Field Work at STOP in Porto, Portugal, December 2024

I was hosted at STOP, a former shopping centre repurposed as musician studios, the largest existing DIY studio complex in Europe. I conducted interviews with musicians in their studios and discussed the importance and challenges of STOP amidst evaporating space for music making and escalating real estate speculation and development.

Third Fridays Community Gathering Drop in Session with the Communication and Culture graduate program, November 2024

As graduate program director, I host a monthly drop-in session for students to check in, discuss progress and challenges, and learn from one another. At this particular session we were really pleased to pose with the ComCult banner I commissioned with a lovely photograph from ComCult PhD candidate Alexa Vachon

Supervisor Appreciation Event, Communication and Culture graduate program, December 2023

I initiated a ComCult supervisor appreciation event, thanking supervisors for their labour supervising graduated students to completion, given that this is done on a voluntary basis. Inspired by RuPeter badges, I commissioned two pins: the theme of the Master’s supervision pin is “roots,” recognizing the foundation and roots that graduate supervisors help plant so that students can ground and flourish in their chosen research area.The theme of the PhD pin is “rhizomes,” recognizing the foundations that PhD graduate supervisors help set, which can be non-linear, emergent, and situated in the student’s needs.

Pins designed by Nala Haileselassie.

Berlin summer teaching, Summer 2023

In 2018 I developed an international course taking Toronto Metropolitan University students for a two-week intensive course learning about socially-engaged and grassroots art and culture.  In 2023 we resumed after a long COVID-19 and sabbatical hiatus.

Dao, Co-op, Union Panel, March 2023

In my CRI 760, Diversity / Creative Industries class, I hosted an online public talk about alternative organizational forms to promote equity in the creative industries.

Youth and Emergence, Research and Care Ethics keynote, Intersections Cross-sections conference, March 2023

I was honoured to be invited to keynote on my research on care ethics. I decided to deliver this session as a lecture + workshop and invited participant to consider their own care networks.

Creative Industries in Canada book launch, October 2022

My co-editor Cheryl Thompson and I were pleased to see our book in print, and invited all our contributors plus a few special guests to the Catalyst for a convo on the three themes in our book: production, participation, and pedagogies.

Engage journal keynote, July 2022

I was honoured to be invited to keynote the launch of London-based Engage Journal issue 26 with a talk entitled “Care Ethics for the Creative Industries.” Unfortunately, this was still during the COVID times and I did the talk online, not in the UK. 

CreativiTy, Community & Care Panel, march 2021

When we will still online learning in 2021, my CRI 760: Diversity / Creative Creative Industries class at convened a panel of local artists to discuss care and community. Panel curated and facilitated by teaching assistant Pauline Nguyen, watch below.

Chloe Kirlew: Decolonizing Our Creativity/ Daydreaming and Visualization as Resistance, February 2021

My CRI 760: Diversity / Creative Industries also welcomed Chloe Kirlew (The Rei Queer) for a public talk on Decolonizing our Creativity in Feb 2021. In 2023, I invited Chloe back to my Diversity / Creative Industries class (this time in person!) for a Valentine’s Day guest lecture on “The Ingredients of Love.”

Towards a Collaborative Future Online Workshop Series, November 9-12, 2020

My research lab hosted a series of online workshops dedicated to imagining a future where collaboration is more possible through increased avenues for co-creation, teaching and learning, and community engagement. Topics included archival research, gardening, and creative writing. Our final cultural mapping workshop replaced a planned in-person research festival with research partner Mass Culture, cancelled due to COVID-19.

How We Care, How We Work, When We Can: Black Revolution and the Artist’s Work, A Conversation with Anique Jordan, June 2020

My graduate seminar, Research and Care Ethics, welcomed artist Anique Jordan for a online public talk on Black revolution and the artist’s work.

The Messy Middle:
Methodological Exploration Through Research Practices, January-March 2020

My research lab hosted a series of workshops and conversations about exploratory and destabilizing research methods. Co-organized and co-facilitated with research assistant Calla Evans.

Reimagining the Creative Industries in the Community Arts sector, Catalyst talks, October 2019

I delivered a talk in the Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University, highlighting research findings on inclusive practices in the community arts sector. What would the creative industries be like if they were run like a community program?

Robarts Lecture, May 2019

I delivered the 6th annual Robarts Centre lecture at York University with a talk entitled “A Collaborative Turn: Youth-led Organizing and Communities of Care.”

“Crossroads” School of Creative Industries student exhibit, April 2019

For my CRI 810: Creative Collaboration class at Toronto Metropolitan University, I organized a showcase of final student projects: strategic plans that students created for industry partners, and invited these industry partners to join us for snacks and drinks. Inspired by Britney Spears’ oeuvre and by upcoming graduation, students decided on the title “Crossroads” for the showcase.

Student Inclusion Action Plan showcase in the Catalyst, April 2019

For my CRI 760: Diversity / Creative Industries class at Toronto Metropolitan University, I organized a showcase of final student projects, which were Inclusion Action Plans to create more equity in the creative industries.

“Fostering Inclusive Spaces and Scenes: Lessons from the Community Arts Sector” panel for the Pop Montreal festival symposium, September 2019.

I organized and moderated a panel for the Pop Montreal music festival, inviting folks to discuss inclusive practices in their community arts programs. Featuring Éliane Thivierge (PLURI); Karl-André St-Victor (Chalet Kent); Naty Tremblay (SKETCH Working Arts); Emma Maryam (Rock Camp Montreal) and Cheryl Chu (Rock Camp Montreal).

Student zine marking workshop, March 2016

Student-led zine marking workshop in my Youth Culture and the Creative Economy graduate seminar.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Youth Engagement project, November 2015

For my CRI 600: Creative Process class, students completed projects for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra about youth engagement. I convened a panel of guest judges, including Jeff Melanson, Apey Aliermo, Damien Abraham, Jutta Brendemuehl, Colin Medley, and Magali Meagher.

Double Double Land music venue class field trip, October 2015

For my CRI 600: Creative Process class, we travelled to now-defunct Kensington market venue Double Double Land to talk about small-scale spaces for cultural production, hosted by Apey Aliermo.

This is Hell! Radio interview: “Paying the Price for art in the Capitalist Showroom” episode, July 2015

On a break from apartment hunting, I was interviewed for the This is Hell! radio show about the difficulty for artists in making a living, and reclaiming art for the commons.

Between the Pages TV show, April 2015

I discussed youth culture with authors Elise Moser and Neil Smith and host Dimitri Nasrallah for the “Adolescents and the New Adult” episode of the Between the Pages TV show on Bell Local Montreal.

Donner Prize shortlist for Out of the Basement, May 2014

At the Donner Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto for Donner Prize for the Best Public Policy book by a Canadian. My book Out of the Basement didn’t win, but the shortlisted prize was still pretty sweet.

“Can Anyone Be a Rock Star?: The Gendered Landscape of Music Scenes and Rock Camp for Girls Montreal” panel for the Pop Montreal festival symposium, September 2014

I organized and moderated a panel for the Pop Montreal music festival with Rock Camp for Girls volunteers and camps about gender inequity and music. We got the audience involved in our Superstar Songwriter karaoke workshop.

 “Young Urban Creators: Urban Art and Creative Entrepreneurs” panel discussion and keynote lecture, University Centre Saint Ignatius, Antwerp, Belgium, 2013. 

I was invited to participate in a panel discussion on youth culture before my “Creative Entrepreneurship and the Cultural Industry” keynote lecture at the Youth Subcultures: Download the Drivers conference.