Mathieu Chantelois

Mathieu Chantelois (born July 4, 1973) is a Canadian television personality, journalist, magazine editor, and marketing executive.

Mathieu Chantelois
Chantelois in Toronto in 2017
Born (1973-07-04) July 4, 1973
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Education
Occupation(s)Vice President, Communications and Promotion at Canada Media Fund
Spouse
Marcelo Gomez
​
(m. 2003)​

Early life and education

Mathieu Chantelois was born and raised in Mascouche, a suburb just outside Montreal, Quebec. He studied at Pierre Laporte Secondary School, a musical academy in Montreal. He is a graduate of Carleton University's journalism program, and in 2018, he completed a certificate in strategic perspectives in nonprofit management at Harvard Business School.

Career

Television

Chantelois was one of the original housemates on the Canadian reality television series U8TV: The Lofters.[1] The first season's only openly gay resident, Chantelois created the series So Gay TV for PrideVision.[1] So Gay TV was nominated for Best Talk Series at the 2002 Gemini Awards.[2]

Wedding of Chantelois and Gomez

Following the end of his term on The Lofters, Chantelois continued hosting programming for PrideVision and its successor channel OUTtv, including Read Out!, featuring authors from the LGBT community, and the reality series COVERguy. Chantelois has also worked as a cultural reporter for TFO's Panorama.

The 519

In 2006, Chantelois was named chair of the board at The 519 Church St. Community Centre in Toronto, Ontario.[3] He stepped down from the position in 2009,[4] but is still involved with the organization in other capacities. In October 2020, he hosted the 16th 519 Annual Gala, which included guests Elton John, k.d. lang, and Kim Cattrall.[5][6]

Green Space Festival

In 2007, Chantelois created the Green Space Festival, a fundraising event for an LGBT community centre in Canada. He was named one of eight local heroes by the Toronto Star.[7] The festival has raised over $2.5 million in the last 10 years.[8]

Cineplex

In 2009, Chantelois became editor of the movie magazine Famous Quebec. Under his leadership, in 2010 Famous Quebec became Le magazine Cineplex.[9][10]

Pride Toronto

In 2015, Chantelois was named the new executive director of Pride Toronto.[11]

In 2016, under his leadership, the first Pride Month in Canada was launched,[12] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the first sitting prime minister to march in the Pride parade,[13] and for the first time ever the official Pride and Trans flags were raised at the same time to help kick off Pride Month.[14]

Guests at Pride Toronto during Chantelois's tenure included RuPaul,[15] Pussy Riot, Cyndi Lauper, Chaz Bono, John Waters,[16] George Takei, and Margaret Atwood.[17] The event also got Guinness World Record recognition for the world's largest stage show of drag artists, with 73 drag queens and kings taking to the stage.[18]

He resigned the position on August 11, 2016 to take a position at Cineplex Media,[19] approximately six weeks after both receiving praise[20] and facing criticism over his handling of the Black Lives Matter demand that Toronto Police officers be barred from participating in Pride events in uniform. His resignation was amidst staff allegations of racism, sexism, and sexual harassment;[21][22][23] however, the allegations were never substantiated and he was never officially accused of any wrongdoing.[24][25][26]

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

In 2016, Chantelois was hired as vice-president of marketing and development at Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada ,[27] where he had previously worked as director of marketing and communications.[28]

He was responsible for the launch of the PSAs "Great Futures Start Here" in 2014[29] and "Kid of Privilege" in 2018.[30][31] He served as vice president of development and external affairs for the organization until June 2019.

Canada Media Fund

Chantelois currently serves as vice president, communications and promotion at the Canada Media Fund, a position he has held since June 2019.[26][32]

He has been a spokesperson for Made / Nous, promoting Canadian content in the entertainment industry. In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched a virtual Canadian road trip where actors Jay Baruchel and Marc-Andre Grondin tweeted their recommended Canadian TV shows or movies every day for a month.[33] He also partnered with actors Simu Liu and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to highlight notable Asian Canadians as part of Asian and South Asian Heritage month.[34] He has been a vocal advocate for more inclusivity in Canadian children's content.[35][36]

In 2021, Chantelois led the rebranding of Canada Media Fund, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and decolonization, including representation of 12+ Indigenous languages, such as Dene, Gwich'in, Inuvialuit, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Mitchif, Northern Cree, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Plains Cree, Sḵwxw̱ú7mesh sníchim (Squamish), and Woodland Cree.[37][38]

Chantelois was also responsible for the launch of the Made | Nous #SeekMore campaign,[39] which encourages Canadians to seek out Canadian film, television, and video games created by underrepresented and marginalized voices.[40] The campaign was promoted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to his 5.6 million Twitter followers.[41]

Awards
  • 1999: Prix Molson de journalisme en loisir, Conseil québécois du loisir, premier prix, catégorie hebdos locaux et régionaux.[42]
  • 2014: Ragan's PR Daily Corporate Social Responsibility Award, Best Social Media Campaign[43]
  • 2015: Toronto's 50 Most Influential[44]
  • 2016: Fantastic Community Volunteer of the Year[45]
  • 2021: Strategy Awards, Bronze, Multicultural Strategy[46]

Personal life

Chantelois married Marcelo Gomez in 2003 in Toronto, Ontario.[47] They were one of the first gay couples to be married in Canada following the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ontario, so soon after the court decision that the city of Toronto had not yet produced gender-neutral marriage licence forms.[48]

In March 2019, he wrote an op-ed piece, published by several media outlets, about his own evolution from seeing himself as a Québécois who lived in Toronto to seeing himself as a true Franco-Ontarian.[49]

