Advocating for Change in Children’s Television

By Zack Coleman

“There is a child out there who will see that it is possible to find his Prince Charming”: Why Media Exec Mathieu Chantelois is Advocating for Change in Children’s Television

Raising compassionate children starts in the home. Parents are role models and the choices they make, the actions they take, help create a foundation for young people as they learn to navigate our ever more complicated world. Little eyes and ears are quick to pick up on things like adult conversations, social cues, behaviours—and television is no different. Ask any parent trying to keep young children entertained during the pandemic and they’ll tell you that educational and entertaining TV shows are worth their weight in gold. We know that what kids consume on television and through other mediums begins to shape the way they interact with others early on—and for that reason, inclusivity should be a driving force.

Mathieu Chantelois, vice-president of communications and promotion for the Canada Media Fund (CMF), an organization that supports and advocates for Canadian content in television, cinema, and other digital media, is happy to see the Canadian entertainment industry continue to produce popular programs, create jobs, and pump billions into the Canadian economy.

But Mathieu recently experienced a life-changing event that has opened his eyes to new possibilities in the television world. He and his partner welcomed their son Oscar-James, who was delivered through a surrogate. A baby can change the way we see the world, and for Mathieu, that included the realization that very few television characters resembled his own family.

More and more, we see adult television shows that are cast and scripted with a much broader and complex audience in mind. But not so with children’s shows. There are more similarities than differences between most preteen characters, and if there happens to be diversity in gender or race, it leans to stereotypes and “safe” characters.

“What we see on the screen should reflect what we see in the world,” says Mathieu. “This means creating content that depicts diversity in gender, race, economic status—the list goes on.”

“I grew up watching The Flintstones, The Littlest Hobo, Scooby-Doo, and Disney fairy tales. As a queer kid, I could never fully relate to these shows. I couldn’t help but notice that the handsome prince never found his Prince Charming.”

When it comes to children’s programming, change can be difficult. The world is a fractured place and tackling subjects that divide adults across cultures, and then distilling them into relatable content for children, is a daunting task.

However, Mathieu believes that our content creators are up for it and the Canadian media industry is already leading the way in diverse and inclusive storytelling. He and his colleagues are working diligently to raise awareness of the incredible work being done in Canadian film and TV, including the national initiative MADE | NOUS, which showcases Canadian content, both here and abroad.

“It is our mission to seek out the bold, beautiful, diverse, and challenging stories that resonate with today’s young audiences. The phrase “now more than ever” is overused, but it carries so much weight and meaning when it comes to engaging children. We must help them discover their place in the world, instill them with pride, inspire them, and show them all futures are possible.”

Looking to the future for his own family only emphasizes how important it is to show children characters and situations that represent the variety of real life and the people they will encounter.

“They can handle it,” he says. “And showing children that every human being is worthy of respect will instill compassion, understanding, empathy—and ultimately acceptance. The kid in me can’t help but smile knowing that today there is a child out there who will see that it is possible.

Author Bio:
Zack Coleman is a television and movie trivia buff. He was born and raised in Toronto but travels around Canada frequently. He also enjoys writing about the entertainment industry.

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  Diversity, Entertainment, family