This episode also offers a masterclass in consent: what it looks like in practice, how it changes depending on the activity (rope vs. hypno vs. medical play), and why even experienced practitioners need to keep learning.

Tune in for a candid, compassionate conversation about power, vulnerability, and the freedom of being truly seen.

Follow Goddess Venyx: @GoddessVenyx

But like many jazz musicians, Holt’s recording career eventually slipped out of the spotlight. His last album appeared in 2002, and for more than two decades he released nothing new. To many listeners, he had simply faded from view.

Now, at age 71, Holt has come roaring back with a new album of original music titled Impact — and it has brought him full circle with a 2026 JUNO nomination.

The record features a powerhouse quintet of some of Canada’s top jazz players and a set of fresh compositions that reflect the long arc of a life spent in jazz. One moment that has already drawn attention is Holt’s improvised solo piano interpretation of O Canada. Writing in The Aquarian, critic Mike Greenblatt said that "...what Holt does with the anthem is akin to what Hendrix did to the Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock.”

It’s an unusual story in Canadian music — a musician still creating vital work after half a century in the art form and receiving a JUNO nomination more than forty years after his first.

Through his podcast, Lead with Storytelling, he facilitates thoughtful conversations that bridge literature, culture, leadership, and social impact — creating space for ideas that shape how we live and lead.

Find out more @sochiazuh

One of her landmark projects, Rekindle, a web-based psycho-sexual therapy program funded by the Australian Research Council, was designed to meet the specific needs of cancer survivors and their partners. Delivered across 43 cancer centres in Australia, Rekindle demonstrated significant improvements in relationship quality, sexual satisfaction, and overall quality of life.

In her private practice, Dr Catalina provides tailored support to families navigating SCT and CAR T-cell therapy, offering group programs and public workshops. Today’s session will delve into the effects of transplant on sexual health, equipping you with practical tools to revitalise intimacy and address common sexual health concerns.

Connect with Dr Catalina on TikTok or Instagram @TheIntimacyDoc or visit www.TheIntimacyDoc.com for resources and support.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Oshun Dance Studios, where she fuses Caribbean traditions with contemporary movement to create spaces of celebration and reclamation for Black and Caribbean communities.

An alumna of Holland College’s School of Performing Arts, her works include Calypso Secrets, Elysium, Unfold, and Caribbean Flamingo. She has collaborated with Neptune Theatre, River Clyde Pageant, Kemi Craig, and Charles Campbell.

In 2025, she received the Kerri Wynne MacLeod Women of Impact Award and Diane Moore Creation Award, recognising her artistry and commitment to equity in the arts.

Learn more about her @oshundance

He delves into the intricate ethics of power exchange, explaining the detailed psychological and physical assessments he conducts with new partners to build trust and establish boundaries before any play begins. He discusses the nuanced differences between humiliation and degradation, the distinction between a Dominant/submissive and a Master/slave dynamic, and the profound responsibility that comes with wielding power over another person.

With candour and insight, Alex reflects on the importance of vulnerability for a Dominant, the dangers of narcissism in the scene, and offers crucial advice for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners on how to navigate BDSM with safety, respect, and authenticity.

She opens up about her motivations for starting her own events: a desire to combat the pressure to play, ensure women feel safe, and increase visibility for people of colour and diverse gender identities within predominantly white spaces. Echo discusses the practicalities of vetting attendees, organising security, and the thoughtful process behind her themed parties.

The conversation delves into her personal explorations with kink, which she frames as acts of reclaiming autonomy and challenging sexual shame. Echo emphasises the mental and emotional aspects of kink, the critical importance of aftercare, and how she assesses play partners through consistency and genuine communication.

Offering advice for newcomers, Echo encourages starting with education and virtual communities to build confidence before stepping into physical spaces. Tune in for a candid discussion on building trust, fostering representation, and creating joy on your own terms within the kink world.

Echo is a young black woman who found herself researching and discovering about the kink/BDSM lifestyle through group chat and kink social online platforms such as Fet. Part of her self-discovery journey is to help others learn, discover and appreciate their kinks and fetishes while focusing on connection, acceptance and communication.

In between hosting events, Echo writes erotica stories that stemmed mostly from her fantasy world.

Outside of kink, Echo is a mother, wife, teacher, traveller, enthusiast and passionate about learning

Her writing focuses on her lived experience as a consensual slave, and on the knowledge she’s gained under her Master’s guidance. daniika is also the leader of Spokane’s Power Exchange Together chapter, where she facilitates discussions about building and maintaining dynamics.

Along with her Master and her sister slave, she is a founding member of House Praxis, a Leather and M/s family whose mission is to be a resource for relatable education on sustainable and ethical power exchange.

He pulls back the curtain on his philosophy: that genuine relationships, not transactions, drive a successful creative business. He discusses why he believes passion must come before profit, why mastering editing is more critical than buying expensive gear, and how he built a content strategy by listening to what his audience truly wanted to learn.

Learn how Damir transformed a side hustle into a fulfilling career by focusing on what came naturally, helping others grow creatively, and learn why he thinks the best business plan is to stop treating your passion like a business in the first place.

Check him out @iamdfmedia

Courtney Boyer, M.Ed., M.S., is a therapist-turned-relationship coach, writer, and speaker whose work centres on love, desire, and authenticity. She has been featured in The New York Post, Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, and BBC Radio Live. Drawing on her background in mental health and sex therapy, she brings a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience to conversations around relationships and identity.

When she isn’t writing or coaching, Courtney can be found chasing joy—travelling, reading, or savouring delicious coffee and deep conversation. She is passionate about helping women break free from shame, reclaim their bodies and voices, and create relationships rooted in honesty and autonomy.

Courtney lives in Germany with her husband and three children, where she is still learning, unlearning, and writing the next chapter of her story.

Learn more @courtneyboyercoaching

With a background in strategy and storytelling, she brings a fresh, deeply personal perspective to topics such as jealousy, boundaries, identity, and long-term partnerships. Her videos and essays reach millions of people looking for a more honest, expansive way to think about relationships.

What does it take to build a thriving open relationship that lasts for over 15 years? In this profoundly honest episode of The Sanctuary, host Israel sits down with Danielle, the creator behind the popular platform Openly Committed. Danielle pulls back the curtain on her long-term polyamorous journey with her husband, from the first two years of trial and error to navigating parenthood, perimenopause, and the emotional challenge of telling her conservative Texan parents.

She gets raw about the realities that often get glossed over, sharing why she rarely feels "compersion," why she and her husband abandoned the "veto" power, and how their communication has had to evolve through every life stage. This is a masterclass in the practicalities and emotions of ethical non-monogamy, filled with hard-won wisdom for anyone curious about relationships of any kind.

You’ll hear about:

• The "Coming Out" Playbook: The six-year journey to telling her parents, including the powerful letter from her religious mother that offers a blueprint for unconditional love.
• Beyond the Hype: Danielle’s candid take on jealousy, the myth of constant "compersion," and why she no longer believes in strict rules like "veto power."
• Logistics of Love: How they manage time, privacy, and introducing partners to their children while running a business and writing a book.
• Advice for the Curious: Her top three pieces of advice for opening a relationship, starting with the most important question: "Why?"
• The Polyamorous Toolbox: What monogamous relationships can learn from polyamory about communication, jealousy, and granting freedom.

Whether you're polyamorous, monogamous, or simply interested in the complexities of human connection, this conversation is a treasure trove of actionable insights about building a relationship on your own terms.

Follow Danielle’s work:

Openly Committed on Substack

@openlycommitted on Instagram

OG Mage opens up about the viral success of his breakout hit "Head of State," revealing how a simple Instagram reel with a flute sample turned into one of the most talked-about drill songs. He shares the wild story of shooting the music video in just two days with help from his Abuja community, proving that grassroots support can create magic.

The conversation explores his creative process, from his university days coordinating a Christian rap group to collaborating with legendary Nigerian rapper Ill Bliss on "Like An OG." OG Mage discusses his unique approach to features, his spiritual connection to music-making, and the stories behind his captivating cover art designs.

Beyond the music, he reveals his multifaceted background as a digital artist and software engineer who taught himself to code by writing out the code on paper before he even had a laptop. From working at MTN to his recent role at D Brand, he explains how he finally leapt to pursue music full-time.

Looking ahead, OG Mage teases his upcoming EP "The Calm" and hints at "The Storm" - a major project featuring collaborations with established artists like Skales. Throughout the conversation, his core message rings clear: consistency is everything.

This episode offers an intimate look at an artist who's building something authentic in the Nigerian music scene, one collaboration and one consistent step at a time.

Check him out @ogmagegram

Dwayne pulls no punches as he reveals the shocking reality of organisational dysfunction, alleged conflicts of interest, and the systematic exclusion that led to the dramatic ousting of Executive Director Blanche Israel and his own resignation. From mysterious 10-year handshake deals with no paperwork to board members vacationing in Mexico during crunch time, this conversation exposes the deep-rooted problems plaguing the institution meant to champion Atlantic Canadian artists.

Dwayne reveals how a petition signed mostly by non-members led to organisational chaos, why six board members resigned in rapid succession, and how the organisation burned through Executive Directors in a single year while haemorrhaging funds that should have supported artists.

But beyond the drama, this conversation is ultimately about the future of Atlantic Canada's music scene. Dwayne shares his vision for reform, explains why he believes artists of all genres—not just Celtic and folk—deserve equal support, and offers hard-won advice for musicians navigating an industry where politics often trumps talent.

Whether you're an artist, industry professional, or simply someone who cares about supporting regional music, this episode will leave you questioning how music organisations operate and what real change looks like. Dwayne's passionate call for transparency, accountability, and genuine inclusivity is about reimagining what music advocacy should be in 2025.

This is the conversation the music industry needs to hear, delivered with the brutal honesty that only comes from someone who witnessed it all from the inside.

@realdjslim

She shares how photography and erotic art became both a creative outlet and a form of healing, and how trust, vulnerability, and the right partners shaped her evolution as a submissive.

There is a dive into topics of jealousy, compersion, building meaningful connections, and what it really takes to thrive in alternative lifestyles.

Enjoy this honest, vulnerable, and deeply human story about self-discovery, pleasure, and growth.

We explore Mark's creative origins, growing up surrounded by music and art through his family, and how his early days at the Ontario College of Art led to forming Martha and the Muffins in 1977. Mark shares the story behind their unconventional band name and reflects on decades of making music.

The conversation dives deep into his unique songwriting process for Garden Music, where he collected 40+ years of field recordings and musical fragments, then composed around common plant names like "Blue Mist," "Deadly Nightshade," and "Love Lies Bleeding." He discusses the challenge of knowing when a piece is complete, the importance of track sequencing, and how gardening serves as both inspiration and personal therapy.

From experimental music techniques to climate consciousness, from creative confidence to the meditative nature of gardening, this episode offers insight into an artist who seamlessly blends multiple passions into a cohesive creative vision.

Check out the album on Bandcamp

Dive into the desert-punk sound of Black Budget, a thrilling mix of Queens of the Stone Age grit and early Green Day hooks and discover how Pedro crafts melodies that linger in your head for days. He shares the wild story behind their breakout track Whistleblower, inspired by UFO conspiracy theories and government secrecy, and why it’s become a fan favourite live.

From landing a deal with King Pizza Records to their love for Toronto’s NXNE Festival (where they’ve become regulars), Pedro dishes on the band’s DIY ethos, their merch creativity (including drummer-made hot sauce!), and big dreams of touring Europe and pressing vinyl.

For aspiring artists, Pedro drops golden advice on breaking into festivals and staying genuine in the music scene. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to Black Budget’s sound, this episode is a backstage pass to their world—raw, melodic, and full of heart.

Pedro Alvarado is the lead vocalist and guitarist of Toronto Desert Punk band Black Budget. The band is known for their raw energy, explosive performances, and haunting guitar riffs.

Pedro and Black Budget are part of Brooklyn based label, King Pizza Records. Pedro is also the co-founder of music media platform Critical Zero, which focuses on spotlighting local and touring artists from all over the world.

Pedro and Black Budget have performed at some of Toronto's most iconic venues like El Mocambo, Horseshoe Tavern, Sneaky Dee's, and they have opened for legendary punk acts, like Teenage Bottlerocket and The Queers.

@blackbudgetlive

Jennifer shares insights into the organization's mission, the significance of building relationships within the music community, and tips for artists preparing to showcase their work at the conference.

The conversation highlights the excitement and opportunities that the conference brings to artists and attendees alike.

Jennifer Roe assumed the Executive Director position at Folk Alliance International (FAI) in April 2024 after serving as the Interim Executive Director. She joined the FAI team in 2013 and quickly transitioned into a leadership role managing the staff and contractors and overseeing the day-to-day operations. She worked in partnership with the former Executive Director to help grow the organization, doubling the budget, and stabilizing operations.

Jennifer’s career began in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Senate Majority Leader before transitioning to serve on his Presidential campaign. She continued in the public sector at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission before managing the office of a small lobbying firm. After returning to her roots in Kansas City, Jennifer shifted gears, working with individuals with disabilities and eventually establishing an administrative services business, where FAI became a valued client.

