The event poster was created by Pascal Blanchet.

On February 11, 2026, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) invites you to a day of dialogue entitled “Valuing Human Creativity in the Age of AI – On the Road to the National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture.”

This gathering will bring together Canadian, Indigenous, and international perspectives to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the creative industries and to foster collective reflection on the transformations currently underway.

Designed as a space for dialogue and the sharing of expertise, the day aims to deepen understanding of the challenges associated with the development of AI in the cultural sector and to identify concrete avenues for action to value human creativity in the digital age.

The event will take place ahead of the National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture, to be held in Banff on March 16 and 17, 2026, in which the CDCE will be actively involved.

Event details

Date: February 11, 2026, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Location: O’Born Room, National Arts Centre, Ottawa
Languages: English and French, with simultaneous interpretation
Fees: CAD $100 – Free of charge for CDCE Member
Lunch will be provided, and the day will conclude with a cocktail reception.

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Program

Hosted by: Johane Despins, journalist and host

10:00 a.m. – Doors open
10:30 a.m. – Opening remarks

11:00 a.m. – Understanding AI Today: What Transformations for the Creative Industries? (Intervention in French)

• Chloé Sondervorst, Producer, CBC/Radio-Canada

Chloé Sondervorst has worked at CBC/Radio-Canada since 2011. Initially a journalist with the News Service, she began creating original programming as a producer in 2015. Passionate about digital culture, she regularly appears as a commentator on current affairs programs and hosts a social media series dedicated to artificial intelligence. Chloé teaches journalism in the age of AI at the Université du Québec à Montréal and at the École supérieure de journalisme de Lille. With a master’s degree in philosophy, questions of ethics and social impact are at the heart of her work across all platforms.

11:45 p.m. – Analysis: Human Creativity and Artificial Intelligence — What Sets Them Apart? (Intervention in English)

• David Cropley, Professor of Engineering Innovation, Adelaide University (Australia)

David Cropley is Adelaide University’s Professor of Engineering Innovation. His research spans creativity in education, organisational innovation capacity, creative problem solving in engineering, and the role of AI in creativity. Dr Cropley is author/co-author of ten books including Core Capabilities for Industry 4.0 – Foundations of the Cyber-Psychology of Engineering (Wbv Media, 2021) and Femina Problematis Solvendis – Problem-Solving Woman: A History of the Creativity of Women (Springer, 2020). Dr Cropley was a scientific consultant and on-screen expert for the Australian ABC TV Documentaries Redesign My Brain (2013), Life at 9 (2014) and Redesign My Brain, Series 2 (2015). Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Dr Cropley has been debunking claims that Large Language Models (LLMs) are more creative than humans.

12:30–1:30 p.m. – Lunch (provided on site)
1:00 p.m. – Address by David Myles, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, and to the Secretary of State (Nature), and Member of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

1:30 p.m. – Why Human Creativity Remains Essential in the Age of Artificial Intelligence ? (Interventions in French)

• Jean-Paul Eid, comic book author and illustrator, spokeperson for the Regroupement pour l’Art Humain (RHA)

A comic book author and illustrator for over 40 years, Jean-Paul Eid began his career in the 1980s with the satirical magazine Croc. A versatile creator, he moves effortlessly from conceptual humour to science fiction, notably with Memoria, and to ambitious period storytelling in The Woman with the Postcards. Published in 2021, The Little Astronaut is his most personal work to date. The book has received numerous awards, has been translated internationally, and has been adapted for radio and theatre. Today, Jean-Paul Eid is widely regarded as a leading figure in Quebec comic art. As an illustrator, he has worked across children’s publishing, television and film, as well as with historical and science museums. Since 2023, he has been an active member of the AI working group at Illustration Québec (IQ) and a founding member of the Regroupement pour l’art humain (RAH).

• Félix Moreau, CEO, Les Éditions Québec Amérique

Félix Moreau has served as Executive Director of Québec Amérique since 2023. He previously held the position of Director of Operations for five years, after joining the company in 2008 as legal counsel. In this role, he brings extensive expertise in contract law and intellectual property. A graduate in law from the Université de Montréal and a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2004, he previously worked within a Québec government department and at a small law firm specializing in legal research and litigation. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from HEC Montréal. Québec Amérique is one of Québec’s leading independent publishing houses, renowned for its fiction featuring distinctive voices, its thought-provoking essays, and its innovative practical titles. Founded in 1974 by Jacques Fortin and now led by President Caroline Fortin, the publishing house is guided by a strong family spirit and a deep commitment to supporting its authors and creators.

Moderated by Johane Despins, journalist and host

A journalist and host for over 40 years—31 of them with Radio-Canada—she has built a distinguished career in public affairs and cultural broadcasting. She hosted the public affairs program L’épicerie for 17 years, co-hosted the variety show La Fosse aux Lionnes for two years, and, for nearly two decades, hosted cultural programs on radio and television with Radio-Canada, TV5, TVA, CKOI, and CKAC. Her credits include Salut Bonjour, C’est bien meilleur le matin, Yé trop de bonne heure, De bouche à oreille, Aux arts, among others. She has also hosted numerous major galas, including the ADISQ Industry Gala, the Opus Awards, the Festival en chansons de Petite Vallée Galas, the Coups de cœur francophones, the Genie Awards, the FIFA Gala, and the UPA Congress. Since 2020, she has led cultural workshops in French-language integration classes for newcomers. She is also the official journalist for the J’aime les fruits et légumes movement and serves as spokesperson for the ITHQ Foundation.

