2027 Training and Mentorship Program

In January 2027, the Foundation will launch its second 12-month program to train and mentor photodocumentary practitioners, filling a gap in the availability of training opportunities for photographers in Canada. Designed by Chris Donovan, an experienced photojournalist and educator, this program will help develop another cohort of visual storytellers in Canada who are unhindered by student loan debt, and focused on using their craft to shape the ways in which Canadians see themselves for decades to come. 

The program will cover topics including the history of documentary photography and photojournalism, contemporary issues in photography, sustainability and funding, professional networking, teaching, other supplementary income opportunities and more. Students will be exposed to a range of guest speakers, and there will be an emphasis on peer mentorship.

Students will attend online classes once a week between January and December 2027, plus occasional office hours. Between January and December 2027, the participants will also work on a thesis project — a long-term documentary photography project that they will advance over the course of the program. Participants will leave the program with the tools to pitch and publish articles in legacy media, exhibitions in public galleries, books, self-published zines, as well as having built a strong network of peers and industry contacts.