Her dedication to the organization reflects her commitment to fostering the rich tapestry of folk music and sustaining a vibrant, interconnected community. With a political background prior to FAI, she is a strong advocate for arts and culture at both federal and state levels.

Under Jennifer's guidance, FAI's global network has expanded to include more than 3,000 members—a diverse community of cultural sector entrepreneurs and leaders encompassing artists, record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, arts administrators, diplomats, and more. Under Jennifer’s experienced leadership, the organization will continue to grow in diversity and service of the membership including scholarships, enhancing FAI’s regional chapters, and advocating strongly for the rights and interests of the independent music sector.

Find out more @folk_alliance

Having honed her craft over years of dedicated practice, Lola has cultivated a deep understanding of movement and expression, evident in every captivating performance she delivers. Her artistic endeavours serve as a testament to her unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and crafting unforgettable experiences for audiences.

In addition to her prowess on stage, Lola boasts a wealth of experience behind the scenes in event management and production. Notably, she has played integral roles within production management teams, overseeing diverse staff, conducting casting calls, show curations, auditions and ensuring flawless execution of events from start to finish.

A staunch advocate for inclusivity and diversity within the circus community, Lola brings a unique perspective to her work. She is dedicated to fostering environments where all artists feel valued and represented, championing inclusivity at every turn.

As the owner, booking manager and performer for Lola Loops Entertainment, Lola seamlessly navigates the intricate world of talent booking and client relations. Her expertise in managing artist profiles, media assets, and promotional materials ensures a polished and professional image for her company.

Her impact stretches across borders as she shares her artistry through mesmerizing performances and immersive workshops, both locally and internationally. Renowned for her expertise in contemporary circus-style hoop dancing and expressive choreography, Lolas workshops inspire creativity and forge deep connections with students, solidifying her status as a revered luminary in the global circus community.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Lola is deeply entrenched in Vancouver's vibrant arts community. She is a familiar presence on the local scene, gracing stages across the city and collaborating with a diverse array of production companies spanning burlesque, drag, variety, dance, and circus arts. Through these collaborations, Lola has cultivated meaningful connections with fellow artists and creators, contributing to the rich cultural fabric of Vancouver’s artistic landscape.

As a longtime member of Halifax’s venerable music scene, Bethany has led multiple outfits, wielding a Jaguar in art-rock bands and breaking it down neo-soul style in her solo project Shadow, which released a pair of concept EPs (The Dark/The Dawn) in 2019. She’s a road veteran who has charted on college radio, performed with orchestras, and travelled the Canadian festival circuit.

She's re-emerging from a time of creativity and introspection for a full-length album released, for the first time, under her given name. Recorded with her longtime band Andrew Jackson and Andrew MacKelvie (the horn section) and Casey Thompson and Shane Martin (the rhythm section), the eight songs on Handwritten Notes find Bethany moving thrillingly between guitar and piano. The songs search, reflect and question, with outcomes ranging from satisfied to resolute to unrequited. Stories told with the wisdom of experience (and a dynamic vocal range).

Bethany is a journey of the heart.

Check her out @bethany.hfx

Throughout his career Papa Bear has worked in HIV and STI Prevention for AIDS Service Organizations and Federally Qualified Health Centers, managed a State Health Department's HIV prevention program, and is currently contracted by the CDC to provide Capacity Building Assistance and education to health departments, medical providers, outreach workers, and other HIV and STI stakeholders across the country.

He was honoured to present on the unique sexual healthcare needs of people who practice BDSM/Kink to the public health community at an international conference in Washington D.C. in 2023 and 2024.

Papa Bear has made it his personal mission to bring sex-positive, stigma-free, sexual health education to the BDSM/Kink Community as well as other often overlooked minority sexual communities while also being a political advocate protecting our right to be who we are.

In this episode of the podcast, we cover topics such as the logistics of organizing the event, the involvement of key partners, the two buildings of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the importance of the app for attendees, Andrew Moyes' background and role in Fan Expo, the role of volunteers, and what fans can expect at the event.

FAN EXPO Canada (August 22 - 24, 2024) is the largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event in Canada and the third-largest Pop Culture event in North America. The show has grown from a small comic book convention attracting 1,500 fans into a multi-faceted and multiple-day citywide event that attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.

Every year, FAN EXPO Canada offers exciting family-friendly attractions, events, and world-renowned celebrities! Previous guests include Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart, Buzz Aldrin, William Shatner, Christopher Lloyd, Elijah Wood, Leonard Nimoy, Carrie Fisher, Gillian Anderson, and stars from hit television shows: The Walking Dead, Star Trek, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Teen Wolf, Doctor Who, Gotham, Criminal Minds, Castle, and many, many more.

The all-ages pop culture convention expects to host over 125,000 fans in 750,000 sq. ft. of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the four-day event.

Avid talks about his journey in the world of animation, his work in advertising, and the challenges of making an animated film. He also shares his experience running a small animation studio and the importance of commitment and passion in storytelling.

Avid Liongoren is a filmmaker from the Philippines who is always willing to sell his internal organs to fund his projects. He is the founder of Rocketsheep, an indie animation studio.

They are currently hard at work on Zsazsa Zaturnnah, a superhero comedy about a shy gay man who swallows a magical rock that transforms him into a flamboyant female superhero :)

Support Zsazsa Zaturnnah on Kickstarter

Her personality is a blend of extroverted charm and introverted contemplation. While she can shine in social settings when needed, she often finds solace in quieter environments. She loves making people laugh, whether through a witty remark or a well-timed joke, and she also has a knack for touching hearts and sometimes bringing a tear to the eye with a heartfelt story. Her ability to connect with others on both a superficial and deep level is one of her most treasured traits.

In her free time, she indulges in various hobbies that bring warmth and joy to her life. She is passionate about golfing and boating, and nothing compares to the bliss of a sunny day spent on the water or a challenging round on the green. Music and dancing fuel her spirit, and she never misses an opportunity to enjoy the beach and warm weather. Twice divorced, she approaches life with a sense of adventure and hope, always open to the possibility of meeting someone special who can be her partner in crime on this beautiful journey.

She is a comedian, and producer with over 20 film and TV credits and has received 12 screen nominations. She won Best Lead Actress at the Apulia Web Festival for her role in Tokens the webseries.

Some of her film/TV credits include Amazon's The Boys, Tokens, and CBC's One More Time. You may recognize Connie in premier roles in numerous big-budget, national commercials.

Connie also has a hit stand-up special called, Canadian Famous.

Find out more @conniewang_

Currently, Adeb is the Founder of Global Intergenerational Democracy Advocates (GIDA) and a member of the National Young Leader Advisory Committee of YMCA Canada, advocating for youth and queer rights. He is also working on his book, "Survival," which tells the untold stories of orphaned queer kids in Afghanistan.

Adeb's journey is a testament to resilience and dedication. As he puts it, "I rose from ashes to reach the stars.

The family also talks about their initiative, Seize the Day, Hike, which raises money and awareness for the Epilepsy Association. Sam shares his experience training for a marathon and the importance of resilience.

The conversation highlights the power of determination and support in overcoming obstacles.

He discovered running in 2018 and became a 2:41 marathoner at the Chicago Marathon in 2022. He is looking forward to completing 6 major journeys and running a 2:30 marathon one day.

Tim built the Founders Running Club community around two of his passions: running and networking. From the ground up to 9000+ members (as of July 2024). With a team of 62 city leaders and co-founders in 11 countries and 15 cities. Founder's Running Club plans to be in every city with a vibrant startup and tech scene.

The conversation with Andrew Jackson, artistic director of the Halifax Jazz Festival, covers topics such as booking artists, selecting venues, and the importance of donations.

The main highlight is the upcoming performance by Killer Mike. The festival aims to offer a variety of genres and engage different audiences.

Andrew Jackson discusses the role of an artistic director and the process of selecting artists for the festival. The conversation also touches on the support of sponsors and the need for donations to keep the festival affordable.

Andrew also shares his own musical projects and plans for after the festival.

His collaborative content, witty photo captions and relatable writings have grown to define his midlife journey in the lifestyle and kink world.  His overall intent is to inspire others to do the same, exploring what’s possible within their own sexual journey through honest introspection.

LNebraska’s vanilla life involves a heavy dose of travel and exploration that includes SCUBA diving, fly fishing and cultural touring through countries across the world.  His goal is to hit all 7 continents, with Antarctica being his last remaining milestone in that quest.

Xia's recent accolades include winning the 2023 East Coast Music Award "Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year" and the 2023 MusicNL Award "Album of the Year" for her solo album, "The Numinous Journey". She was named the 2023 MusicNL “Solo Artist of the Year” and 2022 MusicNL "Rising Star of the Year".

Xia’s music has no boundaries. As a performer of all styles, her musical journey on the guzheng has encompassed a wide range of musical genres, from Chinese traditional/folk music to intercultural ensembles, fusion bands, improvisation, and beyond. Xia has played with various musicians and musical groups, including guzheng virtuoso Mei Han, the trad-rock band Shanneyganock, and the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra.

In 2018, she world premiered The Congruent Place, in collaboration with the Regina-based composer Clinton Ackerman at the Sound Symposium XIX. In January 2023, Xia world-premiered Jubilant Entanglements, a guzheng concerto by award-winning composer Andrew Staniland with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Xia has been active in the music scenes in North America and performed in diverse musical events, including the Newfoundland Folk Festival, the Nashville Chinese New Year Festival, and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Moving her tradition into the future, Xia founded the Light Wind Ensemble, a pioneer Chinese ensemble in Newfoundland, and XIA-3, a fusion experimental band, with a repertoire ranging from Chinese classics to post-rock music. Xia’s musical groups have played in diverse musical venues, including the Newfoundland Folk Festival (NL), SappyFest (NB), and DuneFest (St. Pierre & Miquelon, France).

As an ethnomusicologist, Xia has been teaching music for more than a decade and has given informative lectures, workshops, and performances at universities and conferences around the world. Her research focuses on the diasporic experience of professional Chinese instrumentalists and their intercultural and transnational music-making in North America. Xia has worked in many cultural organizations, including the Currently Arts Society (Vancouver), the Research Centre for the Study of Music, Media, and Place (St. John’s), We Care Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (St. John’s), the Center for Chinese Music and Culture (Murfreesboro, the U.S.), and the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (Washington D.C.).

Find out more @jingxiamusic

She is currently the CEO and co-founder at CodeLn.com, a startup that supports innovative companies to hire and pay African-based Programmers.

She has been actively involved in the tech and startup ecosystem for over a decade, assisting software engineers and early-stage startups in different capacities.

In his advocacy for the homeless, Omar tirelessly works to provide support, resources, and housing for those in need. He is a strong proponent of the "housing first" approach, which is a core part of the programs offered by HOME. Omar believes in the concept of "I and I," which emphasizes seeing others as reflections of oneself. This philosophy drives his holistic approach to advocacy, fostering empathy and compassion in his mission to create positive change.

In addition to his advocacy work, Omar engages in sustainable farming practices, living off the land and contributing to local communities. His commitment to helping others and his holistic approach to life make him an inspirational figure, dedicated to improving the lives of those around him.

Violette considers herself primarily an edge player in the realm of her BDSM play. Edgeplay is a subjective term for activity (sexual or mentally manipulative) that may challenge the conventional Safe, Sane and Consensual ("SSC") scheme; if one is aware of the risks and consequences and is willing to accept them, then the activity is considered Risk Aware Consensual Kink ("RACK"). These activities include breath play, knife play, fear play, temperature play, wax play, Consensual Non-Consent (CNC), cutting, and blood play. Violette has a proclivity for bloodplay.

Violette has found that BDSM has been an integral piece to her healing from abusive relationships. She has found that her self-love, self-confidence and self-worth have flourished since she became heavily involved in play and the community almost a year ago. She hopes to expand her involvement in the kink community by performing at festivals and continuing to explore how feminism is intertwined within the BDSM community.

Oberst Enzian is a Seattle area-based emerging artist, technologist, and BDSM practitioner. As an artist, Enzian works across multiple media: music, film, interactive audio and video installations, and network-based systems artworks. Within the context of BDSM, he is exploring what is referred to as “edgeplay”: a subjective term for activity (sexual or mentally manipulative) that may challenge the conventional Safe, Sane and Consensual ("SSC") scheme; if one is aware of the risks and consequences and is willing to accept them, then the activity is considered risk-aware consensual kink ("RACK"). These activities include breath play, knife play, fear play, temperature play, wax play, Consensual Non-Consent (CNC), cutting, and blood play.

Enzian draws his inspiration from a lifelong fascination with technology, and philosophy, and his discomfort with the identities assigned to him within the regime of white supremacy. He also draws on his roots in the fertile ground of his experiences as a parent, an analyst in the field of information technology, and sex positivity.

Enzian’s desire is to reconcile the conflicting and overlapping multitudes of which he is composed by drawing these points of contention and paradoxes into the open. He believes the reconciliation of these conflicts is to be found between the false dichotomies of rules and randomness, intellect and emotion, flesh and machine.

Content creator, deep thinker and occasional erotic writer, hear them share their journey of and advice on getting into content creation, self-acceptance, writing, outsourcing, systems for organising content, keeping on top of fan messages and much more in this insightful 50-minute conversation!

