Manitoba’s workforce development and training organization Film Training Manitoba (FTM) has awarded Lesley Oswald the Carole Vivier Distinguished Builder Award at FTM’s SWIFT Camera Lab held at Unit204 Production Services on Sunday, February 26, 2023. This honour is to recognize Manitobans who have contributed outstanding years of service in building Manitoba’s film and TV industry.
Oswald was selected unanimously by FTM’s board of directors and Carole Vivier, the former CEO and Film Commissioner of Manitoba Film and Music. The honour was presented by FTM’s Chair Andrew Yankiwski (Managing Partner of Precursor Productions), FTM’s Managing Director Adam Smoluk, and Carole Vivier.
“Lesley was one of the founders of FTM and has served as an FTM instructor and mentor on countless training initiatives. Lesley is also a proud mother and grandmother who always puts others first,” said Vivier and added, “When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Lesley took on the critical leadership role of building and designing FTM’s COVID-19 industry training for our entire industry. Despite the challenging and difficulties that this pandemic causes, Lesley worked tirelessly to create and deliver training which served to keep the Manitoba film industry’s workers and companies safe and open for productions. When the pressure is on, Lesley is calm and always a highly focused professional.”
Oswald was also a major supporter of FTM’s first Summit for Women in Film (SWIFT) Trades conference. In 2022, Lesley jointly instructed a training session at SWIFT for a large group of underrepresented workers to help them get involved in jobs and careers in our growing industry.
Lesley is a member of DGC-Manitoba District Council and has worked as a producer, production manager and director on well over fifty film and television productions.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s sector council program (through the Department of Economic Development and Jobs). FTM conducts workforce development and training to build a highly skilled and adaptable film industry to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates with members of the film and television industry to identify the training needs within the community.