The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is pleased to announce the appointment of its newest board member Virginia Thompson, president of Verité Films.
“Virginia is a fantastic addition to the NSI board,” said Brad Pelman and Raja Khanna, co-chairs of the NSI Board of Directors.
“She’s a dynamic and well-respected member of the Canadian television industry who will bring a unique energy and perspective to the many new initiatives being developed by NSI.”
Virginia is an award-winning executive producer, producer and TV show creator known for her work on the hit series Corner Gas and most recently served as executive producer and co-creator of InSecurity. Previously, Virginia was executive producer, producer and co-creator of renegadepress.com and Incredible Story Studio.
A graduate of Ryerson University, she began her career on CBC’s The Journal, moving on to work under her mentor Linda Schuyler on the original Degrassi series for five seasons. Virginia has also worked as a freelance writer/producer for W-FIVE, Canada AM, CTV News and TVOntario.
Virginia has served on the board of directors of the CMPA and mentored aspiring producers, writers and TV show creators at NSI, the Canadian Screen Training Centre, CFC, and WIFT.
“As an NSI Features First alumna, I know first-hand how important training is to our industry,” said Thompson. “Joining the board of NSI is a great honour and a terrific opportunity to help build the next generation of Canadian storytellers.”
Thompson joins distinguished NSI board members Brad Pelman, Marketing & Distribution Expert; Raja Khanna, CEO, GlassBOX Television Inc.; Norm Bolen; Jean LaRose, CEO, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN); Bruce Leslie, Vice President, Marketing, Winnipeg Free Press; Michael A. Levine, Executive Vice-Chairman, The Historica-Dominion Institute and Chairman, Westwood Creative Artists; Marlene Kendall, Associate Director, Audit & Risk Management, Manitoba Lotteries Corporation; Marcia Martin, SVP, Creative Content, Commissioned & In-House Programming, GlassBOX Television Inc.; Bill Roberts, President/CEO, Television Division, ZoomerMedia Limited; Christine Shipton, Vice President, Original Content, Shaw Media; Ron Suter, EVP & General Sales Manager for Canada, NBC Universal Television Distribution; and Carole Vivier, CEO & Film Commissioner, MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC.
About the National Screen Institute
Renowned for having given many emerging filmmakers, television writers and producers their first breaks, the National Screen Institute provides training and production support through courses like NSI Totally Television, NSI Drama Prize, NSI New Voices, NSI Features First and the upcoming NSI Aboriginal Documentary course.
NSI also offers national exposure through the NSI Online Short Film Festival and provides vast resources and support to those in the film, television, and digital media industry at nsi-canada.ca.
All media enquiries
Lauren MacDiarmid, Communications & Programs Coordinator
tel: 204.957.2999 or email: lauren.macdiarmid@nsi-canada.ca