Check them out @ararity__

OF: @ararity

They quickly began to immerse themselves in the ENM community of NYC together and eventually started to produce content- both having project management backgrounds and Matt being a filmmaker.

They encourage each other to thrive creatively and have become partners in both life and business.

Check them out @see_seebee

&

@the_birds_and_the_bee

His career began in narrative filmmaking in Chicago, as well as experimental theatre and mixed media. After living internationally for several years he settled in New York and completed an M.A. in documentary filmmaking. Concurrently Matt worked as an event filmmaker, having shot over 400 weddings. Vowing to never, ever, EVER shoot another wedding again he transferred those skills into shooting adult content.

Given Matt’s education and diverse experiences, he has accumulated his storytelling background into the podcast, “The Birds & the Bee” co-produced by his romantic and business partner, Chelsea Bee.

His other hobbies include creating original hot sauces, growing vegetables, and cooking original low-sodium meals to promote cardiovascular health.

@the_birds_and_the_bee

While she considers herself a newbie in the content-creator world, she has long been passionate about sex worker rights and explores the many avenues that come with independent online work and non-monogamous lifestyles on her podcast, The Birds & the Bee. There, she talks with people from all walks of life about their experience in non-monogamy, polyamory, content creation, sex work, and the many ways they intersect.

When she’s not filming or finding new guests, she continues to work in the corporate world and enjoys plants, cooking, and exploring her sexuality.

Check her out @see_seebee

&

@the_birds_and_the_bee

Relying on his RN and MT experience, he provides a safe and sane space for people to overcome triggers and body image challenges. His personality and energy empower you to let go, accept touch, and reignite your desires.

He enjoys recording kinksters’ orgasmic journeys of self-discovery and shares the content to teach others.

SMT's videos fill an educational void by demonstrating how to pleasure and where to find the sensual organs of the human body.

SensualMT is LGBTQ, Couple, and kink-friendly. His studio is welcoming and inclusive to all.

He provides the massage you’ve been fantasizing about 

When Mrs Sea asked him to join her in a return to the lifestyle after having a family, he was more than happy to join her on this journey and expand his own dom and kink repertoire as time progressed. While Mrs. Sea dove into the domination of bi-flex boys, Mr. Sea maintained a role in exploring different aspects of BDSM play with female subs, though he also helps her with different ideas/scenarios or photo taking with her boys.

While Mrs Sea allows him to have sessions with anyone alone (as long as she gets to see the pics), they mostly play together and enjoy exploring with cuck couples, as well as domming bisexual girls together. Newbies and those already familiar with the lifestyle are all more than welcome to play with the Seas, but they do take a special interest in corrupting newbies and being their firsts. 😈

The Seas throw several parties a year, big and small, which are female-centric and also love the thrill of helping people fulfil their fantasies in a safe environment. They believe that providing this type of environment is of the utmost importance to them and their playmates.

She is a dirty-talking girl with a big heart, a healthy sense of humour, and a dirty mind. 

Jennifer joined Fet seeking adventure and a new outlook on life. Shortly after joining Fet, her mind began to open to unique opportunities, and she decided to explore.  

As the middle child of a Catholic family from Utah her faith and family are the backbone of who she is and she holds on to them dearly today. However, intimacy was never displayed or discussed in her home. 

Despite a late start, Jennifer has become a popular addition to the BDSM community. However, her only experience was under the demise of a fake profile of a man that never existed. Despite this negative experience, Jennifer realized the qualities inside her to be a good devoted submissive and is looking forward to growing with new experiences. 

Find out more at her Fet page

While she looks like a mom next door, she is the biggest whore you will ever meet. Alexa specializes in threesomes and gang bangs and she is a true unicorn.

Alexa has serviced hundreds of cocks from all over the country and makes guys cum from all over the world with her one-on-one video chats.

Find out more about her journey to being the biggest freelance porn star she can be.

Check out her OF page and FET profile

He is the author of a large series of books about kink, including three books about DDLG relationship dynamics.

He also runs the BDSM gear shop, Sharp Pointed Things.

Find out more @sharppointedthings

Domina SeaAphrodite was born in the Soviet Union and emigrated to the US. She is highly educated, with bachelor's and master's degrees from Ivy League institutions, and an accomplished professional with a 20+ year career in finance. She is also a wife and mother of school-aged children, residing in a quiet suburb an hour from New York City.

At the same time, Domina Sea, anonymously and without ever sharing her face or identity publicly, is the leading strictly lifestyle Femdom in NYC, and recently voted the top domme on the FetLife platform, with close to 100,000 followers. Domina Sea practices authentic, responsible Femdom focused on her favourite kinks, which include power exchange, body worship, anal play/pegging, forced bi, impact, bondage and much more. This takes place with other kinksters from the FetLife community in everything from small private scenes to large themed parties that she hosts with her network, in NY and in other cities when she travels.

Domina Sea avoids the monetization of kink and focuses on the art and exhibitionism elements of Femdom scenes, as well as on support and acceptance (including self-acceptance) around both female and especially male submission. She especially enjoys fantasy facilitation of first-time experiences, and easing newbies into the kink lifestyle.

At the same time, Domina Sea, anonymously and without ever sharing her face or identity publicly, is the leading strictly lifestyle Femdom in NYC, and recently voted the top domme on the FetLife platform, with close to 100,000 followers. Domina Sea practices authentic, responsible Femdom focused on her favourite kinks, which include power exchange, body worship, anal play/pegging, forced bi, impact, bondage and much more. This takes place with other kinksters from the FetLife community in everything from small private scenes to large themed parties that she hosts with her network, in NY and in other cities when she travels.

Domina Sea avoids the monetization of kink and focuses on the art and exhibitionism elements of Femdom scenes, as well as on support and acceptance (including self-acceptance) around both female and especially male submission. She especially enjoys fantasy facilitation of first-time experiences, and easing newbies into the kink lifestyle.

They enjoy crocheting, drawing/painting, and reading smutty books.

Moth creates content across multiple platforms, such as Pornhub Onlyfans, fansly, chaturbate, and fetlife.

They wish to do nothing more than bring joy to others, be helpful in the sexiest way and live a peaceful life collecting yarn for half-done projects and drinking obscene amounts of tea… and Dr Pepper.

Find out more @tinyrealhuman

Kimberly is representative of the plus-size community, people with disabilities such as epilepsy, and women of colour.

Learn more about her @kimberlytanious

As a young black woman, she is proud to create music that smashes stereotypes about women and artists of colour and their work. It is important for her to challenge preconceptions about black music and remind people that rock is also part of black heritage. 

HAWA B has recently collaborated with artist Djely Tapa (Afrikana Soul Sister) for a remix of her song “End” and is currently working on her second EP scheduled for Spring 2024 with co-producer Félix Petit (Les Louanges).

From the streets of Soweto to the world. She has created a name for herself by branching her love for writing and numbers into solving problems and telling stories through media, marketing and recently tech.

Find out more @mamgo__

Although Vanessa’s career in sex work began as a for-hire porn actress, these days she’s the one calling the shots - or, more accurately, she and a team of other women and queer people who have joined together to form an unusual production company. Cliff Media operates at the intersection of two unlikely worlds: porn production and community organizing. Instead of recruiting professional adult actors, Cliff Media organizes group shoots open to all enthusiastically consenting adults who want to work together to create inclusive, loving, kinky spaces and media. 

For more than a decade, Vanessa has been living outside of traditional monogamy: in polyamorous relationships with men, women, queer and trans partners, freely fucking friends and strangers, and playing in the swinger lifestyle. Unlearning shame about her own body, identity, sexuality, and sexual labour only happened through connection to others. In her work, she strives to build a community in which people recognize parts of themselves in each other, lose shame, and find their own power. 

Scenes produced by Cliff Media explore themes of healthy non-monogamy, joyful kink, loving community, and empowered female and queer sexuality. They play with concepts that flip the script on dominant narratives, like an OkCupid date where the girl invites the guy and makes all the moves; a wedding where the bride and groom turn the event into a playful gangbang; or the spiritual impregnation of a trans woman where neither male ejaculate nor a female womb is required. 

In October 2023, Cliff Media produced its first Women and LGBTQ Shoot Week in Portland, Oregon, joined by more than 30 queer people from around the country. Participants starred in ten orgy scenes in four days with each scene directed by a different member of Cliff Media.

Before her roles in the adult industry, Vanessa worked as a social worker, community organizer, research analyst and writer. She has a M.A. in Human Rights and Nonprofit Management, and a Ph.D. in Social Sciences. More importantly, she is the proud solo parent to an incredible kiddo with whom she loves making huge baking messes, exploring yoga poses and checking out every book at the library.  

Find out more @vanessacliff_seattle

Anita is the Journalism Innovator-in-Residence at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and also teaches community-driven journalism at Centennial College in Toronto. In addition, she coaches media executives and news entrepreneurs at the City University of New York's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

Her areas of expertise include community-driven journalism, audience engagement, journalism entrepreneurship, consumer revenue business models, newsroom diversity, media ethics and journalism innovation. Anita co-founded Canadian Journalists of Colour in 2018 and is also a member of the board of directors for the Online News Association and LION (Local Independent Online News) Publishers.

To keep up with Anita, subscribe to The Other Wave, her journalism innovation newsletter about challenging the status quo in Canadian media.

@thegreenlineto

Her vision is to break the stigma around sexual trauma in the Black community that prevents us from seeking support.

Dr. Rahman is doing this work via her nonprofit, Heal On Purpose Inc., an organization committed to conducting research and providing education on the impact of sexual trauma in the Black community while simultaneously creating resources that aid in collective and individual healing.

You can find out more about the nonprofit and its work at healonpurpose.org

@yulindarenee.phd

At 19, he enlisted the help of local alt-rock god Rick White (Elevator To Hell, Eric’s Trip) to realize his first EP. The resultant Sepsis (1997) was a bloodletting of sorts, a clear rebellion against his conservative Baptist upbringing. This EP was played several times on national radio by Leora Kornfeld, David Wisdom (CBC’s Radiosonic) and Patti Schmidt (CBC’s Brave New Waves).

Thiele went on to release 5 albums, several more EPs, singles and music videos - some of which were aired on MuchMoreMusic. In recent news, ZWERG signed with Canadian music legend Emm Gryner’s Dead Daisy Records for the release of his upcoming album The Centurion, a retrospective journey through 20th-century popular music (set for release in late 2023). The work features string and brass arrangements by long-time collaborator John Philip Shenale (Tori Amos, Billy Idol, Janet Jackson, Jane’s Addiction, Bruce Hornsby, Five For Fighting, Diana Ross, The Bangles, The Beach Boys), John Mullane (of In-Flight Safety), and Robin Anne Ettles (Sol, Shaun LeBlanc).

Check him out @zwerg_thiele

Jackson keeps a busy playing schedule with many of the premiere artists in Halifax spanning a variety of styles, including Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound, Erin Costelo, David Myles (with whom he won a Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year), Classified, Aquakultre, Jerry Granelli and many more.

Since 2017 Andrew has been the musical curator for the TD Halifax Jazz Festival, for which he received the 2019 "Promoter of the Year" award at the Music Nova Scotia Awards. Starting in 2015, Andrew has also been the creator and host of "The Outer Edge" on CKDU 88.1FM, which received the 2021 Radio Program of the Year at the Music Nova Scotia Awards.

Check him out @andrew.jacksonmusic

@hfxjazzfest

In the brief 3 years of work, he’s charted Top 15 and played across Europe, America, Australia, and Canada. Chris has an album with 1+ Million streams despite it not being out yet.

Chris’s music and message are perfect for the celebration of love and diversity. Within a short time, he's shown what a force he is.

Check him out @partsofchris

Jordan Occasionally is a touring global artist with most of their fans coming from NY, LA, and the UK. JD’s fanbase is purely grassroots, based in their hometown, Memphis, TN, and gaining critical acclaim with their first EP “1998”.

However, it was their album Indigo that solidified their route to the top. This album which was an homage to their identity as a Young Black Queer Femme opened up doors that haven’t closed yet, leading them to stages as big as the Genius Open Mic Stage, NXNE Festival in Toronto, and landing them on several editorial playlists such as Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie, Pop and RNB, and Tidal’s Black Artist and Indie RNB Playlists.

No stranger to the stage, Jordan Occasionally has led talks at institutions such as Rhodes and the University of Memphis on what it means to intersect identity into your artistry. A community organizer, Jordan Occasionally also won the University of Memphis’s first Student Communicator Award in 2021.

It is safe to say that “Jordan Occasionally” will be a name to remember for decades to come.

Check out @jordanoccasionally

Photo by @creativeheartmedia

Recognized as one of Ontario’s most exciting upcoming Canadian country artists, Paige is no stranger to the stage and has curated a live show that has audiences engaged start to finish.

Paige’s music has landed her the playlist cover for Breakthrough Country on Amazon Music, Spotify's RADAR playlist, and caught listeners' attention across North America.

Paige is set to release her debut EP later this year.

