About

Gary Maavara is executive vice president and general counsel for Corus Entertainment, one of Canada’s largest integrated media and entertainment companies and owner of Global Television Network, Canada’s second most viewed channel. Maavara has occupied a number of senior positions during his 12 years at Corus, in a varied career that includes programme production duties during the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. Maavara began his career in the media industry as a talk-show producer in the 1970s. An encounter with one of the show’s guests, a leading Kremlinologist, encouraged him to study law. He has since become one of the most recognised figures in Canadian media law, known for his creativity, commerciality and innovation. He currently sits on the boards of Telelatino, Cosmopolitan Television Canada, Advertising Standards Canada (as treasurer), and Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN). He has previously served as director of the Banff Media Festival, Toronto Y, UW Stratford, Dancer Transition Resource Centre, NABA, CAB and ABSOC. Prior to joining Corus, Maavara occupied a number of senior roles at Canwest Global Communications Corporation.