- Nyle Johnston
- "Johnston’s spirit name is Wiishkoonseh Miigizi'enh means Whistling White Headed Eagle. He grew up in Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and apprenticed with Storytellers since his youth. Sources of his artistic inspiration include woodland painters, Storytellers and the traditions of his indigenous culture. Johnston notes: “In a time of reconciliation, it is important for all people to know that we exist and have such a strong, beautiful legacy of stories and teachings from the Anishinaabe Nation that are grounded in my experience and identity.” A painter, mural artist, traditional storyteller, and traditional helper, Johnston uses his gift of storytelling to connect his peoples’ stories of love and healing with the broader world, and offer support to a range of community organizations. His work has been exhibited across many of Canada’s most important institutions, from the AGO and ROM to the Evergreen Brickworks and the Chippewas of Nawash Cultural Centre. His artistic practice is focused on illustrating stories of the Anishinaabe Nation in a variety of media in order to raise awareness of their unique histories as they in turn inform his process. He was born and raised on his beautiful reserve, Neyaashiinigmiing, on the Saugeen Peninsula (Bruce Peninsula) and took a keen interest in painting and art at a very young age. Johnston has an established portfolio of work and is well recognized in Toronto. His original works are showcased at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in the Jennings Young gallery (J.S. McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art). Johnston’s Diiyah Muh’gaanag (Our First Family) is a collection of images of spiritual beings, plants and animals based on Anishinaabe teachings. Drawn in a pictographic style, they tell stories of botany, astrology and the interconnectedness of all living things. Johnston currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, and is a contributing member to the Indigenous & Canadian collection at the AGO."
- Jean Carlo Sanchez
- 6IX Pal Mundo, also known as 6PM, is a dynamic collective of musicians, artists, poets, and creatives reshaping the landscape of Latin music. Based in Mississauga, the group boasts members hailing from Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, and Canada, resulting in a truly global sound. Their diverse backgrounds infuse Latin music with a unique blend of production, songwriting, and artistry. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant scenes of Mississauga and Toronto, and weaving in the rich tones of reggaeton, 6IX Pal Mundo crafts an entirely distinctive musical experience. With a lineup featuring five artists and two producers, each with a distinct musical approach, 6PM effortlessly spans genres from ballads to drill to club classics. Our mission? To transform Mississauga into the epicenter of urban Latin music in North America.
- Aaron Lun
- Aaron is a multimedia artist with a decade of experience in the animation industry, now Artistic Director for MetaFundWe. MetaFundWe (MFW) is an emerging Web3 Charitable Fundraising Platform with a mission to foster connections between creators, causes, and companies. We want to open up new funding opportunities through the medium of art and create a circular economy that supports every part of making a positive impact in this world.
- Ashley Beerdat
- Ashley Beerdat is a visual artist, arts teacher and community arts facilitator of Guyanese descent who grew up in Mississauga Ontario. She graduated in 2019 from Western University, completing a BA in Visual Arts and Art History. As a painter, she explores themes of mythology, folklore and storytelling to navigate the world around her. In 2020, she completed an artist residency at Visual Arts Mississauga Riverwood. Her work is held in Mississauga’s permanent corporate art collection and has been featured at Peel Gallery and Museum Archives (PAMA), Artscape and the Small Arms Inspection Building.
- Adina V
- Award winning indie-rock singer-songwriter blending intimate folk sounds with catchy, nostalgic guitar hooks. A recent graduate of Humber College’s Bachelor of Music program, Adina's original music has caught the attention of many. Her recent single "Admit It" was named "song of the summer" by the Mississauga Arts Council, who also awarded her the 2022 MARTY Award for Best Emerging Solo Vocalist.
- Shankar Adiseshan
- My work is largely an abstracted experience, more dream like or interpretive, often focused on environmental or social narratives. Through use of abstraction as a focus on the norm, available and recognizable experiences, I see a way to tap in and distill the range of emotional experiences. By doing so, I urge viewers to consider a new perspective.
- Adrian Ashley
- Adrian Ashley is a self-taught visual artist. He loves portraiture but also does urban scenes. Some of his preferred mediums include soft pastels, inks, oils, and acrylics.
- Adrienne Zoe
- Adrienne Zoe is a fine art photographer and nature photographer based in Waterloo, Ontario. Her images have earned awards at national and international juried photography competitions, and at local juried art shows. She received the Best Photographer Platinum Award from the 2021 Waterloo Region Record Readers’ Choice Awards. A nature lover, she is committed to donating a percentage of nature sales proceeds to conservation charities to save habitats and wildlife in our fast developing world. Her images have found new homes around the globe and at Waterloo Region corporations. Many of her nature images have gone overseas as Canadian gifts. Find Adrienne’s fine art photographs at local art shows and at local gift shops. Adrienne is a member of Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artists, the Canadian Association of Photographic Arts, Grand River Artists Collective, Button Factory Arts, and the Grand River Imaging and Photographic Society. “My joy in photography is to explore it as an art-form, to not simply shoot photographs, but to create art. It’s my passion to capture beauty of the world in a way that’s different and arresting, and my pleasure to share it.”
- Christopher Cottle
- My name is Christopher Cottle, and I am a Black Mississauga-based artist from Toronto, Ontario. I have been deeply passionate of video and photography since I was young, growing up in several photo studios in Downtown Chinatown. I received my first camera at the age of three. Growing up in foster care offered me the opportunity to gain new perspectives in life that I would not have had experienced if I continued living in Alexandria Park. With my disciplines in classical music, jazz music, media arts, photography, and videography, I have nurtured these abilities to create meaningful and engaging events and content. Currently a Resident Artist for the City of Mississauga 2024
- Andrew Gaboury
- Andrew Gaboury is a performer, writer and educator based in Port Credit, Mississauga. His practice spans across theatrical and therapeutic clown, collective creation, dance and puppetry. Andrew is an artistic associate with site-specific dance-theatre company Frog In Hand. He was one of four co-Artistic Directors of hub14 art + performance works from 2013-19, where he and the team supported local and international artists with residencies, affordable studio space and ongoing programming. Andrew has lead classes and workshops in movement, clown and puppetry at Randolph College, Conteur Dance Academy, the University of Guelph and for the Frog in Hand and Clay & Paper Theatre summer companies. Andrew is acting executive director and a therapeutic clown practitioner with Red Nose Remedy and a member of Kathleen LeRoux‘s team of elder clowns. Since March 2021, Andrew has worked with MABELLEarts and Derek Kwan to bring a practice of social clowning to their community.
- Afifa Bari
- (B.1997) Afifa Bari is a contemporary realist oil painter and textile artist based in Toronto. She earned her BFA from York University in 2020. Through representational art, she examines the contemporary world through the lens of capitalism, uncovering consumerist values in her work. She discusses issues around ideas of capitalism, such as poverty and the cycle of consumerism. Her work focuses on material possessions and the desire for materialism in the newly advancing society. She discusses fast fashion trends and the constant desire to purchase more in modern society from a socio-political and environmental outlook.
- Art Gallery of Mississauga
- The Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM) is a public, not-for-profit art gallery in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the Mississauga Civic Centre right on Celebration Square across from Square One Mall. The Gallery is open every day and offers free admission and guided exhibition tours in addition to regular art social events, workshops for adult learners, and youth programmes for schools, universities and community groups.
- Aimua-emwonsa Ogboghodor
- I am a Mississauga-based artist and entrepreneur who draws, paints, and creates art using a variety of media, including digital, plastic canvas, beads, incorporating wood, and metal. I am an alumnus of the DMZ Toronto Black Innovation Program 2021, and I have served as a mentor at Founder Institute since 2019. Having been previously educated in classical European figurative painting, my latest works depart from realism-centric training and move towards a more personalized narrative – one that allows me the freedom to choose from a broader pool of aesthetic systems. I explore the sculptural possibilities of painting in my “Time Doors” series, where I invite viewers to physically manipulate certain parts of the work (for example, keys in keyholes). These pieces function as portals of my own life, inspired by the internal confusion plaguing the earlier stages of my artistic journey. The doors reveal an internal landscape, the many opportunities we confront at every moment and the interconnectedness of our choices. I pursue the representation of the interconnected multiplicity of human consciousness with my “Dcentralizm” art style. I create spontaneous drawings with ballpoint pens, to heal and transform my mind. I draw stylized human heads in a meditative posture. I bring out the forms using countless layers of ballpoint pen hatchings. Each line drawn connects me deeper with the moment. In addition, I am constantly researching ways to transform my drawings into sculptures. Underpinning all of my work is a desire to expose sensitivities connected with community and identity.
- Aleksia Petrov
- I work in the tv/film industry as a costumer and stylist, in my spare time design jewelry and leather accessories.
- Alex Johnston
- Alex Johnston is a Mississauga-based visual artist. After graduating OCAD with a BFA in Criticism and Curatorial Practices in 2022 she turned her attention to building a collection of original paintings. Her floral works evoke stillness and optimism with muted, earthy tones and a vibrancy is found in the subtle colour shifts. Notable group shows have been at Northern Contemporary Gallery, Artscape Youngplace and Black Cat Gallery.
- Alyah Holmes
- Alyah Holmes is an award-winning illustrator and artist bringing concepts to life and telling visual stories in a vibrant and playful approach. Her colourful world of creativity adapts to all types of media, working with clients such as Coca-Cola, Nike, LA Times and Tangerine. Alyah uses bright and contrasting colours, fun organic shapes and subtle textures to bring people, scenes, food, culture, or whatever subject she comes across to life. Much of her work is centred around vibrant characters, detailed scenes, culture, and women.
- Amanda Foulds
- Amanda Foulds is a recent Drawing and Painting graduate from OCAD University. She is currently interested in lens-based processes as mechanisms for re-contextualizing and reviving the educational family album or art history textbook. In confronting these unfamiliar stories, her intention is not to change the source materials she is using; rather, to offer a nostalgic comfort in alternative narratives.
- Anna Kurylo
- In 2023 Anna embarked on an adventure of healing which inspired this introductory art series, the creation of loving creatures that are not of this world. Anna Kurylo resides in Port Credit with her family.
- Amelia Moonstar
- I'm Celine but I go by my pen name Amelia Moonstar. I am a devoted mom with a lifelong love for storytelling. I've found my passion in children's literature, and my journey began with my son's insatiable curiosity. Crafting charming, easy-to-read stories and poems with vibrant imagery is my forte, as I believe children thrive when words are paired with engaging visuals. Join me on my journey to bring joy to young readers, and stay tuned for updates on my latest projects.
- Anastasia Tarkhanova
- Anastasia is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Her artistic pursuits embrace different disciplines, including mural art, graphic design, and illustration. Anastasia is passionate about exploring different mediums and working on versatile projects to keep her work innovative and fresh. She draws inspiration from various sources, including music, spiritual practices, the environment around her, and the people she collaborates with. When working on personal projects, she particularly enjoys delving into themes related to energy, nature, healing, and connection. Through her art, Anastasia strives to convey a sense of harmony and meaning to captivate and inspire others.
- Anjula Evans
- “It is possible to face our challenges and overcome them.” -Anjula Evans (Brain Injury Survivor) If you’re looking for children’s books that address emotional wellness, Anjula has a background as a Children’s Therapist, and brings that experience to her writing. Writing Journey Anjula created “The Super-Hero Survival Guide” for reluctant young readers several years ago, while recovering from a brain injury. During her rehabilitation, she developed children’s educational resources on emotional wellness. She picked up novel-writing a few years ago, and decided to pursue writing as a career. She will finish her Masters in Creative & Critical Writing degree in May 2024. Written Works Anjula has a dozen children’s books on Amazon and in some bookstores (Indigo, Audible). She has written five novels for YA and Adults. Three are available in print. The underlying message in her writing is: “It’s possible to face our challenges and overcome them.” Anjula’s website is anjulaevans.com
- Anna Wojcik
- “[Anna Wojcik] produced an accurate, mature sounding and nicely characterised version of Zerlina’s second aria “Vedrai carino”. I haven’t heard singing this good from someone so young since Emily d’Angelo burst onto the scene. One to watch.” (John Gilks, Opera Ramblings 2019) This young Polish-Canadian soprano, has already performed for audiences across Canada, the US, Poland and Germany. At the end of September, Anna played Susanna in a self-produced backyard production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro for a private audience. This collaboration was approached in a COVID-safe way. In the upcoming season (COVID permitting), Anna will be a soloist with the Oakville Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Charles Demuynck. She will also appear as a soloist with the Camerata Ensemble and Quo Vadis Choir under direction of Mariusz Michalak, on occasion of their 20th Anniversary Celebrations. Anna has won countless competitions including the 69th ACPC Marcella Kochańska-Sembrich Vocal Competition, the Doreen Chaddock Memorial Vocal Scholarship Competition, as well as the Oakville Chamber Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition. She has appeared with orchestras like the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, Toronto Sinfonietta, Camerata Ensemble, and the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, Anna sang in Carnegie Hall for the American Protégé Competition Winners Recital. The following year, she received the 2016 Emerging Music Artist MARTY Award from the Mississauga Arts Council for her accomplishments. In 2018, she participated in the Saarburg International Summer Music Festival in Germany. Within the past two years, Anna has performed multiple opera roles including: 2nd Spirit in Mozart’s Magic Flute (GGS), Annina in Verdi’s La Traviata (SOLT), Nora in Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea (SOLT), and Sister Osmina in Puccini’s Suor Angelica (GGS). Anna is in the third year of her Bachelor of Music degree at the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where she is studying with Jean Macphail and Peter Tiefenbach. For a year prior to her post-secondary studies, Anna was a scholarship student at the Phil & Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. She is an active volunteer and Regional Director of the Toronto Region for the Back to BACH Project, a world-wide initiative to inspire and encourage young school children to learn musical instruments. Outside of music, one of her hobbies is Polish folk dancing. For the majority of her life she was part of the ‘Lechowia Polish-Canadian Folk Dance Company’ which would perform dances of the various Polish regions and travel to folk festivals around the world. As a first generation Canadian, Anna is happy to maintain her Polish culture through regularly singing within the Polish community and discovering the little-known repertoire of Polish composers.
- Anna Yin
- Anna Yin was born in China and immigrated to Canada in 1999. She was Mississauga’s Inaugural Poet Laureate (2015-2017) and Ontario representative to the League of Canadian Poets (2013-2016). Anna has authored five poetry collections and “Mirrors and Windows” (Guernica Editions 2021). Anna won awards including the 2005 Ted Plantos Memorial Award, two MARTYs, two scholarships from West Chester University Poetry Conference, 2013 Professional Achievement Award from CPAC and grants from Ontario Arts Council and Canadian Arts Council. Her poems in English & Chinese and ten translations by her were in a Canadian Studies textbook used by Humber College. With poems published by ARC Poetry, New York Times, CBC, World Journal, Room, Cha, China daily etc, Anna has been interviewed by CBC Radio, Rogers TV, CCTV and TalentVisionTV, The Toronto Star, China Daily etc. She was a finalist for Canada’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award in 2011 and in 2012. Her poem “Still Life” was displayed on 700 buses in 13 cities across Canada for the Poetry In Transit project in 2013/2014. Anna read her poem at World Poetry event in Vancouver in 2012 and at the 2014 Chinese New Year Celebration at parliament hill Ottawa. She was featured at 2015 Austin International Poetry Festival and has performed at many important civic events in Mississauga and beyond. Anna has been twice a “Living book” for the Living Library at the Mississauga Campus of University of Toronto. Anna has also organized many dynamic events including National Poetry Month celebrations and Special Tributes to P.K. Page, Dorothy Livesay, Milton Acorn, Raymond Souster, Chinese poet Qu Yuan etc to promote poetry across Ontario. Anna holds a B.Sc. degree from Nanjing University and a Creative Writing Certificate from the University of Toronto. She teaches Poetry Alive at schools, colleges and libraries. website: annapoetry.com Books in Print: Awards Link: https://www.annapoetry.com/books/ Interviews: https://www.annapoetry.com/interviews/ SERVICES AVAILABLE: https://www.annapoetry.com/services-available/
- Christi Anne Abraham (AnneChristi)
- Christi Anne Abraham is a self-taught artist from Trinidad and Tobago living in Mississauga, Ontario. Christi uses watercolour, acrylic and digital media to create beautiful nature illustrations, and fine art for clients.
- Anthony Williams
- Born and raised in bilingual Montreal, Toronto-based Pop/R&B entertainer, IAMREBELWILL is influenced by the showmanship of Janet Jackson, the eclectic artistry of Prince and the sounds of Montreal-based producer, Kaytranada.
- Arlene
- Arlene Paculan creates soulful pop with passion. The Filipino-Canadian’s recent successful album, “Home With You” has been embraced by many including CBC Radio 1, The Coast 89.7 (Glace Bay, NS), 105.9 The Region (Markham, ON) and 99.1 FM (Wallaceburg/Dresden, ON). Arlene was recently named the Best Pop Artist for the Mississauga Music Awards. She also received runner-up for NOW Toronto Magazine’s Best Songwriter for 2015 and she was in the Top 10 Regional Finals for CBC’s Searchlight Contest in the same year. With her song, I’m Worth It, her message is to remind individuals to trust and believe that they can achieve anything they put their minds to. She campaigns the idea globally and represents an empowering positive voice for women. As Executive Producer for her company, Let’s Make Good Productions (LMG), she produces many events including WonderFest which showcases local talent and offers free workshops to all ages. The goal of LMG is to spread empowerment through art. For this, she was awarded 2014’s Hazel McCallion Volunteer of the Year MARTY Award in acknowledgment of her work encouraging others to be creative in their daily lives. Arlene is also a TV personality who the hosted Night Time with Arlene Paculan and is currently hosting a tv show called Striving Artist which showcases artists making a living off of their creativity. Arlene has graced many stages across Toronto, including Nathan Phillips Square, Yonge & Dundas Square and Mississauga Celebration Square. In addition to her performances around the GTA, she has also performed in LA, NYC, Anaheim, across Canada, and adventured through her first European tour in the fall of 2015 playing in front of audiences in England, Scotland, Holland and France. In 2012, Arlene played at TD Toronto Jazz Festival and performed again in the 2015 season for the full length of the festival at Habits Gastropub. She has opened for Canadian songstress Jill Barber, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration and performed at the Beaches International Jazz Street Fest. Arlene is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto and also studied piano through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her debut EP album “I’m Worth It” was released under the production team, Kuya Productions. Rob Rapiti from BLR Entertainment has described her voice as “haunting, yet passionate”. Who knew such a “beautiful, natural singing voice” could come from such a shy little girl who used to whisper in conversation growing up? Before songwriting, Arlene has graced the stage as an actress, garnering the roles in such plays and musicals as Juliet (Romeo & Juliet), Nancy (Oliver), Rizzo (Grease), Laurey (Oklahoma), Kate (Shotgun Wedding), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Tiger Lily (Peter Pan), and Josie Pye (Anne of Green Gables).
- Samantha Tzambazis
- I am a self-taught artist who enjoys creating in various mediums and styles, always striving to improve skills and explore new techniques. Living with a chronic pain disability, I aim to inspire others facing invisible illnesses. My work encompasses realism, abstract art, and combinations of both.
- Tetyana Bibik
- Tetyana Bibik, originally from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, is a fine art painter with over 10 years professional experience working out of her studio in Mississauga, Canada, where she currently resides. She specializes in large scale abstract artwork, pop art paintings, murals, portraits, and creating custom commissioned artwork.
- Artists in Momentum
- AIM uses art as the foundation to promote mental well-being in the workplace and in the community, through visual self-expression and creativity.
- arts on the credit
- Arts on the Credit is a nonprofit organization providing opportunities for artists to show and sell their work, adding colour and inspiration to our community.
- Assembly Press de Groot
- Assembly Press is a boutique publisher of first-class fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. located in Picton and Mississauga. https://assemblypress.ca/
- Daya White
- Daya White is an illustrator and comic artist whose work emphasizes warmth and gentleness. Specializing in vibrant digital illustration, she can also be found experimenting with multimedia paint and paper craft to create multilayered illustrations, zines and stationery. She has a particular interest in environmental and community driven projects and is currently open for work! She can be reached by email at astrallambdesigns@gmail.com
- Quentin VerCetty
- AstroSankofa supports AfroDiasporic creatives and Indigenous communities to acquire opportunities in the realm of public art creation and production, exhibitions and web3 ventures. We utilize the principles of sankofa and the lens of Afrofuturism 2.0's five dimensions: metaphysics, aesthetics, theoretical and applied science, social science and programmatic space, to amplify community representation with our projects and programs.
- Alejandro Tello
- Alejandro Tello is a picture and animation editor living in Mississauga, Ontario. He has been involved in TV projects such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and the YA series Beyond Black Beauty. Alejandro is interested in writing and directing.
- S. N. Rao
- S. N. Rao is an emerging author whose debut novel Mr. Niyogi’s Last Audit captivates readers with its compelling storytelling and perspective. Based in Mississauga, Canada, S. N. Rao has a passion for exploring themes of resilience, adventure, and human connection.
- nexus d9 Ganguly
- Bansuri bambooflute musician. Writer, speaker, teacher. Indian Classical music genre.Collaborations with all.musical genres. Known for Customised BIRS FLUTES creations. WORLD OF FLUTES , POPULAR programs. SOHND THERAPY, meditative , spiritual healing music. www.mybansuri.com
- Barbara Clarke
- Barbara A. Clarke Barbara paints in a realist style using watercolour and acrylic. The main focus of Barbara’s art is to capture the fleeting light in a landscape and notice interesting characteristics of buildings. By working in a series of paintings, Barbara can explore facets of a theme. As an example, there are ten artworks in each of the themes: Maple Grove; St. John’s, Newfoundland; and Venice. Barbara studied visual arts at Sheridan College. She regularly takes workshops and courses to improve and energize her work. She is a member of Visual arts Mississauga, Neilson Park Creative Centre, The Humber Valley Art Club, the Clarkson Society of artists and International Watercolour Society (Canada). She has shown her art locally and regionally for 20 years. Awards have been won and commissions completed. Her paintings can be found throughout Canada. Some art hangs in homes in Europe.
- Beaux Arts Brampton
- Beaux Arts Brampton is a NFP Artist-Run Visual Art Gallery, located in Downtown Brampton. Gallery Exhibitions are sale showcases of original art that tell contemporary visual stories for public engagement.
- Belynda Wilson Thomas
- Belynda Wilson Thomas was born in Saskatchewan and moved to Mississauga in 1976. She is married and the mother of two adult children and resides with her husband in Mississauga. She is a member of Meadowvale Toastmasters, Mississauga Writers Group, and a local book club. She published a novel Secrets and Silence in 2020 that is available on Amazon. She is currently working on her second novel and writing and illustrating a children's book. She also started a blog in 2018 belyndasbooks.com
- Beth Lexah
- Beth Lexah is a gifted poet and captivating spoken word artist. Through her words, she forges connections that transcend cultural boundaries, shedding light on the beauty and struggles of being a woman of colour, and inspiring hope and understanding in her audience. Her studio recorded album, "9:19," showcases her ability to intertwine rhythm, cadence, and poignant narratives. Beth's magnetic stage presence and soul-stirring performances captivate audiences, earning her recognition at prestigious national poetry festivals such as the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (CFSW). With a passion for storytelling and an unyielding desire to evoke introspection, Beth is an accomplished author, known for her poetry book collection, "Spilt Milk." Her prose gracefully explores themes of vulnerability, resilience, and personal growth. She is featured in an anthology of poems published by the Canadian institute of poetry and World poetry movement. Beth’s pursuit of knowledge led her to graduate from university with a degree in business, equipping her with a keen understanding of the world and its complexities. Building upon this foundation, she further honed her analytical prowess by attaining a master's degree in analytics from Queens University. This unique blend of artistry and analytical thinking allows Beth to bring a fresh perspective to her creative process, resulting in a dynamic fusion of intellect and imagination.
