March 21, 2023
JL Legacy Fund Unveils Provincial Awards for Atlantic Film Creators
The JL Legacy Fund’s long-term goal of having creative awards for writers and directors in all four Atlantic provinces is now a reality. Louise Lalonde Productions is now sponsoring the new Prince Edward Island Creative Award, and International award-winning marketing and creative agency BrainWorks hopped into the sponsor mix today to generously bump up the New Brunswick Creative Award from $1000 to $2000.
The other generous sponsors for the Atlantic Creative Awards are Connections Productions, Cat LeBlanc, and Maureen LeBlanc (NB), BOYNECLARKE LLP (NS), the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation, and the Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Co-op (NL).
In its third year of operation, the JL Legacy Fund now has 19 cash awards in different creative disciplines, a new pilot mentorship engagement program, and other ongoing activities supporting creatives in multiple artistic fields as well as the JL Legacy Fund Creative Podcast, which focuses on Fund sponsors, award-winners, jury members, and mentors.
In addition, the Fund was recently designated by the Canada Council for the Arts as a multidisciplinary arts support organization. This new designation means that the Fund is eligible for core and future project funding.
During the pandemic in 2021, the JL Legacy Fund was created in memory of Janey LeBlanc (artist and adventurer) with one award (JL Music Award). Within a short period of time, with the help of the LeBlanc family and additional sponsors, the Fund has had a growth explosion. Cash awards have gone to 28 creatives in every creative discipline in New Brunswick and the Atlantic region.
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc, Founder/President
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com/
March 10, 2023
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Designated as Multidisciplinary Arts Support Organization by Canada Council for the Arts
The Jane LeBlanc (JL) Legacy Fund can now apply for core and project funding for its ongoing programs and activities as a Multidisciplinary Arts Support Organization.
In its third year of operation, the JL Legacy Fund has 18 cash awards in different creative disciplines, a new mentorship engagement program, and other ongoing activities supporting creatives in multiple artistic disciplines as well as the JL Legacy Fund Creative Podcast which focuses on Fund sponsors, supporters, award-winners, mentors, and jury members.
Cat and Maureen LeBlanc created the JL Legacy Fund in 2021 during the pandemic with one award (JL Music Award). Within a short period of time, with the help of the LeBlanc family and additional sponsors, the Fund has had a growth explosion.
"I am thrilled about the Fund's growth and the support for our Fund across Canada. We could not do what we are doing to support the Atlantic creative community without our generous sponsors and supporters; we thank them for believing in us." Cat LeBlanc, Founder and President
The Fund is also focused on partnerships and looks forward to connecting with different collectives, groups, and organizations on activities and projects that support the creative community and champion inclusion and support for under-represented communities.
To learn more about the Fund and see its sponsors, award winners, and upcoming award deadlines, visit https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com.
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is an incorporated non-profit fund created in memory of artist and adventurer Janey LeBlanc.
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
March 8, 2023
Ben HarrisonInaugural Jane LeBlanc Theatre Organization Award Goes to Branch Out Productions
The 2023 Jane LeBlanc Theatre Organization Award has gone to Branch Out Productions. The organization will receive $1,500.
"Branch Out Productions is ecstatic to win the first Jane LeBlanc Theatre Organization Award. BOP's directing team members will be trained as intimacy coordinators thanks to the award monies. This is an important step in strengthening the integrity of our arts community," says BOP's Artistic Director, Ben Harrison.
Ben Harrison launched the theatre company 15 years ago with a strong focus on the organization being a safe and accommodating place for people of all ages and experience levels to explore the performing arts.
"This intimacy training will allow us to ensure the well-being of our actors while they do their important work in theatre. It will give us the necessary tools to approach any delicate subject matter with informed sensitivity. This training will also allow us to be a resource to other community theatre and film production teams," says Ben Harrison.
Ben Harrison is a mental health advocate by day and a theatre artist by night. He is an avid storyteller and the Founder and Artistic Director for Branch Out Productions, a community theatre group in Fredericton, NB.
www.branchoutproductions.ca
Branch Out Productions
Jane LeBlanc Theatre Organization Award Sponsors: Jan Thompson, Eric and Suzanne Megarity, Cat LeBlanc, Maureen LeBlanc
www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
JL Legacy Fund Creative Podcast: NB Music Artist Abby McCartney
November 24, 2022
Arnold Jane LeBlanc Song AwardArnold LeBlanc Songwriter Award Rebrands and Expands
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund's Arnold LeBlanc Songwriter Award will now be called the Arnold Jane LeBlanc Award (AJL) in memory of Miramichi musician Jane LeBlanc and singer Arnold LeBlanc and will focus on hard rock and heavy metal in 2024.
In addition, the new celebrity music jury will now consider songwriting, vocals, and performance in their deliberations.
"We are very excited to have some heavy metal legends interested in being on our 2024 award jury," says Cat LeBlanc, JL Legacy Fund founder.
The revamped award will be accessible to different genres of music annually. The winner will also receive a complimentary one year membership with Music / Musique NB.
In 2022, the celebrity music jury (Lennie Gallant, Joel Plaskett, Jenn Grant, Rose Cousins, and Catherine MacLellan) focused on roots, folk, and country music. The winner was talented NB music artist and songwriter Jason Anderson. Jason won a cash prize for his song Together, Apart, which audiences can find on Spotify.
Sponsored by: CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, BRAINWORKS, WRITERS’ FEDERATION OF NB, MUSIC•MUSIQUE NB
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund would not be possible without all its sponsors and supporters who contribute annually.
