Our Story
Jessie Curell comes from a long line of photographers, filmmakers, and storytellers. Originally from the West Coast of British Columbia, her journey into filmmaking began in 2004 in Dawson City, Yukon, where she first learned to create animated films. She went on to earn a Graduate Diploma in Communications from Concordia University and a Master of Arts in Media Production from Ryerson University (now knows as Toronto Metropolitan University).
Jessie spent five years with the National Film Board of Canada as a Team Leader and Education Specialist, where she designed and delivered digital literacy workshops for students, educators, adults, and Elders across the country.
When the NFB discontinued its Education Workshop Program in 2015, Jessie responded by founding Hands On Media, driven by her deep belief in the power and necessity of Media Education, critical thinking and Digital Media Literacy.
Fast forward to today: Jessie and her small team have delivered 484 workshops and training sessions with 31,180 individuals, spoken at dozens of conferences, been invited into 89 communities, and partnered on dozens of projects throughout Canada, and around the world.
As we celebrate 10 years of Hands On Media, we are embarking on a new chapter: focusing on customized & community-specific mentorship & media training that support youth employment, sustainability, and intergenerational cultural storytelling.
New Mission
At Hands On Media, we support Youth and Elders to build their Communications and media skills through mentorship, training, and hands-on learning right in their own community.
By working with local partners, we create space for youth and Elders to share their stories, strengthen their leadership, and develop meaningful pathways to employment, cultural connection, and community impact.
Each workshop series & training program is customized in collaboration with the community, Nation or Government to make sure specific community objectives are met for effective, long-term impact.
Our Team
Jessie Curell
Founder & Director
Jessie Curell is the founder of Hands On Media and a long-time advocate for Digital Literacy.
For more than 20 years, she has designed strategies, programs, and workshops that equip communities, educators, and youth with the skills to thrive in a digital world. Her work spans Indigenous nations, governments, disability-focused schools, non-profits, and language centres—always with a focus on creating a safe and compassionate space for voices that aren’t often heard.
Today, her focus is on mentorship and media training for youth and Elders. By pairing hands-on Digital Storytelling with intergenerational learning, Jessie helps participants build creative skills, confidence, and the capacity to share their own stories on their own terms.
Whether she’s consulting with national organizations, speaking at education conferences, or leading immersive workshops, Jessie shares practical tools and approaches that strengthen creativity and resilience.
Her vision for HOME is to expand Digital Storytelling workshops and mentorship opportunities across Canada—ensuring youth and elders alike have the chance to tell their stories, exchange knowledge, and build empathy and connection across generations.
Marion Jacobs
Digital Literacy Workshop Facilitator
Marion Jacobs, Actress, Director, Writer and Teaching Artist is proud of her Squamish, Snuneymuwx and Bahamian ancestry. She was born and raised in West Vancouver, BC. Marion attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and received a BFA with honors in Performing Arts Acting. After university she became a professional teaching artist with Red Eagle Soaring (RES) and worked on the film project Adventures to Green Space with Sky Bear Media and RES youth. The film was accepted into the 16th Annual L.A Skins Fest. She has also worked with North Vancouver Recreation, Leaky Heaven theatre group in partnership with RayCam and the Squamish Nation.
Marion is excited to be working with Hands on Media, giving confidence and the tools to others to be able to tell their own story. She always strives to pass down what knowledge she can based on her own lived experience. She also knows that there is still a lot to learn and believes that through the HOME workshops there can be a great exchange of knowledge. Creating stories together helps to create a better community.