- Blaze Carnival
- Here to bring the heat BLAZE Carnival is one of 6 sections in Freedom Mas Band for Toronto Carnival lead by Cayla Carrol, better known as HeartbreakCay. BLAZE Carnival designs and hand crafts all garments and specialty pieces in house - such as wire bras, head pieces, feather backpacks and more in Ontario, Canada. Soon, BLAZE is hoping to be a part of international carnivals around such as Jamaica Carnival and Miami Carnival, while building a fan base around the world.
- Brandon Lista
- Brandon Lista (he/him) is a storyteller, educator, and community animator. He has a passion for telling folktales from around the world, from stories with deep wisdom to those with a lighthearted flair. With a background in engineering and education, he believes that storytelling is the key to helping professionals become better communicators and problem solvers.
- Bree Taylor
- Bree Taylor is a force to be reckoned with. She’s known for granting an all access pass to fans on her contagiously upbeat music that listen like pages of her personal diary. Bree has also had to overcome incredible challenges throughout her music career, mainly her hearing disability. She has battled hearing loss since childhood and despite this, she has not let it hold her back from going after her dreams and has made a career for herself as a country singer who is the epitome of resilience. Bree has had 3 songs chart on the Canadian Indie Country Charts. Her single, “Burning Bridges” soared to #1 in October 2020 and her last smash hit "Kryptonite" gave her her second #1 hit on the charts with nominations for “Song of the Year” with the Mississauga Music Awards 2021, a nomination for “Emerging Solo Vocalist” with the MARTY’s in 2021 and “Best Country Video of the Year” with Dropout Entertainment 2021. Bree has a gift beyond singing and songwriting – she’s born with the talent that draws you in and holds you captive till every last grit and grime, every last husky note, every last perfectly pitched crescendo has been placed on your lap. You’ll find yourself at the end of a track, rapidly trying to start it all over again. With a career and brand built on authenticity, honesty and resilience, Bree’s creative ambitions have no limitations. No matter what life throws at her, Bree is and always will be a fighter and she will keep writing songs, keep singing and will remain truly unapologetically Bree!
- Brittany Beheshti
- Brittany Beheshti (she/her) is digital artist who spends most of her time blending the worlds of STEM and art. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Integrated Digital Studies with a minor in biology. The stark contrast between her areas of study profoundly emphasized the divide between the two communities. Deconstructing and removing the “absolute truth” involved in scientific practice is a concept that captivates her as an artist. Her practice includes all types of communication media including traditional video, motion graphics, multi-channel work, creative coding, interactive films, and digital installations. This has developed into experimenting with AI practices and algorithmic art. Beheshti’s work has been shown with CBC Gem, SCINEMA International Science Film Festival, and the Orange County Museum of Art. She has also presented an Early Artist Career talk at the University of North Carolina.
- MIR ELCHAER
- As an artist, I try to create dreamy art that has the ability to enchant, and inspire the onlookers. As a woman, I forge my path in the hope of my dreams coming to life with each stroke of a brush. I have embarked on a journey that started as a Fashion Designer in 2003. It had been my childhood dream that I worked so hard for it to become my reality! Fifteen successful and glamorous years in Haute Couture. Being an artist at soul meant that I am prepared to undergo life’s ups and downs because my end goal is to learn, grow and thrive. I have always been drawn to color and light, and how to create the chemistry between them to wow they eye. My years of experience in fashion design have set the base for me to create amazing pieces of visual art. I use and interlace different methods of application using resin, acrylic, alcohol ink, and mixed media. My goal when creating is art with no limitation! It's my new trend that I couldn't wait to share with you!
- Cheryl Tenn
- I have been an artist for my whole life. Self employed as a freelance graphic designer and multi media illustrator.
- Calliope Sound Productions Junor
- Calliope Sound Productions (CSP) was established in May of 2000 by Tony Junor. CSP has been faithfully presenting some of the best summer theatre in Mississauga for over 19 seasons. During this time they have been the resident theatre company at Erindale Studio Theatre (University of Toronto in Mississauga).
- Candace Cosentino
- Candace Cosentino is a visual artist, creative director and commercial photographer. She specializes in colourful, creative portraits and dynamic product photography. Her unique aesthetic blends elements of surrealism and feminist pop-culture, making her work not only aesthetically pleasing, but current and informed. With a focus on artistic development and exploration, Cosentino's creative and commercial practices deeply inform and inspire one another; making her the perfect fit to help uplift her diverse client-base and community with unique and informed imagery. Her work centres around uplifting female-led businesses and entrepreneurs, including the LGBTQ+ or other underrepresented communities. In addition to her commercial and artistic practices, she is community driven and currently developing Cos Studios; a safe and encouraging space for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC peoples to connect, create and grow.
- Candace Kumar
- Candace Kumar is a Filipino/Indo-Fijian dance artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. She has trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz-funk, hip hop, and folk dance. She specializes in contemporizing cultural dance forms to reimagine traditional culture from the diaspora. Candace collaborates with musicians such as A La Una and Han Han as a performer and choreographer, creating Filipino-contemporary works. Some of her notable performances include the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, Nuit Blanche, SummerWorks Festival, and international festivals in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Mexico, Alaska, and the Czech Republic. Candace has worked with Little Pear Garden Dance Company, Anandam Dance Theatre, Creativiva Entertainment, Hips Don't Lie Dance Company and more. She shares her experience as a mixed-Asian Canadian artist in hopes of inspiring other POC artists to explore their relationship to their culture through dance.
- Edgar Ghahramanyan
- I take a tree, and listen to its life story. Following that, I ask it what it wants to be. Then, I release the spirit entombed within the wood. My skills are still aren't quite to par and I do not do justice to the true essence of the wood. However I always include my kids when woodworking and we listen to the stories of the tree together. My eldest has become quite adept at reading the tales hidden beneath the bark of the tree. So I woodwork and place my hope in my kids that they will master the art of communing with the trees and gain the skills necessary to release the essence of the sprits hidden within. If you are interested, you can watch me and my children transform each piece of wood into its new incarnation on my YouTube channel, Carefree Living: http://www.youtube.com/@carefreeliving
- Carolyne Topdjian
- Carolyne Topdjian is author of the acclaimed gothic suspense novels, The Black Moth (2023) and The Hitman’s Daughter (2022, Agora Books). She has published short fiction in PRISM International, Dreamers Magazine and Firewords Quarterly and is a professor in the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts at Humber College in Toronto. You can connect with her on social media @TopdjianC, or at www.carolynetopdjian.com.
- Cat Bernardi
- Cat Bernardi is a jazz vocalist, composer, arranger and educator from Mississauga. Her ‘crystalline’ voice and ‘timeless’ style have led her to stages all around Ontario, Quebec and into Europe. She has performed in jazz festivals around the GTA, and was the 2019 TD Toronto Jazz Hotspot Feature in the Downtown Markham Music Festival. Cat's first EP, Minor Ballad/Major Romance was released in 2014 to great acclaim, and was feature on Jazz FM 91.1. Cat released her EP ‘Let’s Get Cozy’ in December 2020, supported by MAC’s MicroGrant Award. The EP’s title track was one of the Top 4 picks in Canadian Beats’ “Weekly Beatdown” in the last week of December, and was featured on PopCan Radio’s Top 24 picks for #NewMusicTuesday. Cat studied Jazz Vocals and Theatre at Humber College and YorkU. Cat is currently working on two singles to be released in 2023, as well as a concert for Italian Heritage Month (June 2023), supported by Mississauga's Culture Sector Grant.
- Caterina Sauro
- Caterina Sauro is a multi-faceted artist and self-published author based in Mississauga, ON. She enjoys blending her love of poetry and visual art into her work and has continued to showcase that work since her first local exhibition in 2015. When the COVID pandemic hit Toronto in 2020, Caterina spent her evenings hosting free virtual writing workshops and paint parties, eager to maintain a sense of community during the most isolating years of her generation. Once the world around her opened in 2022, her poetry returned to open mics and featured events across the GTA, working hard backstage to have her first book, Hi, My Name is Monella, published later that year. Caterina continues to dedicate her mission to creating homes for human connection through visual art and creative writing, both in person and virtually.
- Catherine Gava
- Catherine approaches each script, song, and day as an opportunity to illuminate her mind and heart. She graduated from the Specialist Theatre and Drama Studies program at the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College. In addition to theatre and on-camera acting, her training includes voice and singing which have been fantastic assets to developing her creative, animated voices to her trustworthy, approachable commercial sound for voice-over. Catherine is a licensed busker and enjoys singing and playing guitar for the Mississauga community. She is grateful to have sung at events such as CreativeHub 1352's "Lakeview Farmers’ Market", Visual Art Mississauga's “Art Night Out”, “Now Streaming” Art Exhibition Reception, Maker Market Collective's "Spring Fling", the Applewood Acres Homeowners Swim and BBQ, and Clarkson Village Live! Her audio work “Margaret and Daphne” premiered in programsound.fm’s radio show. This project showcased her passion for music, sound design, and storytelling as a performer and creator. Previous theatre credits include Horned Spirit/Skeleton Two in the site-specific premiere of “Ghost Light” (Directed by Za Hughes), Electra in an immersive production of “The Oresteia” (Directed by Tyler J Seguin) as well as being a Co-Creator/Ensemble member of the devised piece, “The Places We Are” (Directed by Rob Kempson).
- Cathleen MacDonald
- Cathleen MacDonald is the creator and writer-producer-director of the 26-part series, 'Working Animals' (Discovery Canada, Animal Planet, Canal D and distributed worldwide) and the writer-producer-director of 'The Animal IQ Test' (Discovery Channel, Animal Planet). Of her nine episodes of CBC’s 'Moving On', the episode, 'The Courage of Sharon' won a Columbus Film Festival Award and was included in CBC’s entry for a Gemini nomination. Recently she was the producer-director of the web series and digital art experience 'The Lost Museum' (Creative Hub 1352). Prior to that she was the digital producer for the feature documentary 'The Divided Brain' (Matter of Fact Media, CBC Documentary Channel), produced the documentary, 'Deescalate' with support from the Ontario Arts Council. Prior to founding Motion Picture Enterprises, Cathleen was the National Sales Manager for VEC Criterion Pictures, where she led a sales team and represented major producers Disney/Buena Vista, Columbia, Tri-Star, Universal, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Paramount, Encyclopaedia Britannica, PBS, and Films Inc. In addition to her creative work, Cathleen teaches filmmaking and distribution at workshops and as a guest lecturer, serves as a panelist for industry events, and is a juror for festivals and funders. She is the founder of Filmhive, a community-based collective that helps filmmakers develop their skills and independent projects. Cathleen has an Honors BFA in Film Production from York University, Toronto.
- Ocean Miller
- As a Global Learning Design and Delivery Specialist, my career focus is creating and delivering culturally enriched learning experiences through community-based programming. My goal is to tailor learning initiatives to diverse cultural contexts to ensure effective outcomes and global accessibility within my programming. From design, to implementation , facilitation and evaluation my program development style incorporates project management principles allowing individuals and organizations to thrive in a globally connected world. By leveraging my deep understanding of cross-cultural dynamics, I design and deliver personal and professional growth, building a connected and empowered global community of learners.
- Chahat Soneja
- I am Chahat Soneja, a self-motivated creative. I recently graduated with a post grad in Advertising-Art Direction from Humber College. As a creative, I've trained in visual arts before from India. I have explored drawing, painting, photography, performance, sculpture, and printmaking before. I am venturing into digital art and finding another form of creative expression. I use various softwares including but not limited to Photoshop to create most of my digital artworks. I have an extensive portfolio containing photography in various subject matters. My current body of work includes digital manipulations around portraits. I draw inspiration from the very mundane and try it represent it in my own creative way The primary reason why I chose to be creative is because I always find myself expressing myself creatively through various outlets and I love these outlets of expression. I work across various subjects and have a panache of original ideas, theories across a variety of mediums. I believe these experiences will help me take my practice further and relate to what I intend to explore as an aspiring creative.
- Joanne MacNair
- Creating, crafts, drawing and painting my entire life. My work has a graphic design sensibility. I like to work "en plein air" outside, weather permitting. My focus is on landscape, still life, architecture, water. I've participated in many exhibitions over the past 30 years. Took courses at Open Studio Toronto while working full-time in the financial services sector. Produced lithographs, etchings, wood cut and silk screen prints. Taught art for four years to seniors at a local retirement home. I was selected for Landscape Artist of the Year Canada, as a Wild-Card artist in Episode One, Somerled Farm, available on: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/landscape-artist-of-the-year-canada/s01
- Cheryle Dueck
- I am a gospel singer and budding songwriter. I am also the Founder of Gospel Music Industry Hub, a faith-based music industry development organization that provides education, information, networking and showcase opportunities for music artists to help develop and support the gospel music scene locally, nationally and internationally. My website is https://gmihub.ca
- Christine Long
- I'm used art to rewire my brain after a life changing illness. It has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and experiences to me. I began as a printmaker with the help of a wonderful teacher/cousin printmaker who taught me the joy of letting loose and the flow and feeling of the world of colour. I now know that not everyone will ever be able to draw to same way and that does not matter. The heart, feelings and the the joy that are expressed in the art what matters. I use a variety of media from acrylic, pastels, non-toxic fabric dyes for printmaking, inks.... whatever looks like fun. I am the Co-chair of ArtTrendz: an Artists Collective. We are a group of 9 artists from different countries who have come together to share our love of art, coffee, food, and life. We have shows and can be seen a fb ArtTrendz: an Artists Collective. My website is www.christine-long-art.ca. @christinelong6620
- Christopher Martins
- Hello! My name is Christopher Martins. I am an artist out of Mississauga, ON, Canada, just west of Toronto. I am currently a freelance producer and songwriter. Music has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I would absolutely love to contribute to the industry. As a musician and a producer, I want to improve my craft to create my own music and help others create theirs.
- Chris Mitchell
- I am a professional coach whose practice is focused on life, career and professional development coaching for artists and creatives. I provide support at pivotal points when creatives need help to clarify or focus on their true priorities, strategize and build confidence to move forward and take their career to the next level or a new direction. I have a passion for working with creative individuals, understand the creative mindset and appreciate that there are many ways to build a career and life as a creative professional. My approach is to work collaboratively with you as an individual to build your practice or career from the inside out. Every coaching relationship and session is uniquely created based on your needs and your desired outcome. Our coaching conversations are focused, thought-provoking and structured to support you to determine plans and take the actions that you decide are right for you. Whatever your challenge, barrier or aspiration I’ll work with you to gain clarity, overcome hurdles and achieve your goals. My Services Include: Individual Coaching Group Coaching Professional Development Workshops
- City Centre Musical Productions Inc.
- About us City Centre Musical Productions Inc. (CCMP) is an inclusive, community-based musical theatre group that has been performing top quality musicals in Mississauga for over 35 years. All members share a love of music, song and performance with the commitment to providing the best entertainment for the community. CCMP is a registered, not-for-profit charitable organization. CCMP is a member of the Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association and is generously supported with funds raised through volunteering at RAMA Gaming Centre, Mississauga. Our next show is The Rocky Horror Show live at Meadowvale Theatre March 8 - 17, 2024. We are part of the Encore Series, as one of five groups that showcases a musical production annually at Meadowvale Theatre. CCMP, The Encore Series and its member groups will be bringing the best quality entertainment to Meadowvale Theatre. Join us for the 2023-2024 Season. www.encoretix.ca. Awards 2023 Marty Awards - Special Award Winner for Theatre Resilience Encore Series Subscribers Choice Award for Favourite Show: Sister Act, The Musical 2018/2019 Mississauga Arts Council Award - Best Performance Group: 2017 Encore Series Subscribers Choice Award for Favourite Show: Jekyll & Hyde - 2015/2016 Encore Series Subscribers Choice Award for Favourite Show: Titanic 2009/2010
- Clark Schlesinger
- Clark Schlesinger - Singer Songwriter Musician- Acoustic Pop /Classic Rock/ Jazz/Indy Clark Schlesinger has been a staple of the Mississauga music scene for the last 10 years. At 22, Clark has been creating music waves, warming the hearts of audiences as a singer, songwriter and performer. Credits include Festivals, Markets, Open Mic (Host/Performer), Stages, Malls, Restaurants, Bars and many Mississauga Arts and Port Credit BIA events. Clark has performed extensively throughout Ontario as well as special opportunities in Bahamas and New Zealand. He is well known in the Niagara Region and recently performed as a featured solo act for the 2021 Niagara Falls Music Festival Live. Clark has performed in famous venues such as the Living Arts Centre (Mississauga) The Rose Theatre (Brampton), Air Canada Centre (back chorus member for Eric Church)(Toronto), The Famous Hard Rock Cafe (Niagara Falls), Ontario Place (Toronto), The Live Jazz Club (Bahamas), Trinity Square (Toronto) and the CNE (Toronto). A full time university student, Clark supports his education by bringing his gift to the music scene, year round, while attending school full time. During the pandemic Clark continued to perform with online gigs including featured musical performances for 2 World Busker online events attended worldwide, as well as live events when permitted. Clark, a strong advocate for youth has volunteered as an Ambassador, Host, Mentor, and Featured Performer for the Youth Day Global Stage and FESTCAST in Toronto ON. Upcoming, Clark is in the studio and in the process of recording his first all original LP and digital record, which will be. out on Spotify later this year.
- Clarkson Society of Artists
- We are one of Mississauga's oldest art groups with a membership of approximately 40 local artists. Our artists show their creativity in a number of mediums. Oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel and multi-media. We have workshops every 2-3 weeks with paint days in between. We meet weekly on Wednesdays
- Syed Sumair Alam
- We are Event organizing company, we organised events in GTAs like pop up markets. We want to promote christmas event which is held on 10th december.
- Colin Tyler
- Business and the Community Director, Century Audio Visual Ltd.; Design and Integration of AV & IT Solutions to create technology enabled meeting spaces.
- CLARIS MANGLICMOT
- Claris M. Manglicmot and CCA Claris is the Founder and the Creative Director of Couture Culture and Arts (CCA). She is a New York I-Fashion Magazine Creative Director. She is also the Fashion and Design Editor of SMJ Lifestyle Magazine in Canada. Claris finished Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, cum laude, in Mindanao State University. She was also the College Leadership Awardee. She further pursued a finishing course in Business Administration at London School of Public Relations where she graduated with distinction. Her love of fashion and her events organizing skills lead her to establish a group which did events and fashion initiatives here in Canada since 2014. Her love of culture led her to establish a brand that honors diversity in arts, fashion, and culture. That was the start of CCA in 2016. Couture Culture and Arts (CCA) is a runway show producer, model search competition producer, and agent of fashion designers. Along the same lines, it also accepts contracts for editorial photoshoot campaigns. CCA started as a producer of runway fashion shows featuring international designers. Its aim then was to inspire emerging Canadian designers to get inspiration from experienced and successful designers. Evolving therefrom, CCA started to produce runway shows for local emerging Canadian designer to showcase their talents. In 2018 CCA started a Model Search. As an incentive for development, the winner of the search is rewarded an experience to join shoots overseas at world’s fashion capitals. CCA is also committed in helping the local fashion community by offering various services and/or packaged to suit their needs with a wide latitude of flexibility. Thus, CCA accepts contractual runway production from fashion organizers even for non-profit events/functions. We also accept commission jobs such as editorial campaign shoots, high fashion brands catalogues for small businesses, and creative portfolios for emerging artists and models. We have also made available our network to designers to expand their creative activities. Likewise, we have extended mentoring for those desirous of some form of tutelage. CCA’s advocacy is to extend help and assistance, in any way possible, to promote couture, culture, and the arts.
- Crane Creations
- Crane Creations Theatre Company is a professional theatre company, based in Mississauga. Our mission is to advance the creation, evolution, promotion and support for professional theatre in Mississauga. We are Mississauga-based, globally curious. To learn more about our company, please visit our website: https://www.cranecreations.ca/
- Creative Hub 1352
- CreativeHub 1352 is a not-for-profit organization working in partnership with the Mississauga community to develop unique creative programs, events, and projects at the Small Arms Inspection Building, Arsenal lands, and surrounding community. The Small Arms Inspection Building is owned and operated by the City of Mississauga.
- Creators at Play
- Your friendly neighbourhood videographers specializing in event documentation, video editing, and original content. Generating Millions of views, raising thousands of dollars, and helping build dozens of brands internationally, Creators at Play is a full-service video production company with a decade of industry experience in digital marketing and storytelling. From non-profit to corporate, government to artist, our projects are featured on broadcast television, YouTube, Facebook, and in front of thousands of people live. See the difference that a passionate team can bring to your project. Contact us today for your videography and photography needs.
- Breann Ritchie
- We are an established private gallery in Mississauga that is looking to share events and opportunities with local artists and art enthusiasts.
- Cullen McFater
- Cullen McFater is a Canadian director, cinematographer and actor, and the founder of Postromo Pictures. In 2021, at 22 years old, he wrote and directed his debut feature film: Daylight Again. His second feature film, Human Nature, was shot through the summer of 2022 in 13 countries around the world. Additionally, he works on set as a cinematographer and camera operator, and teaches cinema at an arts academy in Toronto, Ontario. He can be found on Youtube, Vimeo and Twitter under Postromo Pictures.
- Curtis Freeman
- Mississauga musician Curtis Freeman is a sought after 'in demand' bass player, studio musician and educator. Curtis has travelled and performed in over forty countries worldwide, working with several talented Pop, Rock, Country, World Music, Gospel, and Jazz groups. Curtis was nominated for the 2021 Mississauga Music Award for 'Musician of the Year' and 'Best New Band' alongside his identical twin Brother Carson Freeman with the Freeman Brothers Band. Curtis has performed with several award winning musicians including Canadian rockers Kim Mitchell, Rik Emmett (Triumph), Colin James, Treble Charger, Aboriginal Artist Susan Aglukark, 80's rap icon (and Grammy nominee) Tone Löc, singer- songwriters Amy Sky and Marc Jordan as well as Grammy winners Paul Brown (Luther Vandross), Liberty Silver, and Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Hill. In 2017, Curtis was hired as bassist for nine-time Grammy nominee, Hollywood 'walk of fame' recipient saxophone sensation Dave Koz. Curtis is currently featured on PBS television across North America in "Pavlo Live in Santorini" backing Canadian Guitar master Pavlo with a broadcast reach of twenty eight million viewers. Curtis has recently recorded his first solo album 'Postcards' due to be released in April 2022. He has also recorded a successful Christmas album alongside identical twin brother Carson Freeman in 2020. Curtis has recorded on several popular albums by Pavlo, Billboard charting albums with Smooth Jazz guitarist Rob Tardik and recently recorded two tracks for Jazz guitarist Mike Freedman's 2020 'best jazz album' nominated 'Into the Daybreak' (One World Music Awards). Curtis has been a music educator at Mississauga's heralded Metal Works Institute for more than a decade and also works with Centennial College in the heart of Toronto's busy music scene. Curtis has millions of views on several YouTube videos and is active on social media. Curtis volunteers and performs as bassist/singer and is often musical director at the Meeting House church in Mississauga/Oakville Ontario.
- Cynthia Crofoot
- Cynthia Crofoot is a multi-award winning, produced screenplay writer and multi-award winning actor. As a writer, her screenplays and produced films have won awards in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. As an actor, she has been working steadily in film, television and theatre for more than 25 years, with lead and principle roles in over 60 productions. Her captivating and realistic performances have garnered her eight Best Actress and four Acting Excellence Awards. "Made in the USA, but born in Toronto” she has dual Canadian and American Citizenship with Scottish, Irish, English and Slovak ancestry. Cynthia is a member of ACTRA and is SAG-Eligible. Website: www.cynthiacrofoot.com
- Neelu Malik
- danceShala is a dance school that offers Bollywood Dance Lessons along with many other Indian dance styles including Classical and Folk dances. We provide corporate workshops, schools and universities workshops in an easy-going format. Our studios are located in Mississauga and Brampton. Please visit us at www.danceshala.com
- Deepa Mahanti
- Deepa is a published author and her works include " PourQoui Myiesha - 2017 " North Mississauga SNAPD quoted "She is an award-winning entreprenuer, author, speaker and mentor. Her " PourQoui Myiesha - A prayer is being called a source of Inspiration. She manages two companies - Myiesha Inc (non for profit ) and Nikisar Inc ( Media co ). As an advocate Community Activist all her work spirals around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Her documentary " Kadupul " is a Mozart experience based on the biopic of a Burn Survivor - a true picture of zeal, passion and compassion. Her other works include documentary like Fire Divas, shorts like IsaaC , Our People and their stories and recent project " Mya " funded by MAC. She feels that community engagement, building relationships is important for any Artist. She is currently working on two music videos " Justajoo"- ( Desire), ( Urdu), and " Prabhu" ( Odiya) on Mental Health and wellness under the flagship of her project " Sol ". The strength of Peel Region is its diverse culture and flavour and she feels that through her creative lens , she can project different cultures and have positive affirmations and conversations around them . Each of her creative project has a social message . She says "Being artists and film makers , we have taken the responsibility of change makers, the explorer , social driver and the activitist for positive changes . It requires a load of empathy, thoughtfulness, creativity , mindset and interaction whilst working with people and community..."
- Denise Leslie
- Energy, creative freedom and joy are words that describe the artistry of Jazz vocalist Denise Leslie. A gifted entertainer and storyteller, Denise transports audiences with her sumptuous vocals, and spirited live performances. Denise has a mission of bringing the ‘fun back to Jazz’ with her fresh arrangements and unique musical interpretations. With the release of her debut recording, One Fine Morning, Denise has become one of Canada’s emerging vocalists to watch. Denise sings at the intersection of Jazz, R&B and Rock. Her debut recording, One Fine Morning pays tribute to music she cherished during her formative years, primarily, the 1970s. Produced by award-winning producer/guitarist Bob McAlpine, the album features celebrated bassist Pat Collins, drummer Paul DeLong, pianist Don Baird, and horn players from Brass Transit and Lighthouse. The successful release of ONE FINE MORNING is a major step in Denise’s musical career - almost 3 years in the making. Denise enjoyed playing piano and singing in several choirs throughout her youth while her father - a devoted jazz fan, fostered a love of jazz music. She put her music aside for a number of years, but while enjoying success later in life as a sought-after Interior Designer, the mother of three felt a deep inner calling to rekindle her passion for singing - primarily, singing jazz music. This led to lessons, vocal workshops and more and more live performance opportunities. Citing Jazz legends including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Al Jarreau, Billie Holiday and George Benson as her greatest influences, Denise has a playful approach to Jazz believing the genre can sometimes take itself a little too seriously. “My focus is on melody, strong hooks and the fun that can be had with swinging and improvising the tune.” Denise is now an in-demand featured vocalist in the Greater Toronto Area. She has graced stages across Ontario for the past 17 years while enjoying a six year residency as the lead vocalist with the Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble. Her unique vocal sound has drawn comparisons to iconic vocalists including Diana Krall, Annie Lennox, Linda Ronstadt and Julie London. Denise’s creative spirit inspires audiences with its message of creative expression, freedom, confidence and fun! PERFORMING HIGHLIGHTS: *2012 – Released You Don't Know What Love Is – musical recording with pianist/arranger Mark Kieswetter at Mississauga’s TRAX AHEAD STUDIOs. *2014-2019 – Featured vocalist with Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble *Past performances at venues including The Beatniq (Calgary, AB), The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar (Toronto, ON), Jazz Bistro, the Living Arts Centre, Mississauga Celebration Square, The Royal Canadian Yacht Club, The Carlu, On the Verandah Concert Series (Mississauga), Club 744, Lowville Bistro, Hard Rock Cafe, Gate 403, Joe Mama's, The Trane, Burlington Ribfest, The Annex Live, Jazz at Oscar's – Hart House (University of Toronto), Home Smith Bar, Oakville Jazz Festival, Port Credit Sunset Concert Series, 120 Diner, Mississauga Golf Club and Islington Golf Club, & HAZEL A Celebration: 100 Years In The Making (virtual broadcast). .
- Desire Betty
- Désiré Betty is a Toronto, Ontario-based artist that has long explored the spiritual serenity that manifests itself through her artistic expression she calls ‘Perpetual Freedom Art’. Her passion for the arts, led her to pursue a career in Architecture; broadening her quest for constant creativity from the canvas to the built environment. Although she was content in her profession and pursued her art alongside her corporate job, her artistic prowess was calling for her full attention. In 2021, she took the leap of faith to commit fully to pursuing her professional artistic career and building the Désiré Betty Designs Trademark brand. Her compositions are focused mainly on figurative and portraiture art with complimentary abstract pieces. She explores the use of various mediums, such as acrylic ink, watercolor and mixed media. Her work transcends borders, as there is an elegant juxtaposition between rigidity and fluidity. With her Architectural background, she has a knack for extremely fine detail, varying line weights and precision, all while maintaining a dreamlike state of fluidity in the brush strokes; melding shapes and colours.
- Devika Mathur
- I am Devika Mathur, a visual artist with 25+ years of experience. My mediums are soft pastels, charcoal and glass paints. I have taught for more than 10 years in design schools like Architecture, Interiors and Fashion design. I teach various mediums of art in Toronto GTA. For business enquiries and to shop my paintings please contact on the following: Email: devikamathur111@gmail.com Mb: 4377796811 Lets connect to know each other on Instagram- Devika_art
- Devon Ross
- I am a visual artist who specializes in painting, photography and drawing, and am a 2015 graduate of the Visual & Digital Arts program at Humber College. I have participated in many art exhibitions throughout college and now outside of college, and also have some experience with painting competitions. I prefer to work with a range of analog mediums, from graphite on paper to acrylic on canvas, varying in subject matter.
- Diana B Carrol
- Some of the greatest gifts come as a genuine surprise. It knocks us off your feet and takes our breath away. We often times want to share these gifts with the people that we love, people that we see and care about. In 2019 covid hit our country very hard our cities were shook and our neighborhoods were tested. People of this great land, had to find a different way of doing things. We needed to find something to get us through. Something to encourage other people. Something to tell our spirit don't quit because we're stronger together. During a simple conference call I doodled a dog. I thought we're on lockdown anyway so I ordered a set colored pencils to fill the time. This discovery turned into a beautiful gift at the start of the second lockdown. I discovered just weeks later I had to have major back surgery. I so desperately wanted to do something just in case I didn't make it. I wanted to have a gift, something to leave my family and my husband. I had an image of roseses this was the most beautiful thing I could find. I drew a picture of the roses that my husband gave me for our anniversary before my surgery and a portrait of my mother's birthday. I was truly scared and frightened. Perhaps I wouldn't make it or perhaps never walk. Our country was in the middle of covid and I wanted something precious to give as a gift. 3 months after my surgery with 27 staples in my back I painfully started my second set of roses. I was so thankful for the gift of life that I had. This is how it started, my art is my gift of thankfulness and I'm so happy to share it with you. Diana Carrol Coloured pencial artist...
- Donna Child
- Donna Child Fine Art Gallery represents a diverse group of Canadian and International painters, sculptors and photographers. Our creative team has expertise in art acquisition, collection management, curation, project management, art installation, art placement, insurance valuation, restoration, conservation and custom framing design. The Gallery’s mandate is to make art accessible and inclusive for diverse cultures and demographics through exhibitions, art classes, workshops and other art events. Gallery Director and Owner Donna Child is an advocate for the expansion and innovation of the Canadian and International discourse of art and artists. DCFA regularly curates and facilitates museum-quality exhibitions both in-gallery and offsite, with extensive experience in logistics, both domestic and international. Our team has curated exhibitions for the Temiskaming Art Gallery and the Museum of Northern History and co-curated the Toller Cranston Memorial Retrospective at the Art Gallery of Ontario. DCFA is the primary sponsor of The Toronto West Arts Collaborative, an organization that supports emerging artists with marketing and networking. DCFA also collaborates with the Toller Cranston Foundation, headed by Toller’s sister, Phillippa Cranston-Baran, to continue his legacy through exhibitions and other projects including an upcoming art book.
- Dora Paszuk
- Photographer, graduate of the film department Still Photography Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic University. Dancer, graduated from Randolf Academy if Dance, founder of a Latin dance group, artistic director and choreographer. She is especially fond of flamenco dance, in which she specializes to this day. Varsovian for several generations. Presently lives by the lake in Mississauga enjoying her long walks in the parks full of inspiration enriched by the sounds of nature. A versatile artistic soul with a passion for poetry.
- Dr. Carol-Ann Lane
- Carol-Ann Lane is a Christian Inspirational Author, Speaker, Podcaster, and Writing coach. With a PhD in literacy, her career has spanned the educational and research fields. A cancer warrior, she is an internationally acclaimed author with over 20 publications in nonfiction, literary fiction (short stories) and creative nonfiction genres (novels). She broadcasts a FREE video/podcast series called "Write in His Way" (see video tab), and she publishes a FREE newsletter on Substack called "Write in His Light". She is currently working on a number of literary projects including a short story collection, a collection of writing guides, with both of the first of these series to be released in the Fall of 2024, a youth adventure novel series, with the first of the series planned for release at the end of year 2024. She is also working on a memoir. In addition, Carol-Ann is returning to her artistic talents with the aim of including her original illustrations (including sketches, pastel and watercolor) in her books.
- Eagle Spirits of the Great Waters
- We are Indigenous & non-Indigenous people sharing, celebrating, & creating space for Indigenous art & culture along the north shores of Lake Ontario. Founded & managed by local Indigenous people from varying Nations, we are based in South Mississauga.
- Terry Mills
- Terry Mills has been in the local Toronto/Mississauga Indie Arts, Film and Music scene for over 25 years. Also considered to be a LGBT Writer/Novelist by colleagues, he dismisses the title and states "I am a writer of People, nothing more. My characters are their own; they speak for themselves and I explore the world through them." Terry was involved in a few Indie Films back in the 1990's and his desire to make films has never left. It was in 2011, that Terry bought a Canon FS200 and being involved in the Indie Music crowd, began creating music videos, filming live performances; learning film editing and becoming comfortable using a camera. In 2018, after being on the set of the Indie Romantic Comedy "Therapy Dawg" as a Videographer and Assistant Director; Terry was inspired to finally create his own film. The film was "Tightrope Walker" that Terry had Co-Wrote with Jesse Arora in 2016 and two months later; Terry resumed production of his first film "Tightrope Walker" and was completed in April 2019. Terry has since produced more Short Films and has been involved with production of other Indie Films produced by other Artists. Terry is an International award-winning Indie Filmmaker. Terry currently is in Pre with his latest Indie Film, Writing Novel #2 and learning animation.
- EHIKO ODEH
- Ehiko Odeh is a multidisciplinary artist, arts facilitator, arts educator and researcher rooted in mysticism and play. Through her exploration of painting, collage techniques, and textiles, she intertwines themes of coiffure—encompassing the products, ingredients, and distribution across African countries. Through her research Ehiko incorporates ethnobotany, herbalism & wellness into her practice to educate and promote autonomy.
- Elisa Rose
- Elisa Rose is a singer and songwriter from Toronto. Her repertoire of opera, classical, and pop music has given her the opportunity to grace many stages while performing to many sold out audiences. Elisa has released 3 albums and 10 singles with multiple songs being played across radio globally. She continues to write and record new original music and perform for audiences everywhere.
- Emily Liang
- Emily Liang is a Chinese-Canadian illustrator with a passion for storytelling! Armed with delicate line work and colours that turn the mundane into the magical, she creates immersive atmospheres filled with easter eggs that encourage audience engagement. Inspired by the wonders of everyday life, Emily’s illustrations explore ways to breathe newfound life and intrigue into the ordinary.
- Erica Gibbs
- Erica Gibbs is a multidisciplinary artist based in the Mississauga. She is currently attending OCAD University in Toronto, working toward her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Drawing & Painting. She is currently interested in the concept of hybridity, with her practice largely consisting of experimentation with combinations of both physical and digital methods of creation.
- Chris Erskine
- My name is Chris Erskine, and I live in Mississauga, Ontario. I specialize in what can be called playful realism, which stresses bold colours and strong lines. My approach to painting is well suited for murals and custom house portraits/custom figure portraits. My art practice also includes soundscapes, light sculptures with non-traditional materials sculptures, and experimental films.
- Esther Leelavathy
- My name is Esther Leelavathy. I have done my Master's in fine arts and i hold a Master of Philosophy degree in interdisciplinary method ( christian studies). Art for me, is an expression of my perspective, my mind. Ever since I was a student. I was fascinated with human forms especially female forms. My style has evolved from classical Indian and Western influences. The solitary female figure is recurrent in my works since my works portray my personal experiences. I like to incorporate metaphors and symbols in my art to evoke a meaning or a feeling in order to add depth to my art.
- Elizabeth Verby
- My name is Elizabeth and I am a crochet artist. I make crochet plushies, coasters, hats, micro-crochet earrings, keychains, totes, and more.
- Alison Syer Eyespot Designs
- Alison Syer attended Sheridan College, and successfully completed the Art Fundamentals (Illustration) Ontario College Certificate program in 2007, then graduated, with Honours, from the three-year Crafts and Design program in 2010, having earned an Advanced Diploma of Applied Arts, with a studio concentration in textiles. In 2013, she received an honourable mention (Textiles) at the Mississauga Arts Council's MARTY Awards. Her special projects include the strawberry farming themed design for one of Mississauga Arts Council’s “Banners and Boxes” vinyl-wrapped utility boxes and accompanying banners. Her book, Drawn In: An Illustrated Garden Tour was published in 2022.
- Francine Freeman
- Creating paintings of the natural landscape, my work constantly allows me to explore new places while documenting them in paint. All photographed by myself and then painted with a hyperrealist approach, using a light application of oil paints and vivid colors, as a way to relive moments and share my memories. Over many years I have traveled extensively exploring the beauty of 15 countries and painting from photos taken along my travels. My recent paintings are based on photographs I took while traveling and living in parts of the world, including scenes from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Norway, Hong Kong, Italy and Ireland. Being in the hyperrealism genre, I try to capture the true essence of a place, the emotion it gives, its importance to the community and my experience within it. My interest is to continue exploring new places within my own country of Canada, showing the beauty of the landscapes experienced. In the last few years my attention has also been drawn to community murals. Volunteering and working in the community has always been a passion of mine, now taking my skill in fine arts to bring myself and my students (as a high school teacher) into the community with art related initiatives. Executing these murals has given myself and the community a sense of acceptance, love and unity. When you define a community, it’s not only those who live in the same region or may have similar interests, but it's the support and love for each other’s similarities and differences. In creating, the community shows support with honking horns of excitement, members stopping by to take photos and daily visits to watch and support the progress. I am inspired that something as simple as painting a mural, would have such an effect positively on a group of people. The meaning behind the murals are truly shown in the people who express so much joy and support during the creation. I believe there are many different lenses to view the world through. The aim in my work is creating a lens that captures the inner beauty of a location and moment in time.
- Film Paraiso
- Paraiso is a collective of two artists; Sabrina Narzoles Aly & Isabelle Ciobanu. The duo works together to create something divine for the eye.
- JA Fligel
- J. A. Fligel is a sculptor based in Mississauga and specializing in bronze. His style is versatile, from abstract, stylized and figurative sculpture, including animals. His goal is to encourage people to see the power of the human spirit, the beauty in diversity and the delicate interconnectedness of life on this planet. J. A. Fligel represented Canada at the Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts and was awarded bronze in 2015, by The Louvre, Paris, France. His sculpture is in private and public collections such as The Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, Toronto and The University of Western Ontario, London with the sculpture “Professionalism”. Sculpture commissions are welcomed, there is no limit on size. People, animals, fantasy, realistic, stylized and abstract work are all possible. if you have questions or a design in mind, please contact.
- Frog in Hand
- Frog in Hand began with a cast of frogs performing circus tricks under the artistic direction of sisters, Noelle Hamlyn and Colleen Snell, who were one and five years old at the time. From this whimsical debut springs our firm belief that art begins in humble places – including the mud and grass of our own backyards. Although we are now a diverse collective of dancers, choreographers, musicians, actors, spoken word poets, designers and visual artists, we are still inspired by where we find ourselves. We are storytellers, adventurers of landscapes both imagined and real - we are proudly Port Credit based.
- Ghazi Toutounji
- Mechanical engineer by profession with a hobby for drawing and painting in various media including oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil, ink. Subjects include portrait, landscape, city scenery and various sceneries, heritage, old buildings. Also work in sculpture, 3D sculpture and modeling. Participated in multiple collective shows in Canada.
- Cheryle Music
- Gospel Music Industry Hub (GMIHub) is a faith-based ministry that provides information, networking and showcase opportunities to help develop and support the Christian music scene locally, nationally and internationally through projects and events. Cheryle Dueck is the Founder of Gospel Music Industry Hub (GMIHub). Her passion is to help music artists in the gospel music scene realize their dreams of becoming professionally known indie artists on a national and international level. Musically, Cheryle is known for singing. Her 30+ years in the gospel music scene includes being a soloist, worship leader, choir and ensemble member, and children and youth choir director. Cheryle holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and masters degree in Organizational Management. Outside of the office, Cheryle enjoys spending quality family time with her husband and two sons
- Jianying Gong
- JIANYING GONG,Living in Canada, graduated from Academy of Arts and Design, TsinghuaUniversity. Years of painting practice and wide communication with artists and collectors from home and abroad shape the author’s artistic cognition. Since 2009, her works gradually broke away from the fetters of traditional painting and began to express emotions straight from the heart. The pictures tended to be of more simplicity and quietness. Her works focus more on exhibiting life’s vibration through details of nature, and thus have a special touch of tenderness and sensibility.
- Gwen Tooth
- I am an experimental expressionist painter. I have completed several series of acrylic paintings revealing the moods and energies of water – whirlpools, waterfalls, and tsunamis and recently, White Water Rapids, achieved by applying paint layers, thick and thin, suggesting the destructive force of the rapids. I am a member of Propeller, Gallery 1313, Artists’ Network and I am an Associate member of the Society of Canadian Artists. I hold a B.A. from Western University, a BFA (Honours) 2005 from Ontario College of Art and Design University and a Fine Arts Certificate (Honours) from Humber College. For a detailed curriculum vitae, visit: www.zhibit.org/gwentooth
- Haley Toll
- Creating art has always been a part of my life and I chose to concentrate on painting during my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Concordia University in Montréal. Painting enables me to bring my materials wherever I live. I have lived in six Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador) and internationally in Botswana and Mongolia. Therefore, my artwork is deeply inspired by the range of incredible landscapes across the world- from the central Asian Steppe to the Indian ocean to the Canadian Rockies. My painting subjects range from portraits, animals, landscapes, to boats, neural images and still life. These subjects are dictated by the desire to constantly see the world anew and challenge my skills. My multimedia style ranges from colourful abstract expressionism to high realism, and I use oils, acrylics, gold leaf, spices, ink, and water colour. My process involves allowing the painting subjects to dictate my painting style, which continuously pushes the boundaries of my technical skills. I also integrate both classical and modern painting styles. The artwork, which include commissions, are embedded with a painting process that includes empathetic resonance. I believe in the power of artmaking to increase wellbeing and offer insight. I hold an MA in Creative Arts Therapies (Concordia University in Montréal), a BFA in Studio Arts (Concordia University), and am a Ph.D. Candidate in Education (Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador). I am also the Editor of the Canadian Journal of Art Therapy, the Past President of the Canadian Art Therapy Association.
- Carla Campbell
- Since I was a little girl, I have had a passion for making and creating things and sharing it with family and friends. Now that my kids are are grown up, I want to share my passion with the world.
- Hansani Perera
- ➖Srilankan traditional dancer ➖Creative dancer ➖Directress of Hansani dancing academy ➖Choreographer ➖Dancer ➖Teacher
- Heather Christine
- Heather Christine is a soulful and captivating entertainer who performs across Canada to audiences as large as 25,000. As an Award-Winning vocalist, Heather Christine connects with audiences with her vivacious stage presence, expressive voice and engaging personality. Also a seasoned theatrical performer, Heather Christine has toured extensively through Canada’s soft-seater theatre circuit performing as leading ladies Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn in Bill Culp's Mainstage Musical Productions. She is also the dynamic host of the “MAC Arts Café” presented by the Mississauga Arts Council. As a Recording Artist, Heather Christine’s 2019 debut recording, Love in Colour garnered international recognition for its soulful blend of R&B, Jazz, and Pop. Within the first month of its release, Love in Colour rose to #1 on the Spanish Radio show Smooth Jazz Sitges (Radio 99.2FM Barcelona) also granting her a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2019 Mississauga Music Awards. Featuring her original compositions, songs from Love in Colour received radio rotation in Canada on Toronto’s JazzFM91, CIUT 89.5FM and on Wave 94.7. Heather Christine takes inspiration from her Great-Grandfather, Saxophonist and composer Jimmy Kerr, who performed with Jazz legends including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Heather was trained through the Royal Conservatory of Music under the expert tutelage of Soprano Eleanor Calbes. Heather Christine has appeared in many professional theatrical productions including Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Livent), Footloose (Stage West Calgary) & Tropicale (Canada’s Wonderland). She is the proud recipient of the 2018 Mississauga Music Award (Best New Artist). Heather Christine also performs regularly with her partner in life and music, Matt Zaddy as their duo, River North. For upcoming show information visit heatherchristine.ca. Highlights: • 2021 MARTY Award nominee for “Establish Vocalist” • 2019 Mississauga Music award nominee for Best Album “Love in Colour” • 2019 National radio play of the single We Could Be Lovers on JazzFM 91, CIUT 89.5FM & internationally on 99.2FM in Barcelona, Spain • 2019 featured performer at Canada Day Celebrations at Mississauga Celebration Square (audience of 25,000) • 2019 featured performer at Bobcaygeon Summer Concert Series, Mississauga Port Credit Summer Concert Series, Bloor Yorkville BIA Summer Concert Series and Mississauga Small Arm Society’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. • 2018 Winner of the Mississauga Music Award for Best New Artist • 2016-2018 Provincial Touring as leading lady Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn in Bill Culp’s Mainstage Musical Theatre Productions Only Yesterday & Patsy Cline & the Queens of Country. Over 30 mainstage performances at venues including Midland Cultural Centre, London’s Aeolian Hall, Huntsville Algonquin Theatre, Newmarket Theatre, John Elliott Theatre Halton Hills etc. • Co-writer of the song We Are The North, Mississauga’s 2017 official summer song for its #Canada150 Celebrations • National Touring in 2017 with Canadian Recording Artist Matt Zaddy (Eastern Canada) • 2017 Canada Day Celebrations at Mississauga Celebration Square with K’Naan • 2016 Featured Performer at Collingwood Elvis Festival (audience of 8,000)
- Hedy Rebekkah Benjamin
- Hi, I am a Graphic Designer with over 8 years of experience. Apart from Graphic Design, I like drawing, singing, writing and then some more singing :) I believe it is very important to treat everyone with love and respect because we never know who is fighting what battle.
- Helen Anne Lemke
- I'm a digital artist and photographer from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Using photoshop I create pieces responding to quotes and other inspirations to create the world of my imagination which you are invited to come and explore along with me.
- Heritage Mississauga
- Founded in 1960 and based out of the historic Robinson-Adamson House, also known as The Grange, Heritage Mississauga offers a Heritage Resource Centre, Public Exhibit Gallery, Outreach Presentations, publications,and many Heritage-themed Events.
- Nicole Faye
- Nicole Faye is a talent with an impressive range of abilities, including singing, acting, dancing, and production. Dividing her time between studio and stage Nicole is an in-demand performer and vocalist appearing with various live ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area and has recorded background and featured vocals for several Toronto and International artists. In addition to live shows Nicole has been fortunate enough in her young career to acquire an extensive body of work that includes appearances on television shows, commercials, music videos and singing the national anthems for the Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors. A passionate performer, Nicole thrives on the energy she receives from performing in front of live audiences and on live television; most notably appearing with Alessia Cara as one of her background singers at iHeart Radio's MMVA's in 2016. With her charming spirit and full bodied vocal tone; Nicole Faye is arguably one of the best singers in Toronto!
