June 13, 2025

Newfoundland-based actor, writer, and singer Monica Walsh has been awarded the 2025 JL Newfoundland Creative Award, which includes a $2000 cash award.

In 2011, Monica formed Kanutu Theatre to produce both classical and original plays. She went on to create ‘Scene and Blurred,’ an open mic for writers and performance artists, which Monica has taken on tour across Canada and to the United States. She wrote and starred in the short film ‘Lamenting Pluto’ (2018), which screened at film festivals around the world. In 2019, Monica was awarded the Rhonda Payne Theatre award from Arts NL.

“I am so thrilled about this award. It means a great deal to me to have my work recognized in this way, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to focus on my writing and legitimize the process of creating this web series. Thank you so much to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for hosting the JL Newfoundland Creative Award. Thank you to Sponsors Picture NL and NIFCO. Jane sounds like a wonderful person. I hope to write something that would make her laugh if she was here with us still and also tell a touching story.” Monica

JL Newfoundland Creative Award Sponsors: Picture NL, NIFCO.

June 12, 2025

New Brunswick writers Don Bourque and Bea Waters have been awarded the 2025 JL Creative Pollination Program Award, which includes a $1,000 cash award. Bea and Don will work together on a cinematic trailer for a book series.

The Creative Pollination Program pairs two Canadian artists from any creative discipline to collaborate creatively together. The new program received 40 submissions. The jury members were from different provinces in the Atlantic region.

Don Bourque has worked in both public education and the private sector mental health field, retiring in early 2021. He has now authored and published his first trilogy in the Young Adult Fantasy genre. He volunteered with the RCMP New Brunswick Pipes and Drums for nine years and was/is involved with various associations, including the Army Cadet League of Canada, where he served as President of the New Brunswick Branch. He is also a Past President of the Association of 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) and a current Director with the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick. 

“It’s a thrill for Bea and myself to receive the 2025 JL Creative Pollination Program Award. The creation of cinematic trailers for works of literature is a recent development in book marketing, and support like this is just what authors need.” Don

Bea Waters is a maritime author and filmmaker who is interested in the stories that create connections and what those connections mean.

https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBronweN

“I’ve always been a storyteller in different forms of media, and I’m happy to be collaborating with Don Bourque to reach new readers by combining storytelling with moving images. The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is truly an organization that is helping creatives in ways that matter, and I couldn’t be more pleased to receive this award with Don for his Willow’s Wake Trilogy.” Bea

JL Creative Pollination Program Award Sponsor: JL Legacy Fund

June 11, 2025

Halifax-based film directors Brittney Gavin and Amy Mielke have been awarded the 2025 JL Nova Scotia Creative Award, which includes a $1,000 cash award.

A+B Roll Films is the award-winning directing duo of Brittney Gavin and Amy Mielke. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the pair met in 2019 and became fast friends, quickly discovering they shared the same creative wavelength. Both started as editors, a background that gives them a unique perspective and a sharp sense of timing and tone. In 2022, they launched A+B Roll Films to tell bold, visually compelling stories that amplify underrepresented voices and explore themes of identity, culture, and social change. Their work blends heart, humour, and craft and recently earned them the 2024 Screen Nova Scotia Award for WIFT-AT Best Director and Best Documentary for their short documentary “Cold Dip.” In 2025, they released “Apex: The Black Masters,” a short documentary highlighting Nova Scotia’s longest-running Black golf tournament. The film drew national attention, and its story was even featured in Score Golf magazine.

“We’re so grateful to be recipients of the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund. In the world of short filmmaking, every dollar truly makes a difference, especially for emerging filmmakers like us. We deeply appreciate the jury’s belief in our work and their willingness to take a chance on independent voices. Our film is a period piece, which presents added challenges and costs in terms of set design and costuming. Therefore, this support will go a long way in helping us bring our vision to life. Thank you for investing in our story.” Brittney and Amy

Website: www.abrollfilms.com

JL Nova Scotia Creative Award Sponsor: JL Legacy Fund

June 10, 2025

Teagan Anderson-Léger has been awarded the 2025 JL New Brunswick Creative Award, which includes a $1000 cash award.

