Corus Entertainment-owned prodco Nelvana has partnered with Telefilm Canada and the Youth Media Alliance (among others) to launch a series of virtual events starting with the first-ever Canadian Children’s Media Day on July 26.

Nelvana plans to run a virtual panel discussion about Canadian animation at the event, and will work with the City of Toronto to light up the CN Tower (pictured) in the company’s signature blue and gold colors that day.

The “Northern Star: How Canada Shines in Animation & Children’s Media” panel will feature Nelvana’s head of development Athena Georgaklis; Ted Gervan, dean of Sheridan College’s faculty of animation, arts and design department; and Francesca Accinelli, Telefilm’s VP of promotion, communication and international relations.

Corus kidsnets YTV, Treehouse and Teletoon will air Nelvana content throughout the day, including Max & Ruby, Miss Persona and Esme & Roy, a co-pro with Sesame Workshop.

Nelvana has also teamed up with the Ottawa International Animation Festival to launch a virtual networking event featuring its past and present talent on July 28. Then on July 29, the studio will provide a behind-the-scenes look at Esme & Roy as part of the Animaze Montreal International Film Festival. And a panel on breaking into the industry, co-hosted with Vancouver-based animation org Spark CG Society, will round out Nelvana’s virtual event series on August 10.

All of the events are to celebrate Nelvana’s 50th anniversary.

Photo by Smit Shah on Unsplash