Left to right in photo: Madeleine Seed, Hector Perez, Dianne Neuman, Marcos Garcia. Credit – Stephen Scott/Shaftesbury.
Shaftesbury, CBC and NABET 700-M Unifor have partnered to launch Veterans Behind the Lens, a program designed to create meaningful career pathways for Canadian Armed Forces veterans into Canada’s film and television industry.
Launched during Veterans’ Week, the initiative will provide four Canadian veterans with paid, hands-on experience on the set of Shaftesbury’s internationally acclaimed series Murdoch Mysteries, currently shooting its twentieth season. Participants will spend 13 shooting days (the making of two hour-long episodes) working alongside experienced production professionals, gaining practical experience, mentorship and valuable industry connections. They will shadow NABET crew members in production departments such as lighting, grip, props, set decoration and construction.
The CBC-supported initiative originated through a collaboration between Shaftesbury and Soldiers in the Arts, in association with Vets on Set™. These veteran-focused organizations connect former Canadian Armed Forces members with education and opportunities in the creative sector. Their programs recognize the extraordinary range of transferable skills veterans bring to the industry, from leadership and teamwork to technical operations, logistics, communications and problem-solving under pressure.
The four candidates participating are:
- Dianne Neuman – Lighting Department
- 20 years of service as an Image Technician, including 10 years working in stills photography, video and public affairs.
- Hector Perez – Props Department
- 14 years of service in the Reserve Force, Regular Force and CANSOFCOM.
- Madeleine Seed - Set Decoration Department
- Served for 10 years as a Boatswain in the Royal Canadian Navy.
- Marcos Garcia – Construction Department
- 10 years of service with the tactical helicopter squadron.
- 10 years of service with the tactical helicopter squadron.
Click here for photography of the four participants.
“Throughout its 20 seasons, Murdoch Mysteries has played an integral role in contributing to Canada's film and television industry, supporting the growth of our production workforce and the communities in which we work,” said Christina Jennings, Chairman and President, Shaftesbury. “Veterans Behind the Lens is a natural extension of that commitment. At a time of renewed national pride and a focus on strengthening Canadian industries, this initiative creates opportunities for those who have served our country. We see this as a first step towards a larger project that will hopefully inspire other Canadian producers to follow suit.”
“Being asked to participate in this initiative on this season of Murdoch Mysteries is a testament to the longstanding relationship and partnership between NABET 700-M UNIFOR and Shaftesbury. The Veterans Behind the Lens training program provides an excellent opportunity to assist veterans looking to transition into a career in the film and television sector in Ontario by getting paid, on-the-job, training alongside the highly skilled members of our Local. Veterans represent just one of the many groups that we collectively should look to in an effort to grow our respective workforces. It is our hope that this pilot can be a model to be expanded upon on future productions in Ontario and by others across Canada,” said Jayson Mosek, Business Agent with NABET 700-M UNIFOR.
“Canada’s creative community proudly encompasses a wide range of voices and experiences, representing the stories of our country both on and off screen. By providing opportunities for our honoured military veterans to build their knowledge and skills on set, we are strengthening their career prospects as well as ensuring the future success of our screen industry,” said Doug Smith, Executive Vice-President of CBC and Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, CBC.
“Veterans bring so much to a film set - discipline, teamwork and a perspective shaped by service,” said Jennifer Grose, Co-Founder & VP of Fund Development, Soldiers in the Arts. “This is about giving them a real foot in the door and the opportunity to turn those strengths into a lasting creative career.”
“There are many ways to serve your country,” said Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Andrew Atherton, co-founder of Vets on Set. “When you leave the military, you leave a world where you know your role and who’s counting on you. It can take time to find that sense of belonging again. Being welcomed into a paid role on the crew of Murdoch Mysteries, with key crew at the ready to show you how the set works, makes that first step into civilian work feel familiar. I applaud Shaftesbury, NABET and CBC for making that possible and hope more Canadian productions give Veterans the same opportunity.”
While Veterans Behind the Lens begins with four participants on a single production, its ambitions extend well beyond the initial pilot. Shaftesbury and its partners see an opportunity to establish a repeatable model that connects veterans with industry training, professional networks and potential employment opportunities across Canada’s screen sector. The announcement coincides with Veterans’ Week, November 5-11, a time to honour the service and sacrifices of Canadian veterans and recognize the contributions they continue to make to communities and industries across the country.
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About Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content, founded by Chairman and President Christina Jennings. Awarded Production Company of the Year in 2025 by Playback, Shaftesbury was also named among the top 10 studios and independent production companies in North America by production volume in a joint ranking from ProdPro and the Association of Film Commissioners International - the only Canadian company on a list alongside A24, Tyler Perry Studios, and Blumhouse. Shaftesbury's flagship productions include the globally acclaimed drama Murdoch Mysteries, now in its 20th season, and Hudson & Rex, now in its 10th season, both airing in over 200 countries. Shaftesbury has generated more than $1.9 billion to Canada's GDP, $1.2 billion in labour income and has created over 23,000 jobs.
Shaftesbury's slate spans scripted drama, comedy, and genre programming. Recent projects include the comedy series Slo Pitch, the Murdoch companion series Macy Murdoch, the horror anthology Slasher and its latest installment Hell Motel, the dark crime The Borderline, the international thriller Departure, the Irish-Canadian co-productions SisterS and Irish Blood and Acorn’s highest-rated series launch to date, You’re Killing Me. For more information, visit shaftesbury.ca.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment and sports programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About NABET 700-M Unifor
NABET 700-M Unifor represents nearly 3,000 film & television Technicians across Ontario in behind-the-scenes departments such as Lighting, Grip, Hair, Makeup, Costume, Continuity, Sets, Props, Construction, Paint, Special Effects, Transportation, and Sound. The members of NABET 700-M are proud to support a wide range of productions, including many beloved Canadian series like Murdoch Mysteries, Heated Rivalry, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Schitt’s Creek, and Kim’s Convenience, as well as critically-acclaimed and award-winning films such as Brother, Room, Tuner, Forbidden Fruits, All That She Wants and In the Heart of the South. For more information, please visit nabet700.com.
About Soldiers in the Arts
Soldiers in the Arts is a Roland Gossage Foundation program supporting veterans, reservists and military families through creative exploration, skills development and community connection. Through hands-on training and industry partnerships, the program helps participants build on their experiences and discover opportunities in film, television and the arts. For more information, please visit https://www.rgf-sita.com/
About Vets on Set™
Vets on Set™ was founded by brothers Jeremy Atherton, a documentary filmmaker and educator, and Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Andrew Atherton, a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran. They recognized that much of what makes a film crew work is familiar to Veterans. People with different specialties plan together, adapt when conditions change and take responsibility for one another’s safety. That overlap gave the brothers a starting point for helping Veterans put their experience to work in Canadian film and television. Vets on Set helps Veterans find work that fits the life they want after service, on safe, supportive sets where their experience is understood and respected. The initiative is developing training that introduces Veterans to how productions work and helps crews recognize the skills Veterans bring. It also aims to give Veterans the tools to tell their own stories and help more Canadians see their lives and communities reflected on screen. For more information visit: www.vetsonset.ca