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com/supporters
November 18, 2022
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Becomes Annual Sponsor of Errol Williams Filmmaker Award
"Preserving Errol's work and legacy is incredibly important. The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund wants to support this special initiative that keeps Errol's greatness in the public eye. Errol was someone who changed lives through his friendships and filmmaking. His spirit is still very much with everyone who knew him so well, including his beloved family, relatives, and close film friends. It is an honour for the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund to be involved with this special award that the NB Film Co-op, Chris Campbell, and Tony Merzetti sponsor annually." Cat and Maureen LeBlanc
Background: Errol Williams was a pioneer and award-winning international filmmaker who was introduced to filmmaking at the NB Film Co-op in the late 1980s. He produced dramas and documentaries. After his untimely death in 2007, a special award was set up in his honour by his friends, past NB Film Co-op President Chris Campbell, and long-time Film Co-op ED Tony Merzetti in partnership with the NB Film Co-op.
ERROL WILLIAMS FILMMAKER AWARD
Deadline: March 1, 2023
(one grant awarded annually)
Purpose: To support the production of a short film no longer than 10 minutes.
Note: Films can be short dramas or documentaries.
Eligible applicants: New Brunswick residents who are black and people of colour.
Award composition:
$400 cash from Errol Williams Fund
$300 cash from the NB Film Co-op
$400 cash from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
$700 equipment deferral
Eight professional development workshops.
Submission Process: Applicants are asked to submit the following materials by email (Word or PDF documents):
Treatment for story or Script
Budget
Director's Statement
Crew/Cast list
Production plan
Email: info@nbfilmcoop.com for assistance.
September 26, 2022
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces 2022 Music Composer Award Winner
The 2022 Jane LeBlanc Music Composer Award, with a cash prize of $800, has gone to New Brunswick music composer Zachary Greer
The jury members were music composers Joel Miller, Laura Perry, and Jeff Patch.
“I’m honoured to receive this award and be a part of Jane’s Legacy. Thank you so much to Cat, her mother, Maureen, and the fund. From what I know about Jane, it’s clear there was no adventure too daring for her, and that’s the attitude to have to inspire people looking to make a career in the arts. We need to take risks and help each other out, especially as New Brunswickers working in film. This award will be a tremendous help, and I’m truly grateful.”
Zachary Greer is a New Brunswick-based composer for film, television, and advertising. When beginning his university degree at St. Thomas, he knew early on that writing music to picture was his passion. With the invaluable teachings and guidance from his mentor and composition professor Martin Kutnowski, he began honing his skills as a composer, leading him to score his first feature film, Alice in the Attic (2015), at age 21. Since graduating, he has composed music for various projects, including documentaries, documentary series, shorts, ad campaigns, and theatre productions. In 2018, Zachary received the Excellence in Music Composition award at the Silver Wave Film Festival for the short film The Nashwaak.
Recently, he has written music for multiple projects, including, Cicerone (dir Ty Giffin), The Last Lucivee (dir Janice Wright Cheney & Matt Brown), and Fighter (dir Meagan Brown). He’s also worked on multiple documentary projects, including, Never Say Die (Jordan Greer), Meet and Eat at Lee’s Garden (Days Lee), and has music featured in the first season of Yukon Harvest on APTN, earning him an additional music credit. He’s also scored all of the Graystone Brewing ad campaigns since 2021.
Aside from his media work, Zachary also remains active as a solo artist producing instrumental albums. His major releases, The Duel and Partridge Island are based on historical events in New Brunswick, both of which received grants from artsNB, MusicNB, and the Canada Council for the Arts. Often combining experimental sounds with organic instrumentation, his work has been said to effortlessly exude serenity and beauty, as well as drama and grit.
The Jane LeBlanc Music Composer Award is sponsored By
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC
MAUREEN LEBLANC
JO JO SWEEN PRODUCTIONS
THOM FITZGERALD
ANGELA BIRDSELL
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
September 20, 2022
Artist Erin GoodineJane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces 2022 Artist Support Scholarship Winner
The 2022 Jane LeBlanc Artist Support Scholarship with a cash prize of $1000 has gone to New Brunswick Artist Erin Goodine.
The jury members were: filmmaker and film teacher Cam Woykin, Photographer Karrie Nash, and writer and poet Kayla Geitzler.
“I am so honoured and grateful to receive the Jane LeBlanc Artist Support Scholarship and recognition from the jury. This award will be a significant help to me in developing a new body of work and in my career as an artist. I want to thank the jury and everyone involved at the Jane Leblanc Legacy Fund for their invaluable support of the arts community!”
Erin can be found on Instagram: @eringoodine
Erin Goodine is a painter, interdisciplinary artist, and designer based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Their art practice includes painting, sculpture, video, and installation. Erin collaborates as a curator and writer with the 3E Collective, who, as a group, have created exhibitions and publications for the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen, Owens Art Gallery, and more. Erin’s artwork has also been featured at Flourish Festival, Gallery on Queen, Connexion ARC, and RE:FLUX Experimental Music and Sound Art Festival with the experimental improv trio Terre Wa. They are interested in time, form, movement, humour, and the uncanny through drawing, painting, and video compositions.
The Jane LeBlanc Artist Support Scholarship is sponsored By
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC
MAUREEN LEBLANC
MICHELLE CADOGAN
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
August 25, 2022
Filmmaker Gordon Mihan
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces 2022 Creative Scholarship Winner
The 2022 Jane LeBlanc Creative Scholarship with a cash prize of $2000 has gone to New Brunswick filmmaker Gordon Mihan.
