TORONTO (June 12, 2020) – CTV announced today a high-profile lineup of Canadian artists, activists, and leaders to join the recently announced special from Bell Media Studios, CHANGE & ACTION: RACISM IN CANADA. The 90-minute special, committed to amplifying voices in the fight against racism, premieres tomorrow, Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, everywhere CTV content can be found, on all iHeartRadio Canada talk stations, and Sunday, June 14 ​on Crave.

In the spirit of the special, Bell Media president Randy Lennox outlined today the action the company is taking to increase representation of diverse voices in the content it broadcasts.

“As a media company, we have the responsibility to ensure the content we air is reflective of our viewers and listeners, including Black and Indigenous peoples and People of Colour,” said Lennox. “With the Content Diversity Task Force in partnership with BIPOC TV & Film, we’re committed to changing the decision-making process in the stories we tell on air and amplifying voices from marginalized communities on our platforms. That starts with tomorrow’s special, but we recognize this is only the beginning and there is much work to be done moving forward.”

“The Content Diversity Task Force is a good step in the right direction towards more inclusive programming that both reflects and resonates with Canadians, by increasing the representation of BIPOC in front of and behind the camera,” said Nathalie Younglai, Founder and CEO, BIPOC TV & Film. “I am glad that BIPOC TV & Film has a seat at the table. We look forward to bringing our voices, concerns, and insights to the conversation with Bell Media and hope we can create meaningful, long-lasting change in the industry, from top to bottom. It’s time.”

CHANGE & ACTION: RACISM IN CANADA

Hosted by Tyrone Edwards, Marci Ien, Lainey Lui, and Anne-Marie Mediwake, the special features a series of conversations with artists, public officials, business leaders, and activists, and fosters a national dialogue on how Canadians can take action against systemic racism, now and in the future.

The participants announced today include the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger; TIFF Artistic Director Cameron Bailey; former Member of Parliament Celina Caesar-Chavannes; University of Toronto valedictorian Chika Oriuwa; author Desmond Cole; director and producer Julien Christian Lutz - Director X; singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez; NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh; rapper Kardinal Offishall; actor Lyriq Bent; Black Lives Matter Toronto founder Sandy Hudson; artist and activist Syrus Marcus Ware; and Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew.

The Bell Media Content Diversity Task Force

Bell Media stands in solidarity with our Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour talent, colleagues, creatives, crew, and production and distribution partners. Comprised of content leaders from Bell Media’s news, sports, radio, digital, programming, production, marketing, and communications teams, the Bell Media Content Diversity Task Force:

• recognizes that content decision-makers responsible for the stories told on our platforms and the talent who tell them need to be representative of our audiences;
• recognizes the power of Bell Media’s extensive platforms to amplify diverse voices and perspectives;
• commits to reviewing the processes and procedures in bringing content to the screen to ensure diverse voices play an integral role part in the story-telling process

Understanding the need to listen and learn from underrepresented creators as part of the review process, the Task Force will welcome three representatives from BIPOC TV & Film in advisory roles. A grassroots organization and collective of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in Canada's TV and film industry, BIPOC TV & Film is dedicated to increasing the representation of BIPOC both in front and behind the camera.

As part of the newly announced partnership with BIPOC TV & Film, Bell Media commits to advocating for diversity and inclusion across the Canadian media industry through the amplification and support of BIPOC TV & Film initiatives.