Film Training Manitoba wishes to congratulate Rachel Rusen on her appointment as a provincial court judge.
Since 2019, Rachel served as Chief Executive Officer and Film Commissioner of Manitoba Film and Music (MFM). Since that time, MFM and FTM partnered on a number of actives including the well-received TAKE 5 Industry Sessions at the Gimli Film Festival to support Manitoba’s content creators. Rachel also participated in FTM’s Reel Career Profile series to encourage Manitobans toward jobs and careers in our dynamic film industry.
“Our team at FTM enjoyed working with Rachel over the past number of years. Under highly challenging circumstances, she was very effective with leading our film industry’s response to COVID-19 to keep our community safe. We are very proud that a talented member of our community will be serving in such an important role.” Said FTM’s Managing Director Adam Smoluk.
Rachel was called to the bar in 1997 and worked at Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP (now MLT Aikins LLP) until 1999. She then served as in-house counsel for Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation and an associate with Ronald S. Ade Law Corporation. In 2011, she rejoined Aikins where she eventually became partner. She has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in all sectors of business including for profit, not-for-profit and registered charities, with expertise in the areas of taxation, succession planning, corporate finance, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending and all aspects of corporate law and entertainment and media law.
Rusen’s philanthropic work is focused in the areas of poverty and food insecurity, and she has served as a national board member for Food Banks Canada.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity of the Province of Manitoba’s sector council program through the Department of Economic Development and Jobs. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce 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.