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What is CION?
The mandate of Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION) is to stimulate and promote Northern Ontario's film, television and music industries, as well as provide educational programs to foster the advancement of our region's emerging talent.
With a population of nearly 800,000, millions of hectares of forest and six major cities ready to host film productions, Northern Ontario is a thriving cultural destination that balances urban life with relaxing respite. We're here to connect and support local and international creators who want to discover what the North has to offer.
If you're a film producer looking to take advantage of the growing resources and financial benefits of Northern Ontario, our 'Producer's Guide' is exactly what you're looking for.
Similarly, CION's music page provides northern musicians with resources to help develop their careers and bring their music to new stages.
CION Staff
General information:
info@cionorth.ca
Lead, Music Sector Development:
Melanie St-Pierre
Melanie St-Pierre is a musician, music industry professional, and illustrator from Northern Ontario who resides in Sudbury, Ontario. Melanie is the lead singer and songwriter of the critically acclaimed band Casper Skulls, which was previously nominated for a SOCAN songwriting award. Through her many years of work as a professional musician - Melanie has developed a plethora of music business knowhow - including successful grant writing, tour booking, promotion, public relations, musician's rights, copyright, liscencing, partnership building, and more. In her work with CION - Melanie has conducted consultations with hundreds of Northern Ontario musicians on topics ranging from funding to releasing to touring and beyond - helping Northern musicians with every facet of their music business development. Melanie has also facilitated successful songwriting, professional development, music business training and showcasing sessions through CION. Melanie is a graduate of the Visual and Creative Arts program with honors from Sheridan College, where she received the Works of Paper Award of Excellence
Workforce Development Officer:
Jodie Wiebe
Jodie Wiebe is an administrative professional who leads CION's workforce development activities - including facilitating CION's MAPPED Crew Training Fund, consulting with regional crew from across Northern Ontario on skill development opportunities, consulting on CION's programming and development opportunities during Project Pitch Exchange program meetings, overseeing CION's Crew Database, promoting film workforce opportunities at job fairs and to job placement institutions, and developing and delivering regional Workforce Training activities, while providing event logistics oversight to all CION development sessions. Jodie's work with CION has included delivery of successful workforce training sessions in 2023 and 2024, which saw over 160 film and television credits accrued by program graduates to date. Jodie's experience in the film and television production industry, where she played a key role in several regional projects including the Sudbury-filmed Letterkenny, has given her the skills and interest to train the next generation of film crews on the opportunities that the North can offer
Communications and Development Officer:
Samuel Boucher
With years of experience in the not-for-profit sector developing communications strategies, facilitating event logistics, and composing thorough grants and activity reports, Samuel utilizes his diverse skillset to promote the music, film & television production industries in Northern Ontario. In his work with CION - Samuel has provided oversight towards all public marketing and communications, overseen logistics for CION's Project Pitch Exchange program including scheduling and facilitating locations tours, acted as a liaison to regional stakeholders, contributed to successful events including NOMFA and CION's Cinema Summit activities, and written successful grants and reports on CION's industry development activities. Originally from Kapuskasing, Ontario, Samuel moved to Sudbury to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Media Studies at Laurentian University and was exposed to the local film world through the Motion Pictures Arts program. Samuel went on to complete a master's degree in Humanities at Laurentian University.