The Cogeco Fund at a glance
The Cogeco Fund is a Canadian non-profit corporation with the mission of supporting the Canadian program production sector solely through grants for the sponsorship of events or prizes, using proceeds from its capital funds.
On January 1, 2018, the Cogeco Program Development Fund (CPDF), the Independent Production Fund (IPF) and Cogeco Communications Inc. (“Cogeco”) entered into an agreement with a view to ensuring the sustainability of the CPDF’s Canadian television production funding activities. The agreement provides for the transfer of all the existing program funding activities and commitments of the CPDF to the IPF and the redirection of the totality of the annual contribution of Cogeco for independent production funds to the IPF. This transfer ensures that Canadian television program producers will still be able to apply for dramatic television series program funding in 2018 and thereafter from the proceeds of Cogeco Communications’ annual financial contribution directly through the IPF offices in Toronto and Montreal and under the sole responsibility and guidance of the IPF, its Board of Directors and its staff.
- Read the December 4, 2017 press release announcing the agreement between the Cogeco Program Development Fund, the Independent Production Fund and Cogeco Communications Inc.
- Consult the 2017 Cogeco Fund Annual Report.
- Apply for the Cogeco TV Production Funding which is now available through the Independent Production Fund.
The Cogeco Fund's of directors
-
René GuimondB.B.A.Chairman of the Board
René GuimondB.B.A.ReduceRené Guimond has been Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications of Cogeco Inc., since 2010. His previous roles with the Company had been Vice President, Development, New Media, for Cogeco Communications Inc., since 2008, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Radio-Télévision Inc. and TQS Inc. between 2005 and 2008.
Prior to joining Cogeco, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the 2005 FINA World Aquatics Championships, President and COO of TQS Inc. from 2002 to 2003 and President and CEO of the same company from 1998 to 2002, Executive Vice President and General Manager of BCP from 1995 to 1997, President and co-founder of Promo Marketing Canada Inc. from 1986 to 1994, and Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs, Club de baseball Les Expos de Montréal Inc., from 1981 to 1986. He began his career in advertising, first with BCP from 1976 to 1979, then with Cockfield Brown between 1979 and 1981.
Mr. Guimond is a member of the Assembly of the Université de Sherbrooke and of the Québec Film and Television Council’s Cinema and Television Cluster Steering Committee. He also sits on the board of directors of Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) and The Cogeco Fund.
He sat on the Board of Directors of the Sainte-Justine Foundation, the Board of Directors of Parc Jean-Drapeau, and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Mayor of Montreal’s Youth Foundation.
René Guimond was awarded the title of Ambassador by the Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Administration in 2013.
-
Christian JolivetLLB, LLMAdministrator
Christian JolivetLLB, LLMReduceChristian Jolivet joined the Company in 1997 as Director, Legal Affairs and has held various positions since then. In 2002, he became Chief Legal Officer, supervising all legal activities of Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc., as well as their respective business units. Since 2002, he has also been Corporate Secretary of the Boards of Directors of Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc. In 2013, Mr. Jolivet also took on the role of Vice President of Corporate Affairs of Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc.
Before joining the company, he practiced law in a firm specialized in communications law.
Mr. Jolivet received the 2012 Québec Corporate Counsel Award in the category Accomplishment, Business Strategy.
-
Julie LatreilleCFATreasurer
Julie LatreilleCFAReduceJulie Latreille joined Cogeco in April 2022 in the role of Vice President, Treasurer. Her 20 years working in treasury has given her a vast experience in negotiation, financing, cash management, pension funds and financial risk management. She has held several treasury positions at CAE and Groupe Laperrière Verreault (GLV) and more recently held the role of Treasurer at BRP.
Julie holds a Master's degree in finance from the University of Sherbrooke and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Explore some of the Cogeco fund's milestones
The Fund is created
Cogeco Program Development Fund (CPDF) is announced and Letters Patent issued.
The first of five annual $1M contributions are made to an endowment – a public benefit as per CRTC 90-744.
The first 10 projects receive development loans
The Fund receives its first 15 applicants and distributes development loans to 10 projects.
Endowment capital reaches $5M
The Fund's first sponsorships
The Genie Awards, Prix Gémeaux, Banff Festival receive sponsorship support for the first time.
The Fund reaches certification
The CPDF is certified by the CRTC as a Canadian Independent Production Fund (CIPF).
The Fund turns 10
As the Fund celebrates its 10th anniversary, 130 funding applications are received. The CPDF's investment in the industry reaches $7.3M.
Murdoch Mysteries
The Fund supports the movie-of-the-week Murdoch Mysteries, as it begins a long and successful franchise.
Growing with the times
The Fund launches several new development programs for different platforms such as webseries and digital content.
La Galère
The French-language cult series La Galère débuts as $2.75M is invested in 14 drama series and movies-of-the-week.
20th anniversary & Orphan Black
20th anniversary of the CPDF – a total of $33M has been invested in the development and production of 700 programs and key industry events.
The first season of Orphan Black is funded by the CPDF.
19-2
More success for CPDF-funded programs: 19-2 is a hit in both French and English, and Murdoch Mysteries reaches 100 episodes.
25 years of the CPDF
In the 25 years since its creation, the CPDF has invested $55M in 1000 projects; nearly $6M or 12% of investments and loans have been recouped.
A new Cogeco Fund
CPDF transfers its Production Program for drama series and mini-series to the Independent Production Fund. A new Cogeco Fund is established to support industry marketing and promotion events.