Caroline Dignard and Heidi Bonnell have joined the Canada Media Fund’s (CMF) independent board of directors.

Dignard (pictured left) is a strategic legal executive with more than two decades of experience in the industry. She most recently served as VP of legal affairs and chief privacy officer at Cogeco Connexion.

Bonnell (pictured right) has more than 30 years of experience in government relations, strategic communications and public policy. She spent more than 19 years at Rogers Communications as VP, federal government affairs and as a senior strategic advisor.

The pair joined in June, appointed to the board by the Canadian Coalition for Cultural Expression, a CMF spokesperson told Playback Daily.

The CMF also announced the retirement of board members René Guimond and Alison Clayton.

Guimond, the former SVP of public affairs and communications at Cogeco, was appointed to the board in July 2024. Clayton, an independent film and television consultant, had been a member since 2009.

The other board members are Barry Chapman, Chantale Coulombe, Gary Pizante, Guy Fournier, Russell Grosse, Sanae Takahashi and chair Michael Schmalz.

“[Dignard and Bonnell] bring a wealth of experience across telecommunications, public affairs and cultural policy — areas critical to the CMF’s mission of supporting and championing Canadian storytelling across all platforms,” said Schmalz in a statement. “We look forward to their insights and leadership as we navigate an ever-evolving audiovisual sector.”

Image courtesy of CMF