2:00 p.m. – AI as a Lever for Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: An Inspiring Indigenous-Led Initiative (Interventions in English)

• Natasha Ita MacDonald, Vice-President, Heritage Lab

Dr. Natasha Ita MacDonald is Inuk originally from Nunavik and works as a consultant specializing in Inuit-led decolonization and Inuktut language preservation. Through Silattusarniq Community Solutions Consulting, she advances Inuit knowledge-based policy and systems change and works with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to co-develop the Inuit Nunangat University. Natasha also serves as Vice-President of Heritage Lab, contributing to Indigenous language preservation through AI-based tools and digital sovereignty.

• Thomassie Mangiok, board member, Heritage Lab

As a developer and an educator, He is focused on strengthening the Inuktitut language and and wellbeing of the people in the arctic. He contribute by creating physical and digital tools for cultural preservation; such as Inuktitut mobile keyboards, learning applications, videos, books, games, and AI. His mission is to give capacities other Inuit so they may contribute to a better future.

2:30 p.m. – Overview of Canada’s Legal Framework on Artificial Intelligence and Culture (Intervention in English and French)

• Christian Leblanc, Main Partner, Fasken

Christian Leblanc is a lawyer and partner at Fasken’s Montréal office. He has extensive experience in commercial and intellectual property litigation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the most prestigious legal associations in North America, Christian Leblanc is recognized for his excellence in advocacy and his high standards of ethics and professionalism. He has represented clients before the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous occasions, as well as before all levels of court in Québec and various administrative tribunals. His practice also includes life sciences litigation, particularly pharmaceutical patent matters, as well as administrative law related to the pharmaceutical sector and the CRTC. His practice also encompasses telecommunications, communications and media law. Listed in several leading legal directories, Mr. Leblanc is also an experienced speaker and has taught at both Concordia University and École du Barreau du Québec.

(15 minutes break)

3:30 p.m. – International Overview of Recent Developments in the Regulation of Generative AI in the Cultural Sector (Interventions in English and French)

• Benjamin Bleton, board member, Sacem (France)

French author-director and producer, Benjamin Bleton combines expertise in business law, cinematography, and art history. He began his career in the art world before turning to audiovisual production, notably with the landmark restoration of Jacques Tati’s film Jour de fête in 1995. Founder of Karl More Productions France (2000) and M.I.E.U.P – Made In Europe Productions (2021), he has produced and directed more than 285 films broadcast on major French and European television networks. His collaborations with leading artists such as Jordi Savall, Renaud Capuçon, and Philippe Jaroussky, as well as with major cultural institutions including the Musée d’Orsay and the Théâtre du Châtelet, reflect a sustained commitment to artistic and cultural excellence. A pioneer in the preservation of audiovisual heritage, his work has been recognized with the Fondation Pierre Dumas Honorary Award (2016) and a Grammy Awards nomination (2018).

• Sebastian Cuttill, Head of Parliamentary and Legislative Engagement, News Media Association (United-Kingdom)

Sebastian is the Head of Parliamentary and Legislative Engagement at the News Media Association, representing around 900 national and local news titles across the UK, with a particular interest in the regulation and accountability of Big Tech platforms. He is also the founder and convener of the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, a group of more than 70 UK creative organisations, businesses and AI firms working to protect and strengthen copyright in the age of AI. Alongside challenging the Government’s proposed copyright “opt‑out”, he has developed parliamentary campaigns pressing for greater transparency around the data used to train AI systems.

• Claire Pullen, CEO, Australian Writers’ Guild Authorship Collecting Society (AWGACS)

Claire is Executive Director of the Australian Writers’ Guild and Group CEO of the Guild’s group of companies, including AWGACS. AWGACS is the collecting society for royalties for Australian and New Zealand screen authors, which distributes millions every year to writers. Her members’ work has been stolen by AI. Prior to working at the Guild, Claire was a Director at several large trade unions, both private and public sector. Claire drafted the landmark firefighter occupational cancer list now in place in every state and territory in Australia while completing her Masters of Labour Law from Sydney University. She sits on the Writing Australia Council. She has begun her Masters of Copyright Law, but as yet there are no signs of her finishing it.

Moderated by John Degen, CEO, The Writers’ Union of Canada

John Degen is Chief Executive Officer of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC), and Chair of the International Authors Forum (IAF) in the UK – serving and representing over 800,000 authors worldwide. He is a poet and novelist with four published books. John has worked for many years as an arts administrator, arts funder and policy advocate on cultural issues. He is the previous Literature Officer at the Ontario Arts Council, where he administered funding for Ontario’s writers, publishers and literary presenters, and was active in expanding the granting reach for that office into northern and indigenous communities. His essays and opinions have been published widely. He has served on many boards and advisories in the literary and arts sector. His debut novel, The Uninvited Guest, was shortlisted for the 2006 Amazon.ca First Novel Award.

4:30 p.m. – International Instruments and AI: The Key Role of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention (Intervention in French)

• Destiny Tchéhouali, Professor of International Communication at the Department of Social and Public Communication at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), holder of the UNESCO Chair in Communication and Technologies for Development

Destiny Tchéhouali is Professor of International Communication in the Department of Social and Public Communication at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). He is Co-Holder of the Quebec Research Chair on Francophone Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies (IANF) and Holder of the UNESCO Chair in Communication and Technologies for Development. Destiny Tchéhouali also acts as an expert/consultant for various governments and international/supranational organizations (UNESCO, OIF, European Commission, etc.) in the development and implementation of policies and strategies (national, regional and international) in the fields of culture and digital technology. Professor Tchéhouali is also a member of the Scientific Committee of the OIF’s Observatoire de la langue française, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Agence francophone pour l’intelligence artificielle (AFRIA) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Internet Society’s Quebec chapter (ISOC Quebec).

5:00 p.m. – Cocktail reception
In the presence of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages.

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