July 4, 2026

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is pleased to announce that Grace Hickey has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 JL Zwerg Music Education Bursary.

The JL Zwerg Music Education Bursary was established in memory of award-winning musician and actor Eldon Thiele, also known by his musical name Zwerg, to advance music education by supporting approved educational expenses for a recipient pursuing structured creative learning in music.

Grace Hickey (she/her), B.A., B.Ed., is an emerging artist from Fredericton, New Brunswick. She is a singer-songwriter with a background in Liberal Arts and Education and is currently an elementary school teacher. She has always been passionate about music and using creative outlets as a means of self-expression and connection.

Through this bursary, Grace participated in music mentorship with Laura McRae of The Guest Room Studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The mentorship supported Grace’s learning in songwriting, recording, music production, and the creative and technical processes involved in developing original music.

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be mentored by Laura McRae. Through this experience, I learned so much about the songwriting process, as well as the technical aspects of recording and producing music. Laura guided me through the process, offered her expertise each step of the way, and helped me better understand what goes into music production behind the scenes. I am honoured to have received support from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for this educational mentorship.” — Grace Hickey

The $500 bursary from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund supports eligible education-related costs for Grace’s structured music mentorship with Laura McRae.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is an incorporated non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization established to advance education and learning in the creative and performing arts through structured educational initiatives, mentorship, bursaries, and public learning opportunities.

June 23, 2026

Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund Announces Recipient of JL Jon Collicott Film Education Bursary

June 23, 2026 — The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is pleased to announce that New Brunswick artist Raine O’Connor has been selected as the recipient of the JL Jon Collicott Film Education Bursary.

The bursary supported Raine’s approved education-related travel to Vancouver to participate in structured training with Principal Intimacy Professionals.

Raine O’Connor is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and teacher living along the Wolastoq. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Interdisciplinary Fine Arts from St. Thomas University, where he studied theatre, film, music, and visual arts.

Raine recently completed the second phase of structured training with Principal Intimacy Professionals toward work as an Intimacy Director for stage and an Intimacy Coordinator for film.

Their training included education in boundaries, communication, choreography, consent-based creative practice, problem-solving, Mental Health First Aid, and care-informed approaches to performance work.

Their artistic practice explores dis/connection to desire, internal conflict, and what it feels like to say yes and mean it. Outside of his artistic practice, Raine enjoys reading Goosebumps and thinking very hard, very often, about reality TV.

“The JL Jon Collicott Film Education Bursary supported my education-related travel to Vancouver to participate in the second phase of my structured training with Principal Intimacy Professionals. The hands-on educational experience I gained through this training was invaluable, and I am very grateful for the support from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund as I continue training toward certification as an Intimacy Professional.” — Raine O’Connor

Through bursaries, mentoring opportunities, workshops, educational programs, and public learning initiatives, the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund helps eligible participants and members of the public develop skills, increase knowledge, and access structured arts education opportunities.

June 15, 2026

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is thrilled to announce that Hong Yan has been chosen as the recipient of the inaugural JL Biff Mitchell Creative Education Bursary.

The news was announced during the recent Celebration of Life for Biff Mitchell at the UNB Art Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The event, which remembered Biff, a valued friend and an important contributor to the Fredericton arts community, was made possible by the Biff Mitchell Memorial Collective, with the strong support of many prominent individuals in the New Brunswick creative community and the UNB Art Centre.

The JL Biff Mitchell Creative Education Bursary was established to advance education in the arts by supporting approved educational expenses for a recipient pursuing structured creative learning in photography, writing, and pencil drawing.

Hong has developed a strong interest in photographing meaningful moments through travel and everyday life, and his passion for black-and-white film photography led him to build a darkroom in his basement to continue developing his technical and creative skills through hands-on practice.

He is currently studying photography at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, where he is continuing to build his knowledge and skills in photography and related visual media. His long-term goal is to become a professional photographer and videographer.

This $1,000 bursary from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund supports eligible education-related costs for Hong’s course of study and creative learning activities.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is an incorporated non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization established to advance education and learning in the creative and performing arts through structured educational initiatives, mentorship, and public learning opportunities.

