Michael Bowe is Supervisor, Diversity & Outreach for the York Region Children’s Aid Society.

Over the past 6 months, Michael and other community leaders, primarily from the non profit sector have being working diligently on establishing the York Region Multi-Media Film Development Council & Institute.

Michael is the Chair of the Council and a driving voice behind this much needed community building initiative.

In this interview, Michael gives a brief overview of the Council’s plans for a yearly film festival and eventually the creation of a York Region Multimedia Film Institute.

Turn your speakers up a wee bit as Michaels voice is on the soft side. I’ll be posting more on this exciting collaboration project over the coming months.

To see how you might fit into or participate in the Council’s plans, I’ve included a portion of their governing statements.

VISION:

The York Region Multimedia Film Development Council consists of member agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals who share a common vision of fostering and sustaining a collective multimedia capacity within York Region as well as providing a multimedia platform for diverse voices within the Region to tell their stories and those of the Region in all their varied forms and richness.

MISSION:

The York Region Multimedia Film Development Council will organize and oversee an annual digital photo/film festival across York Region that showcases the diverse and vast stories of its inhabitants. The Council will also endeavor to develop a region-wide multimedia film development institute that provides interested residents with the opportunity to develop their capacity to tell their stories and/or those of the Region.

STRUCTURE:

The York Region Multimedia Film Development Council is populated by the Chairs and Vice Chairs of eight sub-committees of the Council tasked to plan the Multi-Media Film Institute and Film Festival (refer below to organizational chart).

Each sub-committee is charged with creating its own meeting schedule, timeline and work plan in tandem with the goals and timeline of the Film Development Council.  The Film Development Council is used as a think tank for ideas and challenges that arise within each sub-committee as well as a decision making body regarding matters of operations and governance.

MEMBERS:

• Youth and youth engagement entities
• Grassroots & mainstream agencies
• Human services institutions (e.g. York Region Public Health)
• Art & film development institutes/institutions
• Educational institutions (York University, the Catholic & Public School Boards)
• Branches of government & members of professional sectors (e.g. an entertainment Lawyer)
• The general public

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