Find out more @paigerutledge

Hailing from a small rural area in Nova Scotia, this Lyons Brook teen has been attempting to accomplish his high goals in this ever-changing music industry, and with 500,000 streams across all platforms with only 3 songs he is ultimately succeeding.

Using strategic marketing and working with the right people while consistently operating smart and hard, makes him able to be very enrolled comfortably and at times seeming quiet in doing what he loves, which makes the talent to break the threshold that everyone doubted he could.

He recently released his fourth solo single “Make It Out”, the second lead single off his debut mixtape “Better Late Than Never” which is expected to release in July 2023.

Check out @itsjaythekidd

Sevier has released a few singles since her debut “Ghost of Tom” in 2019, with her music being collectively streamed over 1 million times. Sevier's success has gained the attention of some of Sony/ATV and Liz Rose Music's most talented writers, landing her single "Confetti". Recorded down in Nashville with Grady Saxman (Luke Combs, Tenille Arts) this record has been nothing but a success with gaining rotation on Canadian country radio as well as SiriusXM and surpassing 400k streams since its release in March 2022. As well, "Confetti" reached the #1 spot on the Canadian Indie Country Radio Charts.

Sevier's latest single "See You There" was also recorded in Nashville with Grady Saxman, it is an upbeat heartbreak tune bound to resonate with young hearts. Since its release in summer 2022 "See You There" has charted on Canadian Radio as the 3rd most downloaded song on its first day as well as the 9th most active single from an independent artist. As well "See You There" played in rotation on 25 Canadian country stations.

Coming up for Sevier is another collaboration with the writers at Sony Music Publishing Nashville. “Legends of the Summer '' is set to hit listeners on May 19th, 2023. A nostalgic country-rock tune is perfect for summer and reminiscing on the memories of past relationships.

The integrity of Jessica’s songwriting has not gone unnoticed, as her original music gained her a spot to compete on the TV show The Shot: Remastered in 2020.

As well, Sevier was a top 7 to watch at 2022 CMW (Canadian Music Week) Featured Artist/Performer, an Indie Week 2021 exhibitor and was chosen as one of the top 12 in the CNE Rising Star Competition 2020. Sevier has spent most of her career touring around Ontario playing notable downtown Toronto venues and music festivals.

Most recently Sevier headlined the legendary Lee's Palace in Toronto, as well, Sevier recently made her Nashville debut at Whiskey Jam in April 2023.

Find out more @jessicasevier

@nxne

Her work is characterized by human connection and empathy, with a focus on outliers and the marginalized in Southeast Asia, and is carried out with meticulous research, teamwork, and a creative reflex.

Naruemon's films have aired on Canal+France, MyCanal, Vice America, Vice Asia, Al-Jazeera 101 East, and Channel News Asia's 'Undercover Asia.

She worked on a travel show with Veronica TV and a documentary for Arte France.

Naruemon has also served as a juror for the International Bangkok Documentary Award 2020-2022 and the One World Media Award 2021 UK.

Check out her LinkedIn

Arriving from Manchester, England in 1982, Andy started his career as a Canadian recording artist, completing two albums for Sony Records with his band the Tenants, which were released worldwide between 1982-85. Andy was the principal songwriter and guitarist.

In 1994, Andy Co-Founded and was the Managing Director of North By Northeast Conferences Inc. (NXNE) based in Toronto until 2013.

 Andy is committed to building new strategic partnerships and developing career-enhancing opportunities for ECMA members as well as reciprocal initiatives for our international partners. 

Check out @eastcoastmusicassosc

Lindsay's first book for younger readers, Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians (2020), was nominated for a Hackmatack Book Award.

Her first children's picture book, called My Favourite Colour, will be released in the Fall of 2023. 

Check out @lindsay_ruck

Janice hosts The Soul's Work Podcast, the show about uncovering our authentic selves through doing both the light work and the shadow work. She is known for getting vulnerable about uncomfortable topics like trauma, alcohol dependency, sex, and polyamory in an open and nonjudgmental way. Janice is passionate about breaking down the silence and stigma around the very human challenges we all go through and adding one more Asian voice to the "self-development" space. 

You can connect with her @janicehoimages and @janicehocounselling, and listen to The Soul's Work Podcast on your favourite podcast player or at www.thesoulsworkpodcast.com!

Join them as they travel around the world in their tiny home on wheels for the next 3 years! Going from one Meridian to another, making new friends, exploring cultures & traditions, and road-tripping around this beautiful planet.

3 Years | 88 Countries | 7 Continents | 300 00km

Find out more @nextmeridien.expedition

She and producer Jessica Brown have, under their company Peep Media, completed four documentary films for CBC, the Documentary Channel and Bravo which include Edge of East, My Week on Welfare, Small Town Show Biz and Bernie Langille Wants to Know Who Killed Bernie Langille, which premiered this spring at Hot Docs.

Jackie has also done two documentary films for Telltale Productions, Free Reins and the feature-length Radical Age. Torrens’ radio documentaries include The Poet Laureate of Youth Now, which received an Atlantic Journalism Award and Camp Mini Ha Ha, which received a CBC Award of Excellence.

Learn more @torrensjackie

This genuine artist connects influenced sounds of R&B and soul with a history of classical by the warmth and passion of her voice.   Her music captivates experiences and emotions when words limit the language of expression.  

In hopes to continuously heal and recover her soul, the motive of her success derives from impacting others and being the image to be inspired by.

Find out more @ashlyekate

It is a documentation of her journey and lessons from years of plugging/unplugging, connecting/disconnecting, and learning/unlearning in our digitally-caffeinated world.

Check out www.mehretbiruk.com

Her poem, “To Helen and River of A.A.'', was an honorable mention for TulipTree’s 2021 Wild Women story contest, and her story, “When Light Floats” was a finalist for Vocal Media’s Short Fiction Prize in 2022.

Lila began making erotic art in earnest just before the COVID pandemic. Like her writing, Lila’s photos and videos dance between raw, sexy, and sure-footed, centering feminine pleasure and playing with kinky types as a way of finding full, authentic embodiment for herself. More exploration than prescription, Lila’s vulnerability becomes her strength through her artistic alchemy and playful ethos.

She lives in Boulder, CO.

Growing up along the East Coast from city to city, Tre. Charles has been exposed to a myriad of different cultures. It is from these experiences that he has cultivated a sound of his own which pays homage to his nomadic upbringing. With hints of avant-garde R&B, modern/indie rock, and ambient soul, Charles’ honest & powerful music has a lot of people listening.

Tre. Charles has been compared to musicians like Frank Ocean, Moses Sumney, Sampha, and James Blake to name a few but this artist has a sound all his own. Tre has acquired many cosigners along his artistic journey, his most recent being that he is now endorsed by the world-renowned guitar company D’angelico Guitars as an official artist. He has also been recently nominated for the Best R&B artist for the Carolina Music Awards (2022) as well as an official artist for NXNE music festival in Toronto; Also winning the Virginias Favorite Award at the (RIFF)(Richmond international film festival).

Tre. Charles has performed in venues all across the US; from performing on CBS programming to festival stages, his artistry has a unique way of making any setting intimate and personal. Tre. has performed for numerous CreativeMornings sessions(international conglomerate) as well as numerous Sofar Sounds; he also made his New York debut this year at the legendary Rockwood Music hall to a captivated audience.

His debut single (Stressin.) which gathered a lot of buzz from publications such as NPR, INDY Week, Wearesoul, and many more will be followed up by his debut E.P. which is scheduled to be released this year.

Check him out @tre.charlz

Having wandered through the “lost, enchanted forest” (Bandcamp, New & Noteworthy) of 2016’s breakthrough album, \\, and sailed the seas of her epic avant-pop odyssey TCYK (2019), BAPTIZED I sees this visionary songcrafter adorning her armour, grabbing her sword, and beginning a quest for a destination that isn’t tangible—a quest towards the divine.

BAPTIZED I leaves no stone of Worthington’s distinctive sonic palette unturned. Tender acoustic ballads erupt into sweeping electronic passages; anthemic refrains find peace in surreal soundscapes. Uniting Phoebe Bridgers-esque hooks with the electronics sensibilities of M83, these songs match confessional intimations with grand gestures.

They bring Death, the devil, and the Holy Ghost into scenes of high school bush parties and wintertime walks along the St. Lawrence. Combining earthly and celestial sounds, BAPTIZED I stands between worlds as Worthington yearns to make her “flesh connect / to the world as it is / and to be as the spirit is.”

This chameleonic EP explores the feeling of crossing a bridge between the ordinary and the extraordinary; between the superficial and the sacred; between what has been and what should be.

Find out more @jojoworthington

This also led to Chris touring with Canadian country artist Kelly Prescott from Canada to Tennessee, co-writing in Nashville and signing a publishing deal with ECMA award winning publishing company Sound of Pop. Chris was recently selected to participate in the 2019 edition of the Canadian Song Conference's "Canadian Songwriter Challenge", co-writing with artists from across Canada in Charlottetown, PEI.

Chris was an East semi-finalist in the 2018 SiriusXM - Canadian Country Music Association "Top of the Country" Project, was on the road accompanying Sierra Noble for the Johnny Reid "My Kind of Christmas" tour across Canada in November and December 2019 and numerous singles from his self-titled debut album continue to receive regular rotation on radio stations in Canada.

Chris' brand new 2021 summer single "Less of a Stranger" is out now and his previous three singles "Last Forever", "Slow Down" and "I Ain't Mad" peaked in the 60's on the BDS Canadian Country Music chart and have been added to SiriusXM & Stingray channels, as well as editorial playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.

Check him out @cryannl

A live act to be reckoned with, the self-contained all-female band has played high-profile festivals across Canada and Europe and toured as direct support for legendary artists including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tom Cochrane, Washboard Union and Tebey.

The band has garnered significant accolades since forming in 2015, including five Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) nominations, eight Country Music Alberta Awards, and the 2021 Western Canadian Music Award for Country Artist of the Year.

Find out more @nicehorsemusic

Having emigrated from Lagos to Toronto, the singer/rapper’s personal and musical narratives weave tales of poverty, determination, and love, through a masterful blend of the fast-rising Afrobeats sound with already established Hip-Hop/R&B, aptly called Afrofusion.

Shopé's musical ambidexterity continues to garner him accolades and win global fans, to the tune of 6M+ streams and almost 100,000 social media followers. 2021 saw Shopé's single "RISING"; land a synchronization deal as the official soundtrack to Canadian Olympic gold medalist, Andre De Grasse, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Further still, the 2019 CBC Searchlight winner and alumnus of the prestigious Allan Slaight JUNO Masterclass, has performance credits that span international tours and premier festivals like CBC Music Festival, SXSW, CMW, showcasing alongside acts like; Tory Lanez, Jazz Cartier, and Tyler Shaw, among others.

Shopé's passion for connecting cultures is setting him apart as a one-to-watch international artist, bridging Western & African cultures, and in so doing, empowering those in the African diaspora and beyond.

Find out more @allofshope

and

@CultureRichWorld

Carla a crossdresser for many years came out to Halley in late 2021. Halley a vixen that has learned to rekindle her sex drive.

Their communication is top-notch and helps others with their ongoing experiences.

Check out their podcast Carla and Halley

It started with modelling in college while studying Graphic Design. Which lead to an interest (read: complete obsession) in photography. Within 6 months of photographing on the weekends it became my full time job. I’ve now been running my own photography business for 13 years.

I have this fire within me that is telling me to document anything that empowers women and makes them feel powerful, self-assured, confident and beautiful.

Find out more @exotic_boudoir

Like most children, Obasola grew up watching cartoons on Saturday mornings, and that is how his passion and love for drawing started. He gravitated towards comic books and superhero shows, which is evident in much of his work as an adult. For instance, he gives the superheroes an African twist in his interpretation of Superman and Spider man.

After watching these shows, he would recreate them through his drawings, his imagination was always working on overdrive to quench his thirst for art. He is inspired by the legendary Stan Lee, the renowned comic book writer. Obasola’s goal is to create a vibrant comic book culture in Nigeria along with ensuring that other young people can see that their dreams are valid, even if it veers from the norm. He hopes that one day he will surpass his hero’s while spreading authentic African stories to an international audience.

Check him out @israel.obasola

Jones is host of the You’re Wrong, Sir Podcast. This podcast prides itself on the mission of being unapologetic, uncensored, and unfiltered. Jones challenges norms within the sports industry by having necessary & controversial conversations. Previous guests on You’re Wrong, Sir include Taylor Rooks, Kendall Gill, Michael Onyenwere, Glenn Robinson III, & many more! 

Jones has also had a fair share of experiencing the art of moderating through a recent partnership with Athleta. She served as the moderator for their Power of She series where she interviewed 2x Olympic Bobsledder, Aja Evans in front of a live audience. Aniyha also had the pleasure of interviewing Professional Beach Volleyball athlete, Corinne Quiggle.

Find out more @yourewrongsir_

She was born and raised in Delta-State, and was raised in a small town called Warri. After completing her Secondary School (High School) Education, she moved to London, the United Kingdom, to pursue her passions in Journalism and Cinema, where she graduated with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Lincoln. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles to chase her Hollywood dreams.