June 1, 2026

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is pleased to announce that Brandi Estey-Burtt has been selected as the recipient of the JL Dianne Churchill Storytelling Education Bursary.

Brandi Estey-Burtt is a neurodivergent academic who teaches and writes about neurodivergence, disability, and children’s literature in university settings. As an emerging creative writer, she focuses primarily on middle-grade fantasy fiction featuring neurodivergent young people as central characters in their own adventures. She has also been awarded the prestigious Writers' Union of Canada Mentorship for Deaf and Disabled Writers.

Through the JL Dianne Churchill Storytelling Education Bursary, Brandi will participate in the annual conference of the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers. Her educational activities will include participating in workshops and presentations focused on children’s literature, learning writing craft skills for middle-grade fiction, and engaging with publishing professionals to better understand pathways to publication in Canada.

The bursary supports educational opportunities that help emerging storytellers strengthen their skills, expand their knowledge, and advance their development as writers.

“To say I’m excited for this education bursary is an understatement! The bursary will provide me with the chance to meet other children’s literature writers, hone my writing craft, and get my stories about neurodivergent kids into the world. I’m so grateful to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for this wonderful opportunity.”

The JL Dianne Churchill Storytelling Education Bursary is administered by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund and supports educational activities that help people develop storytelling skills and increase access to learning opportunities in the literary arts.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is an incorporated non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization established to advance education and learning in the creative and performing arts through structured educational initiatives, mentorship, and public learning opportunities.

May 28, 2026

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is pleased to welcome Chan Polchies as the organization’s 2026 Canada Summer Jobs Administrative Assistant.

Chan Polchies is an emerging filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with an interest in documentary and narrative storytelling. Through participation in structured film training, workshops, and guided learning opportunities, Chan has developed experience in storytelling, collaboration, and creative media practice.

His creative background includes documentary development, short film production, acting, improvisation, and fine arts. He has participated in educational and community-based media initiatives that support skills development in screen-based storytelling and artistic practice.

Through the Canada Summer Jobs position, Chan will assist with administrative, communications, and public arts education support activities while gaining practical experience in nonprofit arts administration, community programming, and educational outreach.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is an incorporated non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization established to advance education and learning in the creative and performing arts through structured educational initiatives, mentorship, and public learning opportunities.

May 21, 2026

Photo by Tony Klipin: Freeman Patterson and Stephany Peterson, April 2026, Freeman Patterson Centre

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is pleased to announce that Stephany Peterson has been selected as a recipient of the JL Micro Arts Education Residency Program.

The residency program supports structured educational initiatives that advance public learning, mentorship, interdisciplinary exploration, and creative knowledge-sharing.

Stephany Peterson is a complexity scholar-practitioner whose work explores how knowledge is formed, carried, and shared across contexts. Working across interdisciplinary research, systems thinking, and public engagement, her practice focuses on how people make meaning together in complex situations and carry that learning into action.

An eighth-generation settler to Wabanaki territory, Peterson has worked collaboratively across six continents and more than fifty countries. Her residency project introduces a visual and perceptual dimension into an existing educational practice that explores attention, framing, context, and collective meaning-making.

Guided through mentorship, community relationship-building, and learning exchange with photographer and educator Freeman Patterson and Elder Hubert Francis, the residency engages a form of Two-Eyed Seeing that listens to and sees place through both language and lens. The residency will culminate in a public educational gathering and knowledge-sharing event planned for July.

“This work has travelled,” says Peterson. “It has been shaped in many places, with many people. I hold deep gratitude for the opportunity to continue sharing and developing this work here in New Brunswick.”

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a New Brunswick–based incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education through structured arts learning, mentorship, and public educational engagement.

May 17, 2026

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the JL Terry Gadsden Film Post-Production Education Bursary, an educational initiative supporting emerging filmmakers through mentorship, technical training, and post-production skills development.

Rebecca E. Tremblay is a director, producer, and screenwriter whose work has been broadcast on CBC and screened at film festivals across Canada and the United States. She is also the founder of Elmire Films, a production company focused on supporting women and underrepresented creatives both behind and in front of the camera through inclusive storytelling and collaborative creative development opportunities.