The JL Creative Scholarship is the only award open to directors/writers in the Atlantic region.
“My project is a stop-motion animated short film entitled Happy Campers. Stop-motion animation is something I spent a lot of time doing in my youth, and I’ve been eager to return to it as an adult. The film is based on my experiences at summer camp, and since it is in direct conversation with my own childhood, I figured this would be the perfect project to return to my old art form. Preproduction for the film is nearing completion, and I’m thrilled about the support the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund and Jane LeBlanc Creative Scholarship Award will give me for the project’s next stage. It’s a tremendous aid for the film and my development with stop-motion animation. I want to give a huge thanks to the jury and everyone involved with the Legacy Fund!"
Gordon Mihan is a Fredericton-based screenwriter and film director. He has produced and directed several festival-screened short films across Canada. His most recent short film Unofficial Selection won the Audience Choice Award at the 2019 Silver Wave Film Festival, and his previous short film, Coached, was broadcast on the CBC as part of the 5th season of the Reel East Coast, now available on CBC Gem. Gordon is a member of the NB Film Co-op.
Check out Gordon’s creative updates at:
Twitter: @GordonMihan
Instagram: @strike_pictures
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strike.pictures.canada/
The Jane LeBlanc Creative Scholarship is sponsored By
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, WIFT-AT, ROGER MOORE, DAN HILL, BOTSFORD MEDIA INC., BOYNECLARKE LLP
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
August 20, 2022
Filmmaker Jeremy Brubacher
Special thanks to filmmaker Jeremy Brubacher, who contributed generous funds to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund this year! Jeremy Brubacher is a filmmaker currently based in Bathurst, New Brunswick. He studied film and media at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Jeremy has loved film and filmmaking from a young age and has been making short films since he was 15. He has participated in the 48-hour film competition for many years, has completed four short films separate from any competition, and currently has two in development, with one ready to shoot at the beginning of September. Jeremy is also developing a feature film project and hopes to have that completed in two years.
August 15, 2022
Visual Artist Ysabelle Vautour
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces 2022 Visual Art Award Winner
The 2022 Jane LeBlanc Visual Art Award with a cash prize of $900 has gone to New Brunswick Visual Artist Ysabelle Vautour.
The jury members were: Ingrid Mueller (St. Andrews, NB), David Lindberg (New York, US), Alexandra Darbyshire Flood (Ottawa, ON), Barbara Safran de Niverville (Moncton, NB), and Matt Watkins (Fredericton, NB).
“Wow, thank you to the jury; this is amazing. I feel so thankful to be selected. It is validating to be acknowledged for my work, and I feel more at home in the art scene. This honour means a lot. I am excited to be able to deepen my art practice with this award.” Ysabelle
Ysabelle Vautour started out working in the mental health and disability support sector. In 2019 she decided to paint and create art every day for a year. A few months into her 365 art everyday challenge, she was featured by CBC, invited to speak at ArtsLink NB’s Short and Sweet Speaker Series, and participated in a few live painting competitions. Ysabelle’s work was also selected for a juried exhibition at the Nails on the Wall Gallery in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Ysabelle’s artwork tends to be close-up, bringing a sense of intimacy to the viewer and is a better view for the legally blind painter. She shielded away from painting, thinking it was not for her as she only sees in black and white and wouldn’t be able to tell if the colors looked muddy. It wasn’t until she tried art as therapy that she could focus on how it feels making the art as opposed to how it will look in the end.
In 2020 Ysabelle became a board member at Connexion Artist Run Center. She was featured in the Shediac Artist Village, Ami Ami-télé, and Created Here Magazine. She was recruited to give a public talk to NBCCD Craft College art students and was the artist in residence at the Fredericton Arts Alliance. Ysabelle received a micro-grant for her self-directed Alone Together residency from NBCCD Craft Library.
Ysabelle had two solo exhibitions in 2021, the first at the Penny Gallery in Fredericton and the second at Corid’art Gallery in Shediac. In addition, she was awarded two grants from artsnb for her project “Bodies in Motion,” which she will present at Leon Leger Gallery in September of 2022.
In 2021 she was featured as a live painter on the national stage at the Disability Without Poverty August Roundup event. A graduate of Artslink’s Catapult arts and business accelerator program. Later that year, she worked on Atlantic Canada’s first Disability Art Conference. The project was in collaboration with Theatre New Brunswick and the JRG Society for the Arts.
This year the artist was selected for Sync Canada leadership training. No stranger to trying new things, Ysabelle created and co-curated the NB Disability Artist Showcase at Fredericton Playhouse, Struts Gallery, and the National Access Art Center in Alberta. Look out for well as in a new television documentary on Ami-télé called 100% Passion, Third Shift, Sappy Fest, Nocturn, Bluenose Festival, Steps Public Art Roundtable, and the ZYP gallery in Alberta.
Lately, Ysabelle has been doing an artist residency at the NB Coalition for persons with disabilities and is currently undertaking the Inspire Festival Mural Training.
Check out Ysabelle’s art and updates at:
Youtube, Twitter, TikTok: @creatingaccess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creatingaccess
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creatingaccess/
Sponsored By
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, JEAN ROONEY, ANN MANUEL, JO JO SWEEN PRODUCTIONS, WENDY & WAYNE HALLIHAN, GEORGE & ANNETTE STRUNZ, BARBARA SAFRAN DE NIVERVILLE, INGRID MUELLER
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
August 2, 2022
Inaugural Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program Announces Second Mentor and Mentee
Saint John-based music artist John Adam Ian has been awarded the second studio placement in the newest Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund program. John Adam Ian will spend time in the studio with award-winning music artist Kylie Fox.
“I can still remember the first time I came across Kylie’s song Glowstars through a shuffled Spotify suggestion. Its sound and unique vibe made me stop what I was doing and listen to her album straight through. I’m really, really excited to participate in this mentorship with Kylie and can’t wait to see what I learn. Thanks to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for making this music studio mentee program possible!”
John Adam Ian is a songwriter based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. After having toured Canada with the east coast metal band We, the Undersigned, John Adam Ian branched out and focuses on writing alt-rock and acoustic tunes.
John Adam Ian can be found at: www.johnadamian.com and his twitch channel is www.twitch.tv/johnadamian.
MUSIC MENTOR KYLIE FOX
Indie folk artist Kylie Fox spins stories of rolling prairies and the North-Western woods, of hometown fables and flames, and the clumsy dichotomy of youth and adulthood in sophisticated webs of cynicism, beauty, and wit. The gentle timbre of her voice is also rich with power and direction, lending to a performance as honest and compelling as her poetry. With the support of an ensemble comprising some of New Brunswick’s finest musicians, Kylie Fox and her band put on a dynamic, high-energy performance with smooth flute solos, buttery bass lines, and catchy guitar licks. Kylie released her debut album Green in 2020. She has toured Canada, participated in the Banff Centre for the Arts International Songwriting Residency, and performed at prominent festivals, including Area506, Harvest, and Folk Alliance International. She was named Breakthrough Artist of the year in the 2020 PrixNB Awards and received various nominations in 2021.
This hands-on mentorship with Kylie Fox is perfect for John Adam Ian combining creative exploration in lyric writing and song development with the passion and technique of live performance. Kylie will guide John Adam Ian through writing and performing a great song to getting it on Spotify and onto a stage!
Sponsored By
DAN HILL, CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, JAN THOMPSON
Media Contact:
Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
July 29, 2022
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund to Launch New Theatre Awards in 2023
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, in ongoing consultation with the New Brunswick theatre community, hopes to launch two new theatre grant awards in 2023.
The first award will be for emerging New Brunswick theatre craftspeople who want to further their creative development. The award will be open to anyone working in any position in theatre (administration, technical, or artistic).
The second award will be for smaller theatre organizations to fund their operations and exhibition costs.
A peer theatre jury will judge the submissions.
Media Contact:
Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
July 12, 2022
Photographer Thomas Haley
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces 2022 Photography Award Winner
The 2022 Glen D. Ross Photography Award with a cash prize of $1400 has gone to Saint John photographer Thomas Haley.
Thomas was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and has been to almost every Canadian province at one time or another, following his artistic pursuits.
In 2004, Thomas moved to Fredericton to attend NBCCD and study Graphic Design. He also fell in love with weaving on a loom. His true love, though, was photography, and it is his focus now.
"I am greatly honoured to be chosen for this special Legacy Fund Photography Award. I have traveled extensively to follow my dreams, and my passion for being behind a camera lens is the one constant in all my travels. Since my teens, I have nurtured and strengthened my artistic skills in photography, and this award is my next step in making my photography passion my living." Thomas Haley
Graciously Sponsored By
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, JO JO SWEEN PRODUCTIONS, MONTELIBRETTI PICTURES, BRIAN ATKINSON, GREG & MARY BETH MERZETTI, NANCY BAUER, JOHN MACDERMID, TONY MERZETTI, DAVE AND ROSE HARVEY, BRIGITTE NOEL, JEREMY THOMAS GILMER, GRETCHEN KELBAUGH, JAN THOMPSON
Media Contact:
Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
July 11, 2022
Writer and Visual Artist Jane Touchie
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Recognizes Fredericton Writer
The 2022 Jane LeBlanc Storytelling Award jury has also recognized Fredericton-based writer and artist Jane Touchie with an honourable mention and cash award of $150.
The funding for Jane's prize was provided by Legacy Fund sponsor Jeremy Gilmer.
Jane is a retired physician in Fredericton. She is a watercolour painter, pastelist, and student in the Great Books Program at St. Thomas University.
“For me, the response to grief and loss is to make art - to carve life and reveal its joy. I am grateful to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for encouraging emerging artists and fostering a community of mutual support.” Jane Touchie
The Jane LeBlanc Storytelling Award is sponsored by:
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, JAN MILLER, JEREMY THOMAS GILMER, ROGER MOORE, WRITERS’ FEDERATION OF NB, LISA RICHARD, GOOSE LANE EDITIONS, DONOVAN RICHARD, BOTSFORD MEDIA INC.
Media Contact:
Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
July 10, 2022
Writer Heather Gunn
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Recognizes Moncton Writer
The 2022 Jane LeBlanc Storytelling Award with a cash amount of $800 has gone to Moncton high school teacher Heather Gunn.
Heather has been a teacher for twenty-five years and is a mom to 16-year-old twins. She is a lover of dogs, coffee, and good conversation.