Teagan Anderson-Léger is a passionate creative from Moncton, NB, balancing life as a wife, mom, actor, and filmmaker with a career in procurement for the federal government. A dedicated supporter of the arts, Teagan has acted with different theatre groups in Moncton since moving to the area in 2017 and has served on the Board of Directors for Hubcity Theatre since 2021, contributing to Moncton’s vibrant theatre scene.

Teagan’s love for writing and rich storytelling extends to film, with her debut short film, “The Job,” earning recognition at the 2024 Silver Wave Film Festival, which included nominations for Outstanding Male Lead Performance and Music Composition, as well as placing 13th in the Top 20 Audience Choice Films.

With the help of other NB Film Co-op members, Teagan is currently producing her second film, No Straws, an exploration of friendship, grief, guilt, and the inevitability of letting go. Teagan is always eager to collaborate with fellow filmmakers and creatives to bring compelling ideas and stories to life.

“I am beyond appreciative and thrilled to have been awarded the 2025 JL New Brunswick Creative Award, and I extend my deepest gratitude to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund and Connexions Productions. This project is very dear to my heart, and this award serves as a reminder of the importance of allowing yourself to make space for imagination and “dreaming big.” I feel so fortunate to be acknowledged by an organization that fosters creativity and provides opportunities and support to artists. Thank you for this meaningful recognition.” Teagan

JL New Brunswick Creative Award Sponsor: Connexions Productions

May 30, 2025

In the vibrant and ever-evolving artistic landscape of New Brunswick and the Atlantic region, artists face numerous challenges that can be daunting. Since its establishment in 2021, the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has quietly woven itself into the fabric of the creative community, providing invaluable support to artists across all disciplines. Today, it takes a bold step forward, solidifying its commitment to empowering New Brunswick artists with the exciting launch of its new JL Artist Development service. In this nurturing space, creativity can flourish and creative careers can take flight.

Those artists that the Legacy Fund decides to support will be offered artist branding, grant writing assistance, and access to complimentary artist development opportunities. The services are designed to support the professionalization and advancement of artists in their chosen creative fields. 

"We've been doing some of this informally already, but we want to formally structure it so that artists feel they have an organized trajectory and are working towards specific goals, and are accountable to themselves and others." Cat LeBlanc, President, Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund

The two artists the fund has selected to receive support and guidance are music artist Abby McCartney and filmmaker Jeremy Murray.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is thrilled to announce the launch of the second edition of its provincial Mentorship Engagement Program.

The program mentors have selected their mentees in the creative categories of film, music, visual art, writing, multidisciplinary art, theatre, and photography.

The participant-driven program connects a selected group of emerging New Brunswick artists in different creative disciplines with established creative professionals, workshop leaders, and speakers who provide expert-level advice and networking opportunities to assist them with their career goals and challenges. The Fund seeks to identify and support New Brunswick talent with this program with a focus on diversity.

"It has taken years of hard work to get this helping program for artists in place through the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund. My mom and I are very excited for everybody involved," says Legacy Fund president Cat LeBlanc.

For background on the program, mentors, mentees, workshop leaders, and speakers go to: CLICK HERE

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund thanks its generous sponsors, the Arts and Culture Branch: Strategic Initiatives Fund - Growth Component and Atlantic Lottery.

Fredericton, May 4, 2025

New Brunswick filmmaker Brenda Malley has won the 2025 JL Film Post Award for her documentary project. The award is $1500 in cash, mainly possible thanks to a long-term endowment from TIFF Film Circuit Saint John. The Legacy Fund created the award to give New Brunswick filmmakers financial assistance in hiring New Brunswick post-production specialists.