In March 2020, with the help of a surrogate, Chantelois and Gomez became the fathers of Oscar-James, a baby boy.[50]

References
  1. "Reality bites: An oral history of The Lofters" Archived August 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. The Grid, August 7, 2013.
  2. "Made in Canada leads Gemini pack". The Globe and Mail. September 25, 2002. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  3. "519 hoping to raise another million". Daily Xtra. October 10, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  4. "Chantelois steps down at 519". Daily Xtra. October 5, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  5. Trapunski, Richard (October 13, 2020). "Elton John, k.d. lang, Kim Cattrall to appear at The 519's virtual gala". NOW Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  6. "Défilé de vedettes au gala-bénéfice du 519". l-express.ca (in Canadian French). October 12, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  7. "WorldPride: Eight local heroes who make a difference". Toronto Star. June 26, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  8. "10e anniversaire du Green Space Festival". Fugues (in Canadian French). June 7, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  9. "Famous Québec devient Le magazine Cineplex". Cineplex (in French). September 30, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  10. "Une triple couverture pour le magazine Cineplex à l'occasion de la sortie du film De père en flic 2". ActusMédias (in French). June 21, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  11. "Mathieu Chantelois is Toronto Pride’s new ED". Xtra!, January 21, 2015.
  12. Torontoist (June 9, 2016). "Meet the Man Behind This Year's Pride Month". Torontoist. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  13. "Trudeau makes history in Toronto Pride parade". Toronto Star. July 3, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  14. "Trans and Pride flags make history at Toronto City Hall". BlogTO. May 31, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  15. "New to Pride Toronto or a seasoned vet? Here's how to make the most of it". The Globe and Mail. June 29, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  16. "Pussy Riot coming to Toronto Pride Parade". Toronto Star. May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  17. "Toronto celebrates Pride Month with George Takei, Margaret Atwood, and Black Lives Matter". CityNews Toronto. May 3, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  18. "Pride Toronto Made a Guinness World Record for Drag". The Advocate. July 6, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  19. "Executive director of Pride Toronto resigns". Toronto Star, August 10, 2016.
  20. "Cowardly politicians have empowered Black Lives Matter". Toronto Sun. July 5, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  21. "Pride Toronto director resigns after parade controversy". The Globe and Mail. August 1, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  22. "Executive director of Pride Toronto resigns amid 'serious allegations'". Toronto Star. August 10, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  23. "Pride Toronto executive director resigns after allegations of racism, sexual harassment". Global News. August 10, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  24. "EXCLUSIF : L'ex-directeur de Pride Toronto voit d'un bon oeil le retour des policiers au défilé". Radio Canada. October 16, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  25. "The Q&A With Mathieu Chantelois, Vice President Of Development And External Affairs For Boys And Girls Clubs Of Canada". Superbcrew. April 2, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  26. "Mathieu Chantelois, VP At The Canada Media Fund, Discusses Leadership Communications, Proudest Accomplishments". Digital Connect Mag. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  27. "Boys and Girls Clubs picks Mackie Biernacki". Strategy. December 11, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  28. "The Boys and Girls Clubs' celeb flashbacks". Strategy. December 10, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  29. "Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada celebrate bright futures". Marketing. December 12, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  30. "Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is all smiles". Strategy. May 15, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  31. ""Privilege is Not Just for the Privileged" - The Boys and Girls Clubs Take a Stand". Ottawa Life. May 11, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  32. "CMF reorganizes exec team". Play Back. June 11, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  33. B, Programme (April 27, 2020). "Who Says Cancon Is Boring? MADE | NOUS Drives Home Changing Perceptions". Baron Mag. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  34. "NOUS - SIMU LIU le SUPERHÉROS du MOIS DU PATRIMOINE ASIATIQUE". CTVM.info (in French). May 1, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  35. McKinnon, Melody (August 15, 2020). "Advocating for Change in Children's Television ⋆". Canadian Family .net. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  36. Lane, Penelope (July 14, 2020). "Mathieu Chantelois: Why This New Dad Is Pushing Inclusivity in Canadian Children's Content -". Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  37. Giesbrecht, Grace (February 3, 2021). ""Sparking change: CMF rebrand puts inclusion first"". Ottawa Life Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  38. "Canada Media Fund reveals new brand identity recognizing significance of Indigenous Culture in Canadian storytelling". ALBERTA PRESS. January 29, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  39. "Découvrons-NOUS: soutenir l'inclusion sur nos écrans". Grenier aux Nouvelles (in French). Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  40. "Strategy Awards ★ 2021 Winner ★". awards.strategyonline.ca. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  41. "Canada 'Seeks More' Inclusive Stories In Film, TV, & Gaming". Marketing News Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  42. O'Connor, Sandra. "L'employé de la semaine". Voir (in Canadian French). Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  43. "Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada generates some buzz to end bullying". www.prdaily.com. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  44. "Toronto's 50 Most Influential People: Mathieu Chantelois | Toronto Life". Toronto Life. November 19, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  45. "Queer Choice Awards". queerchoiceawards.ca. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  46. "Strategy Awards ★ 2021 Winner ★". awards.strategyonline.ca. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  47. "How gay is your neighbourhood?". Toronto Star, June 28, 2009.
  48. "A reality show kicked off his career". Toronto Star, June 19, 2016.
  49. "After 20 years in Ontario, it’s time for my second coming out". Toronto Star, March 20, 2019.
  50. ""La COVID-19 et le confinement nous obligent à donner le meilleur de nous-mêmes"". www.fugues.com (in French). Retrieved November 24, 2020.
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