In 2017, She acquired her Masters of Fine Arts degree from the New York Film Academy, Burbank, Los Angeles. And recently acquired an Associate's Degree in Acting from the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory in July 2021.

At the peak of the pandemic, she launched her LLC, called A-bee Film Productions, in the United States, specialising in creating film and television content, Documentary, Music Video, Fashion Film, and commercial & Animation.

Find out more @missebi

He has performed more than 2,500 performances in more than 45 countries, directed and produced nearly 100 theatrical productions, starred in over 100 films and TV series, recorded and produced over 100 albums and, played more than 50 lead and title roles (in several languages) from the opera, theatre, and musical repertoire.

In New York, he starred Off-Broadway in iconic roles such as Shylock, Cyrano, Othello, Barabas, Yiddish King Lear, Don Giovanni, Figaro, Romeo, Nabucco, as well as new works such as Napoleon by Kubrick, Queen Esther, Anne Frank a Musical, among others. In his native Paris, he also starred as Don Quixote (Man of La Mancha) and Happy Mac (Beggar's Holiday by Duke Ellington). He entered the prestigious Who's Who America for demonstrating outstanding achievements in the entertainment world and for the betterment of contemporary society.

In 2019, he received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, the Morocco Day Distinguished Achievement Award, the Trophy of the Culture of Morocco, and was named among the fifteen most influential Moroccans worldwide by Morocco's airline Royal Air Maroc.

David is a member of the Recording Academy and the Television Academy and a voting member of both the Grammys and Emmys. In 2020, David Serero received the UNESCO Award for Diversity in Paris and became an Honorary Member of the United Nations of Arts and Science. In 2021, he won 4 BroadwayWorld Awards for Best Performer of the decade, Best Producer of a Musical of the decade, Best Producer of a Play of the decade, Best Opera singer of the Year.

He was awarded the Certificate of Recognition by the Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, for his contribution to the City's dynamic cultural landscape, enriching the vibrant performing arts sector, and uplifting and inspiring diverse New Yorkers.

He has directed and produced an award-winning feature documentary “The United States of Fashion Designer Elie Tahari”

www.davidserero.com

Lily is the co-founder of Sankara, an award-winning social enterprise operating in Atlantic Canada. Sankara is an Online Multicultural Marketplace (www.sankaracuisine.com) to experience cultural products like Catering, Meal Boxes, and Handcrafts from local cultural vendors. Sankara partners with dozens of cultural vendors from over 25 countries who use the platform as a free tool to generate income and share their stories by expressing their cultural identities.

As a person with intersecting identities, Lily is passionate about co-creating prosperous communities, environments, economies, and legacies alongside systematically marginalized people. For Black History Month 2020, a mere month after the passing of my paternal grandfather, she quickly organized the inaugural Pan-African flag raising in New Brunswick. In 2021, the Pan-African flag was raised simultaneously in 8 municipalities in New Brunswick.

Find out more @sankaramarket

Madiba taps into the inner workings of her mind to conceive work that is rooted in femininity, consciousness and the full expression of oneself. She portrays an array of emotions from a black woman's lens. Her chosen subject matter is predominantly black women at different stages of their growth. She envisions a world where black beauty can be fully expressed and appreciated without the need for it to be substantiated. The artist uses expressive markings by fire, gold, and African bronze blue to illustrate that black women are naturally divine. She has been influenced by artists like Zanele Muholi, Lina Iris Viktor, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, and Donald Nxumalo by their creative approaches in their respective practices.

Her career officially launched in 2019 after being dubbed a Design Indaba Emerging Creative, appearing on the TV show Hashtags Africa, and winning the Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize. Madiba's work has evolved through personal experiences and she strives to improve her craft even further.

Learn more @melmadiba

She is an international No.1 Bestselling Author of fifteen books about success, communication, wellness and empowerment. She is the Founder and CEO of the THINK Yourself® ACADEMY, offering keynotes and training, leading-edge online courses, laser-focus business strategy and one-on-one transformation coaching.

Over the past 30 years, she has inspired over 100,000 audience members and empowered thousands of clients internationally to get rid of their negative self-talk. She combines over 10 years of experience in human resources, 25 years of experience in sales and over 30 years in the fitness industry. In 2007, she was "Fitness Instructor of the Year" for Canada.

Download the confidence guide: www.thinkyourself.com/confidenceguide 

nathalie@thinkyourself.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathalie.plamondonthomas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkYourselfAcademy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-plamondon-thomas-6b3262a/

Instagram: @nathaliepthinkyourself

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NathaliePlamondonThomas

Clubhouse: @Nathaliep

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinkyourselfAc

Book your FREE 15-min Virtual Coffee: www.thinkyourself.com/schedule

Her work, which focuses on disability, health and cultural trends, has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Globe and Mail, and more.

She loves split pea soup.

Learn more @gabrielle.drolet

She is an author of multiple books, including her latest release An Uncompromised Life, and the host of The Colleen Gallagher podcast.

Her greatest success is seeing her clients fall in love with life by overcoming trauma and life challenges to create a lifestyle career that impacts the world. Colleen empowers leaders and businesses to come to a newfound clarity of their mission, so that they can better understand their gifts while taking calculated action to grow their businesses.

Colleen offers these experiences through online courses, in-person retreats, her podcast, books and products. Currently, Colleen resides in Los Angeles, California.

Find out more @thecolleengallagher

Growing up playing soccer, going camping, and taking apart electronics in her basement in Ontario, she found herself in Kjipuktuk/Halifax studying marine biology and finding community at university.

Since graduating, she has taken her love of the ocean and nature in a new direction by turning trash into treasure.

At maritime moose, you can find upcycled home goods, handmade knitwear, and, other one of a kind creations inspired by land and sea.

Find out more @maritimemoose

Ryan's career in youth leadership started with his early experience in leadership training and outdoor adventure programming for various summer camps in NS and the USA. Ryan worked as a Teen Services Library Assistant at Halifax Public Libraries and as a Senior Program Facilitator at the HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development in Halifax. Throughout this time Ryan maintained a professional music practice as a trombonist, composer, conductor and chorister, collaborating with the who’s who of East Coast musicians and Sobey Art Award nominee William Robinson.

Ryan's work has been recognized through various awards including the Dalhousie Legal Aid Social Justice Award (2019), the Big Brothers Big Sisters Halifax Inspire Leadership Award (2016) and being a finalist for the Halifax Assistance Fund Social Innovation Award (2017). He was selected to participate in the prestigious Banff Centre for Art and Creativity “Getting to Maybe” Program for System Entrepreneurs in 2016 and the 21 Inc. Emerging Leaders Program in 2012 and 2014.

Check him out @ryanveltmeyer

GoNaked Magazine was born out of curiosity on how to produce a digital publication. Eight years later, the publication has grown to over 14,000 readers around the planet. In addition to the magazine, Nick hosts men-only nudist events and vacations. (If he had known this was going to be his career path, he would have skipped college altogether.)

GoNaked Magazine differs from other nudist organizations because they focus on the “full-body nudist”; in addition to just getting naked, they also explore what it means to be naked with mental health, physical health, the spiritual self,  finances, sexuality, and space.

The goal of the magazine is to connect like-minded men all over the world, and Nick's purpose in life is to give these men permission to explore that world in a way that is safe for them.

You can find GoNaked Magazine at www.gonakedmagazine.com.

He is passionate about tech education and entrepreneurship on the African continent.

Sizwe holds a Computer Science degree from the University of Cape Town.

Find out more @pineapple_sa

Learn more @batlxhfx

Shareefa is an ambassador for the UK based mental health charity CALM and works closely with them to help raise awareness and destigmatise the conversation around suicide.

In 2017 she began pursuing a career in presenting and has since presented for Fane productions, Nude by Nature, Boohoo, Simply B and more! She’s also had publications with MTV, BBC 5 Live, Cosmopolitan, The Sun and the list goes on. It’s safe to say she has an exciting journey ahead she continues to develop her skills as a budding new presenter.

 In 2019 Shareefa returned from working and living in Australia where she dominated the plus size fashion industry and was voted number one top model in Australia to know by In Style magazine 2019. Since then she continues to work internationally.

Shareefa previously ran an organisation called @shine4diversity in which she created short documentaries and photographic campaigns to highlight the importance of racial inclusion within advertising, her last campaign in 2019 featured in Buzzfeed.

Although her efforts for social change are prominent she has a light-hearted approach and always finds a way to make her audience smile with her bubbly and warm persona.

She began writing lyrics to industry beats at a young age in high school. Shortly after graduation, she was diagnosed with a severe mental illness becoming a voice for those who struggle with the same disorders by being open about her own experiences writing about them and encouraging others to speak up.

In 2012, Allie was discovered at a strip club by a local hip hop DJ and was brought to a home studio to have her first experience working with a producer.

In 2016 after putting her music on Soundcloud.com/alliekat902, she was noticed by the loyalty ent group & became a performer on the local hip hop scene.

Knowing her worth & Realizing she needed to invest in herself, she reached out to @kekebeatz in late 2019..... then 2020 happened....... tune in to hear more about her experience with mental illness and how she managed to push through the hardest episode of her life and make an album.

Find out more @alliekat902

On stage, she performs under the name Megan St. Rose. Her music ranges from her solo RnB creations like her single Promiseland to her new upcoming heavy metal project and the odd upbeat pop track.

Her work can be found on all major streaming platforms and through her Instagram page @mgn.svg.

Also a producer herself, she released her first unofficial album, Saudade, in

2014. Later, she was joined by Nate Husser, Wasiu, Ras Kass and Sereni-T, along with the use of her own voice as a singer on the Reckless EP, her latest release from 2020, solidifying her status as both a producer and performing artist.

Influences include DJ Shadow, Amon Tobin, DJ Q-Bert, Kid Koala and Radiohead. She writes all her own music and spends a large amount of time considering conceptual takes on her work, which brings an element of theatricalism and originality to her work.

Find out more @dj_killajewel

Born and raised in Quebec, Elinor moved to Halifax after completing a DEC in Fine Arts at Champlain Regional College and starting a BFA at Bishops doing drawing and sculpture.

Life threw a lot of things at them in their 20s and 30s, but they graduated with their Multidisciplinary BFA from NSCAD in 2006, and then their Masters of Library and Information Studies in 2012.

Since then, Elinor has been bringing their unique perspective and experiences to public library work, while continuing to dance, make art, and talk about being fat in public.

Learn more about them @uberwench

At 16 he left Rexton for Halifax Nova Scotia to play for the Halifax Mooseheads. From there he was drafted to the NHL by the Vancouver Canucks in 2010, played professionally in Europe, Indiana and university in New Brunswick.

While living in Europe he was inspired to start Country Liberty and once he was in New Brunswick to start his degree, he put his ideas in motion and Country Liberty was born.

Country Liberty has grown a distribution channel of over 50 retail stores and an online store. They have also partnered with wonder groups like the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Molson, and Lane Merrifield from Dragon's Den!

Check him out @saywerhannay

She tells stories about the beauty of the natural world. She has dedicated herself to painting and drawing from life. Her art and stories are inspired by experiences of drawing objects in nature.

Briana works primarily in oil and gouache to make botanical drawings, illustrations, stop motion animations, surface patterns, and paintings. She is inspired by the strange, overlooked details of the Nova Scotia coast. Weeds, moths, periwinkles, and fog are some of the star subjects in her work.

She has published 3 children's picture books, working on a 4th, and has made covers and illustrations for other authors.

You can keep up with her many freelance projects, illustrations, and animations on her Instagram @brianacorrscott.

She's been writing and performing poetry for six years. She believes that the African stories deserve a microphone as they have been misconstrued by the western media.

What better way to introduce the life and culture of the African community than through a sixty-second rhyme scheme? 

Find out more @i.am.huwa

https://huwa18okoyomoh.wixsite.com/website

Cindy has been an Entrepreneur since 2011.

Currently, she is the Head of Branding & Communications for Labeled Clothing Company, and designer for their Michelle-Rober Fashion line, a company she co-found with her husband in 2017.

Cindy is also the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Soli Productions Management Inc. Where she, along with her friend and CEO, Solitha Shortte are driving the fashion industry in Halifax forward with their passion for diversity and inclusion. Their full service production and talent agency can get you everything you need to market your business from photo and video marketing, to models, performers, show planning, styling, confidence and model coaching, and much more!

Cindy says working for herself is the best thing she has ever done, there is no limit to what you can learn by doing. Being your own boss has some challenges, late nights, managing time and people, but overall the rewards greatly outweigh any problems she may have encountered over the years. This FashionPreneur and mother of 3, shows no signs of slowing down and loves proving to her kids every day that following your dreams is a life well spent.

Be you, be confident, be #CAPEABLE.

Follow Cindy on

TikTok @askmamacindy

IG @cindylmacneil

Facebook @CindyLeeMacNeil

Or check out her websites;

www.Soliproductions.com

www.michelle-Rober.ca

He grew up a creative, developed his skills in illustration, became a teacher, then a tattoo apprentice, and now has been in the graphic design world for 15 years.

The knowledge and individual outlook he has allows him to thrive in a competitive design industry.

His willingness to share his creative process, offer honest advice, and engage with fans and followers on social media has earned him a reputation as a generous and wise mentor, and inspiration, especially to junior designers and those just getting started in the field.