“I am honoured to receive this year’s Jane LeBlanc Storytelling Award. Like Jane and her family, I’m from the Miramichi and am sure that this has influenced my appreciation of a good story. This particular story is fiction, but it was inspired by a very bad week. Writing it was therapeutic (and gave me a giggle).” Heather Gunn
The Jane LeBlanc Storytelling Award is sponsored by:
CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, JAN MILLER, JEREMY THOMAS GILMER, ROGER MOORE, WRITERS’ FEDERATION OF NB, LISA RICHARD, GOOSE LANE EDITIONS, DONOVAN RICHARD, BOTSFORD MEDIA INC.
Media Contact:
Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund
catmaryleblanc@gmail.com
https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
July 2, 2022
Photo of Glen D. Ross by Brian Atkinson
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Award Changed to Glen D. Ross Photography Award to Honour Photographer's Talent and Community Involvement
The NEW Glen D. Ross Photography Award now has a value of $1200, and the award deadline for submissions has been extended to July 9th, 11 pm. For submission information: https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com/.../photography-award
To contribute to the Glen D. Ross Photography Award, email the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund at: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
Community builder and talented photographer Glen D. Ross recently passed away suddenly in the Saint John Hospital. A photographer with a discerning and artistic eye for beauty, Glen was also a loyal and faithful friend to many in the creative community.
Glen was a long-time NB Film Co-op member, lover of good movies, excellent coffee, cats, beautiful women, and jazz. He had a lovely daughter Katrina, a wonderful granddaughter Imogen, a beloved sister, wonderful nephews, and extended family who cherished him, as well as many friends from all walks of life and ages worldwide.
Glen could strike up a conversation with anyone and was a charmer. He could talk about film, history, music, and politics for hours. He loved driving his bike, visiting his family, and having coffee weekly with NB Film Co-op Executive Director Tony Merzetti and his cozy coffee clutch of friends.
"Through the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, my family gives out awards in many creative disciplines in my sister's memory. If she was still with us, I know she would love that the photography award is now named after Glen as she knew him and loved him very much. It's important to keep Glen's legacy alive as someone who connected people in the creative community. Glen quietly helped so many people. It feels right to do this in his honour." Cat LeBlanc
To honour Glen, there will be a celebration of his life at The Charlotte Street Art Centre in the upstairs auditorium on Saturday, July 9th, from 3-5 pm. (732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, NB). The event will have music, a cash bar, and Glen's photos will be on display. All are welcome at the event to celebrate Glen.
June 30, 2022
BOYNECLARKE LLP
Sponsor Spotlight:
Legacy Fund Receives Generous Annual Support from Atlantic Law Firm
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is thrilled to announce that Atlantic law firm BoyneClarke LLP will be contributing $1000 to the Jane LeBlanc Creative Scholarship annually. This scholarship is the only Legacy Fund Award that is open to all emerging director/writers in the Atlantic region. The award is now valued at $2000.BOYNECLARKE LLP is full service and has experienced lawyers ready to help people in a wide range of practice areas.
They use their considerable resources to tackle any challenge or opportunity with dedication and integrity. Incorporating technology into their approach makes their efforts more efficient and effective. Their entrepreneurial spirit ensures that their client's experiences with them are infused with enthusiasm and fresh ideas.
BOYNECLARKE LLP’s office is located in Dartmouth just across the harbour from downtown Halifax. In addition to serving clients in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada, they also provide quality, personalized service to clients all over the world.
Website: https://boyneclarke.com
JUNE 29, 2022
Visual Artist and Filmmaker Allan Saulis
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund thanks amazing artist and filmmaker Allan Saulis, who recently made an incredibly generous contribution to the fund. Allan is multi-talented and so supportive of what my mom and I are doing. Thank you!
Allan Saulis, Maliseet, is a well-established visual artist from Tobique First Nation who specializes in paintings that evoke emotion and look at difficult issues facing Wabanaki people today. Allan is also a graphic designer, filmmaker, and coach.
Allan is a survivor of colonialism.
His contribution to the Legacy Fund is in honour of his Mother Eva better known as Gookum.
June 16, 2022
Filmmaker/Actor Kaitlyn Adair
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund welcomes contract staff person Kaitlyn Adair
Kaitlyn will be working her magic helping the fund with promotion and online marketing. Welcome Kaitlyn!About Kaitlyn: Kaitlyn (she/her) is an actor, writer, director, and producer from Fredericton, New Brunswick. She started her career in film, working as an actor in film and television in Vancouver, B.C. She attended Vancouver Film School in 2011 and has been pursuing her passion for film since. Kaitlyn won the Jane LeBlanc Filmmaker Award for her first film March 2.4, allowing her to attend a post-production residency at The Banff Centre For Arts and Creativity. In addition, she received the Short Film Venture Grant and the CBC-NB Joy Award for her second film, Together We Move.
Recently, Kaitlyn received the Jane LeBlanc Film Post Award which is a $2000 cash award. Kaitlyn is dedicated to feminist-based media and creating inclusive spaces for marginalized communities to partake in visual arts. She is a long-time NB Film Co-op member.
You can find her @rebelatart on Instagram and Youtube.
June 13, 2022
Music Artist David Somerville
Meet Our Fourth Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program MENTOR!
If you are an emerging Atlantic Region-based music artist, submit today for this incredible virtual opportunity with award-winning music artist David Somerville!
Final Deadline: July 15, 2022
What you get: 5 hands-on lab sessions (2 hours per session)
Eligibility: Atlantic Region residents: 12 and Up
DAVID SOMERVILLE
For multi-genre songwriter and producer David Somerville, melodies are his first language. A writer, instructor, arranger, producer, singer, player, and sometimes performer, David has developed many skills he loves to share with others. As a caring and dedicated instructor, David created the NB Gov-funded “SongShop for Kids” as part of the “Artists in School” program at two Fredericton area elementary schools. This in-school songwriting program was about helping kids uncover and bring out their inner creativity and growth of self-expression they shared with their peers, family, and community.
