Ottawa – The Ottawa Film Office (OFO), the local not-for-profit organization dedicated to growing Ottawa’s film and television industry, is delighted to announce the appointment of the new chair, four new members and the re-election of its Board of Directors .
Kelly Haussler, Director, Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism was elected as the new chair and the following new members were elected for a two-year term during the OFO’s AGM held on June 20th, 2024:
Claudia Fortier, Directrice Institut des technologies, des Arts et de la Communication à La Cité
Brad Fougere, Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA)
Kyle O’Byrne, Director of Public Affairs, Canada Media Fund
Sheldon McGregor, Public Speaker, Algonquin Cultural Resource, Artist, Entrepreneur and Investor.
Further, City councillor Sean Devine was also voted to be the new treasurer of the board.
“I want to welcome Kelly Haussler as the new chair of the Board, who brings her impressive leadership and experience from Ottawa Tourism. I also want to welcome Claudia, Brad, Kyle and Sheldon to the OFO’s Board of Directors” says Ottawa Film Commissioner Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos. “They are all bringing precious expertise, and knowledge to the Ottawa Film Office, we are very lucky!”.
The OFO Board and staff extend their deepest gratitude to outgoing members Lise Sarazin (Chair), Frederic Frédéric Thibault-Chabot, Michelle Groulx (Vice-Chair) and Catherine Leteinturier-Guissé as their final term comes to an end. “How great it was to collaborate with you all, I learnt so much from you, thank you so much!” adds Sandrine.
“I am thrilled to be able to expand my role on the Ottawa Film Office Board as the incoming Chair,” says Kelly Haussler, Director of Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism. “Ottawa’s Film Industry contributes significantly to our local economy and serves as a means to showcase Ottawa’s diverse assets and landscapes to the world – creating new reasons to welcome visitors and the film industry to our beautiful city.”
The film office’s Board of Directors serves in a voluntary capacity, providing oversight to all corporate activities.
Ottawa Film Office Board of Directors 2024-2025:
- Shane Boucher (Co-Chair of the OFO’s Advisory Committee), Owner & Chief Executive Producer & Production Designer, 1Department Entertainment Services
- City Councillor Sean Devine
- Sheilagh Doherty, Interim Director, Ecomonic Development Services at City of Ottawa
- Claudia Fortier, Directrice Institut des technologies, des Arts et de la Communication à La Cité
- Brad Fougere, Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA)
- Kelly Haussler (OFO’s Chair), Director of Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism
- Kwende Kefentse, Executive Director, CKCU FM
- Sheldon McGregor, Public Speaker, Algonquin Cultural Resource, Artist, Entrepreneur and Investor
- Kyle O’Byrne, Director of Public Affairs, Canada Media Fund
- Vanessa Poirier, Associate, Kelly Santini LLP
- Heather Ryall, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Media and Design, Algonquin College
- Jeff Westeinde, Partner at THEIA Partners
- Chris Wightman (Co-Chair of the OFO’s Advisory Committee, Ottawa Studio Manager, Atomic Cartoons
About the Ottawa Film Office
The Ottawa Film Office is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help stimulate Ottawa’s economy by attracting film and television production to the region, fostering the growth and development of the local film and television industry, and promoting the region as a preferred industry destination. Its services include location support, production attraction and development, and industry and government liaison and advocacy.
