Racial Equity Facilitator Training Program

Sponsored by the CMF, The Racial Equity Consultant Training program is a special project designed by BIPOC TV & Film to advance justice and anti-racism and anti-oppression practices in the screen sector. Participants are equipped to support productions on the development and implementation of decent work practices (including recruitment strategies, script consulting, and on-set conflict management support) and deliver relevant on-demand workshops or seminars.

CrewUp with the 2023 Racial Equity Facilitators

  • Yazmeen Kanji

    REFT Program Manager & Coordinator

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Location: Toronto, ON

  • Amy Wong

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Title: International Program Coordinator

    Location: Guelph and Toronto, ON

  • Christopher Bautista

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Title: Producer/Consultant/Performer

    Location: Montreal, QC and Vancouver, BC

  • Koumbie

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Title: Actor/Director/Writer/Producer

    Location: Halifax, NS/Kjipuktuk, Mi'kma'ki

  • Souha Usman

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Title: Asst Director - Life Coach - Breathwork Teacher - Racial Equity Facilitator 

    Location: Toronto, ON

  • Shalyn Ferdinand

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Title: EDI Consultant

    Location: Vancouver, BC

  • Shivani Saini

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

    Title: Strategic Consultant & Impact Producer

    Location: Edmonton, AB

  • Coral Santana

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

  • Graysen Sangster

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

  • Jay Carolyn Wu

    Trained for: Facilitation, Consultation

About REFT

The BIPOC TV & FILM anti-oppression training and decent work initiative is a project designed to standardize equity training, guide industry leaders in the development of anti-racist decent work practices and increase industry awareness of the human impact of racism and other forms of discrimination on racialized individuals within the film and TV production sector.

The first phase of our project took place in Spring of 2023 and consisted of three modules led by qualified and leading experts in anti-oppression training, specific to our industry. This phase of training was reserved for BIPOC TV & FILM staff and select leading industry professionals from across Canada, over the course of four full day sessions throughout March and April 2023.

Industry Need

It starts at the top.

 A focus on leadership is crucial as we advance in the necessary work of decolonizing, redressing historical injustices, and making our industry more equitable. A demonstrated commitment from key stakeholders is mandatory to implement the systemic change that’s needed to transform our industry into one that prioritizes reconciliation, racial equity and justice, inclusion and belonging.

Current DEI training is often conducted by non-industry companies and consultants who apply corporate strategies to our sector. These trainings usually fall short as they centre the comfort of white audiences and are often an unsafe and re-traumatizing space for BIPOC audiences. Our programs employ a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lens, centering the lived experiences of BIPOC in our sector.

Each production company, broadcaster and union/guild/association should have and encourage a decent work policy, demonstrating their commitment to cultivating an environment (on set, in studio, in office) where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

While we welcome a visible increase in BIPOC in various roles across the industry, we want to ensure that our community members are safe and protected at work. Employers have a duty to care and ensure that their employees (crew, cast, creative talent) are free from bullying, harassment, racism, and other forms of discrimination.

It is also necessary for companies to have processes in place to fairly investigate and resolve complaints of harassment and discrimination, without fear of reprimand by the injured party. Too often, BIPOC and other marginalized individuals are silenced by fear of reprisal or by a lack of clear reporting protocols in the workplace. This silencing further exacerbates feelings of marginalization and erodes the individual’s self-worth, making for a demotivating and disempowering workplace experience.

Through this project, we aim to equip leaders at production companies, broadcasters, and unions/guilds/associations, with the tools and practices that are necessary to improve working conditions for racialized cast, crew, and creative talent.

This project is intended for film and television sector workers who are in the following categories:

  1. Producers and production companies

  2. Leaders/decision-makers at Broadcasters and funders

  3. Staff and leaders at unions, guilds, and associations

  4. Heads of production departments

REFT Facilitators

This initiative is funded in part by the CMF’s Sector Development Fund and developed in consultation with our Uniting Unions and Guilds Committee.