YMP Mentorship

Meet your 2026 YMP Mentors.

YMP Mentorship is a platform for mentors and mentees to create genuine connections, have dialogue, and build ongoing relationships.

Mentors have been hand-picked not only as masters of their craft, but as respected members of the music community and purveyors of knowledge.

Meet the mentors

WIDNEY BONFILS

Widney Bonfils is Senior Director of A&R and AI Ambassador at Universal Music Canada, where he leads the signing and development of emerging Canadian artists with global export potential - and the label's AI integration strategy.
Over a 14-year career spanning enterprise tech sales (Gartner, TEKsystems), rights management (SOCAN), and major label A&R, he has built a solid track record including multiple certifications (Diamond, Platinum, Gold) and 2 JUNO Awards. Breakthrough signings include Preston Pablo (4x Platinum, #1 Canadian radio across all formats, JUNO Breakthrough Artist), Banx & Ranx (Grammy-nominated, JUNO Breakthrough Group), La Zarra (Diamond in France), and Sofia Camara (Billboard Top 100, debut European tour).
Named one of UMG's AI Ambassadors in 2025, Bonfils leads proprietary LLM tool development and workflow automation across the label - one of the first roles of its kind at a Canadian major.
Beyond the label, he serves as Chair of ADVANCE Music Canada's Quebec Advisory Board, VP of Fondation Dynastie, and co-architected the first French-language R&B/Soul/Gospel category at the ADISQ Awards alongside Corneille.

CHASS BRYAN

Chass Bryan is a creative manager and music executive, serving as the founder of Of All Time Management, where he oversees the career development, strategy, and global positioning of a diverse roster spanning music, sports, and cultural talent.

Bryan’s work extends beyond one genre with an acute focus on building multidimensional careers that intersect culture, commerce, and storytelling. At the core of Of All Time Management is a commitment to independence, ownership, and long-term value creation. The company prioritizes control of intellectual property and builds its talent into self-sustaining ecosystems, where artists and individuals are not only uniquely impactful, but structurally positioned to thrive, scale, and endure beyond traditional industry cycles.

JASON REYNOLDS

Jason’s career in sound and production began in Kingston, Jamaica, where he discovered his passion for live sound while attending Pentecostal Tabernacle under the mentorship of Paul Price. His early exposure to large-scale concerts across the island, working alongside his cousin Phillip Grant, allowed him to collaborate with celebrated artists such as Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, and Donnie McClurkin. By age sixteen, Jason was determined to pursue live sound professionally.
In 2004, Jason moved to Canada to further his career. In 2005, he studied Audio Engineering and Music Production at Metalworks Institute, establishing a strong foundation for his contributions to the live sound industry. He has since worked with numerous churches in the Greater Toronto Area, providing design, integration, and technical support services. His roles have included Technical and Production Director at Faith Sanctuary Pentecostal Church, freelance audio engineer, and lecturer at Metalworks Institute.

Today, Jason is an Account Manager at Soundbox Productions in Hamilton, Ontario, and serves as President and equal partner at ReynJer Music. His impressive portfolio features roles such as Production Manager and Monitor Engineer for Grammy-winning artist Shaggy and Tour Manager and Front of House (FOH) Engineer for Magic!, the band behind the global hit Rude. He also tours with Stephen Marley as a Monitor Engineer and serves in the same role for the Marley Brothers. Jason’s expertise has led him to mix FOH for acclaimed gospel artists such as Tye Tribbett, Donnie McClurkin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and the Toronto Mass Choir.

His achievements include working on live recordings like Ricky Dillard’s The 7th Episode, Live in Toronto, which won Stellar Awards, and the Toronto Mass Choir’s Covenant Award-winning album Made for Worship. Jason also served as the FOH Music Mixer for the Legacy Awards, which aired nationally on CBC Television. Most recently, he toured as FOH/Monitor Engineer for major arena tours, including the Kirk Franklin Reunion Tour 2024, the One Hallelujah Tour 2025, Damian and Stephen Marley’s Traffic Jam Tour, The Marley Brothers’ Legacy Tour, and Maverick City Music’s Good News Tour, all hosted in arenas and amphitheatres.

Jason’s influence in the industry is reflected through his endorsements with Gruv Gear, JH Audio, Radial Engineering, and iConnectivity Interfaces, as well as his membership in the elite DPA Masters Club. In 2023, he expanded his expertise into artist management, managing Jully Black, Canada’s Queen of R&B and Soul, and signing Edmonton-based band Melafrique.

Jason has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in live sound and touring throughout his career. Despite his remarkable accomplishments, he remains grounded, attributing his success to being truly blessed.