“I am deeply grateful to receive the JL Film Post Award for my documentary project. This grant will significantly support the completion of my film, which I have been self-funding until now. Your recognition of my project’s potential and value means a great deal to me. Your support will enable me to elevate the production quality, reach a wider audience, and share the story I am so dedicated to telling.” Brenda Malley

Brenda Malley joined the New Brunswick Film Co-op in 2017, and between 2019 and 2025, she produced her four short screenplays that have garnered numerous awards and recognition worldwide. In 2023, she created an 8-episode series, The Town Clown, for Bell TV 1. The series became a feature and won Best Canadian Drama at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival and the Western Canada International Film Festival in 2024 and 2023, respectively. It also screened at additional film festivals.

Currently, Brenda is co-producing a short documentary about a local Fencing family’s commitment to excellence and a feature documentary about post-war New Brunswick as understood through the lens of the Escuminac Disaster 1959. Brenda also agreed to co-produce a short film in England and produce a short film written by a Film Co-op member.

Brenda is the president of Malley Films and Casting and an active member of Media NB. She is also one of the jurists for the International Film Festival The Hague for a second year.

JL Film Post Award Sponsors: TIFF Film Circuit Saint John, SOUNDBUD, and Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund

Fredericton, April 26, 2025

Saint John-based multidisciplinary artist Amy Stewart has been awarded a JL Micro-Bursary for her project Amber Deer.

"Creating "Amber Deer" has been one of the most personal and transformative journeys of my career. It is a story rooted in vulnerability, layered identities, and truth. Receiving support from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund feels like a hand reaching out to steady me as I move forward as a filmmaker. Centering diverse and honest voices in conversations around mental wellness, parenthood, and connection is healing for me and the communities we touch. Thank you, JLLF, for believing in me and helping me share my voice." - Amy Stewart.

Amy has over 20 years of experience in photography, music, and filmmaking. She began her career as a professional photographer and pianist before transitioning into film, where she has worked in various roles on set and in production offices. Formerly an Executive Producer at Hemmings House Pictures, Amy now owns ASProductions Inc., collaborating with top industry professionals as a Producer and Director. Passionate about authentic storytelling, Amy's work explores themes of motherhood, mental wellness, and human complexity.

Amy is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion in the arts and serves as a board member and Membership Committee Chair for WIFT-Atlantic and is on the Diversity Committee for Media NB. Currently, Amy is in pre-production for her first narrative horror short and post-production on her debut documentary. Amy is also an active NB Film Co-op member.

Fredericton, April 24, 2025

Nadia Khoury, the driving creative force behind Gallery on Queen, an art gallery dedicated to emerging and experienced visual artists, has been awarded an Atlantic JL Micro-Bursary. Nadia has welcomed many artists and organizations into her gallery space for various creative and cultural events, including film screenings. She is the past chair of the New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts and has coordinated multiple events for organizations such as the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Jeunesse Musical, DOTs NB, and the Fredericton Botanic Garden. 

Nadia has been actively involved in the province's artistic community as an art dealer, curator, and consultant for forty years. In 2021, Nadia was nominated for the 29th Annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurial Award.

Nadia is passionate about anti-oppressive mandates that support artists from marginalized communities. She is a big supporter of arts education, development, and promotion and firmly believes in the transformative power of the arts in the Maritimes. 

"It is with immense gratitude that I accept this award. I am honoured to have been awarded The Atlantic JL Micro-Bursary. This recognition holds deep symbolic value. It affirms and encourages my vision and uplifts the community we've built together at Gallery on Queen." - Nadia, Khoury.

JL Micro-Bursary Sponsor: JL Legacy Fund

Fredericton, April 11, 2025

An Atlantic peer jury has selected photographer Ramneet Kalra for an artist residency through the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund. Ramneet will receive a cash award of $1,800 from the Fund to work on his latest photography project. Ramneet joins artists Ysabelle Vautour (Visual Art) and Jeremy Murray (Film), who were generously funded by The New Brunswick Arts Board (artsnb), to do their residencies through the Fund.

