Camille Beaudoin savours YWCA Woman of Distinction Award

Camille Beaudoin, 36, co-founder of Mosaic Entertainment, accepted a YWCA Woman of Distinction Arts and Culture Award on Friday, May 29 for her contributions to the national film and television industry.

At the gala ceremony, Beaudoin's acceptance speech praised the local arts and film industry.

"It's the most rewarding thing in the world; I love being able to entertain people and I love being able to support the community of Edmonton. We have such incredible talent, incredible people here. So really, I'd like to thank the City of Edmonton for supporting all of the incredible talent here – the writers, the actors, the musicians, the singers, because we get to take advantage of them and put them on the screen."

The YWCA Woman of Distinction Award recognizes women who through their intelligence, initiative, personal abilities and dogged determination have made admirable achievements in their field.

Like Beaudoin all recipients are excited about life, inspired by the people they meet and motivated to improve the lives of people around them and beyond.

In the last eight years since Mosaic's inception, the production company has filmed several award winning series including Caution: May Contain Nuts, Tiny Plastic Men, and Truckstop Bloodsuckers.

In a short interview after the ceremonies, Beaudoin was upbeat about Mosaic's role in making a substantial contribution to the local and Canadian cultural landscape.

"We've really tried to support the film and arts community. We try to bring talent here from across Canada and across the world. And the quality we produce is second to none and I'm very proud of that."

Beaudoin's mother Claire, owner of a public accounting firm, is decidedly proud of her daughter's achievements but not too surprised.

"She was so bright, so considerate, so focused. She was not negative to anyone. She had a kindness and she wanted to take care of everyone," Claire said.

Humble beginnings

Beaudoin was born in Edmonton but mother and daughter moved to St. Albert when the aspiring filmmaker was in Grade 5. She enrolled in the bilingual program at Father Jan Elementary and graduated from école Secondaire St. Marguerite d'Youville.

Although St. Albert is an affluent community, money in the Beaudoin family was tight. While it was common to see teenage girls snapping up $80 designer jeans, Claire often shopped at Value Village.

However, as a clear-sighted parent, she often espoused the philosophy that education was a passport to a better world.

"Do a good job in school and one day you'll be eating in fancy restaurants and they'll be serving in restaurants," she would tell her daughter.

Beaudoin took the message to heart and was an honours student from Grade 8 to 12. A naturally gifted writer, she aspired to work in the film industry at an early age.

Although Beaudoin would have liked to attend UCLA's directing program, the dream was kyboshed due to a shortage of funds.

Instead the determined young woman enrolled in an arts program at the University of Alberta focusing on community development, tourism and recreational administration.

Her post-university career started as an events co-ordinator and marketing manager for companies such as The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Canadian Blood Services and McDonald's Restaurants.

An uncanny coincidence introduced her to the local film and television industry working in the locations department for Family Channel's Mentors and Ginger Snaps Back.

These freelance positions led to a job led at Anaid Productions as assistant to president Margaret Mardirossian, and eventually as an assistant production coordinator on documentary series. One of the more high-profile shows she worked on was the feature film Intern Academy directed by Dave Thomas and starring Dan Aykroyd.

Eight years ago she partnered with Eric Rebalkin to start the then fledgling Mosaic Entertainment and they have successfully built one success upon the next.

"It's commendable for her to get such a prestigious award at such a young age. But really, she's doing amazing things. She's an amazing mother. She's an amazing wife. She's an amazing businesswoman," Claire noted.

Time management

When Beaudoin was asked how she successfully juggles these three important aspects of her life, she replied. "The biggest thing is you have to set aside blocks of time. When the kids are around, it means spending as much time with them as possible, even if it means working nights."

Although BBM Canada revealed that the average Canadian adult watches 30 hours of television a week, Beaudoin watches nowhere near that much.

"One of the ironies of running a film and television multi-platform company is that have you little time to view other shows," laughed Beaudoin.

However, she does make an effort to view some episodes of her favourites: Game of Thrones, Arrested Development, Modern Family and True Blood.

"TV has come a long way. It's now the ultimate screen-based art form. You can take hours and hours to develop a strong character and good plot lines."

Is Mosaic hatching any pilots of the type of series Beaudoin admires?

"We didn't make an attempt in the past because we didn't have a big enough reputation. But now people are starting to see the quality of work we do. So we'll have to wait and see."