At their Annual General Meeting on September 16, members of the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) reflected on a year marked by significant challenges, but also important progress for the cultural sector. They also elected a Board of Directors comprising 36 leading organizations, as well as six officers from among its members to form the Executive Committee.

A Year of Advocacy and Tangible Results

At the meeting, the CDCE highlighted the key outcomes of its 2025–2026 activities involving sector engagement, mobilization and advocacy with public decision-makers and cultural sector partners in Canada and internationally.

The year was marked by several challenges, including Canada–U.S. trade relations and the growing impact of generative artificial intelligence on the cultural sector, but also by concrete and significant progress, including:

• the inclusion of the artist’s resale right in the federal budget;
• the preservation of essential programs and funding for CDCE members amid the threat of budget cuts;
• progress at UNESCO on the development of an additional protocol to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions;
• the CDCE’s participation in the National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture;
• the expansion of its advocacy efforts on artificial intelligence, broadcasting and the protection of culture in trade agreements.

These achievements demonstrate the Coalition’s vital role in a rapidly evolving political, trade and technological landscape.

A Board of Directors Reflecting the Diversity of the Cultural Sector

Elected by members at the Annual General Meeting, the 2026–2027 Board of Directors brings together representatives from organizations spanning a wide range of disciplines across the country. It includes many of Canada’s leading organizations dedicated to advancing the rights and interests of creators, cultural professionals and businesses.

The Board of Directors is composed of:

Kate Edwards (Access Copyright), Simon Claus (ADISQ), Stéphanie Hénault (ANEL), Clotilde Heibing (ANIM), Jérôme Payette (APEM), Carol Ann Pilon (APFC), Marie-Ève Gagnon (AQAD), Hélène Messier (AQPM), Gabriel Pelletier (ARRQ), Alex Levine (CAEA), Allistair Elliott (CFM), Andrew Cash (CIMA), Cecilia Livingston (CLC), Alain Strati (CMPA), Christian Laforce (Copibec), Samuel Bischoff (DGC), Julian Carrington (DOC), Vincent Klassen (FCCF), Jon Weisz (Les SMAQ), Amie Therrien (MMF), Margaret McGuffin (MPC), Thomas Jolicoeur (Panorama), Kirwan Cox (QEPC), Ansfrid Tchetchenigbo (RAAV), Arun Chaturvedi (SAC), Frédérique Couette (SACD and SCAM), Laurent Dubois (SARTEC), John Rowley (SCGC), Andrea Kokonis (SOCAN), Ariane Charbonneau (SPACQ-AE), John Degen (TWUC), Alexandre Curzi (UDA), Hélène Hotton (UNEQ), Neal McDougall (WGC) and David Lamarre (Xn Québec).

An Executive Committee Reflecting the Strength of the Cultural Sector

Six prominent cultural sector leaders were selected from among the CDCE’s Board members to serve on the Executive Committee for the coming year:

• Francophone Market Co-Chair: Hélène Messier, Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM);
• Anglophone Market Co-Chair: Andrea Kokonis, SOCAN;
• Francophone Market Vice-Chair: Jérôme Payette, Association des professionnels de l’édition musicale (APEM);
• Anglophone Market Vice-Chair: John Degen, The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC);
• Treasurer: Carol Ann Pilon, Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC);
• Secretary: Laurent Dubois, Société des auteur.e.trice.s de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC).

The CDCE welcomes Laurent Dubois, Executive Director of SARTEC, as he joins the Executive Committee as Secretary. It extends its heartfelt thanks to outgoing Secretary Christian Laforce, Executive Director of Copibec, for his dedication and contributions to the Coalition’s work over the past four years.