Jesse Wente, David W. Binet among Canada Council for the Arts appointments

Two prominent voices in the Toronto media landscape Indigenouscritic and CBC Radio columnist JesseWenteand Thomson Reuters deputy chairman David W. Binet are among eight new appointments to the Canada Council for the Arts.

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Wente, the director of film programmes at TIFF BellLightbox, is also a broadcaster and activist, and has been a film and pop culture critic onCBC'sMetro Morning for two decades.

Along with his role at Thomson Reuters,Binetis president and CEO ofWoodbridge, the Thomson family investment company, and a director of the Globe and Mail.

Both appointments to the board of directors for Canada's national public arts funding organizationare effective immediately.

The other six appointments areCheryl Hickman,Yann Martel,Sidney Ben Nind,Jennifer Dorner,Beverley K. Foy, andNathalie Bondil.

"Their vast knowledge and extensive expertise will shape the strategic vision of this organization and promoteCanada'sdynamic arts scene," said Heritage MinisterMlanieJolyin a statement.

The appointments follow a new selection approachadopted by the government in 2016, which respects gender parity and uses an open, merit-based selection process.