has seen her work on multiple sides of the equation as a producer, programmer and funder. She co-founded Catalyst Entertainment in 1990, where she oversaw development and production of live action and animated projects spanning family-friendly series, features and MOWs. She became managing director of content and programming at Ontario public broadcaster TVO in 2003, and helped lead its push into digital media.

Chapelle joined the Bell Fund in 2015, taking the reins from founding executive director Andra Sheffer, who had been in the role for 17 years.

“Looking back, I’m not sure I could imagine my journey and these same opportunities being available to me if I was starting out today. However, I know that my journey from production assistant to executive director of the Bell Fund was a worthy ambition,” said Chapelle in a statement on her retirement.

“Today’s programs were built purposefully to overcome barriers and provide maximum flexibility for independent producers, moving away from exclusively delivering programs that rely on Canadian broadcasters as the trigger. I’m leaving feeling grateful and knowing that I’ll never find a more rewarding opportunity than serving this industry,” she continued.

Bell Fund board chair Naveen Prasad added: “The Bell Fund will forever be indebted to Nancy for her incredible leadership. The dedication and wisdom she brought to the role propelled great change in our organization, allowing it to best serve Canada’s production community, all the while ensuring an environment built on thoughtfulness, kindness, and inclusiveness.”

Image courtesy of the Bell Fund