- Hasib Iftekhar
- Hasib Iftekhar is a published poet and emerging figure in the realm of psychological thrillers, presents a captivating fusion of human psychology and supernatural intrigue in his works. Actively involved with the Writers' Collective of Canada, he leads writing workshops to empower diverse voices and cherish every individual narrative. Through his writing, he deftly navigates the complexities of the human psyche while embracing the artistry of poetic expression. Originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh, he spent over 15 years in Melbourne, Australia, before settling in Toronto, Canada, with his family in 2018. Alongside his passion for writing, he indulges in his love for travel, bookstore perusing, museum visits, and a good cup of coffee.
- Hispanic Canadian Arts and Cultural Association
- The Hispanic Canadian Arts and Cultural Association is a non-profit association geared towards supporting the development of local artists, including musicians, visual artists, performers and others interested in Hispanic music and culture. The HCACA is based in the Greater Toronto Area but is open to participation and connections to groups and individuals outside the Greater Toronto area with similar interests. The HCACA provides an opportunity for musicians and other artists to perform and bring Hispanic music and culture to a mass audience in Canada, with a focus on local talent but not precluding participation from artists outside the Greater Toronto area. The HCACA strives to promote understanding and participation among the different ethnic and cultural groups that make up the Hispanic community, and to collaborate with the diversity of peoples in Canada through the production and presentation of cultural and artistic events. The Hispanic Cultural Association (OHCA) was founded in the fall of 2010 in order to promote Hispanic culture in Canada, and is specifically dedicated to: Provide platforms for the presentation of musicians, visual artists, performers, actors, dancers and others through large and small scale events. Support, stimulate and provide working opportunities for artists to perform and bring Hispanic culture (music, visual arts, dance, theatre) to a mass audience in the Greater Toronto area (focusing on local talent but not precluding participation by artists from outside the Toronto area); Increase visibility of Hispanic culture in the Greater Toronto area through year-round programming; including festivals, concerts, exhibitions, workshops, etc. Promote and manage an annual Latin Arts and cultural festival in the Greater Toronto Area; Develop arts educational programs for children and youth in our communities. Promote and maintain an ongoing dialogue and collaboration with local and International cultural organizations and artists. Collaborate with other similar organizations, communities, and clubs throughout Canada.
- Hong Wan
- I immigrated to Montreal in 2019 and moved to Toronto in 2022. Before that, I worked in the media industry in China for nearly 20 years: radio disc jockey, TV news program reporter, fashion magazine editor, fashion website editor, and e-commerce brand director. It's my job to observe the people of this era. The intense work experience made me pay great attention to the images I shot, because the interview opportunity is usually only once. After immigrating to Canada, I had my own free time besides accompanying my sons to school. I found that the expression that gave me more freedom than writing was actually drawing. Painting is a universal language. During the three years of the pidemic, my sons and I have developed painting skills at home. My sons are in digital art, and I'm in oil and watercolor. China's busy streets are decorated with educational slogans in Chinese characters, and the material is constantly upgraded, from banners to screens to projections. In Canada, the busy streets are decorated with wall paintings, from the entire facade of high-rise buildings to the outer wall of worn flat floors. That was the first culture difference that shocked my sons when they moved to Canada happened to them at age 10: instead of serious political propaganda, they saw lovely murals. So, I crave painting a piece of mural that can be seen by the public in Canada. To shock my son again.
- Stephen Uhraney
- Stephen Uhraney began his career as an editorial photographer. In 2010, Stephen placed seventh in the world at the Sony World Photography Awards, achieving a third-place standing in his category, the only Canadian to make the cut. Stephen shoots documentary photography and works on stories for up to two years. One of his documentary projects, which detailed the lives of migrant farm workers in the Holland Marsh, was displayed in Toronto's prestigious Scotiabank Contact Festival. His most recent show, The Establishment, features environmental portraits of longstanding business owners in Port Credit, on display at the historic St. Lawrence Starch building in Port Credit. Stephen is currently working on two documentary projects: (1) The Brightwater development focusing on construction workers doing their jobs, and (2) A documentary completed documentary project detailing the Mississauga Fire Emergency Service at Station 104. In his down time Stephen shoots environmental street photography. "It comes down to this, I carry a camera with me at all times. I see something I like, I shoot it." It’s not what you see, it’s how you see it! Stephen may be contacted for work at: stephenuhraney@gmail.com https://uhraneyphotoblog.wordpress.com https://stephenuhraneyphotos.wordpress.com
- Huan Chen
- I am a Chinese-Canadian artist based in Mississauga. I am a painter and an art educator. I specialize in oil painting of figure and landscape.
- JSAL
- JSAL is a Mississauga-based emerging singer-songwriter whose music journey began at the age of seven with piano, vocal, and music theory training. Her music blends contemporary pop with anthemic sounds, inspired by artists like Sia. Having released two singles—Be Invincible and Inner Flame—JSAL is known for her emotionally resonant themes of resilience, empowerment, and overcoming life's challenges. Her performances evoke a sense of hope and strength, offering listeners an inspiring, introspective experience. Currently, she is working on her debut EP, Rising Phoenix, which explores themes of rebirth and inner strength.
- Nisreen Askar
- I'm visual artist a multidisciplinary artist, I work in many different styles. Abstract, Landscape, floral, I graduated with honors in Fine Arts from Sheridan College, Oakville with a diploma in Visual Arts from the International Employment School. I work at my studio in Port Credit
- The Celebration Dance Company
- Want to learn Bollywood dance in Mississauga? The Celebration Dance Company provides top-rated Indian wedding dance choreography in Mississauga. Suitable for both beginners as well as advanced dancers. Learn simple Indian Bollywood dance moves with our fitness workout program offered by well trained instructors. We also choreograph Sangeet Dance in Mississauga for the Bride and Her Friends and Family. We also specialize in modern Pakistani wedding choreography songs.
- Matt Zaddy
- Singer Songwriter - Folk Rock | Rhythm & Blues | Canadiana. Music Educator. Content Creator. Session Musician. Matt Zaddy (Zadkovich) is a staple of the Mississauga music community. A singer songwriter, performer, open mic host, content creator, and educator, Matt works tirelessly within his community to bring musicians together. He has performed across Canada as a singer songwriter, opening for such acts as: The Jim Cuddy Trio, Francesco Yates, Tom Cochrane, The Cowboy Junkies & The Trews. He has also performed at such prestigious venues in Ontario as: The Living Arts Centre (Mississauga), The River Run Centre (Guelph), Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), the Rose Theatre (Brampton), Casa Loma (Toronto) & the Opera House (Toronto). Matt has also been the creator and host of a popular open mic series in Mississauga since 2011, working with local musicians and venues to help build a strong music community. He has hosted over 700 events of this nature. He is also frequently asked to guests speak at music educational events about creative entrepreneurship, songwriting, and tour booking. During the Pandemic, Matt has focused on music education, online performances with his partner Heather Christine, hosting the #TogetherAtHome #OpenMic, and teaching others how to improve their online performance set up. Awards 1. 2021 - Mississauga Arts Award (MARTY) – Established Solo Vocalist 2. 2020 - Mississauga Music Award - Album of the Year 3. 2019 - Mississauga Music Award - Promoter of the Year 4. 2017 - Mississauga Music Award - Best Acoustic Artist 5. 2016 - Mosaic Music Fesival Award (CCAI) - Excellence in Art for my community music series/outreach Tour Highlights: TD Songs of Summer Festival w/ 5440 & Whitehorse (2018), The Trews (2017) Soundbites Music Festival w/ Tom Cochrane Canada Day Celebrations w/ K'Naan - Celebration Square Indie Week & Canadian Music Week - Toronto (2017-2019) Casa Loma w/ Jim Cuddy trio National touring across Canada w/ CBC coverage & interviews
- Ink Movement
- Ink Movement is a youth led non profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts within the community. We focus on bridging the gap between youth and accessible arts programming.
- Inky Egwuenu
- Inky Egwuenu is a screenwriter, author and aspiring film-maker. Her work usually has elements of cultures that have influenced her life. Inky specializes in feature and TV Limited/Mini series dramas with female and BIPOC leads. Inky is also a businesswoman, “techie & trekkie”. Her stories seek to encourage and empower women. She has been involved with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for over a decade and currently lives in Mississauga, Canada.
- IRMA DIJAK
- Irma is an mixed media visual artist living in the historic village of Streetsville. She’s an emerging artist whose intuitive acrylic images on canvas derive from memories of her alpine European roots, inspired by her treks on rocky landscapes or whatever life throws at her. Irma expresses herself using acrylic paint and mixed mediums to create her organic or geometric shapes. Her palette varies, but chances are it’s bursting with pops of saturation. Irma enhances her pieces with mark making to achieve intriguing textures, adding depth and mystery. Engaging in international and local art programs is how Irma strengthens her self-taught art practice. Artwork is displayed in local exhibitions, virtual shows, and by private collectors. Irma enjoys enriched connections with artists in person and virtually, sharing experiences and coordinating art events. She continues to elevate her art practice with ongoing new learning, sharing her skills with others, and volunteering her time. Irma invites her viewers on her art journey exploring textures, colours, and features that are reminiscent of what inspires her in nature and in life. Her art work can be viewed on Instagram. She is in the process of developing her website.
- Isabel Hughes
- I am a multidisciplinary digital designer & illustrator with a focus on branding, editorial design, and interactive design.
- Ishleen Singh
- I'm a freelance graphic designer who explores art through digital and oil mediums. Check out my work at Ishleensingh.com
- Jacelyn Holmes
- JACELYN is a Canadian singer-songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur based in Mississauga, Canada.“A captivating and seamless blend of sensual vulnerability and raw edginess, JACELYN’s mesmerizing, smoky voice, and sweet charm, draws in her audience and touches their hearts.” Released first project, As Is, EP, 2010 WON Original Song of the Year at the Niagara Music Awards, 2010 Growin’ Up, and Speechless both received synch placement in Sophie & Sheba a feature film, 2010/2011 WON Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year at the Niagara Music Awards, 2011 Holiday Single, Waiting for Christmas, played across Canadian radio, 2013/2014/2015 Speechless becomes World Pride Toronto song, 2014 Received grant to help finance the Canada’s Music Incubator program, 2016 Single, Fool, nominated for Emerging Vocalist of the Year at the MARTY’s, 2018 Received touring grant from SOCAN, Blue Rodeo and Colin James Foreign Affairs Nominated and WON for Emerging Vocalist of the Year at the MARTY’s, 2019 Speechless synch placement in feature film What If It Was Me, 2019 Ontario Arts Council awarded Holiday Heatwave with the Recording Grant, 2020 Mississauga Arts Council awarded Dovetailing visual multidisciplinary virtual presentation- a Matchmaking Micro grant, 2020 Dovetailing, debut album, played across North American radio, 2020 SOCAN Artist Spotlight magazine cover artist, 2021
- Jacqueline Mak
- Her work at BBDO Asia and Ogilvy One Hong Kong saw her working with brands such as Visa, Metlife, P&G, Mercedes, Purina, and Bayer. Returning to Canada to pursue a career as a visual artist, she has created works for Art Gallery of Ontario, Artscape- City Daniels, Art Gallery of Mississauga 42th Juried Show, City of Mississauga, Living Arts Centre and has been featured on CBC Arts, VICE, and The O.G. and many more. Jacqueline Mak holds a BDes in Advertising has four years of Art Direction experience. She holds a postgraduate degree in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD. As a visual artist, her work challenges society’s views on critical issues that affect our daily lives in which we seldom pay attention to.
- Jacqueline Neves
- Jacqueline is a self taught jewellery artist, born and raised in Toronto and lives in Port Credit, Mississauga. She has been creating and restoring jewellery most of her life, selling her fine sterling silver gemstone jewellery as well as her unique upcycled costume jewellery at fine art shows, shops, and internationally from her website since 2009. Transformation is the main theme in her work, she is an eco-conscious artist, using earth friendlier, sustainable methods of construction while upcycling and repurposing vintage gemstones, metals, glass, beads, and other materials whenever possible. Her style is eclectic, beaded, wire wrapped, and sculptural metal work designs influenced by Nature, Water, Art, her Vintage Jewellery collection and her faith. The creative process is part of her healing journey, an expression of joy, gratitude and hope.
- Jacquie Blondin
- Jacquie Blondin is a Canadian artist and educator specializing in the art and craft of ceramics. She specializes in using linoblock printing on clay to infuse clay with with harmonious, nature inspired textures. She helps beginner and intermediate potters get to the next step in her online course. With over 30 years of experience in education, she transitioned from teaching Visual Arts in a Mississauga secondary school to teaching adults and youth in the local and online community. You can find her at the Mississauga Potters' Guild.
- Jaimie Poon
- I am a Chinese female singer-songwriter and a recipient of MAC's 2022 Matchmaker MicroGrant. I am most known for the childlike purity of my vocals backed by soulful instrumentals and lyrics written with sincerity of heart. My songwriting is inspired by the rich spiritual experiences I have as a Christian and the deep thoughts I process as a highly sensitive person with heightened emotions. Despite being classically trained throughout childhood, I have always been drawn to soul music and choose to communicate my stories through a versatile blend of neo-soul, jazz, and bossa nova. Some of my artistic influences include female soul musicians Alice Auer, Lianne La Havas, and Amber Navran.
- Jane Nwakoby
- Jane Nwakoby lives and works in Mississauga, Ontario. She received her BA (1994) and MFA (1999) in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. She holds a B.Ed. (2005) in Education from York University, Canada. Nwakoby is a member of the Ontario college of teachers and an elected member of the Colour and Form Society. She is an educator with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School board and brings to the school community her immense cultural diversity. Nwakoby’s works can be found in a myriad of public and private art collections in Canada and abroad.
- Jason Ojenma
- I enjoy making art as it is a peaceful and enjoyable past time. I use it to free my mind and put my thoughts to paper and canvas (digital as well). I like making comics and portraits as well as graphic designs too.
- Jason Misurka
- Bio “ Lifting Joy and spirit through movement and colour “. "My name is Jason Misurka , an emerging Canadian abstract artist born in 1967 Toronto Ontario. I now live in Mississauga ,where I paint in my home studio, overlooking and inspiring backyard view. My artistic journey and interest in the arts began at a very young age, around 8 years old, when I picked up a pencil and started doodling images of animals and landscapes. This sparked my imagination and continued throughout high school and then college. My journey formally began with an introduction to visual arts at Sheridan College, where I studied the fundamentals of art. There, I explored various mediums such as photography, printmaking, live model sketching, and art theory. I then moved on to the main course of study in the Classical Animation program, which involved more intense visual perceptions, creating repetitive animated drawings brought to life, and designing backgrounds and layouts. Looking back, I found that my passion and interest in abstract painting allowed me to find my true voice and freely explore my imagination . I create sketches of shapes and forms and build on them with bold colour tones, inspired by my everyday life experiences and observations. ARTIST STATEMENT My paintings intuitively engage the subconscious mind with dreamlike state captures and moments frozen in time and space.This is achieved through layering translucent , bold colour palettes , transferred images , and masking film , adding layers of bold colour forms that evoke the senses of energy , flows of movement and joyfulness . My paintings are an expression and interpretation of my own life experiences gathered from observations . These observations are then collected through hand sketches , conjured thoughts , and manipulated to shape and form compositions . The focuses may include inspiring long walks through the urban streetscapes of downtown Toronto , European and Caribbean vacations , and casual nature hikes , such as the winding trails through Gravenhurst Ontario. My techniques include air brushes with richly pigmented acrylic tones ,where I paint wide swaths with sweeping motions and smaller areas of fine details . I engage in hand painting with long and short gestural brush movements , incorporating free - flow inks to push paint around in spontaneous flows that naturally unfold in its raw organic forms . Final touches may include acrylic markers for fine details and a flick brush for splatter effects.
- Jaya Datta
- Jaya Datta is a fine arts graduate and elected member of prestigious ‘Ontario Society Of Artists’, ‘Colour And Form Society’, ‘Mississauga Arts Council’ and ‘Visual Arts Mississauga’. She has held numerous Exhibitions and won many awards. Her paintings are in private collections in USA, Turkey, Canada, and the government of Ontario Art collection. Her canvases tell everyday stories in a unique way. Colours are alive, bright, and bold. Her paintings uncover the mystery of visual perception to communicate a message.
- Brent Gelhar
- The Jazz Rangers, serving the GTHA with fun casual jazz and pop! Whether playing our styling of soul, pop, blues, contemporary hits or the Great American (and Canadian) Songbook, you will enjoy the music. The Jazz Rangers are a group of fun loving jazz musicians offering a wide range of jazz standards, bebop and contemporary musical interpretations. We love to play with a variety of backing vocalists or just for the fun of playing to an audience.
- Jay Boehmer
- Drummer, composer and bandleader Jay Boehmer has been performing in the GTA since 1990 with his jazz trio as well as many other projects. Jay graduated from Toronto’s Humber College Jazz Program as a performance major where he developed an interest in composition. Boehmer was part of Toronto's "Queen Street" indie scene, recording and performing with numerous bands. Jay has also played drums and percussion in over 40 theatre productions across southern Ontario. In 1995, Jay founded his quartet Jay Boehmer Jazz as an outlet for his original compositions. He released his debut CD Don’t Look Back in 1999; Autumn Afternoon was released in 2007. From 2005 to 2010, the Jay Boehmer Band, with singer Michelle Berting, performed regularly at Toronto’s Old Mill Inn covering classic songs, dance hits and popular standards. Jay currently performs with country sweethearts Dirty Dishes, the Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble and the New Vibes Jazz Quintet, from Kitchener, Ontario. The Jay Boehmer Trio continues to perform in clubs and for corporate and private parties. Jay Boehmer Jazz albums are available on iTunes and have been featured on CBC radio and television, Jazz FM91 and City TV.
- Jennifer Cortez (The Prof)
- Jennifer Cortez, also known as, “The Prof” is a Canadian/Ecuadorian singer and songwriter. Jennifer’s love for music and performance stems from her childhood upbringing. In Ecuador, South America, Jennifer’s parents were musicians and her late grandmother was a recording artist. Jennifer’s style of music is heavily influenced by the eclectic sounds of Latin and Caribbean rhythms and released her first physical, 12-track album “Through the Rain” in 2010, gaining traction and radio play from local radio stations including Flow 93.5. Jennifer released a tropical, feel-good album, “Out of Office" in 2018, and later that year was chosen as a top ten live performer for the “Best of Open Mic Live” series at the Living Arts Centre. Her reggaeton single, “About That” was a selected semi-finalist in the Latin Music category for the International Songwriting Competition in 2020. Jennifer is also an art director, graphic designer, content creator, professor at Humber College and a Sound Healing Practitioner. Services offered include: Singing Performances Sound Healing (using crystal sound bowls) Video Editing & Content Creation Art Direction & Graphic Design Writing, Copywriting
- Jeannette Chau
- Not all superheroes wear capes. Superheroes help people and solve problems. That’s what engineers do, too. So do moms! Hi, my name is Jeannette Chau and I am a children’s author and electrical engineer. I was inspired to write some books on engineering for children ages 3 to 5, and in particular, I wanted to interest young girls in engineering, because when I was growing up, I didn’t know what an engineer did and that there were many different types of engineering. Girls need to see that it is a profession that they can be in, and that ordinary people they know, like their mothers, can be engineers, so they can be one, too. That’s why my “My Mom is an Engineer” books, are based on real mothers with their real daughters talking about what they do. As an author, I want the books I write to be educational and inspirational, in a fun and colourful way. Who knows what child I may inspire?! Jeannette Chau is an Electrical engineer and mother of two children - Emily and Casey. She lives with her husband, children, cat, lizard, and fish in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
- Jenna
- Jenna is a singer-songwriter, drummer, and disability advocate who has lived in Mississauga since 2020. Despite launching her music career in January, she has already made waves by winning the 2024 MARTYS Award for Emerging Solo Vocalist, receiving the 2024 SHINE! Music Bursary honouring James Gray and recently being nominated for emerging talent of the year at the Mississauga Music Awards. Her ambitious 'Project 2024' promises a new original song on the first of every month this year. Backed by Alexandr Zelenskiy and Thomas Aman, she has released eight original songs to date, with the latest called 'Big City of Mine'. Her next release, called 'Mismatched Socks’ and will be available on all streaming platforms on September 1st. Jenna, who lives with invisible disabilities, advocates for accessibility and disability education through her artistry, aiming to inspire fellow disabled creators with her platform.
- Jennifer Lawton
- Retired Fine Arts and Photography Teacher from the Secondary School Level up to University Level Education classes. I taught at the college level in Canberra, ACT, Australia for a year (on exchange), and also ran several Canadian Workshops in Giverny, France for 8 summers, featuring the opportunity for my students to be able to paint in Monet's Garden privately, after the tourists were gone! In my retirement I now spend my time oil painting, experimenting with multi-media, Cold Wax, etc. - playing with interpreting my photographs in luscious colour!
- Jennifer Rabanillo
- With a keen eye for visual storytelling. I have a talent for crafting compelling and memorable experiences across various industries including: entertainment, fashion, interior design & marketing. As an Art & Creative Director, I am looking to connect with like-minded artists.
- Julijana Hajdinjak
- JULIJANA HAJDINJAK IS AN AWARD-WINNING CANADIAN-CROATIAN ARTIST WHO ACTIVELY WORKS IN ALL AREAS OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. RAISED IN MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, HER EXTENSIVE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (MOST NOTABLY WITH THE ROLLING STONES AND CIRQUE DU SOLEIL) AND TRAINING DISTINGUISH HER FROM THE REST AND ALLOW FOR A UNIQUE EXPRESSION THROUGH HER MUSIC. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, JULIJANA HAS WORKED ON PROJECTS THAT AIRED ON TELEVISION NETWORKS SUCH AS TVO, AS WELL AS HAVING HER WORK PERFORMED BY CANADIAN ENSEMBLES FROM COAST TO COAST. WITH AN HONOURS BACHELOR OF MUSIC WITH DISTINCTION MAJORING IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC: COMPOSITION DEGREE FROM WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY, AND PRIVATE TRAINING IN BOTH PIANO AND VOICE, JULIJANA’S THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH MUSIC THEORY AND PERFORMANCE GIVE HER A UNIQUE APPRECIATION FOR THE NUANCES IN MUSIC, ALLOWING HER TO PERFORM AND CREATE WORKS IN A VARIETY OF GENRES. AS AN EMERGING ARTIST IN VARIOUS FACETS OF THE INDUSTRY, JULIJANA HAJDINJAK IS A NAME TO WATCH. JUST LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT, LENNON STELLA, HALSEY AND COUNTLESS OTHER INSPIRATIONS, DANI KNOWS HOW TO WRITE BANGERS. THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WRITING OVER 500 SONGS AS A TEENAGER AND TRAINING AS A CLASSICAL PIANIST AND VOCALIST, SHE HAS FOUND HER NICHE. DANI IS A CONFIDENT, MATURE, CREATIVE AND OPEN-MINDED ARTIST LOOKING TO BUILD A TEAM AND GROW HER BRAND.
- Jade Jager Clark
- Jade Jager Clark is the Owner & Artistic Director of Jade's Hip Hop Academy established in 2006. This successful studio has served the Peel region for 18years and is recognized nationally and internationally for their programs focusing on youth, hip hop and street dance and achievements in competitions and performances.