His clients include music heavy hitters, The Chainsmokers, Michael Ray, and Carter McLean; and brands such as Em & Friends, Pizza Rebellion, and Plastic Freedom.

Find out more @made.by.james

She started off with blogging and Instagram back in 2016, but now predominantly focuses on Instagram and TikTok.

Learn more @roseonethecoasthfx

With over 15 years of management experience, Saeed brings his experience in corporate financing, strategic growth, operations, sales, and marketing management to his business and the IT industry. He started his career as a technology commercialization officer before moving to the venture capital industry where he managed a multi-million-dollar fund to support the startup community in Nova Scotia, while working as a part-time lecturer at Saint Mary's University and teaching a computer information systems course.

An active member of the community, Saeed volunteers on many boards to share his experience and help others achieve their goals. As the Chair of Youth Retention & Immigration for the OneNS Coalition, he helped develop the "OneNS - Now or Never Report", which proposes visionary goals to encourage Nova Scotians to aim for change. Saeed is also a board member of EduNova, an international student organization mandated to support post-secondary institutions and language schools to attract students to the region.

Saeed has provided advisory and consulting support to various organizations and programs such as the Government of Canada's Federal Innovation Round Table, the Wage Standard Survey, and the Bank of Canada. Devoted to his work with youth in his community, he is involved in various organizations such as Junior Achievement Nova Scotia, the Sobey School of Business, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network.

Saeed holds a Masters of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a Certificate of Human Resource Management and Minor in Economics, from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Find out more @eldarahali.saeed

She is pursuing a Bachelor's in civil engineering at Dalhousie University and is currently on her co-op work terms. Outside of work and school, you can either find her in the gym lifting heavy weights, training for her next powerlifting competition, or working on her business.

Just a few weeks ago, Karen launched her business @norestrictionsapparel, an apparel brand that encourages strength athletes to become the best versions of themselves while highlighting the importance of mental health in addition to physical health.

Find out more @norestrictionsapparel

When she's not writing marketing plans and creating content, she's a mom of two little balls of energy named Maisie and Peter, and a craft beer enthusiast.

She spends her very limited free time running, camping, and creating.

Learn more @upstreetbrewing

He advocates for creativity, freedom of expression, individuality, and intersectionality as a Filipino/Canadian & member of the 2SLGBTQIA Community.

His apartment will always be full of plants, fish, drawings, and music.

Check him out @jineish

He has an honours BA from Dalhousie University and a Masters of Fine Arts from York University.

Scott has acted across Canada,  from Victoria to Whitehouse, Toronto,  and Halifax.

In Ukraine, he teaches Acting Shakespeare and English, when he's not acting in Ukrainian film projects.

Check him out @scotiascottinkyiv

Her brands and marketing possess a trademark rebellious nature and a unique ability to capture and direct the collective’s attention. By leveraging pop culture and attention she has created nationally covered marketing campaigns that have made headlines countrywide, including articles in Chatelaine Magazine, Huffington Post, Baker’s Magazine, The Globe and Mail, and multiple appearances on Global News and CTV Atlantic.

Nicole's media campaigns not only captured attention country-wide but led Vandal Doughnuts Inc to the Silver for "Best New Business of The Year" in 2018, by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and Gold for "Best Business" and "Best Bakery" by The Coast.

Learn more @sacred_machines

Kolade sees himself as a lifelong learner that wants to build relationships with others, through creative entrepreneurial collaborations.

A recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Architecture Award for Outstanding Design in Greenhouse, Successfully Pitched to the CBC’s Dragons Den & a Recipient of CBC’s Dragons Den Top Pitches of all Time 2016. He hosted the 1st outdoor musical performance on spring garden in collaboration with Spring Garden Business Admin.

Kolade is a creative, outgoing, dedicated individual who wants to build and expand his experience through creative work.

Check him out @koladeboboye

Dabbling at NSCAD for a few years turned into retail visual merchandising. Proud half owner of short lived retail space Big Pony.

Lindsay loves local art, smoking weed and handmade postcards.

Learn more @champagnemummy

T. has impressed fans with his emotional and highly energetic live performances for over a decade at festivals like The Great Escape, FOCUS Wales, Parliament Hill’s Canada Day, POP Montreal, Pride Toronto, Reeperbahn Festival, Canadian Music Week, Milwaukee Summerfest, and more.

The lead up to the release of T.’s self-titled album in September 2019 was a roller coaster. He was a winner on season 2 of CTV’s The Launch, which landed his launched single “Hope” on top 40 radio, Spotify Editorial playlists like New Music Friday Canada, and put T. on stage at the Bell Centre with Quebec’s reigning pop queen and his mentor, Marie-Mai.

T.’s recent self-titled album was described by Halifax’s The Coast as “equal parts scar tissue and sparkles”. Deeply vulnerable and honest, it is a must-hear for anyone who’s wondered who they are and what’s to come.

In 2020 T. released his “Part II Project”, a series of reimagined versions of singles from his album, featuring mentors and champions of his career. Rose Cousins (King of Spades Part II), Ria Mae (Loser Part II), Ivan Coyote (Birdsong Part II), and Sarah McLachlan (Bliss Part II) each lent their unique talents to the project. The singles have garnered praise from Tom Power on CBC’s Q, American Songwriter Magazine, and CTV’s eTalk.

Check him out @swtbbt

In early 2016 he released a music video for the Cunny Ross collaboration record "Smile" which was much appreciated because it shone light on Black fathers spending quality time with their daughters. The video was entered in the CBC Searchlight competition and made it to the top 10 in the region. Later that year he released his first short film "Outhome". Based on where he was raised (East Preston) the film includes the previously released record ETTG, and vivid descriptions of his current emotion and career direction.

In May of 2017, he was one of 10 Canadian artists chosen to attend the SOCAN Songwriting camp as a part of the ECMA`s award weekend. In that same month, he covered The Coast magazine to highlight his performance at OBEY. MAJE also received 6 nominations from The Coast ``Best of Halifax`` awards including `best solo artist` and most likely to `make it big`. On June 29th he released his first digital release mixtape *Insert Flame Emojis Here* on Soundcloud and it has since been nominated for 2 awards including "Video of the Year" by Music Nova Scotia.

2018 was a performance-filled year including Residencies with The T-Room (Dal), The Wardroom (King's), A school tour, Jazz Fest, ECMAs, NS Music Week, as well as an invitation to Gordie Sampson Songwriting Camp.

In 2019 MAJE was selected to attend an Artist residency at LVRN in Atlanta, Georgia. He followed that up by winning another artist competition with a $20,000 prize (Casino Nova Scotia X Music Nova Scotia). Since then he's been keeping a low profile and focusing on building up his brand as an artist and much more.

Check him out @magic__mic__

Heavily inspired by the pop culture consumed in their youth, Invidia likes to experiment with harsh but dreamy visuals. The photographer's favourite part of Invidia Obscura is showing people they are stunning, no matter what.

Invidia Obscura offers free photographic services for all SW’s, 50% reduced hourly rates for BIPOC, and photo print options for sessions.

Find out more @invidia.obscura

They are an open polyamorous triad/throuple that shares a bed and our lives with each other and the world.

They are amateur porn creators and can be found on OnlyFans, Reddit, and Pornhub under the tag Poly_Triad.

They are an open polyamorous triad/throuple that shares a bed and our lives with each other and the world.

They are amateur porn creators and can be found on OnlyFans, Reddit, and Pornhub under the tag Poly_Triad.

He has been described as "an affable guy" This may be true.

Check out @goodrobotbrew

Raised in the charming Annapolis Valley -  she now resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she enjoys savouring sunrises and sunsets on the buzzing waterfront boardwalk.

Aside from making messes and splashing paint onto canvases, her interests lie in fashion, modelling, mental health & wellness. She is a strong advocate of supporting small and local.

Learn more @tanisha.hfx

Her work focuses on mindfulness, mental health awareness, yoga, anatomy, the phenomena of Qi, creativity, the links to neuroscience, as well as the concept of reality. Her work portfolio has extended into the medical industry, the wellness industry, the fashion industry, the creative industry, and the fitness industry.

Letty has worked closely with the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery to implement Mindfulness and Resilience awareness as part of the surgical training portfolio, has been part of faculty supporting nursing staff during the pandemic and this year was an invited speaker at their annual conference presenting on Equality and Diversity in the medical industry,

Amongst the variety in her work, Letty has one mission. To help people in their self-realisation. To create spaces for healing. To be in the power of creativity.

Find out more @body.by.letty

She has been carrying the torch for roots reggae music in the Maritimes, and she channels her art into a service of advocacy for the oppressed and marginalized. Her most recent release ‘Chant Their Names’ is a cry for change in a system that has failed the black community repeatedly. The lyrics beg for police accountability and implores us to keep the memory of these victims alive by chanting their names out loud.

Her debut album is set to be released in August of this year.

Find out more @jahmilasings

She started her career as a newspaper and radio reporter but made the switch to social media six years ago when she began working for a digital marketing agency.

She started her own business in 2019 and currently works with clients such as Nestlé Canada, Manulife Bank, Kraft Heinz Canada, and her favourite client, The Opulent Alpaca.

Learn more @wordcraftingrid

Moving to Canada, he went to Nova Scotia Community College where he studied audio engineering and graduated with a diploma in Recording Arts.

Over the years he has collaborated with various artists both as a musician, a producer, and creative director.

LOVE & PRIDE is the latest project he has released which comprises 11 tracks and includes the hit single “SHAKABOOMBOOM”.

Moonwalka hopes to release more projects and help other creatives like himself express their craft. 

Check him out @mrmoonwalka

Upstreet is the first company on PEI to become B. Corp certified, a designation demonstrating positive social and environmental standards.

Mitch has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine for four years running.

Learn more @upstreetbrewing

Drawing from their Cape Breton Celtic and blue collar influences, they found a great appreciation for the darker side of Appalachian and Americana folk music with the same eerie, Celtic roots.

Factory Girls is an Appalachian folk duo that brings the warmth of a vocal firelight with songs to soothe and disturb. They have a blood harmony blend. They aren't related, but they're true soul sisters.

Despite their spooky roots, you can expect lots of storytelling, laughs, original songwriting, and fun covers during their performance to leave your heart feeling full.

Learn more @factorygirlsduo

Treasuring the mundane in order to foster intimacy between art and viewer is especially important as she explores the significance of our daily patterns. Her work is largely influenced by street art, comics and zine culture.

When not making art at her kitchen table, JJ is dedicated to bringing art out of the realm of formal institutions and into a space for anyone of any background by designing and facilitating arts programs for youth and adults alike.

JJ has created arts programs for NSCAD University's Extended Studies Department, the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, and Halifax Public Libraries.

Find out more @jjsteeves

From travelling and organizing luxury vacations to operating a previously well known professional grappling circuit across Canada, he comes to win. A love for combat sports and a passion for helping athletes succeed and grow led him to become a steady athlete and black belt out of Pictou County Jiu Jitsu under Jaret MacIntosh and Jason Rorison.

He’s been involved in the sport in many ways and is very excited to get back to work on FLA as soon as this situation locally calms down.

Mixed Martial Arts is the fasted growing sport on the planet, join the fun and check out a local club today! Check them out on all social media platforms, Fight League Atlantic

Jimmy is now a husband and father of three and has great appreciation for his second chance at life.

Armed with a Post-Secondary degree and diploma, addictions background and life experience, Jimmy’s goal is to help his community and beyond. He wants to infuse change and healing in people who battle the same obstacles he did. He uses his website and clothing brand as a vessel to share inspiration and support.

While trying to experience life with a new lens and making up for lost time, he is building awareness to end the stereotypes of mental health, bullying and addiction and connect people who are struggling with finding their passions so they can heal and become the hero of their own story.

Check him out @jimmy__couture

Kennedy’s star has risen fast in the maritime community thanks to her originality, determination, and professional skillset that assures success for events, clubs, and shows as she builds relationships and collaborates with artists, Grammy award-winning producers, and connections in Canada, the US and overseas.

Kennedy is more than a DJ. She is an awarded dancer and choreographer who has performed all over Canada and at Disney. She is an event planner who uses her PR/Communication education to assure success for the festivals and events she headlines and those she coordinates.

Kennedy is not selfish. She promotes women and ethnicity in the music industry. She uses her knowledge, skills, and experience to influence and support to lead positive change in the industry.

Kennedy is creative. She is a performer who includes costume, dance, and theatre in her shows leaving her audience spellbound. She takes her audiences to places dark and light with mixes that mesmerize and enthrall. As one of the only female producers on the East Coast, Kennedy is well equipped to lead by example that commitment, drive, and belief empowers and drives success. With strong management and advice, Kennedy knows her star will rise and deliver success for all on her team.

Learn more about her @o_cinnedimusic

She started as a waitress & professional dancer in 2011, turned self-employed house cleaner, became an accomplished property manager, and is now sharing her passion as a sex educator / Love & Intimacy Coach.

Jayna has a background in health & fitness as a personal trainer, nutrition specialist, & bikini competitor. Her passion is in giving others the blueprint to finding success in the areas of Health, Relationships & Finances.

