Jacques Bensimon, Umeeda Umedaly Switlo to join S-VOX Board of Directors


Toronto, May 28, 2009
Jacques Bensimon, Umeeda Umedaly Switlo to join S-VOX Board of Directors TORONTO – Dale Godsoe, Chair of the S-VOX Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Jacques Bensimon and Umeeda Umedaly Switlo have been appointed to serve on the multimedia company’s Board. A Member of the Order of Canada, Mr. Bensimon is a Canadian film and television professional with more than 40 years of industry experience. The former Government Film Commissioner and Chair of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), he now serves as a senior industry consultant, acting on behalf of clients in Canada, France and Latin America. Mr. Bensimon began his career at the NFB in 1967, working there as a screenwriter, editor, director and producer until 1986. He also served as Director of the NFB’s French Programming committee, and later as Director of International Distribution. From 1986 to 2000, Mr. Bensimon worked at TVOntario, where he became Chief Executive Director of the educational network’s French-language service, TFO. From there, he went on to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Banff Television Festival, before taking over leadership of the NFB from 2001 to 2006. Mr. Bensimon has served as Chair of the Cinematheque Quebecoise, and as Honorary President of the Sunny Side of the Doc International Film Festival in France, and in 1998 was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France. Umeeda Umedaly Switlo is an entrepreneur and community activist with more than 15 years of marketing and event management experience in both the private and non-profit sectors. She works for the international development organization CUSO-VSO as Outreach Officer for Western Canada and Western U.S., and has a wealth of additional NGO experience with organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society and The Nature Conservancy of Canada. Ms. Switlo’s previous positions include Director of the Vancouver International Storytelling Festival, Producer for Taste of Health, Co-Producer and Business Manager for the New Music West festival, and Executive Producer for the opening of the World AIDS Conference. She has also served as President of Community Box Offices, a ticketing agency for concerts and community events, and has managed a number of prominent Canadian recording artists. Ms. Switlo came to Canada from her native Uganda at age 16, and studied marine biology at University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University. A member of the Ismaili Muslim community, she has committed her time and energies to many volunteer organizations, including the Ugandan Cultural Society of BC, the Re-Generation Youth Music Festival and Conference, the North Shore Arts Commission, and the Habitat Acquisition Trust. Said Ms. Godsoe: “The S-VOX Board of Directors is notable for its diversity; our members bring an exceptional range of professional expertise and cultural understanding to bear on the challenges at hand. At a time when every media enterprise is grappling with fundamental changes to the very nature of the business, we are fortunate to be joined by two individuals blessed with the wealth of experience and insight that Mr. Bensimon and Ms. Switlo possess.” S-VOX (www.s-vox.com) is a diversified multimedia enterprise that offers high-quality television and digital content for individuals seeking spiritual awareness and personal growth. S-VOX properties include: VisionTV, Canada's multi-faith and multicultural television broadcaster, along with the digital television service One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel and the Joytv local stations in Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Toronto, May 28, 2009

Jacques Bensimon, Umeeda Umedaly Switlo to join S-VOX Board of Directors

TORONTO – Dale Godsoe, Chair of the S-VOX Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Jacques Bensimon and Umeeda Umedaly Switlo have been appointed to serve on the multimedia company’s Board.

A Member of the Order of Canada, Mr. Bensimon is a Canadian film and television professional with more than 40 years of industry experience. The former Government Film Commissioner and Chair of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), he now serves as a senior industry consultant, acting on behalf of clients in Canada, France and Latin America.

Mr. Bensimon began his career at the NFB in 1967, working there as a screenwriter, editor, director and producer until 1986. He also served as Director of the NFB’s French Programming committee, and later as Director of International Distribution. From 1986 to 2000, Mr. Bensimon worked at TVOntario, where he became Chief Executive Director of the educational network’s French-language service, TFO. From there, he went on to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Banff Television Festival, before taking over leadership of the NFB from 2001 to 2006.

Mr. Bensimon has served as Chair of the Cinematheque Quebecoise, and as Honorary President of the Sunny Side of the Doc International Film Festival in France, and in 1998 was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France.

Umeeda Umedaly Switlo is an entrepreneur and community activist with more than 15 years of marketing and event management experience in both the private and non-profit sectors. She works for the international development organization CUSO-VSO as Outreach Officer for Western Canada and Western U.S., and has a wealth of additional NGO experience with organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society and The Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Ms. Switlo’s previous positions include Director of the Vancouver International Storytelling Festival, Producer for Taste of Health, Co-Producer and Business Manager for the New Music West festival, and Executive Producer for the opening of the World AIDS Conference. She has also served as President of Community Box Offices, a ticketing agency for concerts and community events, and has managed a number of prominent Canadian recording artists.

Ms. Switlo came to Canada from her native Uganda at age 16, and studied marine biology at University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University. A member of the Ismaili Muslim community, she has committed her time and energies to many volunteer organizations, including the Ugandan Cultural Society of BC, the Re-Generation Youth Music Festival and Conference, the North Shore Arts Commission, and the Habitat Acquisition Trust.

Said Ms. Godsoe: “The S-VOX Board of Directors is notable for its diversity; our members bring an exceptional range of professional expertise and cultural understanding to bear on the challenges at hand. At a time when every media enterprise is grappling with fundamental changes to the very nature of the business, we are fortunate to be joined by two individuals blessed with the wealth of experience and insight that Mr. Bensimon and Ms. Switlo possess.”

S-VOX (www.s-vox.com) is a diversified multimedia enterprise that offers high-quality television and digital content for individuals seeking spiritual awareness and personal growth. S-VOX properties include: VisionTV, Canada's multi-faith and multicultural television broadcaster, along with the digital television service One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel and the Joytv local stations in Vancouver and Winnipeg.