MELISSA BUBB-CLARKE

Melissa Bubb-Clarke is the Chief Commercial Officer of Live Nation Canada, where she
leads the company’s commercial strategy and revenue growth across Sponsorship,
Special Events, and Premium Seating. With over 25 years of experience in the
entertainment industry, Melissa has consistently championed the intersection of music,
culture, and commerce.
Prior to joining Live Nation, Melissa led Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s (MLSE)
Live Entertainment division, overseeing programming and production at the award-
winning Scotiabank Arena and Coca-Cola Coliseum, where she drove double-digit
business growth.
A dedicated industry advocate, Melissa has held board roles with the Canadian
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), the Unison Benevolent Fund, and
the Canadian Live Music Association. She currently serves on the Toronto Music
Advisory Council.
Melissa has been recognized as one of WXN’s Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women
(2021) and was named to Billboard Canada’s Top 10 Power Players list in 2024.
She lives in Toronto with her husband Johnny and their two children, Anna and Oliver.

MATTHEW GORMAN

Matthew Gorman is principal lawyer and owner of Gorman Entertainment Law. Prior to launching his own practice in 2026, Matt was partner at a regional Canadian law firm. He has extensive experience in the music, entertainment, intellectual property, and digital rights space, and advises performers, producers, songwriters, composers, managers, record labels, music publishers, social media influencers, authors, actors, and dynamic entertainment and digital businesses. Matt’s clients include Grammy and JUNO award-winning, multi-platinum talent from around the world. Matthew also owns and operates Ocean Town Music, a management company that currently represents Matthew Tavares, founding member of BADBADNOTGOOD with producer/writer credits that include Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Rosalía, and more.
Heavily involved in the music community, Matt is a frequent writer, lecturer, and speaker on music related legal issues at conferences and events all over Canada. He is a member of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers and has held board/committee positions with Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Association.

NEESHA HOTHI

Neesha Hothi is CEO and Founder of Neesh Communications, a Vancouver-based communications agency working across music, media, and the creative industries. With more than 20 years of experience across the entertainment and nonprofit sectors, she specializes in brand storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and strategic cultural positioning.
She served as Director of Marketing for the Vancouver JUNO Host Committee (2018 and 2025), helping lead national marketing and communications efforts around Canada’s premier music awards week. Through her agency work, she supports major music festivals, industry organizations, and artist campaigns.
Neesha has played a key role in advancing the South Asian music ecosystem in Canada. She has been involved with 5X Fest for more than two decades and currently serves as Executive Director, supporting the continued growth of one of the country’s leading South Asian arts and music platforms. She is also part of the core team behind the South Asian Music Accelerator (SAMA) at ArtHaus Community, helping create pathways for artists and industry professionals to access mentorship, funding, and broader audiences.
Neesha represented Canada on the 2019 India–Canada Music Trade Mission and regularly contributes to national dialogue on the growth of South Asian music, including speaking on the “Renaissance of South Asian Music” panel at Departure Festival and the “South Asian Music Market” panel at the Women in Music Canada Summit.
She serves on advisory boards including Women in Music BC and the Guru Nanak Institute of Global Studies.
She is a Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 (2025) honouree, a Women in Music Canada Changemaker of the Year nominee, a YWCA Women of Distinction Awards nominee, and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

How it works

Conducted via 1-hour digital meetings to maximize access from coast to coast to coast, each session will be capped at 7 YMP members. Mentors will speak about their specialties and lead group conversation. Join membership below.

How to register

Mentees will be selected on a first come, first served basis, with attention paid to their rationale to ensure opportunities are being accessed by those working or seeking work in applicable fields.

Registration for each session will open approximately 2 weeks before the session date. Stay tuned to the YMP Slack workroom, member portal, and socials for upcoming dates and registration instructions.

★ New this year ★

In addition to our regularly scheduled lineup, we have experts conducting AMA (Ask Me Anything) Hours via our Slack workroom.

Get questions answered, uncover solutions, and learn from your peers’ experiences—all online and in real time.

OMAR LODGE

What do you get when you put an ex-banker, Salsa dancer and DJ with an entrepreneurial spirit together: a passionate visionary with the skill set to get things done and have fun!
Omar is a results-driven music executive with a decade of experience in the development, marketing, and management of artists. He is the founder and principal artist manager at When I Grow Up Management - a boutique artist management company based in Toronto, ON.

BYRON PASCOE

Byron Pascoe is an entertainment lawyer and partner with Edwards Creative Law. Byron focuses on music law and works with recording artists, producers, managers, music service businesses and festivals. Before law school, he was a television and new media producer. Based in Ottawa, Byron works with clients across Canada. He is also a board member of CityFolk, and member of Music BC and CARAS. Byron was awarded the Community Impact Award at the inaugural Capital Music Awards.
https://edwardslaw.ca/our-people/entertainment-lawyer-byron-pascoe/

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