Stay tuned for her upcoming Podcast, Sex Education content & new online courses launching soon.

Find out more @jayna.swan

Art has always been her outlet for self-expression. It has allowed Gabriella to convey emotions when words could not. She decided to share the artistic knowledge she gained by completing her BEd from St. Francis Xavier University in 2016.

Although working with students in the classroom was extremely rewarding, she knew that she wanted to positively impact lives through artistic expression. That’s when her journey lead her to Detroit, MI, where she was able to combine her passions by completing her MEd with a concentration in art therapy.

Learn more about her @nsarttherapy

His autobiographical comics deal with class, identity and self-esteem while using the power of drawing to conjure the fantastic.

He has led #Sadvember every November for the last four years, an online invitation to share art about mental health.

Check him out @jrotszta

She was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, spent several years living in India before returning to Jamaica at age 11.

While in University she enjoyed participating in activities on campus, networking, meeting new people and working towards creating positive change on campus as a member of the SMUSA Board of Directors.

She lives in Halifax, working for one of the top financial institutions in the country.

Learn more @rhea.nankani

Malia, since childhood always had a love for taking “too many pictures” no matter what the subject may have been. She is an avid foodie, loving fur mom, and vacation lover to all places hot.

As a late teen, Malia began in the industry working as a model for several local events and gaining experience with many different photographers. It wasn’t long before Malia bought a camera for herself and started bringing her own artistic visions to life, this lead to her working with commercial products, local shows and having a number of publications on both sides of the lens.

Malia continues to learn and grow in this field making her passion everlasting.

You can find Malia’s work on Instagram at @maliakongphoto. 

In 2019, Earl took these sounds across the country, playing shows from Halifax to Vancouver. His debut release, Where You Know Yourself, ranked in the mid 300's on the US Top 800 Radio Weighted/Unweighted charts.

Earl Donald's sophomore release, A lighter World, flaunts a progression in his beat-driven production and garnered positive reviews from sites like Music Trails (USA) and SHE-WOLF (Germany).

Check him out @earldonaldmusic

He has held a number of different hustles including a barber, sushi chef, artist, ambulance driver, which has all helped him get to where he is today.

He knows he is at his best when he is helping others pursue their passion or make a change.

He is a model, actor, content creator and currently works at NSCC as a Student Advisor.

Find out more about him @allthingsintime

Born in Rockville, MD, CASSANDRA began singing as soon as she could speak. She grew up in Duluth, GA before moving to Binghamton, NY for middle school and high school. Her family now lives in Jacksonville, FL, where CASSANDRA enjoys spending most of her free time. “Every city I’ve lived in has taught me something about myself and the world around me,” she explains. “Although it was difficult to move often, I’m grateful for the memories I have made and the lessons I have learned in each place.” 

In high school, CASSANDRA began to dabble with her songwriting skills, composing several pop songs but never releasing them. It wasn’t until the Coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in 2020 that she found what she loved most about the creative process of music. She started writing and co-writing pop music and began recording soon after. Her most recent single, “Love Country,” was released to the public via all streaming platforms on March 26, 2021.

As a trained opera singer, CASSANDRA has a vast vocal range that spans over four octaves. She has a fierce sound, with the ability to seamlessly weave in and out of tricky vocal runs that would trip up most singers. As an artist, her goal is to never treat two songs the same, thus developing a new sound for each one.

Currently studying Classical Vocal Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, CASSANDRA plans to release her first EP, “Made for Me” on April 16, 2021. “I want fans to feel inspired by who they truly want to be. I hope to be a strong, non-polar influence that encourages people to look inside at what they want to be in life.” CASSANDRA aims to help invigorate her listeners to find their happiest selves, without being influenced by the media.

Known for bringing powerhouse vocals, crafty storytelling, youthful energy, and a message of empowerment in her songs, CASSANDRA is always setting her sights on achieving success. “2020 has motivated me to never wait on my dreams. My passion for creating has never been stronger and I am excited to continue motivating myself to create better, deeper song topics while pushing the limits of pop vocals.”

You can keep up with CASSANDRA’s musical journey by following her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @youknowcassandra and streaming her music on Spotify and Apple Music. 

Having lived across three continents, she appreciates and utilizes a global variety of flavours and styles in her baking.

Her boutique cakes can often be recognized by her signature gold-leaf touch of glamour.

Find out more @cakes_by_neh

As an expert in Gulf affairs, Wafa has written a number of articles in this regard. She is passionate about writing on women development issues.

Wafa has experience working on social program shows in Bahrain and then she worked in Lebanon for nine years on a news channel that is one of the most important news channels in the Arab community.

She is currently, managing the One Frame production company, writing articles on Gulf affairs with Almayadeen.net, and writing articles on empowering Gulf women with the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. An activist in the field of women's empowerment.

Learn more @wafa_alamm

Mo'Green who began his music journey over 11 years ago is highly inspired by Afro Beats, Reggae as well as Hip Hop and R&B.

After moving to South Africa in 2015, Mo'Green released his first Album titled "Lagos To Mzansi". According to him, the title came about, following his transition in sounds from Afrobeats to a blend of Soulful house music. Then in 2020, Mo'Green released another EP titled "Afro Blues".

Mo'Green is the founder of (Voices Of Africa Today), a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting local musicians in Cape Town. 

To mark our second year anniversary of Voices Of Africa Today, Mo'Green is planning to release his third studio album titled "Back To Dust" which will be followed by a fundraising event and Album listening party.

Check him out @mogreen___

For General Khan, poetry is an expression that is tied to her cultural practice as a Pashtun. Her first album Wrath of Khan dropped on April 30th, 2021.

General Khan recently completed her Center for Arts Tapes CFAT) artist in residence. Her art style is influenced by her lived experiences including subject matter such as white supremacy, colonialism, displacement, racism, islamophobia disability justice, and more.

General Khan is also a local community organizer. She is known for her overwhelming passion and commitment to dismantling systems of oppression.

At most actions, you'll find her on the megaphone chanting. Those closest to her know her for her big smile and an even bigger heart.

Find out even more @iamgeneralkhan

Most of her travels involve leading yoga retreats and yoga teacher training as she loves to combine her passions of connecting with people and creating memorable experiences.

Kyla teaches yoga as a way to inspire others to live a happy, healthy and authentic life. She enjoys coaching people and creating a space where they feel comfortable and confident in order to reach their full potential.

When not getting her yoga on, Kyla can be found tasting new vegan health foods, enjoying time in nature, working out, connecting with loved ones, and exploring the world.

Follow her adventures on Instagram @kymackinnonyoga

She has a full-time job at Dalhousie University(when she’s not on maternity leave) and when she’s not wearing her professional hat, you can find her; cycling, SUP’ing, camping, hiking, plogging, surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, birdwatching, volunteering for numerous local events, fundraising, or just out for a breath of fresh air in her backyard.

Her nature-loving spirit started in her early years of birdwatching with her Father and getting outside for plenty of family hikes. The adventures went to the next level after meeting her partner and co-founder of A for Adventure just over five years ago.

All of her passions are slowly being introduced to her new 8-month-old son as well, and she hopes for him to share the same enthusiasm.

Learn more about her @outdoorsyjenn

She began singing at the age of 3 and has had a passion for it ever since. As a child, Tara was immersed in music through singing and piano lessons and studied dance as well as various sports.

With such strong taking to music and after competing in local events and attending and graduating from Berklee College Of Music with honors, she knew she was meant to pursue a career in creating music and storytelling.

Favourite credits include Merritt, Sterling, and Evie award-winning performances as Celie in The Color Purple (Neptune, Citadel/RMTC), Hadestown (Citadel), The Invisible (Catalyst Theatre), Brave Girl (Lunchbox).

Tara and her co-creator, Masini McDermott, launched a virtual platform “Musical Tokens” (musicaltokens.com) with hopes of connecting women of color in the musical theatre industry.

They’ve also started an unfiltered podcast, “Straight Up, Sis!

“I’ve been fortunate enough to perform all across Canada and am proud to be a Black woman who inspires others to speak their truths and create and share their art with whoever will receive it.” - Tara Jackson

Learn more @taraatee

Her background in fashion Design keikaikoa.com has been shown in Atlantic Fashion week since 2016. Their campaign supports an anti-bullying campaign called RESPECT.

Her recent studies at the Atlantic Film Co-op have resulted in a funded film1 called MAMA and Film 5 called MAID.

interiorsurfaces.ca that she co-owns with her husband is an agency that represents carpet and flooring mills around the world. Her primary work is designing Area rugs and carpets for hospitality called Mekizodesigns. Her work can be seen in various hotels and homes across North America and abroad.

The inspirations for her work are her abstract paintings that she takes from nature and her indigenous roots.

Melānie has now entered in partnership with local entrepreneurs in Hubbards to create a wedding destination called NauticalNuptialsSouthShore.com The group creates small authentic and intimate weddings by the ocean. Creating work, promoting sustainable weddings inspired by the beautiful scenery of the south shore.

Melanie resides in Hubbards, NS with her husband and their children, their dog Koa and their sweet bunnies Chichi and Ponyo.

Learn more @mekizokeikaikoa

He is a multifaceted creative strategist & social sculptor who has worked in the world of design, placemaking, photography, web development, researching, strategy, directing, film-making, publishing, digital consulting, and fashion design.

He holds a BSc BUSINESS IT (UK) degree and is the Founder of Creative Nestlings, a creative network that connects and celebrates the youth of Africa and creative director at https://tusa.africa/, a platform making therapy more accessible.

Learn more about him @dillionsphiri

An award-winning musician, Joe Hubley has toured around Atlantic Canada playing shows under his solo act, as well as his various other musical projects (The Nephews, Retroverse, etc.) He is known for his energetic live shows and enigmatic stage presence.

In the fall of 2021, Hubley will begin attending Mount Allison University. An advocate for civil rights, Hubley aspires to attend law school and work as a defense attorney with a not-for-profit organization such as the EJI or NAACP.

Learn more about Joe @hubleyjoe

The content of her music usually speaks of unseen forces both dark and light, the paranormal, astrology, philosophy, and the hidden treasures of the human psyche. 

Adding a mystical touch to even the sharpest of rhymes she sits down with The Sanctuary's very own Israel Ekanem and covers topics such as her musical journey, battle with mental health, and how skateboarding saved her life.

Learn more about her @iamlxvndr

The Artistic Producer of The Villains Theatre, they have worked as a performer, producer, and graphic designer with theatre companies such as Onelight, 2b, Matchstick, Lion's Den, Zuppa, Xara, Terra Novella, and Workshirt Opera.

A past board chair of the Bus Stop Theatre and the current co-chair of Theatre Nova Scotia, they have won the Mayor's Award for Emerging Theatre Artist and the Bhayana Invisible Champion Award.

Colleen's theatre creations include dark matter, Cartography, Mercury, The Blazing World, and the effects were cumulative and i almost didn't notice.

A current MFA candidate at NSCAD university, their daily playwright drawings can be seen on Instagram @quietprocess, and their illustrations can be found at @littlefoibleart.

For more info, visit littlefoible.net

She's worked in communications for a decade in roles ranging from traditional PR in the non-profit space to global manager for a SaaS company.

When she's not working or driving her son to hockey, Ashley is an avid runner, loves to write for her personal blog, overshares on Facebook, and enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

Find her online at @imashleymi just about everywhere!

Having always worked in retail and fashion, Mackenzie had always felt like the black sheep of the industry, never finding a place where she truly fit in. It was then that she decided to create a store that felt like a safe space for all walks of life. A store that encourages individualism, self-expression, and honoring authenticity.

Michael having pursued programming, business, and years of working in retail always knew he wanted to own and create his own business. After spending so many years with Mackenzie, he saw her passion and knew it was something he wanted to be a part of. Thus Ivory Sheep was born.

Learn more about them @ivorysheepclothing

She has worked for non-profit organizations in both the arts and the education sector for the past decade including the East Coast Music Association and Symphony Nova Scotia. Originally from Moncton, NB, she moved to Halifax, NS in 2007 to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English & French at Saint Mary's University and also studied Music Business at NSCC.

She helped run the Halifax Pinball League between 2016-2019 and has volunteered with numerous music festivals over the years. She enjoys wrestling, trivia nights, and hanging out with her cat Binx.

You can find her at @NSLCpunk on Twitter and Instagram.

With over 10 years experience in the music and entertainment space, he also has vast experience in the sourcing, licensing, curation, creation, monetization, and distribution of audio and visual content. He has extensive experience across the continent due to directly engaging with mobile and online platforms, independent record labels, artists, and publishers.

Kreeyate is a dynamic creative entertainment marketing agency which exists to bring exceptional, conscious driven, and unique entertainment content from Africa to the World.

On a mission to educate creatives on the importance of copyright, Munya has recently launched the “Happy Endings” initiative. After being inspired from watching the biggest copyright infringement case which was about South African musician, singer, and composer Solomon Linda while studying at the Academy of Sound Engineering. Munya also watched Netflix’s The Lion’s Share which further motivated him to do the project of remaking the song "Mbube"; and ensuring that the wrong that was done in the past is not repeated.