- Jackie Gallagher
- Jackie is inspired by the beauty of nature and her love of the outdoors. She chooses her subjects to paint by what speaks to her … their simplicity, contours, flow as well as their imagery and architectural shapes. Jackie's drawings and paintings can be quite detailed involving many layers. Although watercolour was her medium of choice initially, she now works more in coloured pencil and has explored other media such as pen & ink and silverpoint and will mix media to obtain a desired effect. Most of her works tend to be floral or botanical but she will also draw landscapes that reflect her architectural interests. Painting for Jackie is a creative journey which may take her outside her comfort zone at times yet always provides an enriching experience that leads inevitably to its intended destination. Jackie is a member of the Mississauga Arts Council, Visual Arts Mississauga, Lakeshore Art Trail (Mississauga), Colored Pencil Society of America and The Thursday Artists. Jackie has exhibited within the GTA and south-central Ontario both as an individual artist and a member of The Thursday Artists. Her works can be found in private collections within Canada and the United States. Jackie is past president of the former Botanical Artists of Canada (2015-2018).
- Joann Rossitter
- Wanda Joann Rossitter Wanda is a Toronto born artist. After completing her B. A. In language arts at the university of Toronto, she spent many years as an English, French and Special Education teacher. Wanda has attained a Master’s degree in Theology from the University of Toronto. Wanda has written two novellas and several poems. Her poems are published in the Crazy Cove Anthology (Courtney Park Writers Group). An active performer, she regularly performs at local open mic evenings, most recently at Amphitheatre Unplugged, an open mic at Celebration Square. She is an active singer in many choral groups including Opera Kitchener, Opera York, and the Mississauga Festival Choir. She also dances at the university of Toronto festival of dance every year. She is available to give dance lessons in the art of oriental dance. Wanda is a fully alive, creative artist. She loves to sing, dance and create visual arts, and has received several awards. In 2016, she won the Marty award for best performing artist of the dance and in 2019, she was nominated for the Marty award for visual artist. Wanda has travelled extensively throughout the world. She has a family in Peel and enjoys being an active volunteer in Mississauga.
- Joanne Feely DeGraaf
- Joanne Feely DeGraaf currently teaches visual art to high school students and continues to explore media, ideas and context in her own artistic practice. She primarily uses acrylic and latex paint to create her own mural art. Her efforts have been recognized by various institutions. This is reflected in awards she has received such as the Peel District School Board’s Award of Excellence (2014) and Distinction (2012, 2016, 2019). Her artwork has been exhibited by various cultural institutions including the Mississauga Living Arts Centre, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Etobicoke Civic Centre and Halton Regional Centre.
- Joseph Bonsu
- Joseph Osei Bonsu is an illustrator from Mississauga with a diverse portfolio of projects, ranging from children's books and comics to art installations and editorial art. A Sheridan and Seneca College graduate, Joseph co-founded the comic book mega-brand, Heroes Of The World with best friend and Mississauga illustrator Mark Williams!
- Jo Magpantay
- I am a working freelance Illustrator that focuses on narrative, graphic novels, and editorial pieces. My work is built from the fascination I encounter in daily life and building excitement in a mundane moment. I enjoy working with mix media and finalizing images digitally. For any inquiries please Email me.
- John Taylor
- Being into photography as and videography far back as 1983 shooting in high school arts classes, it’s been ongoing practice. I continued my passion through media arts in not one but TWO colleges (Humber and Seneca). I’ve seen every change in technology and techniques from old school analog to modern digital. Every chance I have I keep up with the latest equipment and styles of shooting both mediums. I worked in multimedia trade shows with Tel-AV, was the head photographer and trainer for Bay Portrait Studios and Glamour Shots Canada, but ever got tired of this artistic field. Mostly I create professional events and wedding memories (since 1990) on video being a one-man show to fully create productions for people and organizations to cherish. Why are you passionate about photography? The creative process, the people you meet, the teamwork with MUAH’s and other artists make every project engrossing. How do you use your photography ? I use my photography to keep my creativity going now that I have just turned 55 and have 2000+ shoots under my belt, it keeps my mind going What inspires you? Professionals who are just as creative and passionate about any project. It’s like working with celebrities feeling startruck at times with the right people.
- Juan Pena
- My name is Juan Pena. I do video production that focuses on the automotive sector. I am currently a student at Sheridan College
- Julia Juhas
- Julia is a professional Film/TV + Theatre Actor, Singer, Dancer and an Embodied Mindful Movement Coach + Certified Yoga Teacher. For over 25 years Julia has been performing alongside some of North America’s finest, both onstage and on the big screen which include Hilary Swank, John Travolta, Louise Pitre, Sean Cullen, Michael Therriault to name a few. She has also performed the song Memory in front of Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber himself on the Palladium Stage in London, England as a Maria finalist in the TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria. Julia is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance Program and upon graduating went on to perform in Mirvish Productions, The Stratford Festival and in many theatres across Canada and the U.S. She has appeared in several of Ross Petty’s pantomimes at the Elgin/Winter Garden Theatre and in films and TV shows such as Frankie Drake, Beauty and the Beast, Remedy, Cracked, In Contempt, Hairspray, Amelia and many more. Before the world shut down in March 2020, Julia had the privilege of playing the role of Halina in the Segal Centre’s Production of Indecent for which she won a Broadway World Award for Best Performance by a Female in Featured Role. Although directing wasn't Julia's chosen path in the film industry, she recently fell in love with film directing and in spring of 2021 was approached to direct her first short film. Unfortunately due to the productions low budget the film was unable to visit post-production however, she is extremely grateful for the experience, proud of the work she did do on the production and looks forward to collaborating and directing her next film. Julia’s first passion has always been dancing. According to her there is nothing more expressive than moving the body through space, listening and exploring the unique language of our individual body. This is why Julia not only touches lives through her storytelling as a performing artist but through her approach to yoga and movement as well. As a long time practitioner and teacher of yoga and dance, Julia helps people unravel and manage their chronic pain through embodied mindful movement modalities. She is a choreographer as well and has choreographed and taught dance, art and yoga in many schools as well as shelters across the GTA. She offers in-person and online private + group mindful movement sessions and complimentary yoga practices via her YouTube Channel – Live With Ease which is a wonderful creative outlet for her. It’s her way of giving back and being of service to others especially during these unprecedented times.
- Juliana Lachance
- Juliana Lachance is a versatile multimedia artist who explores the realms of acrylic, watercolor, lino printing, and collage. Inspired by the wonders of the natural world, her work radiates beauty and captures the essence of seeing the world through the eyes of wonder. With over 20 public murals and a portfolio of personalized home murals, she channels her creativity into transforming spaces, infusing them with vibrant energy and a touch of magic. As an entrepreneur, Juliana owns two successful Etsy shops: Lachance Visual Arts and Wonderlust Botanicals. The former showcases her diverse portfolio, while the latter captures her passion for aromatherapy and herbalism. Juliana is also a musician who plays the bandura, a Ukrainian folk harp with a rich tradition. She has released 7 full length folk albums and over 50 music videos on her youtube channel.
- Kadeem Dunn
- Kadeem Dunn is a Mississauga-based innovator and game designer whose work is focussed primarily on the intersection of digital and physical spaces and how our lives can be altered through a combination of play and technology. Identifying as both Black Canadian and Jamaican, Kadeem's work also focusses on the role that racialization plays in both the production and consumption of technology, media, and society at large. With over ten years in game development education (with companies including iD Tech, Real Programming 4 Kids, and Hand Eye Society) Kadeem has contributed to a brave new generation of game developers through tutoring, curriculum development, publications, lectures, and interactive projects.
- Kristin Dorsey
- As a self-taught artist, entrepreneur, marketing executive, and single mother, Kristin Dorsey's journey is a testament to the power of exploration, courage, and resilience. Born in California and living in Canada for over twenty years, Kristin's diverse background influences her art, and she also calls upon her lifelong love of music for inspiration. The artist embraces the boundless possibilities within us all, unrestrained by the fear of failure and believes in each individual's inherent ability to achieve greatness, no matter their path.
- Kainat Ahmad
- Kainat Ahmad is a Digital Illustrator & Motion Designer based in Canada. She has worked as a Graphic Designer, 3D Modeler and now works as an Independent Motion Illustrator. She is inspired by 70s Retro design and incorporates its eclecticism, bright colours, and funky shapes into her work.
- Karim Machado-Aman
- As an Artist and Painter, Karim’s work is about displaying the stories of his subjects that he paints in a way that the audience may at the end understand but also come up with their own story about that specific person that was painted. Using Family and Friends from his life, he uses them to show the audience what their qualities and traits are.
- Karlene Bland
- I am a visual artist who loves to help people encapsulate their loved ones, memories of special moments, dreams and emotions in vivid colors. I also do commission paintings, illustration work , public art and mural arts. I am currently teaching in various segments of the community from seniors retirement homes, differently abled individuals to art societies and private students. Feel free to contact me to see if I can help you with your artistic need.
- Katrina Abrahams
- My work is often an eclectic collection of portraits, landscapes, flora, and abstracts; this is symbolic of my desire to discover and create new things and my inability to limit myself to one particular genre. I primarily set out to inspire a simple contemplation, peace and joy in the viewer. In our world, there are many struggles and hardships and life is full of ups and downs. I believe that if we focus on that which is good, wholesome and uplifting it will evoke a mindset of thanksgiving and make a tremendous difference in our outlook and mental well-being. “Art is the means by which I release that which is inside me” - Katrina Abrahams.
- Karen Colangelo
- BIO*** Karen Colangelo was born and raised in Mississauga Ontario, Canada. Her Father was an Accountant and her Mother, a Water Colour Artist. She picked up her first brush and started painting at the age of nine. Karen knew then, that she wanted to be a Fine Artist later in life. Throughout her artistic career, Karen has created vibrant, colourful and powerful works of art. She prefers to paint in acrylics on a larger scale as she is always going for the impact and grandeur of the composition. She has a unique way of combining colour, texture, movement and lines in her abstract painting style. Although self-taught since she was young, Karen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. Soon after, Karen was employed in the field for seventeen years that was focused primarily on the Restaurant & Hospitality Industry. While employed she was able to create numerous works of art for a very prominent client base. Karen’s drive and passion for creating work were still very prominent in her life so she decided to leave the interior design field and focus on her painting full-time. For fourteen years, Karen also volunteered as a visiting Artist at elementary schools within her community. Her vision then still holds true today; “I want to inspire young minds in the visual arts which are so important to the development of our youth today.” Karen created several classes that she taught at local schools. Students had the opportunity to express themselves on a small canvas or given materials with paint and receive encouragement and support to express their artistic creativity in their classroom setting. She currently teaches the same classes in her studio in Port Credit, Mississauga Ontario. Karen’s main objective now as a full-time Contemporary Fine Artist; is to create works that inspire and leave a lasting impression on her clients. As a studio owner, she wants to inspire those who sign up for classes or workshops and ignite their inner artist. ARTIST STATEMENT*** Painting for Canadian-born Artist Karen Colangelo started very young. During her childhood, Karen gained insight and inspiration while travelling throughout each Canadian province. The colours of the Canadian landscape began to influence her paintings and she realized the importance of taking journeys through such diverse and contradictory environments. Since those developmental years, Karen has sustained an unbroken desire to create a style of art that is distinctive and clear while embodying the concept of “contradiction” as it relates to herself, her viewers and to society as a whole. Colangelo’s paintings are titled in opposites such as, “The Even Odd”, “The Hidden Show”, and “The Intentional Accident” alerting us to the contradictions the paintings hold. She pushes at the boundaries of colour, creating tension, and drawing her viewers in. Her use of complementary and tertiary colour schemes immediately captures your attention. Every measure of Karen’s work is both conflict and harmony from beginning to end. Her painting technique begins with brushwork applying acrylic colours, which she refers to as the ‘dance of colour’, then by using a sheet of plexiglass to drag the paint across the canvas her process ends with the ‘fight of colour’. Her contradictory forms and techniques create a harmonious display of colour and movement. Her style is a journey of one paint colour travelling through opposite application techniques combined with secondary colours to create tertiary colours. Each colour travels through the dance and the fight of its environment, leaving its mark and creating a new image. The paint looks for peace in a confusing world. It looks for change. It looks for growth and realizes that the journey is about the experience. It wants to be original. It wants to be impactful, and in the same vein, it asks how it can impact the world. Her work explores the “opposite” possibilities. She takes her viewers on a journey through her contradiction. She often relies on the paint and its perspective to give her the direction she needs as she forces one primary colour through a tertiary field. Karen understands the meaning of someone taking a journey and the purpose of that journey is to rarely find an answer but instead to continually ask questions. Her viewers can relate to her intent in society as we are all on the same journey; and it is a journey that involves many contradictions such as: being emotional or apathetic, starting and arriving, laughing or crying, gaining or losing, beginning and ending, leaving the old behind and starting new, failing and succeeding, losing yourself and finding yourself. Karen’s work is a reflection on one's journey, keeping in mind that it’s a journey of experiencing many contradictions, not necessarily looking to arrive at an end; the journey is the destination.
- KAREN COLANGELO
- Karen Colangelo is a Contemporary Fine Artist. Throughout her artistic career, Karen has created vibrant, colourful, and powerful works of art. She prefers to paint in acrylics on a larger scale as she is always going for the impact and grandeur of the composition. She has a unique way of combining colour, texture, movement, and lines in her abstract painting style. Karen can produce highly realistic works of art to non-objective compositions. She has produced a variety of works from large-scale murals, to large-scale fine art, jewellery, merchandise products, and hand-painted clothing and furniture. See more at www.karencolangelopaintings.ca
- Keith Garebian
- Keith Garebian, born in Bombay to an Armenian father and Anglo-Indian mother, is a theatre and literary scholar, poet, and editor who lives in Mississauga. He has won international acclaim for his books on theatre (especially his Broadway production histories and his latest biography William Hutt: Soldier Actor), and he has been widely praised for his poetry collections Frida: Paint Me as a Volcano (Buschek), Blue: The Derek Jarman Poems (Signature), Children of Ararat (Frontenac), Poetry is Blood (Guernica), Against Forgetting (Frontenac); In the Bowl of My Eye (Mawenzi House), and Finger to Finger (Frontenac). Some of his poetry has been translated into French, Romanian, Bulgarian, Hebrew, Hungarian, and Armenian. One of his poems from Blue was adapted to music for choir and instruments by celebrated American composer Gregory Spears for a piece entitled “The Tower and the Garden” that has since been released on Cd by Navona Records. His many awards include a Canada Council Senior Grant for Writing; over three dozen Ontario Arts Council grants; four Mississauga Arts Council Grants for Established Writing; the Naji Naaman Literary Honour Prize (Lebanon); the Surrey International Writers Conference, Poetry Award; and the William Saroyan Medal he received in Yerevan in 2013 for his writing about Armenian culture and the genocide. He has also been shortlisted for several national literary awards. Next year, Guernica Editions is to publish a special anthology of essays on his literary work, edited by David Bateman.
- Khaula Mazhar
- Self-taught, award-winning artist Khaula Mazhar’s intrigue with emotions evoked by situations and surroundings seeps its way into her multifaceted subject matter. Inspired by Rumi's quotes, her fascination with the world and our connections within it is the main theme of her smaller artwork while her passion for social justice issues and nature conservation can be seen in her outdoor murals throughout the GTA. A true believer that art is good for you she is actively involved in art activities that engage the community.
- Kim Braganza
- Hi! I'm Kim A trained artist who is passionate about 3D Layout, Design, Painting and SFX Animation. From a very young age I loved art. I always loved expressing my self creatively in various forms such as drawing, painting, crafts, music, drama etc. In high school, I took many art and technology courses that eventually led me to apply to Sheridan College's Bachelor of Animation program. In college, I learned many different skills. Matte painting was my strong suit but I was really drawn to 3D Layout design and had an interest in Special FX animation. I worked on a 3D group film in my third year at Sheridan College and was responsible for designing the layout, building and texturing 3D models as well as lighting, and to make things interesting I also incorporated SFX animation. Awarded MVP for the third year film, I used my experience to write and produce my own thesis film. I was able to completed it successfully and also received my Bachelors degree with High Honours. I have experience working at a gaming studio as a 2D/3D artist; where I designed and modelled a hang glider for the preliminary stages of a VR game. I also, designed and painted 2D assets for a mobile game at the studio. In recent years, I have worked in 3D Production as a Project Manager for companies such as Unilever and Kraft for the creation of 3D model's for marketing and e-commerce. I am currently a Production Coordinator at DNEG, renowned for it's world class VFX in Film Production. My goal is to get back into the studio to continue to work as an artist where I can utilize my skills and live out my passions for layout/design. I love collaborating with other artists and enjoy working in a studio environment. Through my experiences I have learned to be more organized and have built a repertoire amongst my peers for solving problems and coming up with solutions. I am meticulous about my work and always get the job done on time. I am easy to get along with and am always ready to participate in team building activities and socials. In my spare time, I enjoy shooting out on the basketball court, going on long hikes, working out or playing my guitar.
- Kim Cayer
- Kim Cayer is a novelist and professional entertainer, portraying everything from clowns to Marilyn Monroe. She is part of an anthology called The Courtneypark Connection . In addition to having an e-book on Amazon called Dirty Numbers, she has also published two books called Lights! Camera! Dissatisfaction and No Fire Escape in Hell. Be sure to check out her book, Kitty Casino released in 2021!
- Kishor Sonawane
- Kishor Sonawane works primarily in watercolors. My journey with art began at a very early age, even before he started school. Kishor's childhood was filled with sketching and painting, and his dedication was rewarded with Merit, A-grade, and subject prizes in state-level Elementary and Intermediate drawing grade exams, which fueled my passion for art. Despite his artistic inclinations, I pursued a career in mechanical engineering, working in the automotive industry in India and later in Canada. Throughout his professional journey, he never let go of his love for art. In 2008, he gravitated towards watercolors and began to explore and experiment with this medium, inspired by the works of many watercolor masters. With dedication I have earned significant recognition, won first place in the watercolor category at the Focus Art juried show in Cornwall, Ontario, in 2016. In 2019, secured third place in a plein air competition conducted by the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. In 2021, achieved first place and a Gold Medal from the Toronto Watercolour Society for his painting "Farm near Burlington." I enjoys en plein air painting on location with plein air group from Mississauga. Also participating in plein air completions in Ontario. My work primarily focuses on landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, and everyday moments of life, capturing the beauty and essence of his surroundings. Kishor currently resides in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Karen Plumb
- Born and educated in Ontario with some travel experience contributes to my firm belief that my background instilled in the Arts can support the positive energy to grow with my creative interests. I like discovering new ideas and being inspired by fellow citizens with similar interests. I work with acrylics, watercolours and I have dabbled with oils. I like extending my knowledge and skills set by furthering my ideas with encaustic, mixed media, prints and drawing. I’d like to regain my keen eye for perspective and bring new heights to the values I am able to create with my medium.
- Kristen Prince
- Kristen Prince is a Port Credit based saxophone player and singer. She has performed with many artists including the Arkells, Canadian legend Andy Kim (Sugar Sugar), Lowest of the Low, Suzie McNeil, My Son the Hurricane, and 4-time Juno nominee Tom Barlow. She stays active in the music scene doing live performances, writing and producing original music/videos, and doing session recordings. Kristen is also working on some new collaborative projects: Lion Blue - a duo with Canadian trumpeter Steve McDade (@wearelionblue), and an upcoming project with Hamilton rapper Kevin "Ktriggs" Williamson. Keep up with the latest news on Instagram at @kponsax.
- Kumara Kumarasinghe
- I am a professional musician residing in Mississauga since 2001. I am a vocalist and an instrumentalist. I play a unique eastern musical instrument called the Esraj. The instrument looks like a mini version of the Sitar. But it is a string instrument played with a bow. The sound of the Esraj is considered as the sound closest to human singing. My musical journey started when I was 12 years old, while schooling in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I had a liking to the Esraj since childhood and played melodies on my own with no guidance. I focussed in oriental classical music initially and further nurtured my skills in classical vocal and instrumental music from the Bhatkande University of Music, Lucknow, India and developed my proficiency by the age of 22. MUSICAL CAREER Having performed as a supporting artist to many classical musicians from Sri Lanka and India for many years, I wanted to become a solo instrumentalist. As desire of music listeners evolved from classical music to light music, I began replicating popular light musical renditions through the Esraj. As I was one of the few that embraced this trend, my music became popular in Sri Lanka and I was invited to perform musical segments in national television and radio. My first solo Esraj instrumental was telecasted by the ITN television network, Sri Lanka in 2000 which inspired music listeners due to my soothing style of play and the uniqueness of the tone of this hitherto classical instrument. I released my first Esraj instrumental CD “Immortal Melodies - Sonduru Sathsara 1” in November 2000 in Colombo, few months before migrating to Canada. In June 2004, I held my first Solo Esraj Instrumental Concert, “Sonduru Sathsara” in Toronto. Thereafter, the concert was held several times in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Greater Toronto Area and in Detroit, MN U.S.A. I released 3 sequels thereafter. See Attachment 2: Performances & Achievements My Esraj concerts contain renditions of popular South Asian, Sri Lankan and Western light music.
- Karen Weiler Posh Pets® Photography
- Karen Weiler of Posh Pets® Photography is an award-winning animal and pet photographer to the dogs and cats of Toronto. She also runs dog@work, an engaging, team-building event for pet-friendly employers.
- Bi Kunhao
- I am a sophomore student studying at Chongqing Technology and Business University. I studied Visual Communication Design at the Modern International Art & Design Academy.
- Kelly Zimba Lukić
- Kelly Zimba Lukić joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Principal Flute in 2017. Previously a flute fellow at the New World Symphony, she has performed with the Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Detroit Symphony Orchestras and was featured on the cover of Flute Talk Magazine in October 2017. As a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician, Ms. Lukić has performed around the world in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts, Royal Albert Hall, and the Teatro del Lago in Frutillar, Chile. At home, you might spot her playing in the streets (or subways!) of Toronto with TSO violinist Clare Semes as Sonority Sisters, a flute and violin duo committed to sharing live music outside of the concert hall. In addition to performing, Kelly teaches flute at the University of Toronto. Her summer engagements include past and present faculty positions with NYO-USA, NYO Canada, Atlantic Music Festival, Sinfónica Azteca, Orford Winds Workshop, Credo Flute, Sitka Fine Arts Camp, and Belvoir Terrace. Alongside American flutists Rachel Blumenthal and Amanda Galick, she co-founded Trillium Flute Collective, a series of online flute workshops for students of all ages. She is a regular guest artist at universities and conservatories across the Americas. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly completed her graduate studies at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music and received bachelor's degrees in music education and flute performance from the University of Michigan. She is greatly indebted to all of her teachers, especially Leone Buyse and Amy Porter.
- Lan Luo
- Lan Luo is a Wuhan-Mississauga-based painter, animator, experimental artist. She came to Canada in 2015 and became to the member of the Mississauga Canadian Artists Association.Luo graduated from Hubei Academy of Fine Arts with a master's degree in Animation. Specially invited painter of Chinese Poetry and Film Association (Hubei Mass Art Museum) ; Director of Confucius Cultural Development Promotion Association; Special Researcher of Hubei Intangible Cultural Heritage research center. Luo’s works have been exhibited in Mississauga Visual Arts Center, 403 International Art Center,Hubei Provincial Art Museum, and other art institutions. As a painter, Lan Luo is committed to the research of oil painting creation and the exploration of the nationalization of oil painting. Luo tries to combine the intuitive and vividness of oil painting, the richness and exquisiteness of colors with Chinese traditional cultural elements, artistic spirit, and aesthetic ideals. As an animator and experimental artist, Luo’s works include illustrations, new media artworks, interactive design works, installation art. Mostly involving the relationship between humans and nature, feminism, family and parent-child relationships. Lan Luo’s works often express children psychology and female adolescence. Lan Luo is also a mother of two children. Her creative inspiration and enthusiasm often come from the feelings of a mother. Luo’s creations often revolve around children and families. Lan Luo hopes to use her visual media to record life and children's growth.