Formally trained in audio engineering, production, and business from the Trebas Institute of Recording Arts, David has been composing, recording, and mixing music since he picked up his first guitar in the late 70s. He has written compositions he performed, musical jingles for TV and radio, compositions for business purposes, as well as music for a children’s musical. David has his own project recording studio. As a performer, David was one of the main songwriters in the duo “Somerville” that played around NB at various venues, house concerts, and festivals. David is also a trained self-development and belief coach and can bring these skills to the table, helping songwriters overcome mental blocks to their creativity and success.
Expertise:
Songwriting, Melody and Song Hook Creation, Chord Progressions, Lyric Writing, Song Structure, Production, Instruction, Self Development, and Belief Coach.
This hands-on mentorship with David is perfect for a true singer-songwriter combining exploration of enhancing creativity, song melody, hook creation, and song development in a unique way. Using a series of exercises and tools, David will guide you through a process of learning how to more easily access and enhance your inner creativity, how to write “melody first” songs in various ways, and overall song development, from scratch to finished arrangement, also including exploration of lyric and song production ideas. The tools you receive can help you overcome writing blocks and expand the way you can write music.
What is the Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program?
A music studio mentee program that assists emerging music artists with their music creation and composing growth in a studio setting (in-person/virtual/hybrid). This program utilizes experienced Canadian and International music artists as mentors in-person and virtually. The mentor is paid for their time, and the awarded mentees benefit from being in a studio setting with an experienced mentor.
Submission Guidelines
Short paragraph or resume showing your emerging training and development in music.
Brief letter or email expressing why you think you would benefit from being mentored and specifics on what you want to get from the experience OR short iPhone video (2 min).
This mentorship experience also includes grant-writing consultation with the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund and other mentorship and performance opportunities.
All submissions can be emailed to catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
Sponsored by: DAN HILL, CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, JAN THOMPSON
June 9, 2022
Music Artist Jason Anderson
Meet Our Third Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program MENTOR!
Final Deadline: July 15, 2022
What you get: 10 hands-on lab sessions (2 hours per session)
Eligibility: Fredericton residents: 12 and Up
Are you a Fredericton-based singer-songwriter? Have you written a handful of songs and are now ready to start performing and promoting your material around New Brunswick and beyond? Not sure where to start? This amazing opportunity with award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Anderson is for you!
JASON ANDERSON
Indie-folk singer-songwriter Jason Anderson lives his passion for music. A writer, performer, session player, producer, and educator, Jason is truly a multifaceted artist. A gifted instructor who holds a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, Jason teaches guitar and piano out of his studio at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. He is also a seasoned touring musician who has, among other things, performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and traveled the world playing music from Iceland to Australia and many places in between. His personal lyrics and passionate performances have made his concerts must-see events wherever he goes. Locally, Jason was one of Fredericton’s Artists in Residence during the summer of 2021, which led to a feature on the CBC. Other regional highlights include appearances at Harvest Fest, Paddlefest, and the Living Roots Fest, along with regular gigs at the Tipsy Muse. Most recently, Jason won the 2022 Arnold LeBlanc Songwriting Award and was interviewed on Information Morning Fredericton.
Expertise:
Songwriting, Performance, Production, Promotion, Organization, Motivation
This hands-on mentorship with Jason Anderson is perfect for the singer-songwriter who is ready to get out of the practice space and onto the stage. Jason will methodically take you through the process of selecting 3 to 5 songs for a demo recording; recording and producing the demo itself; creating a Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and Spotify account to host your music online; designing and launching a social media presence via a personalized artist page on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok; navigating the local open-mic scene, including several “field trips” to perform; and, finally, booking your first local show, including strategies for promotion.
What is the Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program?
A music studio mentee program that assists emerging music artists with their music creation and composing growth in a studio setting (in-person/virtual/hybrid). This program utilizes experienced Canadian and International music artists as mentors in-person and virtually. The mentor is paid for their time, and the awarded mentees benefit from being in a studio setting with an experienced mentor.
Submission Guidelines
Short paragraph or resume showing your emerging training and development in music.
Brief letter or email expressing why you think you would benefit from being mentored and specifics on what you want to get from the experience OR short iPhone video (2 min).This mentorship experience also includes grant-writing consultation with the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund and other mentorship and performance opportunities.
All submissions can be emailed to catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
Sponsored by: DAN HILL, CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, JAN THOMPSON
June 8, 2022
Music Artist Kylie Fox
Meet Our Second Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program MENTOR!
If you are an emerging Fredericton-based music artist, submit today for this incredible opportunity with award-winning music artist Kylie Fox!
Final Deadline: July 15, 2022
What you get: 10 hands-on lab sessions (2 hours per session)
Eligibility: Fredericton residents: 12 and Up
KYLIE FOX
Indie folk artist Kylie Fox spins stories of rolling prairies and the North-Western woods, of hometown fables and flames, and of the clumsy dichotomy of youth and adulthood in sophisticated webs of cynicism, beauty, and wit. The gentle timbre of her voice is also rich with power and direction, lending to a performance as honest and compelling as her poetry. With the support of an ensemble comprising some of New Brunswick’s finest musicians, Kylie Fox and her band put on a dynamic, high-energy performance with smooth flute solos, buttery bass lines, and catchy guitar licks. Kylie released her debut album Green in 2020 and has since toured Canada, participated in the Banff Centre for the Arts International Songwriting Residency and performed at prominent festivals including Area506, Harvest Jazz, and Blues Festival, and Folk Alliance International. She was named Breakthrough Artist of the year in the 2020 PrixNB Awards and received various nominations in 2021.
