Composer John Rowley is the new president of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada

Toronto, 25 October 2024: Following last month’s board elections, the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) has announced John Rowley as its new president. He replaces outgoing president John Welsman, who has served in the role since 2015.

With a long career as a composer and music supervisor, John Rowley is known for his work on award-winning series and films including “Pretty Hard Cases”, “Mary Kills People”, “Letterkenny”, “Corner Gas: The Movie”, “Rookie Blue”, and the feature film “Defendor”, starring Woody Harrelson. John is currently supervising the music on the series “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent”.

Prior to this, John studied at Osgoode Hall Law School, going on to article with the Toronto law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain and being called to the Ontario Bar in 2001. He also holds an honours degree in English from the University of King’s College/Dalhousie University and a diploma in recording arts management from The Harris Institute for the Arts.

“Canada’s screen industry faces real challenges but also great opportunities as it grapples with the seemingly constant disruptions of our times,” said John Rowley, SCGC President. “From the modernization of broadcasting and CanCon regulations to the dawn of generative AI, the way we respond will shape the fortunes of our industry for years to come.”

John has also worked on the other side of the licensing desk, including spending a year as manager of sync licensing at Peermusic Canada, where he represented an extensive music publishing catalogue including the songs of Canadian icons The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Kathleen Edwards, and Hawksley Workman.

He is a founding member of the Guild of Music Supervisors of Canada, has taught music business courses at Sheridan College, and has been a regular contributor to the Canadian Films Centre’s Slaight Family Music Lab, and previously served as SCGC Vice President.

Board and Officers

The SCGC’s other officer and board positions were also confirmed at the board elections in September. The leadership team for 2024/25 comprises the following people.

Elected board members:

• Amin Bhatia (ON)
• Caleb Chan (BC)
• Peter Chapman (ON)
• Spencer Creaghan (ON)
• Marvin Dolgay (ON)
• Adrian Ellis (ON)
• Rebecca Everett (ON)
• Darren Fung (at large)
• Edward Henderson (BC)
• Red Janes (BC)
• Alex Petkovski (ON)
• Erica Procunier (ON)
• John Rowley (ON)
• Tom Third (ON)
• John Welsman (ON)

The elected board has appointed five directors:

• Ally Fiola (NS)
• Stéphanie Hamelin Tomala (QC)
• Glenn Morley (ON)
• Toby Sherriff (BC)
• Mike Shields (AB)

Additionally, the board has appointed six officers of the board:

• Lora Bidner (ON)
• Jérémie Corriveau (QC)
• Ross Hardy (BC)
• Agatha Kaspar (ON)
• Kalaisan Kalaichelvan (ON)
• Joel Schwartz (ON)

The new executive:

• John Rowley, President
• Adrian Ellis, Chair
• Erica Procunier, Vice President
• Red Janes, Treasurer
• Alex Petkovski, Secretary
• John Welsman, Past President
• Marvin Dolgay, Chair Emeritus

“I’m thrilled to see a strong, engaged and knowledgeable board of directors at the SCGC,” said John Rowley. “I look forward to working with them as we strive to ensure a fair and sustainable future for Canada’s brilliant screen composers. I also wish to sincerely thank Past President John Welsman for his outstanding leadership of the SCGC over the past nine years. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from such a kind, generous and wise leader.”