“I’m incredibly honored to be selected for a JL artist residency. This opportunity supports the growth of my creative practice and allows me to connect more deeply with the community and environment that inspire my work. I’m grateful for the trust and support of the Fund, and I look forward to the journey ahead.” - Ramneet.

Ramneet Kalra is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist who combines his passion for poetry and photography. For his work for new and emerging BIPOC artists, he was awarded the JL Community Event Award in 2024. Ramneet’s photographs are characterized by their evocative use of light and color, and his poems often explore themes of nature, solitude, and the human condition. Ramneet’s latest project is called Unchartered Expressions.

Ramneet’s artwork has been shown in India, the USA, and Canada. Ramneet curated four shows for NB BIPOC artists: Outside Perspective (2023) and Dreamscapes (2024).

JL Artist-in-Residence Sponsor: Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund.

Fredericton, April 11, 2025

Jeremy Brubacher has been awarded the 2025 JL Glen D. Ross Photography Award, which includes a $500 cash award.

Jeremy’s love for photography grew from his love for movies and cinematography. Because of this, his photography is greatly inspired by films and has a cinematic aesthetic. He started photography to grow his composition skills and experiment with lighting. Over time, he developed a love and appreciation for photography as an art form in and of itself. He is taking a break from filmmaking and created this photography project accompanied by poetry for his next project. Jeremy hopes it will be meaningful and thought-provoking work that will evoke an emotional response from viewers, like a film, but told in a series of still images.

“Thank you to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for creating this photography award in honour of Glen D. Ross. Thank you to the jury for choosing me to receive it, which will fund and help bring to life this special photography project I am working on. I am beyond grateful that the jury saw the potential of this project and saw how this award will add value to the final product and the photography shoot itself. Hopefully, this will be the first of many projects like this.” Jeremy Brubacher

JL Glen D. Ross Photography Award Sponsors: Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, Brigitte Noel.

April 9, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, in partnership with Craft NB, is excited to announce the introduction of a new Craft Award for production craftspeople in New Brunswick. This esteemed award has a cash value of $1,200, and the application deadline is July 1 annually. This award is a unique opportunity for New Brunswick artists to gain recognition and support for their craft.

"We are excited to partner with the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund to introduce this vital support for our production-focused members. This award uniquely addresses a crucial need within New Brunswick's craft sector, directly benefiting those dedicated to production work. We strongly encourage members, at all career stages, to seize this unprecedented opportunity and apply." - Christina Foster, Executive Director, Craft NB.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is thrilled to collaborate with Craft NB on this new award. This partnership marks the beginning of a promising relationship, and both organizations look forward to more joint initiatives in the future.

"In the current landscape of limited arts funding, partnerships are crucial. We are stronger when we collaborate with other arts organizations in our community and region to support our artists." - Cat LeBlanc, Founder/President, Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund.

JL Craft Award Sponsors: Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, Craft NB

March 29, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is launching a new initiative, a program specifically for music instrument repairs. The program is the brainchild of New Brunswick visual artist and musician Jessica Kenney.

"Instruments are a necessary part of our work. Most instruments require regular professional maintenance of some kind. Making instrument repair accessible enables artists to keep learning, creating, and performing at their best." Jessica

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is funding this new initiative to kick it off. The fund hopes to get additional sponsorship from music organizations, businesses, and other sponsors to grow the program and help the New Brunswick music community.

Through the JL Music Instrument Repair Fund, musicians can apply for up to $300 for repairs to offset their costs.

March 19, 2025

Funded by the Arts and Culture Branch: Strategic Initiatives Fund - Growth Component and Atlantic Lottery

Deadline for Submissions: April 18, 2025

The JL Legacy Fund Mentorship Engagement Program is a participant-driven pilot program that connects a selected group of emerging New Brunswick creatives in film, visual art, writing, photography, music, and theatre with established creative professionals who can provide expert level advice and networking opportunities to help them. With this program, the Fund seeks to identify and support emerging talent with a focus on diversity. This nine-month mentorship and guidance program brings together ten participants with their ten mentors through in-person and/or digital channels.

