Transforming Cultural Equity in Canadian Arts: Virtual Launch & Panel Discussion

On the left, text: Join us live.  Transforming Cultural Equity in Canadian Arts
What happens when arts and media organizations move beyond representation and shift power, challenge barriers, and create lasting change? On the right: July 22, 2026, 1:30pm – 3:30pm.  Online event via Zoom. Registration required: scan the QR or visit: https://torontomu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vccN4qo5TYC0RvO07Y8iiA. An image of a QR code. Beneath these: logos of participating organizations.

Please join us for the virtual launch of the “Transforming Cultural Equity in Canadian Arts” with co-presented with Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing. The video will be followed by a Panel Discussion with Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) and the Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV/Uvagut TV). This event is free and open to the public.

Abstract: Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), in partnership with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing at Toronto Metropolitan University, invite you to an Imagine Talk conversation on cultural equity and systems change in the arts. This session brings together cultural equity leaders from Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) and the Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV/Uvagut TV) to explore how organizations are actively shifting power within the arts and media sectors.

Through two case studies, speakers will discuss practical approaches to:

● Shifting decision-making power within arts organizations
● Building long-term equity systems rather than one-off initiatives
● Supporting Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized artists and communities
● Developing leadership pathways that transform who leads and who makes decisions
● Creating media and arts platforms that strengthen language, identity, and visibility
● Responding to funding inequities and institutional resistance

Facilitated by DARTS, this conversation draws from the Imagine Case Studies Project, which documents 72 international case studies from 42 countries focused on cultural practice and structural change in the arts.

Event Details:

Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET
Registration:
https://torontomu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vccN4qo5TYC0RvO07Y8iiA

If you require any accessibility accommodations, please contact: cerc.healthwellbeing@torontomu.ca

Welcoming Alana De Florimonte, Chair of the Board

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are pleased to welcome Alana De Florimonte as the new Chair of CPAMO’s Board of Directors.

Alana brings a dynamic blend of executive-level administrative expertise, community engagement, and a deep-rooted commitment to equity and cultural pluralism. With over a decade of experience across finance, real estate, and the arts, she consistently centers people-first approaches and fosters inclusive collaboration in every space she enters.

In her current role as Senior Administrative Assistant at IG Wealth Management, Alana also leads programming for the Black Business Resource Group, curating events that elevate Black artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. She is both a strategic organizer and a natural storyteller and advocate, with a strong ability to build partnerships and meaningfully engage diverse audiences.

Alana’s lived experience as a Black Caribbean woman, combined with her operational expertise and natural ability to bring people together, makes her uniquely suited for this leadership role. Her work—ranging from coordinating Grant Thornton’s inaugural Toronto Caribbean Carnival social, to facilitating conversations on anti-Black racism, and organizing panels for Black History Month and Emancipation Day—reflects a deep and ongoing commitment to building inclusive communities.

Her values strongly align with CPAMO’s vision, and we are excited for the insight, continuity, and care she brings to this next chapter of our leadership. We are confident that Alana will not only support our mission, but help amplify it with integrity and a unwavering commitment to cultural equity.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Alana to the Board.

Board of Directors.


Meet Alana De Florimonte

a black-and-white photo of a smiling woman wearing a white shirt and black blazer.
Alana De Florimonte is an accomplished administrative leader and equity advocate with over a decade of experience across finance, professional services, real estate, and the arts. She currently serves as a Senior Administrative Assistant at IG Wealth Management, where she also leads community engagement for the company’s Black Business Resource Group. In this role, Alana curates culturally resonant programs and fosters partnerships with Black artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to advance equity and representation across the organization.

Her career journey reflects a deep commitment to cultural pluralism, with past roles at KPMG and Grant Thornton LLP, where she not only supported executive leadership but also took initiative to create inclusive spaces—most notably organizing Grant Thornton’s first-ever Toronto Caribbean Carnival social. A natural connector and storyteller, Alana has organized internal panels, facilitated dialogue on anti-Black racism, and led programming for events such as Black History Month and Emancipation Day.

Alana’s contributions extend beyond the workplace. She has served on charity event committees such as Bay Street Hoops, co-founded Grant Thornton’s first women’s basketball team, and continues to support grassroots arts and cultural initiatives across Ontario. As a proud Black Caribbean woman, she brings lived experience, strategic insight, and heartfelt dedication to her work in advocacy and the arts.

Alana is passionate about building inclusive communities where diverse voices are heard, celebrated, and empowered—and she is committed to advancing this mission through leadership, storytelling, and meaningful collaboration.