Expertise:
Songwriting, Song structure, Creativity, Lyric Writing, Grant Writing, Self-Promotion, Social Media, Show Booking, Time Management, Music Distribution, Showcasing, Performance Technique, Vocal Technique, Voice Training, Chord Progressions
This hands-on mentorship with Kylie is perfect for a true singer/songwriter combining creative exploration in lyric writing and song development with the passion and technique of live performance. Kylie will guide you through writing and performing a great song to getting it onto Spotify and onto a stage near you!
What is the Jane LeBlanc Music Studio Mentee Program?
A music studio mentee program that assists emerging music artists with their music creation and composing growth in a studio setting (in-person/virtual/hybrid). This program utilizes experienced Canadian and International music artists as mentors in-person and virtually. The mentor is paid for their time, and the awarded mentees benefit from being in a studio setting with an experienced mentor.
Submission Guidelines
Short paragraph or resume showing your emerging training and development in music.
Brief letter or email expressing why you think you would benefit from being mentored and specifics on what you want to get from the experience OR short iPhone video (2 min).
This mentorship experience also includes grant-writing consultation with the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund and other mentorship and performance opportunities.
All submissions can be emailed to catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
Sponsored by: DAN HILL, CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, JAN THOMPSON
June 7, 2022
Actor Anthony Bryan
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces Winner for the Jane LeBlanc Acting Support Award
Fredericton – June 7, 2022
The Jane LeBlanc Acting Support Award jury met recently to choose the 2022 winner. The fund created the award for New Brunswick resident actors at any level who need support moving their education and craft forward.
New Brunswick actor Anthony Bryan has won the $800 cash award.
Louis Anthony Bryan (he/him) is a Fredericton-based theatre artist, stand-up comedian, performer, and educator from Trinidad and Tobago. An active and contributing member in the arts, Anthony has been involved with many local theatre and film companies, including Notable Acts, TNB Young Company, and The St. Thomas Early English Drama Society. He has also acted in short films with Rebel Femme Productions and Strike Pictures.
Anthony hosts stand-up comedy at open mics throughout New Brunswick and local arts events: including Flourish and Shivering Songs.
For the past three years, he has taught at Theatre New Brunswick, hosting their Young Playwrights program, an after-school program dedicated to introducing secondary school students to the fundamentals of scriptwriting.
"Thank you to Cat and Maureen LeBlanc for the everlasting support and the folks at the Film Co-op for always having my name in rooms. Thank you to Kaitlyn Adair and Rebel Femme productions for bringing me into this space and for a friendship I'll always be grateful for. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for the space. Voices carry far with support like this." Anthony
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
June 6, 2022
Writer Jeremy Gilmer
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund receives Generous Financial Gift from New Brunswick Writer
Fredericton – June 6, 2022
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is growing again, with a generous long-time financial contribution from writer Jeremy Gilmer.“
My mother and I are thrilled and thankful for Jeremy’s incredible gift of generous financial support.” Cat LeBlanc
Jeremy Thomas Gilmer is a writer of short fiction and nonfiction. He has been longlisted for the CBC Canada Writes Short Story Prize, won the inaugural Short Story Day Africa Flash Fiction Prize, and was selected as the writer-in-residence at the KIRA residency in 2018. In addition, Jeremy is the Art and Literature editor-at-large for The East magazine.
Gilmer has spent over twenty-five years as an Engineering Consultant on environmental, energy, and mining projects. Born in New Brunswick, Gilmer grew up in Nigeria, Northern Ireland, and Canada and has lived and worked in over forty countries. He splits his time between Eastern Canada and Brazil.
“My adopted home of Fredericton, New Brunswick, is a place teeming with artists of all kinds, as is the rest of New Brunswick. In a very short time, the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has become a critical source of support, encouragement, and community among these artists and creatives in New Brunswick. The wonderful work that Cat and her mom have done in memory of her talented and brilliant sister brings to mind my late mom, who was my first influence in art and culture, who spent a lifelong career as an art therapist, and who believed deeply in the transformative power of art and music in people’s lives and society. I hope more people will support Cat and her mother’s work and that the fund continues to touch lives and provincial communities for many years to come.” Jeremy Gilmer
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund was created to nurture and develop emerging and seasoned creative artists in New Brunswick in honour of artist and adventurer Jane LeBlanc. https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
June 5, 2022
Filmmaker Kaitlyn Adair
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces Winner for the Jane LeBlanc Film Post Award
The Jane LeBlanc Film Post Award jury met recently to choose the 2022 winner. The fund created the award to give provincial emerging filmmakers the necessary financial aid to hire post-production specialists.
New Brunswick filmmaker Kaitlyn Adair has won the award for her short film project Oculus. The Award is $2000 in cash.
Kaitlyn (she/her) is an actor, writer, director, and producer from Fredericton, New Brunswick. She started her career in film, working as an actor in film and television in Vancouver, B.C. She attended Vancouver Film School in 2011 and has been pursuing her passion for film since. Kaitlyn won the Jane LeBlanc Filmmaker Award for her first film March 2.4, allowing her to attend a post-production residency at The Banff Centre For Arts and Creativity. In addition, she received the Short Film Venture Grant and the CBC-NB Joy Award for her second film, Together We Move. Kaitlyn is dedicated to feminist-based media and creating inclusive spaces for marginalized communities to partake in visual arts. You can find her @rebelatart on Instagram and Youtube.