- Laura Beaton
- Born in Toronto, Laura is an award winning Visual Fine Art Artist. She began as a faux finishing (special effects) wall painter, but a health issue at the time led her to a life-long study of Chinese Brush Painting and mixed media. Her works have transcended cultures and are in private and permanent collections in Africa (King Edward, Busoga Region, Uganda), China (the government of China Peoples Republic), the United States, and Canada. In 2018, by invitation, Laura exhibited in China. With her University of Toronto OTC (Ontario Teacher’s Certificate) Laura taught business at the college and high school levels. She co-founded a Mississauga-based consulting business in 1996 where she honed her business skills. Laura has regularly volunteered her time to coach artists relative to the business of art.
- Yeram Kwak
- Yeram Kwak (they/she) is an illustrator from the GTA, who is constantly inspired by the bold mark-making of lines and shapes made by playing with brushes. Using play and scribbles as the starting point, they focus on using digital media to express immediate emotions and using a variety of shapes to celebrate and accentuate the vast experiences of diverse communities. Recognized by American Illustration, Applied Arts, and World Illustration Awards, Leah strives to create an immersive experience to share with the audience by creating work that one can enjoy exploring.
- Lindsay Rolland-Mills
- Lindsay Rolland-Mills is a working actor, singer, and performer in the Greater Toronto Area, represented by Mary Swinton at InVision Artists Management. Lindsay has studied theatre for over a decade, attending Etobicoke School of the Arts and Sheridan College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre Performance. Since then she has continued to perform as a soloist in Windmill Theatre shows and various cabarets. Lindsay's love for film began when she booked the role of VV in the feature film Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012. She has worked as a crew member on some of the biggest tv shows to film in Ontario and has acted in numerous tv series for streaming & cable, as well as in many short films and web series.
- Lisa Jayne Irvine
- Lisa Jayne Irvine is a multimedia artist whose inspiration is rooted in her exploratory creative process. Recently Lisa’s focus has been on painting large scale flowers. As an avid gardener she finds inspiration in the flowers that she grows in her garden at home. In 2021, Lisa started a podcast called Art Conversations with Lisa Jayne Irvine talking to artists and other creatives in the arts industry about their work, process and passion for the Visual Arts. Lisa has an Honours Specialist in the Art & Art History program from the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Education from Queenʼs University. Lisa has exhibited her work extensively, as well as participated in mentorships and residencies throughout Ontario. Lisa’s work can be found in both public and private collections, nationally and internationally. Lisa continues to work from her studio in Mississauga, Canada.
- Lisa Shen
- Lisa Shen is a Chinese-Canadian writer and spoken word artist based in Mississauga. Her work centers on gender-based violence and disability rights. Lisa is the first place winner of the 2021 Mississauga Poetry Slam, and a Speaker at the TEDx McMasterU 2022 conference. She is also the winner of the May Open Drawer Poetry Contest by Britta Badour. She has performed at several arts festivals, including the JAYU Human Rights Film Festival and Humainologie Short Story Festival. As a passionate teacher, Lisa has created and instructed debate classes for youth. She is passionate about bringing the joys of spoken word into classrooms through workshops and showcases.
- Gladys Lou
- Gladys Lou (she/they) is a Hong Kong-Canadian artist and curator with an Hon. B.A. in Art & Art History and Psychology from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Her practice utilizes experimental media and new technologies including video, sound, and new media to investigate and challenge the boundaries of sensory perception. Her work explores visual phenomena and shifting perceptions of light, colour, and memory, visualizing emotions and the unconscious. Lou's art has been exhibited at Workman Arts, Art Museum at the University of Toronto, Blackwood Gallery, Art Gallery of Mississauga, and internationally at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Her critical writing has been published by Pleasure Dome and Hamilton Artist Inc. Lou was awarded a Fulbright scholarship with a placement at the University of Washington, where she studied Digital Arts and Experimental Media in 2022. She was selected as the IA Current Curator at InterAccess in 2023, and has interned at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. with the Time-Based Media working group in 2022. She was selected as a participant of the RBC Emerging Artist Network at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto in 2022–2023. She was awarded Best in Show at the 42nd Annual Juried Art Show 2024 at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, and first prize at Video Fever 2023 by Trinity Square Video, Vtape, and Images Festival in Toronto.
- Lourdes Lapetra
- Lourdes Lapetra is a self-taught artist. Lourdes was born in Uruguay and moved to Canada in 2010. She started creating art in 2020. She mainly draws, but she also paints. Lourdes has participated in different exhibitions as well as Live Art events.
- Ariel Valenzuela
- I am a purple-loving perfectionist tapping into creativity I never knew I had. I have always been drawn to the beauty of paper, which is why it is my primary crafting medium. I handcraft every item with care and attention to detail because I keep the future recipient in mind. I put my all into making my papercrafts to encourage a smile, to spread some joy.
- m3lizard
- Your friendly neighbourhood lizard lady. I play the keys and the ukulele, but not at the same time. My debut single, Stupid Love is out now!! https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/m3lizard/stupid-love-feat-chenchen
- Maame G
- Mississauga's very own Maame G is making waves in the music industry as a talented singer/songwriter with a captivating voice and heartfelt lyrics. With a deep-rooted passion for music, Maame G has been actively involved in the music scene for several years, performing at various venues and events across the Greater Toronto Area. Her recent single, "Made it Through," has garnered significant attention and praise for its powerful message and emotive delivery. Fans of Maame G have eagerly awaited the release of the official music video, and the wait is finally over. The video for "Made it Through" is set to premiere on July 11th, and promises to be a visual treat that perfectly complements the song's inspiring theme. Maame G's journey in music has been marked by dedication and perseverance. Her unique sound and authentic storytelling have made her a beloved figure in the local music community. With each performance, she continues to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression. Stay tuned for the official release of the "Made it Through" music video on July 11th, and experience the artistry and passion of Maame G. This release is just the beginning for this rising star, as she continues to share her music and connect with listeners on a profound level.
- Carmen Jabier
- Carmen is a Filipina-Canadian digital illustratorwho uses her playful and colourful illustrations to share insights, invoke emotions, and spark nostalgia. She is the brain behind Mad Love Creative Co., which is an online retail shop, as well as a freelance design studio. You can find more of her work on Instagram @madlovecreativeco.
- Majd Sukar
- Majd Sukar is a Syrian Canadian Clarinetist, Saxophonist, Composer, and Educator whose name has been distinguished in Toronto's music scene for his fusion music and unique sound. His style blends Middle Eastern folk and classical music with jazz music in unparalleled practice. Sukar brings his music to the Canadian scene as a soloist and improviser. He performed with big Canadian-name musicians like Robi Botos, Drew Jurecka, Andrew Downing, Rich Brown, and the Indian indigenous singer Laura Grizzlypaws. His hard work and passion made his music noticeable quickly, pushing him to join many Torontonian bands like Sultans of Strings, Romani Jazz, Moskitto Bar, and Moneka Arabic Jazz. Moreover, Majd has appeared as a master improviser with the Canadian Arabic Orchestra since 2016 as Principal clarinetist. He toured Canada ocean to ocean, the USA, Europe, and The Middle East carrying his unique sound from his roots to the new world. He shared the stage with veteran Middle Eastern Artists like Naseer Shamma, Charbel Rouhana, Elham Madfai, and Iranian Legend Aref Arefkia. He also shared the stage with world-class international musicians like Jorge Pardo, Antonio Serrano, and Adam Rudolph. Academically speaking Majd holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in addition to his Graduate Certificate in Jazz Music from Humber College (2018). On top of that, Majd was invited to give masterclasses and workshops at the University of Toronto and York University about Middle Eastern music theories and extended techniques of using the clarinet microtones skills in improvising. After he graduated from Humber College, Majd joined the fusion jazz club by starting a band called “Sham Blues”. This jazz-influenced fusion and folk music band left a serious fingerprint in rearranging Middle Eastern music on jazz harmony and pop rhythms, later in 2022 this band performed his original music at Koerner Hall which is known as one of the finest stages in North America. In 2020, Sukar was chosen to receive the RBC Newcomer Arts Award presented by the RBC Foundation and Toronto Arts Foundation and administrated by the neighbourhood arts network. Majd is a member of the Toronto Musician Association (TMA) and the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). He is considered one of the inspirational Clarinet Players in the Middle East and that is what makes Jabrin Musical Services name their professional model of Jabrin Clarinets after him (MS) as appreciation for his efforts to spread the sound of Middle Eastern clarinet in the Canadian Music scene.
- Manahil Bandukwala
- I am a poet and visual artist from Pakistan and now based in Mississauga. I have published two books, MONUMENT (Brick Books, 2022), and Women Wide Awake (Mawenzi House, 2023, co-created with my sister, Nimra). In 2023, I was named a Writer's Trust Rising Star by Shani Mootoo, MONUMENT was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award, and I received a MARTY Award for Literary Artist. My practice combines disciplines and explores themes of love, longing, identity, family, and womanhood, among others.
- Margaret Stawicki
- Margaret is a Polish-Canadian artist based in Mississauga. She admires simplicity and is attracted to the minimal use of colour. Besides paintings, she is creating clay sculptures and 3D installations very closely related to the subjects of her paintings. Her work can be described as modern, symbolic, narrative, emotional, energetic, and imbalanced.
- Maria Lagarde
- I am a beginner art maker currently exploring the world of water-based and digital media along with poetry.
- Marie Hurley
- My name is Marie-Line Hurley aka Marilou. I am a visual Artist, Community Leader, Art Director and Social Worker. I came from a family of mixed heritage French, Indian and African which make me a Creole (Haitian descendent). live in Montreal grew up in Ontario. I completed a certificate in Arts and Arts management at Sheridan College in 2004-2005, obtained a Diploma in 2008 in Community Services and Addictions program. Further my study in 2014 from Ryerson University. Completing an Honour Bachelor degree in Social Work. Major English-French Proficiency, Additional languages Creole and Basic Spanish. As a visual Artist I explores colourful themes of mythology, black Art, story telling to the Haitian creole Culture and Folklore, paying "Homage" to my Ancestors. In 1998 I created Genius are made later on became Diversity Folks Art Group. with unique vision to provide Community Entertainment, Social integration, supporting the diversity and the enjoyment for the community. I had believe that genius can be made, it was important to dive in while the community was changing with an extreme diversity of culture and the continuing influx, it was a momentum of the chapter worth to remember specially . The support of the Community , The Mississauga Art council and the Art Gallery of Mississauga.
- Marilyn Anne Campbell
- Marilyn Anne Campbell is a Canadian writer and semi-professional nature nerd who lives with her human and non-human family near the shores of Lake Ontario. Her short stage plays have been performed in Halifax, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, New York, Aberdeen (South Dakota, not Scotland) and Leeds, England. Her Remembrance Day themed script "Failing Hands" was one of three winners of the inaugural National TYA Playwriting Competition held by Storybook Theatre in Calgary (2016). She has been awarded playwriting grants from the Ontario Arts Council's Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators program and from the Toronto Arts Council. Along with writing for the stage, Marilyn writes short fiction, silly poetry, and comics. She wrote "The Goosefighter" for the Toronto Comics anthology 'Osgoode As Gold' and has another story in an anthology in the works (to be announced soon). Two of her poems for children were included in the Emma Press (UK) anthology 'Dragons of the Prime: Poems About Dinosaurs.' Nature and animals often feature prominently in Marilyn's writing and she is currently working towards the Humane Education Practitioner Certificate from the University of Denver's Institute for Human-Animal Connection. Blog: https://www.marilynannecampbell.ca Mastodon: https://mstdn.ca/@MarilynC Medium: https://medium.com/@marilync The New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/13770/marilyn-anne-campbell
- Marlon Porter
- Marlon Porter is a Mississauga based photographer and writer specializing in capturing the little moments of magic hidden within the poetry of everyday life. Marlon’s work has been featured in multiple exhibits and publications, as well as been awarded in both the 2021 Smithsonian Photo Competition and the 2020 International Photography Awards. His inspiration comes from the elegance of nature, the intricacies of the human experience, and the stunning spectacle of the world around him.
- Marta Shpak
- Marta Shpak is a Singer, Songwriter and Actress, An Honored Artist of Ukraine with more than 10 years experience of travelling internationally to share her music and culture with the world. She holds a Master's Degree in ART (Theatre and Performance Studies program) from York University and in Choreography from the National Academy of Leading Staff of Culture and Art of Ukraine. Marta recorded 5 CD albums of ancient, folk, electro and original pop songs; released a few official music videos, including "Christmas Day" with Canadian multi-instrumentalist and song-writer Denny DeMarchi. Residing in Mississauga, Marta Shpak is working on her first English Album and upcoming music videos with Canadian musicians and movie directors; continuing her researches based on Culture of Politics and Environmental Activism; preparing to represent the scientistic research-creation project at the 2021 World Children, Youth, and Performance Conference at Young People’s Theatre in Toronto.
- Lyones
- Born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Mississauga and Brampton, Lyones' interest in music first started at the age of 2 years old when he received a Fisher Price Xylophone for Christmas. During grade school, he continued his new found passion by playing the recorder, bass guitar, and trumpet while also taking drum lessons for a year. Furthermore, he became a self-taught guitarist at the age of 13. By the time he was in high school, he was able to play a range of instruments: percussion, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, marimba, timpani, trumpet, flute, tenor saxophone, bass guitar, piano and baritone in both the junior and senior bands. He has done various other extracurricular music activities during this time such as jazz band, guitar club and choir. Taking a leadership role, he created bands with colleagues that partook in various competitions at school. All this made him interested in pursuing music at the University of Waterloo for a year. He has now translated his music into an experimental nature where he has released four singles and his EP ("50 50") in 2019. His full length alternative album ("Identity Crisis") & his newest singles ("Mind Over Matter") and ("Formigas Decor Lullabies") are out now on all streaming services.
- MAUVE
- If you ask singer-songwriter Mauve what she feels about creating music, she says it has the ability to take you to an altered reality. Mauve is Mississauga's pop songstress who has an eclectic and playful sound that comes straight from her soul. Mauve transcends genres to bring you moving Electro-Pop tracks through RnB and EDM production. Her songs have gained over 1.4 million streams on Spotify and 2 million plays on Youtube. She has gratefully received support from popular outlets such as Stingray Music TV channels, Virgin Radio, CBC Music, over 2,300 Spotify playlists, and many campus radio stations across Canada. Mauve was thrilled to be selected to play at the 2022 Canadian Music Week Festival. Some of her live appearances include a performance on CHCH-TV Morning Live, a headlined performance at the Toronto Music Expo, and as a featured panelist at the Canadian Music Expo. She has been nominated for Best New Solo Artist and Fan Choice at the 2021 Mississauga Music Awards. She was also nominated for Emerging Solo Vocalist at the 2021 MARTY Awards. Mauve won the InterContinental Music Award for Best of North America-Pop for her song, Come Around. In addition, Mauve was nominated for Best New Artist at the Niagara Music Awards. She is the recipient of the 2021 and 2022 Fusion MicroGrant from the Mississauga Arts Council. She was recently selected for the “Love Local Music” program led by the City of Mississauga and Canada’s Music Incubator to organize a series of concerts at Celebration Square Amphitheatre in September 2022. A rich voice in a small frame, Mauve was constantly inspired by theatrical performances growing up, and she turned to the keys of her piano to bring forth that passion into her everyday life. She recently released her debut album “Dream State”, which she partnered with #1 charting industry powerhouses. Production credits include Kyle Shearer (producer for Carly Rae Jepsen, Melanie Martinez, Becky G), Jason Couse (Juno & Polaris prize nominated musician from The Darcys), LYRE (top Billboard charting female duo) and more. Songs from her album have been added to official Apple Music playlists and Youtube Music playlists.
- Demetrius Nath
- MAYBE MAY might have a name that suggests neither here nor there, but rest assured, this Mississauga trio are very much affirmed in their sound and style no matter the season. Fronted by Demetrius (vocals/guitar), Rian (bass) and Vitaly (drums), their sound draws listeners in by seamlessly blending heavy instrumentation with graceful melodies which provide a rich tapestry for delivering messages of love, loss and betrayal. MAYBE MAY’s debut ‘Eden Project’ EP (Oct '14) saw the band play for the first time ever at Canadian Music Week and Indie Week while picking up a nod from Toronto Independent Music Awards (TIMA) for Best Alternative/Indie in 2015. Following the release of two digital singles in 2017, the triad headed towards a definitive direction with their sophomore ‘C R I M E S’ EP (Jan ’18). Nominated for Best Rock at Mississauga Music Awards in 2018, their live set matured as they shared stages with the likes of Deadset Society, POLARITY, Red Handed Denial and The Creepshow across Ontario and Quebec. Furthering their foothold in the region, they placed in the Top 8 at 97.7 HTZ FM’s Rocksearch contest. Teaming up for the third time with Jason ‘Metal’ Donkersgoed in the producer’s seat at Toronto’s famed Orange Lounge studios, MAYBE MAY showcased a certain vulnerability with the release of ‘The Orange Sessions’ EP (May ’19). Featuring 5 stripped down acoustic tracks, each song highlights a collaboration with a friend of the group, pushing them into a sonic space most rock bands are too afraid to enter. Lead single “Still Mine” was heard on Toronto’s 94.9 The Rock as they secured a slot at ‘Best of Open Mic LIVE’ at the Living Arts Centre. With most bands’ resolve tested during the 2020 pandemic, MAYBE MAY released “Through Your Eyes” – a fundraiser for their home town food bank, featuring 8 local artists. JUNO winning Kevin Dietz helped produce/engineer the song at world renowned Metalworks Studios, which went on to raise thousands in donations. No stranger to humanitarian efforts, the band previously raised money for Compassion Canada back in 2015. Since their inception, MAYBE MAY has independently garnered thousands of views and streams online while playing countless shows connecting with fans. Whether you have discovered the band at a gig and fell in love with their dry humor and penchant for having a laugh or encountered their music online and allowed it to envelope you into a journey of dark tailspin, one thing remains certain - they have only begun…no ifs, buts or maybes.
- Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble Boniface
- The Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble has been performing big band jazz for the people of Mississuga for over 40 years. For info on the band visit mbbje.com
- MCS Chorus
- Led by Artistic Director, Mervin William Fick, Mississauga Chamber Singers perform classical choral repertoire, from a wide range of A Capella works to timeless works for choir and orchestra. MCS Chorus offers a diversified season of extensive community engagement events and ticketed concerts performed with chamber orchestras, instrumental ensembles and soloists. MCS Chorus gratefully acknowledges financial support received from the City of Mississauga, the Ontario Arts Council, and through its membership in the Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association.
- Mississauga Chamber Singers
- A New Sound in the City The Mississauga Chamber Singers bring clarity and intimacy to great choral masterpieces from a wide range of A Capella works to timeless works for choir and orchestra. Led by Artistic Director, Mervin William Fick, the choir presents dynamic within a widening scope of the classical choral repertoire. The Mississauga Chamber Singers performs a diverse season of extensive community engagement events, multi-generational musical education programming and ticketed concerts in a variety of performance spaces within the city. Come and hear the difference!
- Meagan Veneracion
- My name is Meagan Veneracion, I am an illustrator/motion designer based in Mississauga. With over four years of experience as an illustrator/motion designer I have experience with projects with a variety of concepts, such as educational and the digital landscape. One of my most favourite subjects to draw however are people and animals, and especially dogs. Ever since I was four years old, my family and I moved to Canada from the Philippines. Since, then I have called Mississauga my home. One of my favourite places to visit as a child was the Central Library and the Living Arts Center. I would always take out a pile of "how to draw" books and "dog breeds" in the Central Library. Living in Mississauga has shaped who I am as an artist and the value I hold to creating pieces that bring togetherness and a sense of community.
- Meena Chopra
- Meena Chopra is a Mississauga based visual artist, digital artist & a published poet with an unbridled passion for words, space, colours and forms. She has been practising her poetry and visual art for over three decades. She has exhibited her art in many countries and has had over 75 solo and group shows. Her paintings are with many Corporations, Government Bodies, Embassies, Hotels and Private Collections in India, Canada, Australia, England, Switzerland, Dubai and Kuwait (Princesses Aisha al Sabah of the royal family of Kuwait). A painter, sculptor, a designer, producer, curator and a poet, Meena has been a recent recipient of many awards. To name a few, she has been recipient of first prize by Visual Arts Mississauga celebrating 150 years of Canada in 2017. She has also been awarded by the National Ethnic Press Council of Canada (NEPCC) for her distinguished work in poetry and art and for her contribution in these fields to the ever growing Canadian fabric in 2018. She has also been awarded for ‘Outstanding Service and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusiveness’ from Peel Community Connections, Canada in recognition of her contribution to the 'Unity in Diversity'. She has been the finalist for MARTYs Awards for her artin2021, 2019 and 2010. While practicing visual arts & writing poetry, she simultaneously entrepreneured in advertising, media and broadcasting. Website: www.meenachopra-artist.com
- Megan Gilbey
- I am a self taught singer who can't read music. I started teaching myself to sing during the first quarantine of Covid and created my YouTube channel: TheMeganGilbey where I sing mainly musical theatre based songs. I released my first single "One by One" on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other major streaming platforms last May. I started performing live this past summer and one of my first ever performances was Amphitheatre Unplugged. Teaching myself about music has allowed me to branch outside of my comfort zone and explore endless possibilities in myself. I would love to be apart of MAC to connect with others who have the same shared interest as well as to learn from everyone!
- Megan Cruz
- Megan Cruz is a storyteller at heart. Ever since she saw a gnome throw up rainbows on TV she knew she wanted to be apart of that TV magic. Cruz studied film studies at wilfrid laurier university and screenwriting at Vancouver film school. She is now a screenwriter and producer with in film industry.
- Melanie Cabral
- Melanie Cabral is a Portuguese-Canadian singer/songwriter, and her pop-country tunes allow for a catchy song with emotion-filled lyrics. Melanie uses her music to express who she is and her experiences throughout her life. At 15-years-old, she released her first single “Broken Lights”, a vulnerable song, with lyrics pertaining to a difficult time in her life. She continued to write lyrics based on her personal experience, like “Unspoken”, a song she released in 2021. “Unspoken” goes on to describe the feelings Melanie felt after losing her grandfather, and how she felt lost and didn’t know how to process her grief. Her latest single, “Searching”, is a song about the anxiety and overthinking that she experienced in the beginning of her relationship. This song goes through the invasive thoughts happening in her mind and how those thought didn’t allow herself to fully open up in her relationship and how she was scared to be vulnerable.
- Melina Cossío
- Mexican artist based in Canada. Her art passion started in Mexico, where she worked on murals and abstract art. Later she moved to Finland, where she studied fine arts and gained a specialization in abstract and contemporary stained glass sculptures. During this time, she worked on mosaic mural installations using ceramic and Murano glass and participated in an environmental art project. Then she moved to Chile to continue her studies she learned how to weld metals to refine her stained glass sculptures and refined her oil painting and carbon drawing skills. Currently live in Mississauga, Canada, where she have participated in several juried exhibitions. she have mostly commissioned landscapes and oil portrait paintings
- Menal Khan
- Menal Khan is a South Asian-Canadian illustrator passionate about children's literature & storytelling. Her illustrations are known for their rich colours, playful characters, and a touch of magic that invites children to see the world in new ways. To view Menal's full portfolio, visit www.menalkhan.com
- Victoria Daley
- My name is Victoria Daley, born and raised in Canada residing in Mississauga. I play many roles; Community Outreach Worker, Avid Collaborator and Educator. However, the most important role I play is being a Mother to my 7 year old daughter Paige-Mia where I am living out my own co-parenting experiences and who has inspired the Mia’s World Book Series. They’re two books in the series,first book is titled “Mommy Lives Here & Daddy Lives There” -officially launched on January 26, 2020 and the second “Birthday Party at Daddy’s House”. Both colourful picture books share a truthful and positive message while celebrating the dreams, and love parents have for their children despite their circumstances.
