TORONTO, September 21, 2022 – Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, Scarborough natives and co- founders of The Black Academy, today announced that The Black Academy Skills Development
Program, a training program for Black Canadians looking to gain experience in the business and art of television production, has launched. Through immersive on-the-job training, upskilling, career development, mentorship, networking, and knowledge sharing, The Black Academy Skills Development Program aims to foster the professional growth of Black Canadians in the screen-based industry.
Currently, 15 participants are registered in the program across five streams which cover business affairs, editing, post-production, wardrobe, talent producing, story producing, line producing, and audio. Each trainee receives hands-on training and participates in a bespoke program tailored to their individual skills, previous experience, and career goals. The participants are paid during their training to work on productions including The Legacy Awards. Onyka Gairey is the Project Management Coordinator. The program is the result of a partnership between The Black Academy and Insight Productions.
“We’re thrilled to work with Onyka and Insight to ensure the next generation of Black Canadians are receiving the real-world training they need to jumpstart and excel in their television careers,” said Shamier Anderson, Co-Founder of The Black Academy. “What distinguishes The Black Academy Skills Development Program is the degree to which we’re able to really customize the training and networking opportunities to suit each individual so that they can emerge from the program with demonstrable skills and contacts in their chosen field. This is what real change looks like.”
Today James and Anderson also announced The Black Academy’s Skills Development Program partners and the partners of The Black Academy.
“We’re incredibly grateful to all the partners that came on board in our inaugural year for The Black Academy and for our Skills Development Program,” said Stephan James, Co-Founder of The Black Academy. “These organizations have proven their commitment to the mission of The Black Academy and are making it possible to train and inspire Black Canadian talent.”
The Legacy Awards airs on CBC and CBC Gem on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. AT/9:30 p.m. NT). The live 90-minute telecast is the first major Canadian award show to celebrate and showcase Black talent and will be broadcast from Live Nation Canada’s newest entertainment venue HISTORY, in Toronto. The telecast features performances, award presentations, and tributes honouring both established and emerging Black Canadian talent. Previously announced performers include Jully Black; Deborah Cox; Keysha Freshh; Izzy-S; Kardinal Offishall; SATE; Savannah Ré; and DJ 4KORNERS. King Bach, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean; and media personalities Arisa Cox, Brandon Gonez, Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Amanda Parris, and Odario Williams.
The Legacy Awards is executive produced by Shamier Anderson and Stephan James of The Black Academy and Bay Mills Studios. John Brunton, Lindsay Cox, and Shannon Farr are the executive producers for Insight Productions (A Boat Rocker Company); David F. Mewa is the showrunner; Tanisha Scott is the creative director and co-multi camera director; Jordan Rudder is the talent producer. Daniel Abrams and Norbert Abrams also serve as executive producers. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports and Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content. The 2022 edition of The Legacy Awards marks the first of an exclusive three-year partnership with CBC.