The program runs from April 2025 to December 2025. Selected mentees for the program will spend four hours a month with their mentors one-on-one, if approved by the JL Mentorship Engagement Program. They will also attend specialized virtual workshops which include mental health and networking support with creative specialists. The mentees should apply with a specific project that they are having challenges starting or completing.

If you have questions about the program, email the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund at: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is committed to diverse and inclusive representation. We encourage Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and other underrepresented communities to submit to our programs.

Friday, March 14, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is thrilled to announce that it has received funding from Tourism, Heritage, & Culture, and Atlantic Lottery, enabling it to soon launch its 2025 JL Mentorship Engagement Program and call for mentees. In 2024, Tourism, Heritage, & Culture supported the Fund's pilot mentorship program, which ran successfully for 9 months.

The JL Mentorship Engagement Program is a participant-driven program that connects a selected group of emerging New Brunswick artists in different creative disciplines with established creative professionals, a health and wellness lead, and speakers who provide expert-level advice and networking opportunities to help them. The Fund seeks to identify and support New Brunswick talent with this program and there is a strong focus on women, diversity, and inclusion.

"It took years of hard work to get this needed helping program for artists off the ground. I am excited for everybody that will be involved with the program," says Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund president Cat LeBlanc.

The Fund will launch its call for 10 mentees soon, and those interested will get the opportunity to read up on the 2025 selected mentors before they submit to be participants. The mentors choose the mentees and the creative disciplines represented through the 2025 program are: music, visual art, photography, theatre, writing, film, and multi-disciplinary art.

Fredericton, March 10, 2025

New Brunswick-based creator Nancy Lynch has been awarded an Atlantic JL Micro-Bursary for her theatre production of Freddy-The Last Fish. The story follows a group of eclectic diners gathering in a small restaurant in Miramichi to eat the last salmon on earth. Through humour, drama and music, the diners tell their reasons for wanting to travel to Miramichi to eat the last fish.

“I am honoured and thankful to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for recognizing the value of this mighty theatre production of Freddy-The Last Fish. The generous support from the JL Micro-Bursary will help offset expenses as we prepare for additional shows in 2025. Funds such as the JL Micro-Bursary are important to the arts community as they incentivize creatives to keep developing and growing their artistic talent. On behalf of Not Half Bad Productions and my amazing team, who helped bring this stage production to life, we are truly grateful.” Nancy

Nancy Lynch is an award-winning writer, director, and producer based in Fredericton, NB. Nancy began writing screenplays in 2006 when she completed her first screenwriting course and became a member of the NB Film Co-op. She has written and directed two shorts. Nancy’s screenplay When The Sun Goes Down on Grimmer Street was an official selection at the Macroproject Film Festival. Nancy co-directed the short film OK Boomer- Digi Dating Anyone in 2020 and the documentary Vulnerable Innocence (The Internet: Are Children in Charge) in 2021.

Fredericton, March 9, 2025

Halifax-based Moroccan cellist and community builder Blanche Israël has been awarded the first Atlantic JL Micro-Bursary for her solo artistic project TOLEDANO. Blanche manipulates ancient Sephardic songs using cello and electronics. Her project examines community, isolation, and the clash between ancestral customs and contemporary diasporic experience. It reflects on mourning, self-care, and longing for support, reconnecting with the endangered Judeo-Spanish and Ladino languages, and exploring the lives of her 104-year-old grandmother and 2-year-old daughter, who share the same name. Themes of community care, memory, feminism, and displacement resonate throughout the work.

