As we reflect on the past year, we do so with deep gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose.
In 2025, we said goodbye to three extraordinary long serving staff members – Susan Saranchuk, Patty Guyder, and Karen Longland, whose dedication and care helped shape the organization we are today.
With that, the year also marked a period of significant transition for the CSC.
What emerged was momentum.
Despite this transition, the CSC remained fully operational and continued to deliver meaningful programming nationwide. We welcomed two key additions to our team: Anastasiya Kozlova, Membership and Communications Coordinator, supporting member onboarding, communications, and events, and Lauren Stembridge, Bookkeeper, whose steady financial oversight has been essential during this period of change. Together, they helped stabilize operations and support forward progress.
Over the past two years, the CSC expanded its national presence through strategic collaboration. Working alongside the ASC and Sony, we delivered Master Classes and lecture series in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, bringing world-class talent directly to our membership. Education remained central to our mandate through expanded partnerships, including the CSC/CFC Cinematography Intensive supporting female DPs nationwide, and the CSC–Herc Entertainment Service On-Set Apprenticeship Program. We addressed major operational barriers by establishing WorkSafeBC compliance to enable Vancouver-based apprenticeship placements, implemented a new election software platform, formalized committee operating frameworks, and expanded technical training through workshops, regional gatherings, and monthly meet-ups, largely driven by volunteer leadership.
Looking ahead, our direction is guided by flexibility, connection, and education. We are structuring the CSC using a modular approach – one that mirrors how film and television are made. Independent elements come together to create something stronger, more responsive, and capable of evolving as the industry changes.
This modular framework allows people, programs, partnerships, governance, and platforms to connect without relying on rigid or centralized systems. It enables national consistency while supporting regional leadership, and ensures the CSC can adapt quickly while remaining grounded in its core values. Education sits at the centre of this model, informing everything from workshops and mentorship to media, publications, and digital engagement. This approach also shapes how we think about governance, member experience, and sustainability – modernizing our board structure, strengthening member pathways, and building tools that support transparency, participation, and long-term financial health.
Our priorities remain clear: Community & Connection, Training & Mentorship, and Access & Inclusion. The CSC is, and always will be, about its members – your work, your voices, and the stories you bring into the world.
We invite you to read our 2025 AGM Report, reflecting on where we’ve been and outlining our strategy for where we’re headed.
Thank you for your trust, your participation, and your continued commitment to one another.
Lucy Kayumov, Executive Director, Operations
Byron Kent Wong, Executive Director, Strategy & Vision