MEDIA PERSONALITY, ENTREPRENEUR AND SPEAKER
Kevin Bourne, also known as "KB The Boss" or simply "KB", is a Toronto-based arts and culture journalist, media personality, and branding and marketing strategist. He is currently CEO of the film/TV, digital content and live experiences company SHIFTER Entertainment. His client include everyone from New Balance and Toronto FC to Paramount Global and CBC.
Doubling as editor-in-chief of the online magazine SHIFTER, Kevin has covered some of Canada's top red carpet events, from the Juno Awards to the Canadian Screen Awards and has interviewed everyone from Kevin Hart and Fast and the Furious star Tyrese Gibson to Howie Mandel, Lilly Singh, and Orange Is The New Black star Dascha Polanco. More recently, he was named one of only 300 international voters for the upcoming 81st Golden Globe Awards. and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
The former political staffer is quickly becoming a staple in Canada's cultural landscape as both a commentator and freelancer, writing and commenting on music, film/television, fashion, and politics. He has appeared nationally as a correspondent on CBC News Network and on CBC Music as one of the hosts of the national Polaris Prize radio series "The Ten". He has also appeared locally on CTV, CBC Radio, CityNews, Newstalk 1010 and ByBlacks.com, as well as a TV commentator in the United States on Fox's Black digital TV network, Fox Soul.
During his time in Ottawa, he was the host of CBC's digital series In The Loop, a former music columnist on CBC Radio One, the co-producer of the SHIFTER x CBC mini-doc series OT Rising, writer for the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Business Journal, and a part-time TV Broadcasting professor at Algonquin College. His work as a journalist and community leader eventually landed on Ottawa Life Magazine's 2020 Best of Ottawa: Activists and Changemakers list and then as a TEDx speaker in 2021.
Now back home in Toronto, KB is poised to continue to be a champion for Black entertainment and culture alongside his wife and business partner, Koliah. After producing two short films and two digital series, they currently have an unscripted reality series in production for Bell's Fibe TV1. As a screenwriter, Kevin has written a screenplay for a feature film and is finishing up two pilot scripts.
SHORT BIO
Kevin Bourne, also known as KB The Boss, or simply KB, is a Toronto-based entertainment journalist, TEDx speaker, and diversity marketing strategist. As the founder and Creative Director of SHIFTER Agency, he has worked with everyone from CBC and New Balance to York University. Also sharing his time as the founder/editor-in-chief of the online media platform SHIFTER, he covers music, film and television, and has interviewed everyone from Kevin Hart, Fast and the Furious star Tyrese Gibson, and recording artists like Lola Brooke, Muni Long, Roy Woods, and Smiley to Howie Mandel and Lilly Singh. More recently, KB was named one of 300 international voters for the 81st Golden Globe Awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
ABOUT KB
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International Voter for the 81st Golden Globe Awards
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Tomatometer-Approved Critic, Rotten Tomaotoes
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Prism Prize Juror (2022)
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TEDx speaker (2021)
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Former host/producer of the hip-hop morning show The Morning Shift on CHUO 89.1FM
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Former stylist at Nordstrom
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Media topics: Music, Film/TV, Fashion, Sports, Business/entrepreneurship, Politics
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Speaking topics: Personal branding, Entrepreneurship, Ownership, Faith & Culture, Black business
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Bilingual (English-French)
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Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (York University)
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Bilingual Certificate in Public Administration & Public Policy (York University)
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Available for speaking and media opportunities in Canada, United States, U.K., Caribbean
RECENT TALKS
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When to Rebuild or Retool in Life and Business (TED Talk)
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Dear Black King
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Creative Mornings Ottawa (Insecurity, Creativity and Inclusion panel)
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Thrive (Faith and business)
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The Academy of Recording Arts (Personal branding and marketing for producers)
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Artpreneur Conference 2019 (The space between community and commercial)
PRESS
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Introducing you to Kevin Bourne, CEO and Creative Director of SHIFTER (The Official Black Magazine, March 2023)
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Meet Kevin Bourne (Canvas Rebel, January 2023)
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How Kevin Bourne went from political staffer to media entrepreneur & changemaker (Glendon College, York University, February 2022)
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Shifter Magazine founder encourages Ottawa to consume its own culture (Algonquin Times, December 2021)
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The Story of SHIFTER (Input Podcast, October 2021)
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I want to see people like us be more successful: Kevin Bourne, Shifter Agency (The Onside, February 2021)
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Mixing Business and Babies podcast (December 2020)
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Hip-hop heavyweights: Ottawa's scene is turning out bona fide stars (Ottawa Citizen, October 2020)
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Best of Ottawa 2020: Activists & Changemakers (Ottawa Life Magazine, June 2020)
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Black entrepreneur noticed 'stark contrast' when moving to Ottawa from Toronto (CityNews, June 2020)
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Black community left with tears, exhaustion after death of George Floyd (CBC News, May 2020)
ARTICLES
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Let's celebrate Ottawa's Black achievers, not just its white ones (Ottawa Citizen, October 2021)
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Album Review - Migos show both hunger and maturity on Culture III (SHIFTER, June 2021)
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Preview - In The Heights is a dose of joy and inspiration when many need it most (SHIFTER, June 2021)
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Jordan Zion 1 "Marion" set for release on May 26th (SHIFTER, May 2021)
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The top Black Ottawa artists and creators you should know (Ottawa Citizen, October 2020)
RADIO
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The Ten: Your Guide to the Polaris Prize Short List - Cadence Weapon (CBC Music, July 2021)
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The Ten: Your Guide to the Polaris Prize Short List - The OBGMs (CBC Music, September 2021)
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Ottawa anti-racism march. Are you going? (CBC Radio, June 2020)
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Reaction to death George Floyd (CBC Radio, May 2020)
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Canadian Screen Awards recap (CBC Radio, March 2018)
TV/VIDEO
KB has appeared nationally on CBC News Network and CBC Music, as well as on CTV and SHIFTER. Check out KB's TV reel below.
OFFICIAL PHOTOS
Complete the form below to book KB
Call Us
Toll Free: 866-343-5901
Tel: 647-258-1641
Rider
For event bookings, please provide the following:
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Hotel or Airbnb accommodations
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Plane ticket/air travel
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Transportation to the event (Uber or driver)
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Bottle of water
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Green room before and after the event
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Promo materials to share on socials prior to the event
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Access to official photos and video following the event appreciated
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Guest list or comp tickets appreciated
*I like to travel with an assistant or video/photo person. Air travel for one support person is appreciated.