Who We Are
The Jewish Screen Office (JSO) works to foster greater visibility, understanding, and allyship for Jewish voices across Canada’s screen industries. We support creators, organizations, and industry partners in building environments where Jewish professionals are seen, understood, and included.
Central to our mission is providing practical tools that strengthen cultural competency and improve workplace practices. Through our Statement of Principles for Jewish Inclusion, we offer HR teams and employers a clear, actionable guide to help organizations adopt inclusive policies and create spaces where Jewish staff and collaborators feel safe, respected, and fully supported.
While we advocate for Jewish representation and inclusion, the JSO is not a funding agency. Instead, our role is to serve as a resource and thought leader, offering guidance, frameworks through our Statement of Principles that help the industry build a more informed and inclusive future for Jewish creatives.
Why We Exist
In recent years, Jewish professionals across Canada’s cultural and media sectors have expressed growing concerns about antisemitism, exclusion, and a lack of understanding about Jewish identity. These experiences range from subtle misunderstandings to overt hostility, shaping how Jewish creatives navigate their workplaces, their stories, and their sense of safety within the industry.
At the same time, diversity and inclusion initiatives have expanded across screen-based organizations, yet Jewish identity is often missing from these conversations. Despite being both an ethno-cultural identity and a religious minority, Jewish experiences rarely appear in EDI frameworks, training sessions, or policy discussions. This absence leaves many Jewish artists and workers without meaningful support or recognition in spaces that are meant to foster belonging for all.
The Jewish Screen Office (JSO) exists to help close this gap. We serve as a partner, collaborator, and resource for organizations seeking to build more informed, inclusive, and accountable environments. Our approach is not confrontational, it is constructive. We aim to strengthen understanding, build bridges, and provide practical tools that help teams engage with Jewish identity thoughtfully and respectfully.
By bringing visibility to Jewish voices and offering guidance rooted in education, cultural competency, and allyship, the JSO supports a screen industry where Jewish professionals can participate, create, and thrive without fear or hesitation.
Our Work
Community gatherings.
Offering educational materials and resources for industry organizations.
Sharing stories from Jewish professionals.
Advocating for authentic Jewish representation on-screen and behind the scenes.