Rebecca’s bursary will support a structured mentorship focused on professional post-production workflows and delivery practices.

Jia Yi Fan is an Asian-Canadian, 2SLGBTQIA+ mapping and environmental professional and emerging filmmaker based in Kouchibouguac, New Brunswick. An avid storyteller from a young age, Jia Yi received recognition in high school for directing and screenwriting a short science-fiction drama. Fascinated by duality and ambiguity, Jia Yi’s creative process combines capturing spontaneous moments with developing long-form creative ideas. Through filmmaking and artistic exploration, Jia Yi seeks to create empowering stories and preserve moments of emotional resonance and beauty.

Jia Yi’s bursary will support mentorship-based learning in video editing and post-production practices to further develop technical storytelling skills and independent post-production knowledge.

The JL Terry Gadsden Film Post-Production Education Bursary supports emerging filmmakers in developing technical knowledge and post-production skills through guided learning opportunities.

The bursary is now named in memory of Terry Gadsden, a respected Canadian film editor, composer, educator, and film professional whose work and mentorship left a lasting impact on the film community. Terry passed away recently.

This bursary is funded by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund, with support from TIFF Film Circuit Saint John, SOUNDBUD, and Pen Densham.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a New Brunswick–based incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education.

January 19, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has approved two restricted $1,000 educational bursaries for Jacob Rose and Kelsey Fawcett, participants in the Fund’s 2025 JL Mentorship Program, a structured educational initiative focused on advancing learning, skill development, and professional literacy in the creative and performing arts.

During the nine-month program, Jacob and Kelsey took part in guided one-to-one mentorship with experienced mentors Colin Fowlie and Laura Perry, alongside group learning opportunities and facilitated educational sessions designed to strengthen artistic knowledge and support continued development.

The bursaries are intended to support approved educational activities that extend learning beyond the mentorship program. Eligible uses include mentorship, workshops, training, learning-based travel, and other expenses directly connected to educational growth and skill development in the arts.

“These bursaries are intended to support continued participation in meaningful arts learning,” said Cat LeBlanc, President of the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund. “They help participants build on the knowledge, insight, and skills developed through the mentorship program by supporting further educational opportunities in a structured and purposeful way.”

Recipients were selected from the 2025 mentorship cohort based on their participation in the program, the clarity of their learning goals, the strength of their proposed educational activities, and alignment with the Fund’s educational mandate. The bursaries are administered with organizational oversight and are restricted to approved educational purposes only.

The JL Mentorship Program is a nine-month educational initiative that pairs emerging creative practitioners with experienced professionals for structured mentorship and guided learning. The program also includes workshops and group learning sessions that help participants deepen their understanding of artistic practice, strengthen professional knowledge, and engage more fully in the creative sector.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a New Brunswick–based incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and public understanding in the creative and performing arts through structured learning programs, mentorship, and educational bursaries.

December 31, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has selected Fredericton-based emerging creative practitioner Evan Cooper to participate in its 2026 JL Arts Capacity Program following a merit-based application process. There will be four intake periods for the program throughout the year in 2026

The JL Arts Capacity Program is a structured educational initiative designed to advance education in the creative and performing arts. The program supports emerging artists through guided learning, mentorship, and educational resources intended to strengthen artistic knowledge, professional understanding, and continued participation in arts learning.

Through the program, participants take part in structured educational activities focused on areas such as creative development, professional practices, grant literacy, and approaches to sustaining artistic practice. These learning components are designed to build transferable knowledge and increase participants’ understanding of artistic practice and the broader creative sector in Canada.

Evan Cooper joins the 2026 cohort alongside participants working across film, music, and theatre, reflecting the Fund’s commitment to accessible and multidisciplinary arts education.

“Participation in the JL Arts Capacity Program offers an important opportunity to continue learning, deepen my understanding of artistic practice, and build knowledge that will support my ongoing development in the arts,” said Cooper.

Evan Cooper is an emerging singer-songwriter from Fredericton whose work explores themes of adolescence and self-expression through acoustic, lyric-driven compositions. His developing practice draws from pop and alternative folk traditions.