"As I look to the next chapter of my career and embark on a deeply personal solo cello project, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to dig into my roots and my creative practice with the support of the JL Micro-Bursary. I am grateful to organizations like the JL Legacy Fund, which allows artists the time and space to find and hone their creative voice." Blanche

Fredericton, March 8, 2025

Artist and community builder Dave Petersen has been awarded the 2025 JL Community Event Award for the Heron Bay Film Festival. David will receive $1000 to grow his event and expand its activities in his community.

“The Heron Bay Film Festival is ecstatic and honored to receive the 2025 JL Community Event Award—many thanks for this strong support. As the HBFF heads into its second year, this generous cash prize, sponsored by the JL Legacy Fund and Eric & Suzanne Megarity, starts the funding rolling with substantial momentum. Investing in smaller event initiatives in the early days is how communities thrive, and community traditions begin. Sponsorship of this nature is an invaluable and necessary cornerstone of success.” Dave Petersen

Dave Petersen, a Dalhousie, NB native with deep roots in theatre and film, and an interest in all things creative, is the driving force behind the Heron Bay Film Festival. His organization, the nbNorEast Content Creators Collective, promotes education, production, and collaboration among different artistic genres.

About the event:
The Heron Bay Film Festival celebrates New Brunswick’s storytelling talents. The Festival allows creators from the North Shore and the province to screen their work for a live audience.

February 24, 2025

The JL Micro-Bursary Program was created in 2023 to support projects representing all artistic forms and practices in New Brunswick. These modest cash grants, like seeds of potential, support a community project, event, or individual artist with their work.

In a significant and pivotal move, the JL Micro-Bursary Program has extended its reach to the Atlantic region in 2025, marking a new and promising chapter in its mission to bolster the arts.

JL Micro-Bursary Program

Deadline: Open

Cash Awards: Up to $500

February 14, 2025

The JL Creative Pollination Program connects two emerging New Brunswick artists from any creative discipline to create together and expand their skills and connections.

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Jury Decisions: June 20, 2025

Grant Amount: $500 per artist

SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:

Project plan.

Two artist participants & bios.

Schedule.

The email submission must come from both participating artists to confirm their collaboration.

Have questions? Email: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com

January 26, 2025

Are you facing challenges moving yourself and your creative projects ahead?

Apply to the JL Legacy Fund NB Disability Art Collective Lab Intensive, our 2025 Artist-in-Residence Ysabelle Vautour is hosting!

Deadline to Apply: February 20, 2025
Program Timeline: March 1-July 31, 2025

Apply Below.

Funded by artsnb with resource assistance from the JL Legacy Fund

December 16, 2024

The JL Legacy Fund recently launched its full schedule of revamped awards with updated grants and professional development opportunities. There is now an Artist-in-Residence and Community Event Program opportunity for artists and the community to apply for in 2025. With an open deadline, the popular JL Micro-Bursary Program will also return in 2025.

The Fund will now consider funding applications for smaller projects as well as travel for creative opportunities that have already taken place.

December 11, 2025

Our online inspirational keynote with well-known creative and medium Danielle d'Entremont has been rescheduled! Danielle's 40-minute keynote will now happen in Spring, 2025. We will notify our patrons, supporters, program participants, award winners, jury members, and the public about the new date and registration link closer to the event.

Danielle Marie d'Entremont is a producer, actress, model, writer, speaker, social media expert, serial entrepreneur, and medium. Her diverse roles and passion for supporting the arts make her a fascinating figure in the creative community. Social justice and impactful storytelling are the primary focuses for how she chooses which projects to support.

December 2, 2024

The JL Legacy Fund has just launched its full schedule of revamped awards with updated deadlines and professional development opportunities, including a new artist-in-residence program. Visitors to the new website can see who the Fund's major sponsors and supporters are, as well as past contributors and award winners. Read on and get a sneak peek at the interactive installation project in the works honouring Jane LeBlanc's life and times (JL Recordings).

Download the JL Legacy Fund activity report for 2024 and peruse the Fund's podcast episodes, workshops, art collection, legacy pages, and hot-off-the-press news on the website. https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com/about