Canada's Sustainability Practitioners Internship Program (SPIP) Welcomes Second National Cohort
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 08, 2026
Canada's Sustainability Practitioners Internship Program (SPIP) Welcomes Second National Cohort
Spearheaded by the Sustainable Entertainment Society, SPIP grows to 25 participants across eight provinces and territories and announces a new Travel Fund
VANCOUVER, BC – The Sustainable Entertainment Society today announced that the Sustainability Practitioners Internship Program (SPIP) has welcomed 25 participants for its second national cohort, growing from 16 in its inaugural year. Cohort 2 of the workforce development program brings together creatives and production professionals from emerging to mid-career, working across film, television, digital media and interdisciplinary arts, each bringing a clear sense of the change they want to make in their corner of the industry. The Sustainability Practitioners Internship Program is supported by lead sponsor CBC.
"At CBC, we aim to lead the Canadian industry in transformative environmental change in all that we do. The Sustainable Entertainment Society's creation of the groundbreaking Sustainability Practitioners Internship Program directly reflects this vision, and that is why we are thrilled to serve as the lead sponsor for year 2 of the Program. Investing in people is critical to advancing sustainable production practices; we need diverse, knowledgeable and dedicated voices on the ground to prove that green production is practical, achievable and in-demand. This program equips sustainability professionals with the hands-on skills, knowledge and confidence needed to drive these changes," said Lisa Clarkson, Executive Director, Business & Rights and Production Sustainability, CBC. "By building capacity and industry legitimacy for sustainability professionals, this program is transforming the Canadian media sector."
SPIP is also announcing a new Travel Fund from Krypton Rental Group. It will help participants from outside Toronto attend the program's in-person day at the Sustainable Production Forum (SPF26). "Providing people with the opportunity to participate in a great program is paramount to us," said Mark Angel, President, Krypton Rental Group. "We believe financial circumstances should not prevent someone from taking part in an experience they are genuinely interested in, and we want to ensure that financial concerns do not become a barrier to participation."
SPIP launches this fall and runs to summer 2027, combining virtual sessions, mentorship and the SPF26 conference accessible to practitioners across the country, from major production centers to small towns and the North. The cohort spans six time zones and its two farthest-apart participants live about 5,000 km from each other.
SPIP's first cohort started something special. Year one led to an internship in the sustainability department of a major television series, a direct hire on another, and multiple one-on-one mentorships with experienced sustainability leaders. With new support from Telefilm Canada, Cohort 2 builds on that momentum. It expands work placements and shadowing opportunities so more participants can move from training into hands-on practice on production. "As demand for sustainability expertise continues to grow across the screen industry, Telefilm Canada is proud to support SPIP's expansion of placements and shadowing opportunities. By connecting training with hands-on production experience, the program helps strengthen industry capacity and equip professionals across Canada with the skills needed to advance a more sustainable production landscape. Working in partnership, we can expand opportunities, build lasting impact and strengthen the future of Canada's screen industry," said Elisa Suppa, Director, Corporate Impact, Telefilm Canada.
Meet SPIP Cohort 2:
Allison Basha, Toronto, ON
Anonda Canadien, Fort Providence, NT
Areeha Mahal, Sturgeon County, AB
Aurélie Silivela, Gatineau, QC
Caroline A. Godin, St. John's, NL
Chelsea Taylor, Vancouver, BC
Christina D'Almeida, Toronto, ON
Crystal Conroy, Stirling, ON
Edmon Rotea, Edmonton, AB
Emily Geoffroy, Vancouver, BC
Ethan Persyko, Thornhill, ON
Evan Getson, Summerside, PE
Jazmine Wall-Gordon, Hamilton, ON
Jill Kolodka, Winnipeg, MB
Karla Salazar, Vancouver, BC
Lynn A. Bolsby, Hamilton, ON
Megan Benns, Caledon, ON
Megan Shott, Edmonton, AB
Nat Boltt, North Vancouver, BC
Nikhil Kumar, Calgary, AB
Rachna Shah, Toronto, ON
Stacy Morris, Oakville, ON
Stephanie Brauer, Etobicoke, ON
Tanner March, New Westminster, BC
Téa Agtarap, Montreal, QC
"Lasting change comes from skills that go deep and from a community that holds them," said Melanie Windle, Co-Founder, Sustainable Entertainment Society. "SPIP gives practitioners both. The relationships they build here become the fabric of their success."
SPIP faculty experts include Ashleigh Prince, Clara George, Diana Donaldson, Elsa Tokunaga, Jordan Hall, Moe Rai, and Samantha Leigh. Lead Sponsor is CBC with Program Partners: Telefilm Canada, Independent Production Fund, Green Spark Group, USGBC California and Krypton Rental Group. Their commitment keeps the training barrier-free and builds a greener future for Canadian storytelling.
Program Highlights
Tuition-free access: Removes cost as a barrier for screen professionals across Canada.
New SPIP Travel Fund sponsored by Krypton Rental Group
Industry training:
Ontario Green Screen, Reel Green, On Tourne Vert and albert.
CERTIFICATION: SPEC - Sustainable Production in Entertainment
SPF26: High Profile at Sustainable Production Forum in Toronto + SPF Virtual.
Mentorship and Internship: Bespoke mentorship and on-set internship.
Directory, networking, resources: Ongoing amplification in SPF community, SPIP Directory.
Building The Green Economy
Productions and funders across Canada increasingly expect sustainability leadership on set, and demand for trained people keeps growing. That includes coordinators, managers, and consultants, as well as producers and heads of department. SPIP prepares its graduates to meet that demand wherever their careers take them. With a second cohort that now reaches every corner of the country, that expertise extends well beyond Canada's largest production centers.
Learn More: sustainableproductionforum.com/spip-sustainability-practitioners-internship-program
Media Contact
Melanie Windle
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Sustainable Entertainment Society
melanie.windle@sustainableproductionforum.com
647.273.2005