Adam Smoluk, Managing Director, Film Training Manitoba
Through board member Kathe Meseman's invitation, Adam Smoluk began volunteering at the Foundation's fundraising breakfast in 2013. Adam personally connected with Westland's mission for young Winnipeggers. As he got more involved, he saw the board's dedication to this mission. This inspired him to commit further as a board member in 2017. Since then, Adam has dedicated his time and expertise to the life and mission of the Foundation.
Adam currently serves as Managing Director for Film Training Manitoba, which provides workforce development for Manitoba's dynamic film industry.
Adam has a Business Administration diploma from McMaster University and honours from Red River College (RRC)’s Human Resource Management and Management Development programs. He has a career employment coaching certificate from the University of Winnipeg, a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation and a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation. For his outstanding achievements, RRC has featured Adam on its billboard campaign for distinguished alumni. He has also delivered commencement addresses at two of his alma maters, McMaster University and RRC.
As a professional filmmaker, Adam's screenplay, Chance to Survive, was selected to the eQuinoxe Europe International Screenwriters' Master Class, which took place in Lindau, Germany, in October 2016. He was the only filmmaker from the Americas to be selected for the program. Adam's notable works also included his debut film HORSE THIEVES, which was awarded the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Winnipeg International Film Festival. His second feature film, FOODLAND, was broadcast on Super Channel and was included in the Gem Selections for critically acclaimed films. FOODLAND was acquired by Shaw and premiered on the Independent Film Channel (IFC). He contributed profiles on the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer and Manitoba Film and Music's CEO Carole Vivier for The Heart of Winnipeg, a book that profiles community leaders.
Adam studied on scholarship at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University. He attended the National Screen Institute of
Canada's Features First Program for Writers and Directors and was the youngest person ever selected to the program.
Adam has received numerous post-secondary scholarships and awards throughout his career. He was the first screenwriter ever to be shortlisted for the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer. He has received the Future Leaders of Manitoba Award, Investors Group Scholarship for Leadership Studies at the Banff Centre, Manitoba Federation of Labour's Al Cerilli Scholarship, a scholarship for The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Winnipeg program, and an RBC Foundation Scholarship for Governance Training with Institute of Corporate Directors.
Adam advises students who are working on earning their educational credentials to apply for scholarships available in our community, such as Westland's. He highlights Westland’s practical and responsive mandate of providing educational opportunities to young Winnipeggers who need them the most.
“Being selected as a scholar is a major accomplishment that you can carry with you for the rest of your life,” he adds.
Adam gives back to the community by volunteering with other charities in Manitoba aside from the Westland Foundation. He is passionate about youth empowerment and volunteered in the past with the United Way of Winnipeg’s GenNext Council as Chair, Youth Employment Services Manitoba as Vice-Chair, and Advisory Board of Directors for Essential Skills Manitoba as Vice-Chair.
He has extensive experience providing programming support to Canadian post-secondary schools. Adam currently serves on RRC's Information and Cultural Industries Strategic Council, the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT)'s micro-credential industry advisory committee, and Assiniboine Community College's Interactive Media Arts program's advisory committee. He has also served on a programming review committee and the micro-credential committee for McMaster University.
“Manitoba takes the lead on community service and volunteerism within Canada. I encourage all Manitobans to be involved in our community and be part of a positive change by contributing your resources to charities like the Westland Foundation," he says.
“The Westland Foundation is an excellent organization to volunteer with. I ask young professionals to lend your time and exercise your talents and skills to support the growth of this outstanding organization,” Adam ends.
To be a Westland Volunteer, click here.