Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 26, 2008

Province Appoints Members to Film Development Corporation Board

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, has announced the appointment of five individuals to serve on the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation�s (NLFDC) board of directors for the next three years.

Paul Lannon of St. John�s will serve as chair. Board members include: Cheryl Stagg of Stephenville; Mark Sexton of Corner Brook; Colleen Kennedy of Rocky Harbour (reappointment), and Noreen Golfman of St. John�s (reappointment). The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation also sits on the board as an ex-officio member.

"These individuals have the requisite experience and expertise to oversee the NLFDC�s mandate which is to promote the development of the Newfoundland and Labrador film industry within the province. Additionally, NLFDC aims to promote the province in the national and international film market as an attractive location for film, television and commercial productions," Minister Jackman said. "Increased film activity means generating more jobs for our professional artists as well as economic benefit to the province."

Minister Jackman said an additional benefit of attracting more film production to the province is that Newfoundland and Labrador receives more exposure on both the small and big screens, boosting curiosity about this province as a tourist destination.

Since 2003-04, film production activity in this province has averaged about $10 million annually. Cultural industries employ about 7,000 people throughout the province and generate about $400 million to the local economy each year.

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Media contact:

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca

Biographical Information

Paul Lannon

Mr. Lannon has more than 35 years experience in business in Newfoundland and Labrador, primarily in the aviation and tourism development industries. He has served on the St. John�s Board of Trade; as president of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador and co-chair of the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership. He is the past director of both the Irish Business Partnership as well as the St. John�s Port Corporation. Mr. Lannon was the 1996 recipient of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council�s Patron of the Arts Award. He has extensive experience in the identification of investment opportunities and in consulting with the public and private sectors on a wide range of business initiatives.

Cheryl Stagg

Ms. Stagg, a former educator and general manager of the Stephenville Theatre Festival, is a well-known advocate for the arts who has worked in journalism, business, tourism and arts and culture capacities for more than 35 years. She has served on numerous business, tourism and arts-related boards during that period.

Mark Sexton

Mr. Sexton has a background in business development, tourism development, economic development, marketing, and event planning, which include areas of promoting film industry development in the province. He has served, for example, with the Corner Brook Triathlon Committee Inc., Wreckhouse Entertainment Inc., and currently serves on the Atlantic Studios Co-operative. Mr. Sexton works as a wealth advisor with ScotiaMcLeod in Corner Brook.

Colleen Kennedy

Ms. Kennedy, a tourism operator, publisher, and executive director of the Gros Morne Co-operating Association is a tireless promoter of the west coast and has a long history of volunteerism in the areas of economic development, rural development, tourism development, education, and environmental stewardship. She currently serves as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation and has been reappointed to a three-year term.

Noreen Golfman

Dr. Golfman, interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Memorial University, has been a driving force behind the development of the Newfoundland and Labrador film industry for many years. She is founding director and chair of the board of the St. John's International Film and Video Festival, which marks its 19th anniversary in 2008, and has spearheaded efforts to promote and screen Canadian, alternative and festival-circuit films through the MUN Cinema Series since 1991.

2008 03 26                                                          12:10 p.m.


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