- Mike Parker
- My full name is Robert Michael Parker, but people know me as Mike Parker. I am a singer/ songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist from Mississauga, Ontario. I have worked in bands and solo projects including my latest album, titled; Road Maps & Recipes which is available online at Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp. The album was produced by Anthony Panacci at his recording studio in Mississauga, with special guests, Heidi Richards on vocals and Andrew McVeigh on drums. The album was released online on February 3th, 2021. I have performed solo at many open stages in Mississauga, including Roc and Doc's, The Port Credit Legion and the Failte Irish. Here's the link; MIKEPARKER2.BANDCAMP.COM
- Minesh Punia
- Giving stories a vibrant heartbeat on the screen. A film school alum deeply enamored with my creative spirit, I wear multiple hats as a writer, director, and editor. In my most recent role as the 'Head of Media' at Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa, I took on the task of producing two weekly videos, which I accomplished through unwavering dedication and hard work. Portfolio: https://youtu.be/zuRSvcw2pq0
- Mingxian Xiao
- In my creations, criticism, irony, and hope could be found . The original intention of my creation is to simply express the relationship and feelings of people. Including what contemporary society has given us. The direction of my works is mostly based on the characters. During the creation process, the composition, including the content, as well as the appearance and momentum of the characters, I have no references or materials. They are all expressions of the feelings I want to express in my mind. A kind of painting expression between abstraction and abstraction. My expression of the content is straightforward, sharp and sincere. If self-defining, I feel like I'm more of a storyteller.
- Serena Sutherland
- I am an Eccentric Eclectic Expressionist. My form of art is different from many, I tell stories through my set designs and modelling.I create photographic and mixed media projects that demonstrate emotions and point in time we should keep in mind. I love to do many different things that ultimately allow me to express all of my being. As an entrepreneur my businesses Safe Haven Magazine and Renaziy Productions, allows me to remain in my creative spirit and teaches people through the art of mindfulness and intuition.
- Mississauga Players Theatre Group
- Our mission is to bring diverse talent and audiences together to create theatre that reflect on the deep social and emotional fabric of human beings informing, inspiring, and motivating all participants to seek change and contribute to peace, respect, and acceptance. We are committed to giving opportunities with value-based theatrical art without limitations of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, orientation, or sexual identification and provide to groups, individuals and organizations, an artistic space so that they can exhibit their theatrical art projects. MPT value statement is “We trust in the power of Theatre”. The Mississauga Players Theatre is a charity and non-profit organization, dedicated to the present and development of performing arts and theatre. Our objectives are to produce high-quality performance theatre, attract new talent and audiences, promote important humanistic themes, mental health, diversity and encourage audiences and talent to embrace a set of values consistent with social harmony and to connect them. The Mississauga Players Theatre is one of the oldest live theatre organizations in Mississauga presenting a balance of well-known actresses and actors along with a healthy representation of community theatre. The Mississauga Players Theatre, or unofficially, The Mississauga Players, or simply The Players was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1981 and registered as a charity in 1983. In 2019, The Mississauga Player Theatre amalgamated with CLET Canadian Latino Experimental Theatre organization to accommodate an ever-growing melting pot of cultures and place inclusivity at the forefront of theatre work.
- Jill Morris
- Mississauga Pops Concert Band's versatility delights audiences with a diverse repertoire of popular music of various musical genres including classical, swing/big band, jazz, marches, contemporary, rock, movie, gaming, and Broadway tunes.
- Mississauga Potters' Guild
- The Mississauga Potters’ Guild, founded in 1978, is a non-profit, community-based volunteer organization. Our passion is the art and craft of pottery. We run a well-equipped studio with 20 wheels, three distinct working spaces for members and students, four kilns, a glaze kitchen and dedicated studio spaces for our resident artists. Potters of all skill levels--hobby, amateur, emerging and professional--work together to develop our craft. We encourage skill development for all those interested.
- MISSISSAUGA WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY
- The Mississauga Watercolour Society was established in the early 1970's. Members of MWS meet weekly at Visual Arts Mississauga at Riverwood to paint together and draw inspiration and share their expertise. Plein air painting in southern Ontario locations is a key activity for members during the summer months. MWS has collaborated with the Toronto Watercolour Society (TWS) and the International Watercolour Society (IWS) for plein air painting and other events. We have roughly three exhibitions every year (two per year at VAM). Subject matter includes landscapes, florals, still life, portraits, figurative and abstract. Members of MWS have either received formal art education at university or college while others have honed their skills by taking numerous art classes and workshops. Some members come from commercial art backgrounds having worked in Art Departments in Corporations. A few members of MWS have served on the Board of Directors for VAM, the Art Gallery Mississauga and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. We currently have a membership of 18 with a waiting list to join. We are a member of the Mississauga Arts Council. The Mississauga Watercolour Society has been an active and prominent group of dedicated professional artists in the City of Mississauga for more than half a century. From the beginning, our mandate has been to highlight the many talented artists in Mississauga and promote an appreciation for fine art within the community. MWS have several artists in our group who have successfully achieved the honour of Elected Membership status in Canada’s oldest premier art organizations, namely: The Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, Ontario Society of Artists, Society of Canadian Artists, The National Watercolor Society in the USA, Toronto Watercolour Society and the Colour and Form Society. Some of our members have gone on to teach and are much sought after as jurors and many of our members have been recognized with national and international acclaim and awards for their paintings. We are proud to say that one of our members is the recipient of the Mississauga Marty Award for Established Artist and has paintings in the Provincial Archives in Toronto while another member is the current Vice President of the International Watercolour Society.
- Mississauga Writers Group
- The Mississauga Writers Group has been in existence since January 2013 and we have grown to over 100 members. This is our seventh yearly Word Fest anthology along with our other anthologies We are a group of writers who have established this forum to share our experiences and pursue our dreams through creativity, knowledge and mutual respect. We want to learn from our strengths and talents and have enjoyable and stimulating conversations that only writers can relate to! We offer quarterly ezines and anthologies to our members to have their works published. We are part of Mississauga Arts and Culture community and are part of several local events. We would love to have writers from our local community join us. All aspiring and established writers are most welcome. We believe we all have something special inside us. Come explore your talent with the Mississauga Writers Group!
- Elizabeth Idowu
- Lizzy is a Canadian-Nigerian self-taught multi-media artist, creative visionary, and filmmaker. Majoring in CCIT - Communication Culture Information Technology and double minoring in Film Studies & Sociology at the University of Toronto. She also received a diploma in digital communications at Sheridan College. Her works explore a variety of motifs, such as expressions of Afro-futurism, nostalgia and body positivity. These motifs are presented in different ways across different mediums.
- Mokshada Sharma
- I am a University student majoring in Art and Art History. I have been doing art my whole life, and I consider this my passion turned career. I love reading fantasy books and listening to music, and many of my works draw inspiration from activities outside of my art so I can express a part of myself in every piece I create. I would love to contribute to the community with my art.
- Mridvika Malebennur
- An accomplished Indian Classical Music vocalist with 18 years of extensive training, I was recognized for performances before musical giants such as Shankar Mahadevan, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Zakir Hussain, Shreya Ghoshal, and Jayant Kaikini. Over the last year, I’ve garnered international accolades including a Gold Award at the Canadian International Music Competition (2024), 1st Runner Up at Mere Sung Gaa (2023), a Platinum Award at the Beethoven International Music Competition (2023) and more. Being featured on the Saregama Openstage YT Channel, and distributed on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, marks my significant achievements in the realm of Indian Classical Music.
- Mike Smith
- My name is Mike Smith. I am a trombone player in a very unique band called Irie Bibes. We play an eclectic mix of ska, reggae, Calypso, jazz, rock and pop- fusion. Our band is comprised of drums, bass, guitar, keys, sax and trombone.
- Muniyat Haque
- Muniyat Haque is a writer/director who was raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She gained interest in filmmaking while attending high school and watching films in class. After taking a hiatus from filmmaking, Muniyat decided to go back to her passion and went to film school to learn how to become a screenwriter and film director. Upon finishing her studies she wrote and directed her first short film about a teenage girl with depression, The Picture of Parveen. She also completed her first full length screenplay Himalaya Heights and is writing her second full length screenplay which she plans to shoot in 2024. Muniyat currently resides in Mississauga with her money plant Coco and her roommates Mr. and Mrs Haque.
- Musika Children's Chorus
- MUSIKA CHILDREN’S CHORUS is a registered charitable organization primarily dedicated to providing children and youth from Mississauga and surroundings with exceptional music and performing arts instruction including performance opportunities while stimulating and fostering pride in their cultural heritage.
- Mykah Dela Cruz
- My multi-disciplinary creative practice is rooted in nature, with a desire to evoke a sense of familiarity in viewers through the use of energetic, harmonious and visually striking pieces. Whether I create hand held illustrations or large commanding murals, I strive to create a moment of arresting reflection with dynamic rhythms in mark making and vibrating contrasts.
- Nada Khatib
- I am palette knife painter born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. I began painting in 2006 shortly before I went to university as an outlet for creativity and self-expression. At the time, I hadn't had any meaningful opportunities to explore painting, as there was very little focus on the value and importance of visual art as I was growing up. My paintings reflect an imaginary fantasy world where the reality of creations merges with dramatic and surrealist colour. I paint to explore colour, spark hope and reflect on the ways in which various forms of life are interconnected. I often experiment with contrast and thick textures to make my paintings pop and specialize in magical combinational, drawing the viewer’s eye to the subject and makes the painting feel alive.
- Natalie Chiovitti
- Natalie R. Chiovitti is a visual artist and graphic designer. Within her interdisciplinary practice, Natalie engages in a combination of material and digital approaches through drawing, design, illustration, projection, photography, and installation. Natalie is interested in the intersection of art, design, and technology; and, explores notions associated with pop-culture, identity, consumerism, sustainability, community, nature; and, their interactions within human experiences. Natalie is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), double majoring in Communication, Culture, Information and Technology & Art and Art History. Concurrently, she is an artist-in-residence for the 2022/2023 Visual Arts Mississauga Creative Residency. In her artistic practice, Natalie integrates her work as a graphic designer and illustrator in marketing/advertising, publishing, and education fields. Natalie is the 2022 recipient of the Women’s Art Association of Canada Helga Scott Scholarship, and the Excellence in Design 3 Art and Art History Faculty Award. Natalie has shown her work in the solo exhibition Metamorphic Moments (March 2021) with T.A.G Gallery; and in group exhibitions such as Project Project with Sheridan College (April 2021), SPSAE 2021 and 2022 with the Art Museum at the University of Toronto (May 2021/2022), and Middle Child with the Women's Art Association of Canada (July 2022). Her work appeared in Buff (2020, 2021 & 2022), an annual publication documenting student work of the art and art history joint program between UTM and Sheridan College.
- Natalie Gergis
- Musician (Flautist, Guitarist, English and French Singer), Performer at community events, festivals, banquet halls etc, Member of the Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra and Canadian Arabic Orchestra, Worship Coordinator at Clarkson Community Church, Music Council Co-President at school.
- Neil Huab
- NEIL HUAB is a veteran musician/entertainer/songwriter who can play a wide variety of folk, jazz, pop & light rock classics. He contributes to his community by leading a choir at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish for the 12:30pm Mass every Sunday and facilitating Musical Munchkins classes for little kids at Erin Meadows and River Grove Community Centres. For several years, before the pandemic struck, he volunteered an hour of live piano music weekly at the Credit Valley Hospital lobby and sang for seniors at Sunrise Living Centre. He can be hired to provide live music/hosting for parties & functions. He also accepts private tutees for pop guitar, keyboard & ukelele. Email him at coachneilh@gmail.com
- Neilson Park Creative Centre
- Neilson Park Creative Centre (NPCC) is a charitable organization that serves the diverse landscape of Toronto through partnerships, outreach initiatives and community engagement. As an arts hub in Western Toronto, NPCC serves the community by offering arts based classes, workshop, drop-ins, open studios, events and exhibitions within and outside its facilities.
- Nissar Kumar
- Nissar Kumar is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Mississauga. He hails from the northern part of India and moved to Canada in June 2014. He has been performing for over two decades and performs in and around the GTA at various festivals, events and private gigs. He is also a Mississauga busker! He draws inspirations from across all genres but at heart he is a die-hard rock 'n' roll fan. He loves bringing east and west together and does hindi-english mashups in his performances. Give him a guitar, a mic and an audience and he can perform for hours
- Yve Lu Trinh
- Yve Lu Trinh is a multidisciplinary artist, arts worker, and organizer based in Mississauga. During the day, they work as a Marketing & Communications manager for an international non-profit theatre based in Toronto. However, their passion for local community arts – led them to developing a practice in DJing and ambient sound. Under the moniker nnvy, they have performed for a wide range of events and genres, from opening for a fashion show, local concerts, and even retails activations for brands such as Footlocker. nnvy's artistic vision revolves around the powerful connection between community, movement, and sound. Through a diverse range of work, they champion experimentation and play to create captivating and transformative experiences. nnvy loves to engage with the local arts community and explore wellness as a collective beyond the individual. They created Lunar Soundscapes as part of the City of Mississauga’s 2023 Love Local Music program, recruiting the talents of an incredible DJ (999Adj) and Mississauga-based multimedia artist (Jamez). Lunar Soundscapes crafts an immersive full moon journey, offering an opportunity to gather in community for collective healing, meditation, and dance. In visual arts, they received the inaugural Lily Chen Scholarship from Visual Arts Mississauga, and presented original collage pieces at the group exhibit, “Becoming and Being” in the beginning of 2023. They are grateful to have a myriad of opportunities to share their work with the city's thriving arts ecosystem.
- Norma Nicholson
- I am a self-published author of four books, a respected healthcare professional, educator, public speaker, and community advocate for at-risk youth and families. My books are non-fiction, and their contents are used to intervene in aspects of today’s troubling world. “Young Lives on the Line; You Can Make a Difference” addresses some of the overarching processes about at-risk youth’s behaviours and strategies for working with the youth and family. “Walking Miles in Sensible Shoes; A nurse looks back on her vocation” is a riveting reading for the nursing student who wants to enter the career and is uncertain if this is the best career path and can be a gift to a graduating nurse. Get ready to find out what happens behind those drawn drapes and in the hallways of healthcare. “Codi’s Adventures, Canada my ‘fur-ever’ home” (series 1& 2) is a warm-hearted story of a Poodle who travelled many miles across the ocean to a new life in Canada. Read about his journey with your kids, ages 6-10 yrs. Find Norma's books at: https://www.amazon.com/Norma-Nicholson/e/B06Y2LSQJ8/ref Email Norma: n.nicholson.a805@rogers.com
- Norm Tendall
- Norm emigrated from England in 1952 at age 17. He took several different jobs before going back to school to earn his RPA. He had a successful career in property management. He has made over 5000 wooden pens as well as various bowls, vases, walking sticks and Christmas novelty items. He often uses recycled wood, quite often from renovations such as the Sault Ste. Marie locks, University of Toronto Osgood Hall law library, the heritage log cabin in Mississauga and the Seguin ship in Bracebridge. The Mississauga Arts Council has purchased many of his pens as gifts for guest speakers and Mississauga Economic Development has bought several pens to give to potential overseas clients. He has had several other commercial clients and continues to enjoy displaying his work at craft shows. He has lived in Toronto and Mississauga with his wife Jan for over sixty years.
- Kaitlyn Wilcox
- Kaitlyn Wilcox (she/they) is a mixed Bodéwadmi and settler Two-Spirit person from Mississauga, with Bodéwadmi ancestors from Moose Deer Point First Nation. They are currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at York University, holding a Bachelor of Social Work and an Indigenous Knowledges and Experiences Certificate from Toronto Metropolitan University. Kaitlyn's practice includes anti-oppressive, strengths-based, and trauma-focused care, with a strong emphasis on decolonization, Indigenization, and cultural safety. Kaitlyn's artistic journey was nurtured from a very young age by their mother, aunties, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Following ancestral traditions, they practice various artistic modalities, including beading, sewing, painting, and drawing. Kaitlyn uses art as a potent healing tool, integrating it with mental health and cultural practices to challenge oppressive systems. Their art creates spaces that promote decolonization and cultural safety, supporting Indigenous kin in healing and celebrating their identities. Driven by a passion for fostering Indigenous intergenerational healing, Kaitlyn aims to create nurturing environments where Indigenous kin can thrive and be proud of their Indigeneity. They are guided by a deep connection to Spirit, kin, ancestors, and the Land. Kaitlyn is committed to providing accessible, culturally safe mental health supports for Indigenous communities, striving to bridge the service gaps they have experienced.
- Oleyada
- Oleyada is a bilingual (English/Spanish) indie-pop artist from Mississauga, Canada. She works alongside producer Mathew Fantini creating a dreamy rock-tinged sound that complements her soft, airy vocals and infectious pop melodies. Her music has been featured on CBC's television series Strays and Workin' Moms. She has most recently performed at the Wavelength Festival, Mississauga Music Week, and the Lemmon Stage Discovery Series.
- Omar Hopkinson
- Looking through the lens of art, “medium” refers to the substance an artist uses to create. Taken literally, you visualize the various forms of lines, colour, and shape as they come to life. Beyond those tropes, an artist, a person, with substance brings value to the world around them, creating something physically that has the power to connect and evoke emotion. Omar “Oms” Hopkinson was born in Toronto, Canada and was inspired to create and share his passion for art at a young age. As he’s matured through the years though, his art has become the medium in which he inspires, draws the best out of his subjects and forms a bond which fosters connection. His authenticity and love for not only what he does, but the people whom he serves, bleeds onto the canvas. Oms was raised by his single mom, Patricia, and recognizing his own love for art pursued higher education as a young adult, formally studying and obtaining degrees from both Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) and Toronto School of Art (TSA). Drawing inspiration from Toronto’s urban culture, Oms was an early navigator of Toronto’s hip hop scene as a creative contributor and member of “The Circle”, a Toronto-based collective of artists including names like Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, and Jully Black. He continued this journey and became recognized as a live painter, creating art at various events and music festivals such as Outdoor House Music Festival, House of Paint (Ottawa), Escapade Music Festival, and more. As his scope broadened, Oms has worked across other industries and organizations, whether through his commissioned fashion projects with Footlocker, charitable work with the United Way, or his community work as a Board Member for Arts Milton. Oms reimagines what art means today, painting on all surfaces from canvas to found materials with a clear understanding of colour and its ability to evoke emotion. It’s through his medium he intends to inspire, building on his substance and leaving a positive impact.
- Michael Roane
- ORAEN (“oh ray en”) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who shares his fiery passion for music with every song he creates. With his unique signature style with a conglomerate of punk rock vibes, a driving bass, pounding drums and melodic keys, ORAEN’s songs will grip you from the first to last note. As a kid, ORAEN often rushed home from school to jam out to albums from his favourite bands, including Rise Against, Linkin Park and Our Lady Peace. During the pandemic, the project “ORAEN” was born. Its pronunciation (“oh ray en”) sounds similar to “a ray in the dark.” ORAEN sees music as the opportunity to share stories, create a community, and spark change in a largely broken, fallen world. ORAEN hopes his songs are like a ray in the dark, helping listeners feel seen, heard and understood. ORAEN wrote and recorded his debut EP, “ARC ONE // DISARRAY” alone in his bedroom. The 4-track collection features upbeat guitar, crafty lyrics and an impressive array of explosive sounds. ORAEN has proven to be a clever musician, not only sharing a creative collection of stories with a crystal-clear vocals, but also showcasing his broad talent by designing every instrumental sound in his songs. ORAEN’s music is for fans of upbeat, energetic punk and rock musicians, like Billy Talent, Incubus and A Perfect Circle. If “ARC ONE // DISARRAY” is just a taste of what’s to come, ORAEN is on a fast track to creating unforgettable songs and encouraging social change.
- Paige Blossom
- Paige is a Mississauga born singer songwriter and performer of English/Scottish and Polish background. She has cross trained over the years in theatre, show choir, contemporary pop and is also an actor. She loves belting out the nation anthems and can be seen on occasion at a Raptors 905 game doing just that. She enjoys performing in and around the city and you’ll also catch her out performing during SaugaBusks along with her keyboard. She released her debut EP Vincent in 2020 and mentors with Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo. She writes vulnerable true to life stories and is on a mission to share her music near and far with a focus on encouraging positive mental health for everyone.
- Alex Vongsavath
- We’re Alex and Verna, a creative duo with a passion for transforming spaces through art. With over seven years of experience, we specialize in modern, clean painting and mural work. Our expertise shines in projects with the Peel and Halton school boards, where we’ve brought inspiring art into schools and communities. Visit our website to see our recent work. We love collaborating closely with clients to understand and develop their vision, turning ideas into impactful designs. Let’s create something memorable together! https://paintintinc.com/mural-portfolio-1
- Pamela Di Raimondo
- I started crocheting 7 years ago because I wanted to make a baby blanket for my niece's baby. I enjoyed creating the blanket and noticed it fulfilled me on many levels. Creating gives me comfort and joy. I continue to crochet and receive much acclaim from friends and family on my work. I am planning to start selling my creations at craft shows and markets.
- Pam Rose
- Pam Rose is a cartoonist, illustrator, and animator who graduated from Sheridan’s classical animation program in 1987. After stepping away from the industry, she reignited her passion for drawing in 2013 by attending the former Toons On Tap life drawing sessions, and began to retrain herself as an artist. During the pandemic, Pam produced two books of personal sketches, Pamtoons 2 and Pamtoons 3, which are available for purchase on her website. These books have been sold across Canada, the USA, and even Japan. You can support Pam by purchasing her Pamtoons sketch collections, or her original artwork on her website pamtacular.ca
- Lisa Lamothe
- Trained in NYC at the world renown Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and through a scholarship at the NY School for Film & TV. Trained in Ballroom & Latin dancing. Burlesque / Chair Dancing Director of Theatre & Film Choreographer Photographer (Headshot & Branding - Business Promotion) Zumba (Zumba, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Gold & Zumba Kids)
- Pat Bond
- Pat Bond can still remember her first reclaiming of what she considered to be a beautiful old relic from the wood pile on their small family farm. As an artist, her endeavours have included traditional oil on canvas, acrylic on weathered plywood and ink on tissue. Paper has become her medium of choice, having qualities that appeal to the eye, but also to the senses of touch and sound. Her love of worn and weathered materials resulted in an 1998 exhibition (Out of the Pit) in a Mississauga Salvage yard where her materials were gleaned. The next year, a desire to honour the 20th anniversary of the Mississauga train derailment and evacuation of 1979, became an acrylic on canvas exhibition (Looking Back: the Derailment Show) at the Living Art Centre. In 2005, Bond employed acrylic on canvas for a series featuring the monarch butterfly (Danaus Plexippus). Growing milkweed lead to a fondness for the studying and raising of monarchs. After being accepted into the Colour and Form Society, there were many more opportunities to exhibit through various galleries including the Art Gallery of Mississauga and the Etobicoke Civic Centre. 2007 was the 50th anniversary of the founding of St. Luke’s Church, Dixie South. Bond’s proposal was a small (3” x 5”) commemorative booklet with photos, artwork and scripture passages. Two hundred copies, designed and printed by Bond and assembled by volunteers were given to members of the congregation. Copies were accepted into the Rare Books Collection of the Canadian National Library and Archives. A mentorship program with VJane Gordon at the Dundas Valley School of Art began a new era of discovery, and a shift in materials. Improvisational drawing became the means to experimentation on large sheets of translucent paper capturing not only bugs and butterflies, but everything else that could be seen, smelled or heard! Words became important and text called for pages, beginning another part of the journey: a more intentional approach to books! At the Japanese Paper Place, Bond was introduced to traditional bookbinding and began to accumulate sheets of delicate hand-made papers to paint, cut up, and bind into various sizes and shapes of books. She then could insert artwork, poetry, scripture, feathers and other treasures from the bits and pieces in her collections. These efforts lead to a series of banners each with a book or other auxiliary piece. As Covid-19 became an influence, new projects emerged, seen in the carving of wooden nails from twigs, a Covid-19 fashion collection and a Productivity Planner transformation. Finally, the Skeletal Selfie was accepted into the UNframed exhibition at the Propeller Gallery, February, 2023.
