It was 1992 when the newly created Cogeco Program Development Fund announced its first funding decisions:  nine drama series were selected for development funding.¹ Established by Cogeco inc. with a $5 M endowment, the Cogeco Fund was the only private Canadian Fund dedicated specifically to the development of Canadian prime-time drama.  Several years later, Cogeco Cable began making annual BDU contributions to the Fund which enabled it to expand its mandate to include investments in the production of television drama.  The Board selected another private Fund that was already active in supporting production, the Independent Production Fund, to undertake the administration and management of the Fund.  This decision has paid off in many ways, as the two Funds have collaborated and innovated together to adapt to industry needs through challenging times over the years.

There was no Google, no Facebook, no YouTube nor Twitter in 1992.  Our lives have been transformed by the availability of all of these new tools that technology has provided us over the past 20 years.  Our society and our own abilities to adapt have been strongly tested.  Now, our screenwriters write on a computer, they Google their research needs, they share their ideas with friends on Facebook and ideas develop in real-time on Twitter.  But, the act of writing remains the same at its core:  the screenwriter generally works alone; the screenwriter must find an inspiring subject and create interesting characters, and devise a story arc leading to a conclusion, inject emotion, lots of emotion, into their work.

In the past 20 years, television has evolved into convergence, interactivity, connected TV and social TV.  But television viewing remains.  Despite all of the upheaval and the challenges that have marked the past 20 years, the Cogeco Fund has stayed focused on Canadian talents.  Our objectives remain the same, just like those of screenwriters whose characters still follow a trajectory to create a world and a story.  These stories may be seen on multiple screens now, the fans may share their comments and feedback on various social media platforms, but all of this is only possible thanks to the creative work of the writer.

Cogeco inc. created a Fund 20 years ago that supported the heart of our television production:  the talent.  Since then, it has invested nearly $33 M in the development and production of 700 programs, as well as supporting key industry events - the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Gemini ² and Prix Gémeaux Awards and the Banff World Media Festival.

We salute the writers of our dramatic programs and all of those whose vision has given us, the viewing audience, the pleasure of watching outstanding programs, commenting on them and sharing our favourites with others.

I would personally like to thank the members of the Board of Directors who have weathered the storms and the challenges of the past years.  Their encouragement and vision have ensured the lasting legacy of this Fund.

Yves Mayrand,

President