Who We Are

Riparian is a production company rooted in a love for television and movies and a respect for the environment. Named after the lush transition area between a watercourse and vegetation, Riparian is at its best when everyone in the environment is thriving. 

With a combined 70 years in the industry, Riparian is a well balanced team with expertise in all aspects of production, from the early stages of development all the way to delivery of a completed project.

We develop scripted, unscripted, and factual projects internally and with third parties. We are committed to forging partnerships with producers and creators around the world. We are true collaborators who want what is best for each project. 

Being located in Manitoba and Ontario offers us access to some of the best tax credits in Canada. To learn more about the tax credits and service productions with Riparian click the button below.

Our Team

  • Jeff Peeler

    PARTNER - PRODUCTION

    Jeff Peeler is a Producer and Executive Producer with experience across a variety of television, film and digital projects in multiple genres for numerous respected entertainment brands. With over 25 year’s experience in the industry he has overseen the production of hundreds of hours of film and television content.

    Jeff’s extensive television production credits include the international Rose d’Or and Banff Rockie winning sketch comedy series Baroness Von Sketch Show, the multiple award-winning stand-up comedy/documentary hybrid Still Standing, and stand-up comedy galas at the The Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Other credits include the HGTV series Buy It Fix It Sell It and Backyard Builds, and the documentary series Killer in Plain Sight (ID) and High Maintenance: Preventing Disaster (Smithsonian Channel).

    Jeff served as Co-Executive Producer on the History Channel documentary True Story Part 1 and as Supervising Producer on the number one rated, half-hour comedy Acting Good for Bell Media and APTN.

    In the realm of feature films Jeff produced the period musical Stand!, the award-winning international film festival favorite Into Invisible Light, and the recently re-released coming of age zombie film, The Nature of Nicholas.

  • Cheryl Grewar

    PARTNER - FINANCE

    Cheryl Grewar, CPA, CA has over 30 years of experience in senior financial positions primarily in distribution and entertainment businesses. Most recently, she was the CFO at Tangent Animation Inc.

    for two years and the CFO at Frantic Films for 12 years. She was the CFO for the Grey Cup Festival in Winnipeg in 2015.

    Cheryl has extensive experience working with production and operations. She has set up processes and procedures to maximize financing from various sources including government tax credits for film and television production.

    She has also worked on numerous acquisitions, divestitures, and mergers in various industries. Her involvement included developing proposals, working through due diligence, analyzing offers and working on information system combinations and replacements following various transactions.

    She taught the undergraduate Canadian tax course at the Asper School of Business - University of Manitoba for many years and currently serves as a board member and Treasurer for Rainbow Stage.

  • Courtney Hicks

    PARTNER - DEVELOPMENT

    Courtney began her career in 2008 as an assistant director and production manager on feature films, short films, and music videos. In 2012, Courtney began working as a development producer at Frantic Film, in 2018 became the Vice President of Unscripted Development and in 2020 the Vice President of Development. In June 2023, Courtney left her role at Frantic to launch Riparian.

    During her time at Frantic Courtney was integral in the development of Still Standing (CBC), Baroness von Sketch Show (CBC/IFC), The Stats of Life (CBC), Backyard Builds (HGTV Canada), Meet the Family (Citytv), In Plain Sight (Investigation Discovery), Impossible Fixes (Discovery Science), and Buy It, Fix It, Sell It (HGTV Canada). She most recently landed a commission from CBC for the Canadian version of The Great Pottery Throw Down.

    On top of her development work, Courtney produced the Winnipeg Comedy Festival from 2021-23 and earned the show it’s first Canadian Screen Award nomination. She has also produced the digital series Talent Drivers (CBC), as well as short films Love After Anne, Second Life, and One Last Last Heist, an official selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival.