Founded in 2007 by Edie Weiss and Jeff Kopas to address this issue, POV has spent the last decade developing a model that ensures diverse creatives have a viable first point of entry into the sector.  Since then, we’ve helped over 250 youth from across the GTA find fulfilling jobs, establish meaningful careers, and effectively mentor the next generation of content creators.

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POV was founded  by leaders from the creative  industry who believe that working in the industry should not be a privilege exclusive to those who have the means, resources and networks to break in. Since its inception, POV’s  work has been focused on  removing these barriers to entry by providing diverse creatives with access to  industry relevant training training, social capital and the resources to launch their creative careers.

Originally registered as a charity in 2007 as Presenting Our Vision (POV), the organization began as a filmmaking program for youth facing economic marginalization Ten to twelve participants were first trained in film production and then given the opportunity to create a short film on their own, all while meeting industry mentors and receiving soft-skills training to assist in both personal and professional development. POV continued to successfully operate using this program model for seven years.

In 2014, POV’s leadership decided it was time to expand its mandate and by extension its programming. There were several factors, both external and internal, that contributed to this expansion. 

Externally, and on a global scale, the ever-shifting technological, cultural and social trends within the creative  industry had begun to disrupt the way people were creating, packaging, and consuming content. 

With the switch from traditional media verticals to “content,” as well as the democratization of production  tools via online platforms, it was clear that POV needed to adapt its approach according to the quickly  evolving creative  industry. Not only were these massive industry changes quickly dissolving the traditional associations linked to a career in “filmmaking,” but they were likewise presenting exciting, new entry points and opportunities for talented and ambitious media-savvy young, creatives . Similarly, these changes presented new challenges for the community we serve as well.

Internally, POV had the benefit of observing many cohorts of participants go through its filmmaking program and two noteworthy realizations emerged that shaped the charity immensely:

Emphasis on Post-Graduate Preparedness: The first was that if we wanted to create lasting and sustainable change in the lives of the creative youth we serve, we needed to broaden our training from film and media training to include a stronger emphasis on career mentorship and job preparedness as well. To fully service our mission of empowering youth to work in the creative industry, we needed to address the gap in skills, knowledge, network connections, and opportunities that would realistically allow them to begin and thrive in a career in film, TV or advertising.

Soft Skills Training: The second realization that shaped POV programming expansion was the recognition of how valuable soft skills training is for alumni entering the workforce, particularly in the creative industries. The need for building these skills led to the  addition of awareness-based leadership development and cultural competency training into our programming. This innovative approach that focused personal growth and career development has been an incredible and unique asset to our program participants.

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Since expanding our mandate in 2014, POV has been on a journey of growth and change. Our 12-week filmmaking program transitioned into the Media Training Program, POV’sr flagship six-month, cross-industry training and skills development program. In 2019, we began to offer the Production Assistant Training Program and in 2020, as a way to support our community of creatives during the pandemic, we started the en/VISION Lab. 

As we continued to seek ways to enhance our programming to better support our participants, we added bursaries, opportunities for further professional development, work placements, paid internships placement, and career mentorships.  In 2019, due to the absence of existing data, POV released its very first research report as a first step to mapping the creative sector and exploring the systemic barriers to access that regulate the sector’s workforce. In 2022, POV launched a second report that explored how social capital operates with a focus on understanding how networks and connections are critical for diverse creatives to thrive professionally and economically in the creative industry.

At the same time, we grew our board and staff and began to create an infrastructure that prioritized the overall growth of POV while continuing to support and serve our creative community. This included structuring board operations, standardizing processes, diversifying revenue streams, expanding brand awareness, and developing strategic partnerships with sector stakeholders 

15 years later, we’ve helped over 250 young creatives from across the GTA find fulfilling work in the creative industry, launched meaningful careers, and championed the next generation of content creators.

It is in this context of profound change and growth that POV approaches the next stage of its development with renewed vigour and vision. We have never been more excited and better prepared to focus on a clear vision, to set measurable goals, and most importantly, to impact the lives of the young creatives we serve  and the industry who will benefit immensely from their stories and talent.

The Founders.

  • Edie Weiss

  • Jeff Kopas