Additionally, Munya is gearing to launch an educational platform purely focusing on music business called www.MOTIAfrica.com. M.O.T.I that stands for Masters Of The Industry sole purpose is to provide all the information required for any creative wanting to enter the music industry.

He has given presentations and attended key forums centered around copyright across South Africa, Angola, Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria. Before joining Sony, Munya was employed as the Head of Licensing for the Composer, Author, and Publishing Association of South Africa. Prior to that, he was the Head of Operations: Africa at Content Connect Africa from 2009 – 2019, and prior to that he was the Head of Marketing and Promotions for Putumayo World Music in South Africa from 2007 to 2009.

Learn more about Munya @MunyaChanetsa

and @Moti_Africa

Her Bigfoot research began in 2001 when she and her family were camping near Radium Springs, NM and her son and nephew had a Bigfoot encounter. She jumped into research with both feet in 2003 after an article in the El Paso Times mentioned “Horizon City’s Monster” near where she lived, east of El Paso. Her research followed locally discovered patterns in the desert southwest (West Texas and Southern New Mexico region) and included mapmaking and geological connections.

She volunteered for several months in 2005 at SaveTheChimps.org (Alamogordo, NM, frequented by Anthropologist Jane Goodall) before they moved the chimps to an island in Florida.

Sharon was the West Regional Leader for the TBRC (Texas Bigfoot Research Center) from 2003-2007. She was a Bigfootology team member (2013-2014) in Washington state and has been an Affiliate with Phantoms & Monsters Fortean Research since July 2020.

Sharon wrote/published her book “Bigfoot Beyond Belief” in early 2021, which covers a study in cultural anthropology of what people believe about Bigfoot/Sasquatch.

Learn more about Sharon @sunstarangel

Abady has been a dance instructor for over 7 years and currently teaches weekly classes at House of Eights, primarily in the styles of Jazz Funk and Heels. He has lead recreational dance classes and workshops at Dalhousie University and throughout HRM, as well as coached and choreographed for the Halifax Thunderbirds Dance Team, Dalhousie’s Competitive Black & Gold Dance Team, and Maritime Dance’s competitive team and elite performance groups. His choreography has been featured at TedxHalifax, Black & Gold Showcase, Halifax Fuse Festival, DalDance's Annual Show, Halifax Pride events, and various concept videos and dance competitions throughout Atlantic Canada. While primarily trained in Halifax, he has also trained in Los Angeles, New York, and Vancouver, under the instruction of some of the world’s top choreographers, including Keenan Cooks, Janelle Ginestra, Kaela Faloon, and Yanis Marshall.

As a leader in Halifax’s growing dance community, Abady is committed to providing dance education, community spaces, and mentorship, while constantly striving to spread empowerment, encourage authenticity, and facilitate progress-focused growth in his community.

Learn more about Abady @abadya 

and @houseofeights

A two-time MNS award nominee, she’s been writing and performing music for over 12 years.

In her musings, you’ll find anything from haunting ballads to vengeful pop/R&B. Her new single ‘Damned’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

Learn more about Jade @bennettjade

In this episode we talk about ways to move forward, to heal after the numerous murders of black people.

Learn more at @mr_stop_the_violence

Eleanor hosts the Power + Presence + Position podcast, a top-ranked podcast for female founders with over 1.5 million downloads to date. The former chair of the Visiting Women’s Executive Exchange Program at the Yale School of Management, Eleanor has been featured in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and more.

Learn more @eleanorbeaton

She started Poison Pear in 2010, creating hand screen printed accessories and clothing that aim to be bold, wild, fun, and sometimes edgy while remaining comfortable and fairly casual.

Check her out @poisonpearhfx

 She's the owner of Hook, Line & Tinker Embroidery Kits, an ethical business that is a reflection of her values - care for people, respect for the environment, and a deep desire to create something meaningful and real through a shared act of making.

Check her out @hookelinetinker

However, it was not until she met Coeli Marsh and was introduced to Baptiste Power Yoga that she found her true passion. After studying with Coeli, she was compelled to travel to Hawaii to study with Baron Baptiste in 2009. This was a transformative experience that opened up her world. She saw that her belief system and self-imposed limitations had been holding her back; she was playing small. She continued to explore yoga and tended to her inner world, and later completed and assisted another 200-hour yoga teacher training with Coeli Marsh.

She diversified her teaching by studying yoga for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) with the Warriors at Ease programme at Kripalu in Massachusetts. Then shortly after she developed an interest in the healing practice of Reiki and energy work and became a Reiki Master. In 2019 she was a co-facilitator in her first Reiki Level 1 training with 20 students that she personally initiated in a powerful ceremony.

Stefanie also sharpened her instructional skills with Ana Forrest with advanced vinyasa training in Ottawa; delving into many traditional Native American ceremonies and breaking down advanced postures, sequencing, and assisting. Additionally, she has recently practised with Sadie Nardini and Magan Curry and attributes much of her teaching style to them.

Stefanie has co-facilitated several yoga retreats in Central America; her current focus is to instruct online to help students deepen their practice outside the studio.

Check her out @stefaniewintersyoga

In April 2015 he started the Stop the Violence Clothing Brand the first brand of its kind in Canada geared towards spreading a message of love and standing against violence. Through his work, he’s become the face of Stop the Violence in Nova Scotia and over the years he’s had the opportunity to meet some prominent figures such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Former Governor Generals of Canada His Excellency David Johnston and Her Honor Michaëlle Jean, Former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia John Grant, US Consul General Steven Giegerich and many more.

In June 2016 he made history in Canada as June 10th was declared “Stop the Violence Day” in the Province of Nova Scotia with the signing of the Proclamation by Premier McNeil whereas Nova Scotians are asked to wear red to mark this day of awareness and

perform an act of kindness towards a fellow citizen. Besides being known as "Mr Stop the Violence" he also serves as a Justice Champion for the Michaëlle Jean Foundation.

In 2016, Stop the Violence won BRONZE in BEST OF HALIFAX by The Coast for best Activist Organization. In 2017, Quentrel won SILVER for BEST OF HALIFAX 2017 as Best Activist. In 2017 he was also awarded the Doctor Wenonah Foster Community Service Excellence Award by Veterans Affairs

Canada as an employee for his community service work. He was the 2018 recipient of a Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institutes Ancestral Awards for Civic Engagement. He has been a

guest speaker for WE Day Atlantic (November 2017); The National Summit of Black Canadians (December 2017). He’s been named a “Halifax Hero” (Metro News now the Star 2016) and was recognized as a Local Hero for the Hal-Con Sci-Fi Convention Fall 2018.

In February 2018 he made headlines when he raised $7000 in 5 days to take 400 black youth to see Black Panther together. In September 2018 he was mentioned as change-maker and young leader in Nova Scotia in the Lieutenant Governor’s Speech from the Throne. In October of 2018, the Black Panther Initiative was chosen as 1 of 18 things that represent Nova Scotia out of 5000 suggestions to be accessioned in the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History for the 150th Birthday of the museum.

In March 2019 he was a recipient of the Senate of Canada 150 Medal.

He was nominated (March 2019) and named (May 2019) one of the world’s Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Under 40. He is the 1 st African Nova-Scotian to receive this prestigious honour on a list that includes celebrities such as Beyonce, Drake, Rihanna, PK Subban, The Weekend, Tiger Woods, Chadwick Boseman and so many more.

In November of 2019 he met his inspirational hero President Barack Obama, a moment he’ll cherish for a lifetime, and he was honoured to be also mentioned in the President’s introduction as well.

In December 2020 he was named the official Team Ambassador for the Halifax Hurricanes (Halifax’s Pro Basketball Team) being the 1 st Ambassador in team history. He’s also the recipient of the Indomitable Spirit Award at the 2020 Courage to Give Back Awards by Family SOS. Also in early 2020 was nominated for Canada’s 2020 Top 40 Under 40. In May

2020 he was named 1 of 20 Outstanding Black Men in Canada by Shifters Magazine. He was the 1st and only Nova Scotian and Atlantic Canadian to be named to the list.

In the winter of 2021, he will be featured in a new children’s book called Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians. In March 2021 he was honoured to be named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Halifax Harbourside Rotary Club

receiving a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship award for his community work through his activism.

Mr Stop the Violence has also been featured in other documentaries, podcasts, magazines, as well as school, university projects and presentations. But despite all the attention and coverage he gets, he remains humble and focused to continue to create positive change and make a difference. He continues to make a positive impact in the community by speaking and singing at schools, conferences and other events across Nova Scotia and Canada, and hosting Stop the Violence initiatives such as the STV Christmas Toy Drive, Stop the Violence

Dance Party for School Supplies to name a few, as he continues to spread the message of love against violence and raise violence awareness throughout Nova Scotia, Canada and the world.

Check him out @mr_stop_the_violence

A merchant seafarer by profession. Hodder spends about 6 months a year on ships working to fund his music career as an independent artist.

His time off the seas and home on solid ground mean countless hours in the studio working on personal projects as well as helping other artists access the music scene.

“If I’m not on a boat and you can’t find me in the studio, stop looking, I don’t wanna be found”

Hodder spends a fair amount of time off-grid, in the woods or on the trails which he calls “the equivalent to hitting the reset button”

“I’ve been really fortunate to have the ability to connect with so many talented and hardworking individuals in the time that I have been active, I’m looking forward to progressing my abilities and contributing back to our local scene. I’ll never lose my competitive edge, but I think a lot of great can come from us holding each other up to”

Check him out @hoddermusic

Nicole became a consulting dietitian in order to help others improve digestion, to reduce the risk of illness and to help ensure clients have the tools and resources to live a high quality of life. She is a firm believer that most illnesses begin at the level of the gut and that with the proper education and motivation, anyone can take health into their own hands by focusing on nutrition and lifestyle choices that promote digestive health & overall wellness.

Nicole envisions a healthier province and a healthier country and the transformation begins with each of us taking control of our health, reducing our risk for disease and following a healthy lifestyle for optimal health and longevity.

Areas of expertise include:

IBS, IBD, GERD

Arthritis and joint pain

Liver Health

Mental Health – Depression, Anxiety, ADHD

Hormone imbalances including PCOS and Infertility

Allergies and intolerances

Skin issues – Rosacea and Eczema

Check her out @eatwellnovascotia

She is passionate about modelling and got involved in the modelling industry in Halifax about 4 years ago. She has walked for multiple fashion shows including Atlantic Fashion Week.

Her strong commitment to giving back to her community led Assa and her to create an organization called Les Amis des Enfants (the friends of children) which gives children in the rural areas of Cote d’Ivoire a wonderful experience and hope in the future. They plan to collaborate with other organizations to have more events in the upcoming years.

Check her out @assa.doukoure

Ian has been working with newcomers to Canada for over 15 years as an English instructor, curriculum developer, activities coordinator, and orientation coordinator.

He has a talent and passion for educating and helping new Canadians learn the ropes and make meaningful connections. Ian lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with his wife Michelle and cat, Gracie.

In his free time, he likes to read, run, travel, spend time with family and friends, and play video games.

Check him out @rightstartcanada

Jayden is climbing his way to the top with upbeat anthems and clever lyrics.

Check him out @thisisjaydenaustin

She earned a BA in Communication from the University of Buffalo in 1996, then moved on to Howard University in Washington, DC, where she completed a Masters and PhD in Mass Communication. Dr Egwu has served as a faculty member in the communication departments at Howard University, Morgan State University, The George Washington University and Nova Southeastern University. She is currently communication faculty at the University of Maryland University College.

Her work has been featured in academic journals, newspapers and online publications such as The Grio and is a contributor/media producer for The Burton Wire.

Her creative work, however, reaches beyond writing. Dr Egwu is also a dancer/choreographer and was a member of Carla and Company, Coyaba Dance Theater, Choreographers Collaboration Project in Washington DC and featured in several other projects.

An avid filmmaker, she has co-produced and co-directed the award-winning documentary Runway Afrique and No Justice, No Peas: Getting A Veggie In The Hood. She also co-produced, directed and did the cinematography for the documentary Sunshine Chic. Dr Egwu is currently the director of a talk show shot in Atlanta.

Dr Egwu is also a social media enthusiast and consultant and has fully jumped into the live-streaming revolution. In addition to consulting groups and individuals on effective social media, video and live stream production, she is the host of MediaScope on Instagram, Facebook Live, LinkedIn Live, YouTube, wjmsradio.com and Gospel 107.1 FM in Nassau, Bahamas. She also co-hosts the TV Channeling Podcast on wjmsradio.com and all major podcasting platforms.

Check her out @dr_tachi

Her mission is to empower people to take control of their own health through holistic wellness programs and education.

Check her out @jesse_benjamin_

She is a Go Big Show Semi-Finalist and has been featured on BuzzFeed, Investigation Discovery's True Nightmares, and CBS's The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Krystal also dances with the Los Angeles burlesque company The Dollface Dames and hosts The Jade Follies, SoCal's first and only all-Asian burlesque and variety revue!

Catch her performances virtually:

May 19, 8:30p PDT:

Virtual TRIPTease

June 5, 6 P PDT:

Lola's Virtual Cabaret

Check her out @krystal_kurio