As part of his ongoing learning, Evan has participated in songwriting camps and collaborative educational environments across multiple provinces. These experiences have supported his development through peer learning, mentorship, and increased understanding of professional arts contexts. He has also taken part in regional performances and media interviews, which have contributed to his understanding of the Canadian music sector.

As a participant in the JL Arts Capacity Program, Evan will take part in structured educational activities intended to strengthen his artistic skills, expand his knowledge of the arts sector, and support continued learning and development in his creative practice.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a New Brunswick–based incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and public understanding in the creative and performing arts through structured learning programs, mentorship, and educational bursaries.

December 17, 2025

With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund invites emerging creative practitioners in New Brunswick to apply for the 2026 edition of the JL Mentorship Engagement Program.

The JL Mentorship Program is a structured educational initiative designed to advance learning and professional skill development in the creative and performing arts. The program supports participants through guided mentorship, instructional workshops, and facilitated learning activities that strengthen knowledge of artistic practice and the Canadian arts sector.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2026

Program Information: bit.ly/3KBrooz

Questions: catmaryleblanc@gmail.com

Program Overview

The JL Mentorship Program brings together a cohort of emerging creatives working in film, visual art, craft, writing, photography, music, and theatre with experienced arts professionals who provide structured, skills-based guidance. Mentorship activities focus on learning, knowledge transfer, and informed engagement with professional arts practices.

The program is designed to increase access to educational mentorship opportunities for emerging creative practitioners in New Brunswick, including individuals who may face barriers to participation in arts learning.

Mentorship is delivered through scheduled in-person meetings and/or digital sessions and follows a defined learning framework established by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund.

Program Structure

Duration: March 2026 – November 30, 2026 (9 months)

Mentorship Commitment: Approximately four hours per month of structured one-on-one learning sessions

Additional Learning Activities:

Facilitated virtual workshops on topics such as health and wellness in creative practice

Instructional sessions addressing professional practices and sector literacy

Participants are encouraged to apply with clearly defined learning objectives and specific challenges they wish to explore through mentorship and educational programming.

November 25, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has selected its first lineup of participants for its 2026 JL Arts Capacity Program following a merit-based application process.

The program supports learning and skill development through structured educational activities, including guided mentorship, instructional support, and supervised learning opportunities related to creative practice. Selected participants for 2026 so far include Jon Wiseman (Film), Jeremy Murray (Film), Abby McCartney (Music), Justine Richardson (Music), and Hannah Crothers (Theatre).

The program is designed to advance education by supporting participants as they develop knowledge, skills, and understanding related to their chosen creative disciplines within a structured learning environment. There will be four intake periods for the program throughout the year in 2026

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to take part in this educational program and to continue developing my skills through guided learning and mentorship,” said Jon Wiseman.

Jon Wiseman is a Saint John–based emerging creative practitioner working in filmmaking and screen-based media. His learning background includes hands-on experience with visual storytelling, technical production processes, and collaborative project development. Through participation in the 2026 program, Jon will focus on building skills, deepening his understanding of filmmaking practice, and taking part in supervised educational activities related to screen-based storytelling.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a New Brunswick–based incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and public understanding in the creative and performing arts through structured learning programs, mentorship, and educational bursaries.

November 14, 2025

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund has selected Seham Nasser to receive support through the 2025 JL Jon Collicott Film Education Bursary following a merit-based application and review process.

Established in memory of Jon Collicott, a New Brunswick filmmaker, the bursary is administered by the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for educational purposes. It provides restricted educational funding in the amount of $1,000 to support approved learning, training, mentorship, and skill development activities related to filmmaking.

The bursary is open to New Brunswick–based individuals engaged in film-related learning and creative study.

Seham Nasser is a New Brunswick–based emerging creative practitioner engaged in writing and film-related learning. Through the bursary, she will undertake approved educational activities intended to strengthen her knowledge, skills, and understanding of film practice.

All bursary support is administered with organizational oversight and restricted to approved educational purposes only.

The Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund is a non-profit organization established to advance education through the delivery of structured learning programs, educational bursaries, and public educational initiatives in New Brunswick and the Atlantic region.