Creative BC Adds New Board Members

VANCOUVER B.C. (January 27, 2016) – At a pivotal growth point for the creative economy in B.C., Creative BC, the non-profit society responsible for promoting the development of creative industries in British Columbia, has announced changes and new additions to its Board of Directors. Gordon Esau, Partner at Dentons Canada LLP, will take on the role of Chair of the Board, while Robert Bromley, President of Force Four Entertainment, will hold the Vice Chair position. The Board changes, along with the recent appointment of Prem Gill as CEO in September, give Creative BC a strong foundation to build from in 2016.

Through his work with Dentons, Esau represents several of the major Hollywood studios and U.S. television networks plus animation and visual effects studios and independent production companies in the media, communications and entertainment law area. Bromley has been involved in the Canadian production community for the past 20 years. As President of Force Four Entertainment, he has developed ongoing relationships with national and international networks and production partners. Esau has served on the Board for 11 years and Bromley for three years.

The changes and new additions to the Creative BC Board of Directors include:

• Gordon Esau, Partner at Dentons Canada LLP, Chair
• Robert Bromley, President of Force Four Entertainment, Vice Chair
• Anne Denman, Executive Director, Okanagan International Animation Festival 2017
• Sarah Fenton, General Manager, Watchdog Management
• Tom Gierasimczuk, Publisher and GM, Vancouver Magazine and Western Living
• Pauline Moller, Senior Vice President, Studio Operations, Zynga Inc.

The new additions to the Board broaden the representation of the creative industries within Creative BC, ensuring all sectors are equally represented and continue to grow.

Returning Board members include:

• Michael Francis, President, Seed Management
• Colin Browne, Professor Emeritus, School of Contemporary Arts, SFU
• Scott McIntyre, Founding partner and retired Publisher and Chairman of Douglas & McIntyre and President Vancouver Institute
• Shan Tam, Producer, Maple Ridge Films Ltd.
• Jason Dowdswell, Head of Production and Visual Effects, FuseFX

“With the new additions to the Board of Directors and the strong team that has been developed over the years, Creative BC is well-positioned to grow the creative economy in B.C. to be among the best in the world,” says Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC. “We’re fortunate to have so many sectors represented on our board to bring attention to the talent that currently exists across the province.”

“It is exciting to welcome several new directors who, with Prem Gill as our new CEO, position Creative BC to support and fuel the continued growth of B.C.’s creative economy,” notes Gordon Esau, Chair of Creative BC. “It is an honour to have been appointed as the new Chair and I look forward to building on Creative BC’s valuable presence in the creative sector, which Michael Francis has so carefully developed over the years.”

Creative BC would like to recognize the immense contribution of past Chair Michael Francis and past Vice Chair Colin Browne. Francis served as Chair of the Board for over 23 years. He saw the organization through many changes, including the merger of BC Film Commission and BC Film + Media. Browne held the position of Vice Chair for over 10 years. Both Francis and Browne helped to shape what Creative BC is today.

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About Creative BC

Creative BC is an independent non-profit agency created by the Province of BC in April 2013 to sustain and help grow BC’s creative sector which includes its film and television, digital and interactive, music, magazine and book publishing industries. The agency, which was created through a merger of the BC Film Commission and BC Film + Media, delivers a wide range of programs and services to expand and diversify BC’s creative economy. These include the administration of the provincial government’s tax credit programs for film and television, development and export marketing support and motion picture production services to attract inward investment and market BC as a destination for creative production.

Stay up to date with initiatives from Creative BC:

Twitter: @creativebcs
Facebook: /creativebcs
Website: www.creativebc.com

Media Contact:
Lindsay Nahmiache
lindsay@jivecommunications.ca / 604-889-7996