John Bessai

John Bessai is an Assistant Professor at Okanagan College and the
University College of the North, specializing in Canadian history, media
studies, and environmental communication. His research focuses on the
intersections of media, public discourse, and cultural policy,
particularly emphasizing the National Film Board of Canada (NFBC) and its
role in shaping democratic engagement through storytelling. His doctoral
dissertation, Art as a Public Service: The National Film Board of Canada’s
Role in Shaping Democratic Dialogues and Societal Transformation, examines
the NFBC’s contributions to public engagement, Indigenous representation,
and digital media innovation.

In addition to his academic work, Bessai has an extensive background in
media production. He is the creator and producer of GreenHeroes, a TV and
web series aired on TVO that integrates environmental storytelling with
interactive digital media. His previous projects include The Paul Kane
Interactive Project, a museum-based digital storytelling initiative for
the Royal Ontario Museum. His research and creative practice explore
documentary filmmaking, transmedia narratives, and the role of publicly
funded storytelling in democratic discourse.

His work has been published in Scaffold: The Journal of Comparative
Studies in Literature, Art, and Culture and H-Net Reviews, with
forthcoming articles in Literature, Critique, and Empire Today, Human
Rights Education Review, Journal of Cultural Policy and Global Engagement,
and Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies.

Committed to interdisciplinary research and public scholarship, Bessai
continues developing courses integrating critical media analysis, digital
storytelling, and public engagement. He is actively pursuing new academic
opportunities and hopes to secure a tenure-track position. More
information about his work can be found at www.johnbessai.com.