“This award and its funding is even more significant now thanks to a long-term financial endowment from TIFF Film Circuit Saint John. The increased value of the award now enables filmmakers to hire the specialized labour they need to take their films to the finish line. They can hire several people to do their sound design, music score, colour correction, dialogue replacement, and picture editing. Once their film is completed, they will also have money to submit to film festivals. Many films fall short without this necessary assistance and work. Just as important, New Brunswick filmmakers are required to use the grant monies to hire New Brunswick post-film specialists, as one of the Legacy Fund objectives is to alleviate the poverty of the artist.” Cat LeBlanc
Jane LeBlanc Film Post Award is sponsored by: CAT LEBLANC MUSIC, MAUREEN LEBLANC, SOUNDBUD, TERRY GADSDEN, PATRICK DALEY, CAM WOYKIN, HEMMINGS HOUSE, BRIAN ATKINSON, PICAROONS BREWING COMPANY, PETER DE NIVERVILLE, TIFF FILM CIRCUIT SAINT JOHN, BRITANY SPARROW, AND ROB GEMMELL.
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
May 20, 2022
Music Artist Anne Lebans
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is excited to announce a new music studio program that will assist emerging music artists with their music and composing growth in a studio setting. This weekend, music artist Anne Lebans will have her first in-person studio session with Cat LeBlanc. The Jane Legacy Fund Studio Mentee Program is made possible thanks to sponsor Dan Hill.
Anne is a mindfulness coach, content creator and co-founder of It’s OK to be Awesome, a mental wellness program for children. Passionate about how self-compassion helps us unleash our most authentic selves, Anne has been using this platform to help children, families, and communities take a more loving approach to themselves and each other. Anne is also a sound healer, using her voice to heal and uplift through vocal sound baths, a voice actor and writer.
About Our Program Sponsor:
How does one describe the creative force driving Dan Hill? Nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Vocal, winner of a Grammy (as co-producer of “Seduces Me” on Celine Dion’s 30 plus million-selling “Falling Into You” album), winner of five Juno Awards (Canadian equivalent to the Grammy) and the Harold Moon Award (Canadian Lifetime Songwriting Achievement Award), Dan has recorded and released multiple gold and platinum albums. His classic hits, such as “Sometimes When We Touch” (closing in on 5 million spins in America alone, and covered by hundreds of artists around the world), “Can’t We Try” (#1 Billboard AC Record of the Year), and “Never Thought (That I could Love)”, another #1 AC record, all remain staples of AC radio stations around the world.
Dan has also enjoyed consistent success as a ‘behind the scenes’ songwriter, his compositions recorded by so many artists spanning so many musical genres that it’s, well, incredible. Pop singers Celine Dion, Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, The Backstreet Boys, Rod Stewart, Donny Osmond, Jennifer Rush and Michael Bolton, R&B singers Tina Turner, George Benson, and Jeffrey Osborne and country singers Tammy Wynette, Sammy Kershaw, Mark Wills, Reba, Alan Jackson, and Lorrie Morgan, to name a select few.
Somehow, Dan found time in between his musical outpourings to carve out an esteemed reputation as an essayist and author. His latest book, the critically acclaimed, best selling memoir “I Am My Father’s Son (a memoir of love and forgiveness)” was published by Harper Collins in February, 2009. This poignant and often hilarious memoir came on the heels of a stunning cover story he wrote for Macleans magazine: “Every Parent’s Nightmare”, (February 2008).
Dan has recently recorded a new, 14 song album titled, ‘On the Other Side of Here’. Dan’s album is chock full of searingly personal songs, songs that ring with authenticity and guaranteed to be intensely relatable. Remarkably, Dan’s highly distinctive vocals shine with more power and grace than ever before. U.S. based record company ADA will be releasing Dan’s album in early 2021.
Dan Hill was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021.
In the meantime, ADA records released Dan’s new single and lyric video, the mesmerizing and evocative ‘What about Black Lives?’
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
April 15, 2022
TIFF Film Circuit Saint John
Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Receives Generous Financial Gift from TIFF Film Circuit Saint John
Fredericton - April 15, 2022
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is growing with a generous financial contribution from the popular film screening series TIFF Film Circuit Saint John.
The gift will be in excess of $20,000 and enables the JL Legacy Fund to add a more significant financial value to one of its 12 creative awards. The Jane LeBlanc Film Post Award is the lucky recipient for the long-time cash infusion. With TIFF Film Circuit Saint John’s support, awarded New Brunswick filmmakers will be able to hire and pay New Brunswick resident post-production specialists to take their film projects to the next level.
“My mother and I are thrilled and thankful for this incredible gift our Legacy Fund will hold in trust long-term for the New Brunswick creative community.” Cat LeBlanc
The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund was created to nurture and develop emerging and seasoned creative artists in New Brunswick in honour of artist and adventurer Jane LeBlanc. https://www.janeleblanclegacyfund.com
The long-time popular film series presented by TIFF Film Circuit Saint John, and sponsored by Crosby’s and Commercial Properties, moved its screenings to the Imperial Theatre recently. Individuals can purchase tickets at imperialtheatre.ca or by calling the box office at 674-4100.
Media Contact: Cat LeBlanc: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com.
