Canada unveils fund for female-fronted TV

BANFF: The Canadian government has unveiled a C$2m (US$1.5m) fund to support female-fronted TV businesses.

Jenn Kuzmyk

Andy Fillmore, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian heritage and multiculturalism, unveiled the Banff Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media at the Banff World Media Festival, which began yesterday.

The investment is designed to encourage and train female entrepreneurs to build their own TV businesses. It is part of the government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which is investing C$2bn to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025.

Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director of Banff World Media Festival, said: “This programme will address a systemic gap in our industry, providing hundreds of women with high-level business training, essential international connections and access to potential capital investment.

“Our mandate is to make a meaningful impact within the Canadian media industry, leading to the launch and growth of significantly more women-owned and women-led businesses that are competitive on the world stage.”