- PATRICIA MULLINGS
- I am a multi-gifted artist with gifts in different genres of art. I am an aspiring singer/songwriter/spoken word artist; I create digital visual Art using a collage/mashup of different images ; I digitally design religious and motivational t-shirts and other products, and I create hand-made beaded jewelry for men, women, and children, using different materials such as wood, acrylic, semi-precious stones etc.
- Paula Velasquez
- I am a lover of all music as well as meeting and collaborating with people who also have a love of the arts.
- Pernia Jamshed
- I'm a multidisciplinary digital designer with an academic background in Sociology. My fervor for information and design has driven me to collaborate with globally recognized brands such as Gucci, BlackRock, Stanford, iShares, University of Toronto, Refinery29, and CBC Gem, all with the aim of making their content more accessible.
- Peter Toller
- In 1973, 8 students at Port Credit Secondary School formed a rock ‘n’ roll band. People were feeling nostalgic and looking back to another era. The movie American Graffiti was in theatres, the musical GREASE was on stage and the show Happy Days arrived on TV in 1974. The students called themselves Little Peter and the Elegants and made their debut at the school's Christmas Assembly, performing three songs. Even though the band members have changed over the years, the band’s passion for 50s, 60s and 70s music, especially the vocal harmonies, has remained the same. The current line-up has been together for 10 years and 7 of the band members sing at least one lead which gives great variety to our presentation. Our audience often includes three generations making our music a "generation bridge"! It's great family entertainment with many people singing along with the band as the lyrics are so well known. Certainly, the movie GREASE renewed interest among all ages in the rock 'n' roll era. The band performs across Ontario from Niagara Falls to Owen Sound and between Kincardine and Kingston. The band performs songs from solo artists such as Elvis, Roy Orbison and Fats Domino and covers the harmonies of vocal groups such as Dion and the Belmonts, The Skyliners and The Beach Boys. We will please any dancing or listening crowd! Please check the web site www.littlepeterandtheelegants.com which is full of information.
- Pratap Reddy
- Winner of 2021 Marty for Literature, Pratap Reddy immigrated to Canada from India in 2002, bringing, like contraband, a dream of becoming a writer. It happened years later, with tips and help from fellow writers and organizations like Diaspora Dialogues and Mississauga Arts Council. An underwriter by day and a writer by night, he writes about the agony and angst (on occasion the ecstasies) of newly arrived immigrants. He is an alumnus of the Humber School of Writers, and has two published book "Weather Permitting & Other Stories" (Guernica, 2016) and a novel "Ramya's Treasure" (Guernica, 2028). He has a collection "Remaindered People & Other Stories" awaiting publication. One of the stories "The Lime Tree" in the upcoming collection was first published, he is proud to add, in the anthology "Changing the Face of Canadian Literature." He lives in Mississauga with his wife and son, and is 'working' (yes, wiping the sweat off his brow) on a second novel tentatively titled "Praful's Errands".
- Pujita Verma
- Pujita Verma is an Indo-Canadian poet and illustrator. She was Mississauga’s Youth Poet Laureate (2018-2020), a Poetry In Voice National Finalist, and recipient of the Ron Lenyk Award (Literary Arts). Recently, Pujita was longlisted for Palette Poetry’s Love & Eros Prize.
- Queti Azurin
- I make mixed media artwork with bas-relief composed dominantly of sawdust. Most people have to control their urge to touch and feel the medium. The texture is inviting and tickles curiosity. I make drawings with playful narratives, vibrant colors, asymmetrical forms and textured with interlacing disorderly squiggly strokes. Creating art is how I process and deal with deep emotions and thoughts to get to a level of understanding, acceptance, release and joy. It is my hope that viewers that are able to resonate with the art pieces can be recipients of the healing and joy that art can bring.
- Qurat Dar
- Qurat Dar was the City of Mississauga’s third Youth Poet Laureate (2021-2023) and the 2020 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam National Champion. Her work has appeared in Canthius, Augur Magazine, and virtual reality, among other places. She is deeply interested in the intersections between the sciences and the arts, especially in the context of the climate crisis.
- Radhika Baskar
- I perform on the Veena. Its an acoustic and a chordophone instrument from India. Indian classical music reflects on expressing emotions and creating the aesthetic. In my classical music performances based on ragas, I want my listeners to feel uplifted, euphoric, relaxed, healed , peaceful, meditative and enchanted. when presented with proper understanding, this beautiful music can elevate both the performers and the listeners to touch the soul. I am influenced by arabic music,contemporary music, fusion, pop and jazz and i try to blend different elements in my compositions and improvisations. Rhythm also plays an important role in my performances, I will be supported by a power packed percussion artists. I also perform duet along with my daughter Adhithi on the Piano. We create music together. I also provide veena support for dance music orchestration, Bharatnatyam and other light music genres as well. Have good experience performing in musical ensembles too. Now having settled in Canada, I have collaborated with Alysha Brilla for her original song ' Love'. Its a song of Hope for anyone with a heavy heart. Veena perfectly can bring the emotions you need in a song and also Veena sounds close to the human voice which makes it really appealing and soul stirring.
- Rashmi Pluscec
- Rashmi is the author of poetry books Chaos, Desolate World, in 15 words, Echo, Paper Moon, Maddening Gyres, and Carnival. She is also a contributing poet on Threads, Passages, and Ballads - anthologies by Dagda Publishing. Her poetry is typically dark, and surreal with a hint of the abstract. She was nominated for the 2014 Mississauga Arts Council Award for Literary Arts. Rashmi has an M.A. in English.
- Ray Vidal
- Ray Vidal is a multi-disciplinary fine artist, illustrator, muralist, musician and educator based in the Greater Toronto Area. He is passionate about bringing people together through public art engagement, mentorships, workshops and community programming. Currently, he focuses on murals, commissioned base work and teaching community programs and workshops for children and youth in the GTA. Ray Vidal has also recorded 2 full-length albums and a small EP with his Marty Award winning band the Five and Tens. He currently continues to work on his music and perform all over the GTA, engage in public art initiatives and teach art programs with the Visual Arts of Mississauga and Queen Elizabeth Parkway Community and Culture Centre.
- Rob Scott
- I am a full-time artist based in Mississauga, focusing on oil painting and pencil drawings of urban/rural landscapes and various still life subjects that interest me. My art business is called Charles Bruce Art; I have an online portfolio as well as regular postings of my work on Instagram and Facebook.
- Serena Salvosa
- For as long as Serena can remember, singing and songwriting have been a huge part of her life. Growing up with a family of singers, she was always encouraged to expand her musical abilities by joining many choirs, taking piano lessons as a child, and voice lessons as a teen. Serena is proud to continue this family legacy by sharing her passion for music with her 2 children. In addition to music, Serena also has a passion for photography and graphic design, having proudly created all visual media for her own single, Both Feet.
- Riley Ellery
- I am an actor and musician Toronto-born and Mississauga raised. I started playing the drums and producing music when I was 13 and in high school, was a drummer in two bands, one of which would regularly perform throughout Mississauga. The other one won recording time in a competition adjudicated by guitarist Ricky Tillo. I am a 2022 graduate of Humber College’s Acting for Film and TV program. Since 2018, I have been releasing music on major streaming platforms under the name Hypre Holiday. I produce all my music.
- Rosemary Broos
- I have always had a passion for the creative side of life. I try to capture on canvas the beauty of flowers and landscapes and try to incorporate realism with impressionism. I have studied at VAM and Spillane Studio of fine arts and belong to the Thursday Artists group. I have been fortunate enough to be in a solo exhibition and have participated in juried shows in Oakville and Mississauga. My influences have been the impressionist painters of a time past.
- REKHA PEVEKAR
- A mind of an Artist By Rekha Pevekar I am a self trained painter, but this talent I have inherited from my family, which has a rich heritage in art. I travel far and distant places with my camera and my shots reveals my true inner self. Spectacular views of real life and beauty of the nature scenes through my camera makes me become more into painting and these translate my heart and soul to my art work. I work on all subjects from Floral to Landscapes, Cityscapes, and Seascape to the Portrait. Each subject is a challenge for me but I enjoy it and try to remain closer to the likeness of it. My paintings are more towards to the realism; however, I use other methods and varied ideas according to the subject matter. Luminous colour excites me, and I am fascinated by light and its interpretations in a transparent medium to create settings and atmosphere. My medium is Oil paint using traditional layers of glazes. Many Galleries and shows display my art exhibits and my participation won many coveted awards. Painting has become my passion and it not only gives me great pleasure but also it makes become more satisfied and complete when my work evokes enjoyment to the viewers. My Art Studio: Mississauga, Ontario Phone (905) 277 - 5111 email: rekhapevekar@gmail.com Web: http://rekha-arts.webs.com/
- Robert J. Sawyer
- Robert J. Sawyer, dubbed "the dean of Canadian science fiction" by both the CBC and THE TORONTO STAR, is a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario and he holds honorary doctorates from Laurentian University and the University of Winnipeg. An inductee into Legend's Row: Mississauga's Walk of Fame, winner of the Established Literary Artist Marty Award in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Marty Award in 2017, Rob serves as a citizenship officiant for the Mississauga Office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, frequently swearing in new Canadian citizens. He was one of the initial nine inductees into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Rob has won the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards for Best Novel of the Year as well as the Robert A. Heinlein Award, the Hal Clement Award, and the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award. His twenty-four bestselling novels include THE OPPENHEIMER ALTERNATIVE, QUANTUM NIGHT, CALCULATING GOD, and FLASHFORWARD, basis for the ABC TV series of the same name.
- Rusti Kurlawalla
- Rusti Kurlawalla was born in British East Africa, Mombassa. As a child, he was enveloped by nature, where the love for shape and colour was ignited. Plucked from there he was sent to India for education, where he was inspired by his paternal uncle, who was a fantastic artist himself. As a young man, he entered the aviation world in the Middle East and served his work well with absolute perfection. After his retirement from the aviation world in 2001, he returned to Canada, where his love for art got ignited.. His paintings convey his individuality, and his spontaneous ideas. He felt extremely blessed to get up each morning and paint at his will. In Canada he had the opportunity to interact with other art organizations and artists. Painting is therapeutic to him Abstract art can be triggered by color, form, or shape. He works with acrylics, heavy mediums and pouring mediums. His biggest addiction is a blank canvas. As an artist, it is his aim to liberate the viewer a moment in time, and to transform the viewer to his world of art. When one likes a painting, it is the result of the energy that has touched the viewer and draws the person to watch it from a more personal level, appreciate it, and feel it. One buys a painting when there is a connection, struck between the canvas and the viewer. His inspiration has no boundaries. It comes from nature, objects, automobiles, home designs, and dresses. He is taught by inspirations and gut feelings. Uplifting music plays a huge role when he paints, and depicts his results.
- Ryan Gallagher
- An aspiring poet who only started writing poetry after having a mental health crisis. Now I have an emotional support cat named Naya and I enjoy learning about writing and mental health.
- Sabrina Narzoles Aly
- Female Muslim Filmmaker in Mississauga looking to make films for stories that have yet to be represented on the screen.
- Sabyasachi Nag
- Sabyasachi (Sachi) Nag is the author of Hands Like Trees, a story collection, (Ronsdale Press, 2023) and three collections of poetry, including Uncharted (Mansfield Press, 2021) and Could You Please, Please Stop Singing (Mosaic Press, 2015). His work has appeared in Anomaly, Black Fox Literary, Canadian Literature, Grain, The Antigonish Review, The Dalhousie Review and The Windsor Review, among other places. An alumnus of the Banff Centre Literary Arts Program, Sachi holds creative writing certificates from the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University and Humber College. He is currently an MFA Candidate at the University of British Columbia. He lives with his wife and son in Mississauga which is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. You can also find him at sachiwrites.com and the artisanalwriter.com where he explores lit craft.
- Sahar Golshan
- Sahar Golshan is the author of the debut picture book So Loud! (Annick Press, spring 2024) Illustrations by Shiva Delsooz. She is a writer, language learner, and the director of the short documentary KAR. Her writing has appeared in Room, Taclanese, The Ex-Puritan, Shameless, and Tongues: On Longing and Belonging through Language. She is the 2022 winner of the Marina Nemat Award for Creative Writing in Non-Fiction and a recipient of the 2019 Air Canada Short Film Award. Sahar is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at the University of Guelph. (Photo credit: Dinaly Tran)
- Matt Salisbury
- I am an illustrator and arts educator, my style of work is expressive and incorporates a wide array of media including; digital, mixed media, and animation. My main work is narrative and sequential illustration, primarily I work as a comic book artist and graphic novelist and focus on telling stories about individual struggles, familial dilemmas and surreal exploration with elements of folklore and science fiction.
- Samuel Liu
- Samuel Liu is the Founding Facilitator of DRUMIN.CA and Studio Director of Perfect Harmony Music Studio. Originally from Hong Kong, he moved to Mississauga during his teenage years and has called it home ever since. With a background in Accounting and Finance from his university days, Sam spent over 15 years in the corporate world. However, driven by his deep-rooted passion for music, he made a life-changing decision to transition into his true calling. His passion lies in building community through music and drum circle facilitation. Trained by world-recognized percussionist Arthur Hull, widely known as "The Father of Modern Drum Circle," Sam designs engaging drumming activities for wellness and team building. As a Trained HealthRHYTHMS facilitator, he offers a transformative experience through the power of rhythm. Sam is the 2023 Project MicroGrant Winner (ArtsCare Program Development) awarded by the Mississauga Arts Council (MAC), currently extending the benefits of group drumming to schools, daycare centers, long-term care facilities, corporations, and religious groups across the GTA.
- Samuel Burrows
- I've been immersed in the world of professional filmmaking since 2007, delving into unscripted adventure television and corporate video production. My expertise spans Directing, Camera Operation, Photography, Video Editing, Project Management and Storytelling. I hold an advanced Diploma in Film and Television Production from Humber College, fostering my passion for the craft. Throughout my career, I've created compelling corporate video content at SBM and contributed as part of the team at a few production houses. Collaborating with a diverse range of brands such as Earth Rated, Microsoft, Tim Hortons, Sport Chek, Cotopaxi and others has provided me with invaluable experiences in visual storytelling. Currently, I serve as the Director of Production at Heliconia, an Ottawa-based adventure television production company. In this role, I oversee 20+ staff on the production of 7 television series, including Epic Trails, Facing Waves, Great Family Adventure, Adventure Cities, Outdoor Eats, Road Trip Angler, and Hook, Line & History. These programs are aired on esteemed networks such as National Geographic, Bally Sports (formerly FOX), Amazon Prime, Discovery Channel, NBC Sports, PBS, Apple TV+, and more. My journey in the industry has been a thrilling adventure, allowing me to hone my skills while collaborating with different creative teams and contributing to captivating television and corporate video content.
- Luis Sanchez
- Luis Sanchez-Blanco is an accomplished director, writer, and creative force with an impressive portfolio in theater and the arts. As a student at the University of Toronto, his work has garnered significant recognition, including directing the acclaimed production of "Grease" at the Hart House Theatre as well as award-winning runs at the Hart House Drama Festival
- Sandra Clarke
- Zero-waste textile, fiber, paper artist and craftivist, Sandra Clarke, has been untangling skeins of yarn, repurposing fabric, and making useful shiny things for over 30 years. Born in the colourful, Celtic, Montreal neighbourhood of Griffintown, and educated in Montreal, New York, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Toronto, helped Sandra develop her eclectic style. Her textile, fiber, and paper arts and courses include; eco-printing, natural rust dyeing, quilting, embroidery, weaving, spinning, sewing, felting, crochet, knitting, junk journals, altered books, contemporary scrapbooking, and digital paper art. On the shiny arts side, she creates and teaches; fused glass, beaded trees of life, jewelry, and button making. Her art can be seen regularly in boutiques, galleries, and online. Sandra illustrations are featured in ecology themed coloring books that can be found on Amazon, art galleries, and in her courses. Nature themes are also explored in Sandra's illustrations, both graphic and by hand. Using Adobe Illustrator Sandra creates colourful, multi-patterned designs representing nature, ecological, community, steampunk, gothic, shabby chic, vintage, and journaling themes. Patterns are largely featured in Sandra’s art. She employs the Fibonacci Sequence, non-euclidean mathematics, and fractals in many of her art forms. She teaches art and art business courses online, in galleries and schools. Sandra gives traditional arts a contemporary life while still retaining practicality and function. Fueled by the fast-fashion rebellion, visible mending and craftivism, Sandra's zero-waste philosophy results in ethically made and thoughtfully re-fashioned textile, fibre, and paper art. Sandra's life and art was deeply affected by the death of her daughter, Emily, on January 1st, 2021 due to complications from her May 2019 heart transplant. Sandra lives with her husband and son, dividing her time between her home in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and her off-grid cabin-in-the-woods near Algonquin Park in Highlands East, Ontario. Email: Sandra@SandraClarke.ca
- Sandra Robson
- ARTIST STATEMENT “Creating is an extension of my core. Society taught me to colour between the lines, – yet I am drawn to play outside of those lines. Nature captures my attention and loads my palette with the desire to paint. Painting is an expressive indulgence providing the opportunity to explore an intimate conversation with my inner voice. Each brushstroke is celebrated in expressive movement. Through my eyes, I bring a touch of nature indoors.”
- Sarah Catharine
- My name is Sarah Catharine and I am an independent singer-songwriter and producer from Canada, who records all my music in my car! Earlier this year I released by very first single, That’s a Lie, which was later followed by my second single, I’d Be Dead Too. While ‘That’s a Lie’ mirrors a dark-pop, Billie Eilish style, ‘I’d Be Dead Too’ is an emotional pop ballad, often compared to Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, that features a powerful bridge that was teased on Tik Tok reaching over 40,000 views. I am so excited to announce that my debut EP ‘Thank You for the Content’ will be out on September 24th, and was fully written and produced by myself. It features five breakup pop songs, with the goal of each song sounding different from the other. The premise of my EP is all about celebrating the heartbreak and taking bad situations and turning them into good songs!
- Sarena and Sasha Nanua
- Sarena Nanua and Sasha Nanua are twin sisters living in Ontario, Canada. Born on Diwali ten minutes apart from each other, they grew up loving stories about twins and magic, and began writing books together when they were nine years old. After graduating from the English and Professional Writing programs at the University of Toronto, they published the RIA & RANI duology with HarperTeen. Their debut book for middle grade readers, Spirit Service, will release in Spring 2025 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
- Saumya Sharma
- My name is Saumya Sharma, I am a 19 years old pop singer songwriter. I am currently studying at the Metalworks institute in the APE (Audio production and Engineering) program. I had also studied at Seneca Colleges’ IPS program, (Independent Performance and Songwriting) in September 2022. It has been a great journey, producing, writing and performing. I have been writing and performing since the age of 11. I play the guitar and I also sing Indian Classical music, accompanying myself with the harmonium. I am in love with music, and I am taking it forward, by making it my career. I also keep performing at open mics. Since my childhood, I have been taking part in the school choir, and writing poems. I released my new single recently, which is called Remember me. More of my songs are coming up soon, and I am looking forward for you to hear them.
- SAWITRI Theatre Group
- SAWITRI Theatre Group is an award-winning, incorporated not-for-profit organization based in Mississauga since 2003. Under the artistic leadership of Jasmine Sawant and Shruti Shah, SAWITRI presents original, challenging and exciting works featuring established professionals as well as emerging artists and newcomers. SAWITRI’s mandate is to inform, entertain and heal through the arts that are South Asian in character, origin or topic and foreground issues of universal social importance and political relevance. SAWITRI’s projects are women-centric and new gen-focused exploring issues of identity, relationships, self-image, self-esteem, mental health, abuse, ageing and loneliness. Community-building, collaboration, caring and sharing are at the heart of SAWITRI’s works.
- Shadow Entertainment
- Shadow Entertainment is the largest South Asian dance company in Canada. Combining the strengths of top dancers around the GTA, Shadow seeks to dedicate its time and effort towards showcasing upbeat, entertaining and power-packed performances. Our goal is to incorporate several dance styles including: Bollywood, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Hip Hop, Dappan Koothu (Ghana), Dancehall, Folk Dance (Garba, Dandia) and Contemporary in a well-mixed fusion between Western and South Asian culture. Members of this company are dedicated, passionate and goal-driven to entertain you with music and dance that is bound to leave a positive and lasting impression. Shadow Entertainment holds confidence in delivering the best and most well-executed choreography that is yet to be seen.
- Susan Hamann
- Susan Hamann Actor | Acting Teacher & Audition Coach | Theatre Director Susan is most recognized for her role as Mary-Kate Sinclair on Degrassi: The Next Generation Seasons 8-11. For more Actor & Assistant Director credits visit: www.imdb.me/susanhamann.com Susan’s career in the film and television industry also includes several years of working behind the camera as an assistant director while a member of The Directors’s Guild of Canada (DGC). Susan holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction (Drama Specialist) degree from the University of Toronto. Susan trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and various acting institutions in Toronto including Equity Showcase, Second City, and C.A.S.T. Susan has dual citizenship Swiss & Canadian At her own studio, Page to Camera…and the space between www.pagetocamera.com located in Port Credit Susan Hamann offers ongoing actor training, audition coaching and self-tape audition production. Virtual acting classes & coaching sessions with Susan are also available online via ZOOM. Susan’s work as an acting teacher and audition coach has been recognized by agents and actors alike. Susan works holistically in response to the actor's specific needs. She draws from various schools of acting: Meisner, Stanislavski, Method, Stella Adler etc. Her aim is to guide the actor to a truthful non-acting performance. Susan has also taught Stage Acting and Comedy at various performing arts academies in Toronto & North York. She directed numerous stage productions for the Ovation Player’s touring company with performances at local high schools and theatre venues in Richmond Hill, Markham, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. Susan is passionate about helping actors realize their potential as artists whether it be on stage or in front of the camera.
- SHANNON O'Hara
- Shannon O’Hara is the designer and maker of Agent Reclaim. A brand focussed on a slow production model. I work with post consumer, downstream leather, damaged and in many cases beyond repair. Working with what already exist and bringing life back to it in a new form. My background is in the secondary market and I see many opportunities to work with the forgotten, damaged garments. I’ve collaborated with big and small brands to make use of their excess and damaged inventory through capsule collections. My muse is leather and I love the versatility of this medium. I work out of my home studio in Mississauga where I live with my hubby, two teens and our dog Maggs.
- Sharn Bassi
- Professional artist for 4 years, my work is inspired by nature and is mainly an abstract style. I've done 2 murals (City of Toronto Bell box, City of Hamilton Hydro). I also sell acrylic paintings and do some digital work. www.sharnbassi.com; www.instagram.com/sharn1978
- Shaukat Ajmeri
- Shaukat Ajmeri is the author of the novel Keepers of the Faith and the short story collection Open Season. He also writes a blog on Substack. In his writings, Shaukat explores the injustices and inequities of the world and is a keen observer of the human condition. He is currently working on his third book of fiction. He worked as a journalist before coming to Canada and now lives in Mississauga on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit and other indigenous peoples of Ontario.
- Shazlin Rahman
- Shazlin Rahman is a Malaysian-born Toronto artist. Her art project Her Sarong is inspired by her late grandmother's collection of batik sarongs. Shazlin's acrylic paintings use lines and minimalist elements to explore notions of "home". Her recycled cardboard art pieces honours her grandmother's tradition of giving discarded materials a second life. Her custom artwork and prints are available at hersarong.com and you can follow her creative work on Instagram at @hersarong.
- Shehan Herath
- Hello, I'm Shehan, a multifaceted artist excelling in singing, songwriting, and music composition. From my earliest memories, music has captivated my heart, with a special affinity for classical compositions alongside an exploration of diverse genres. My lifelong aspiration has been to give back to the community through my musical endeavors, recognizing the universal importance of music in people's lives. Moving forward, I aim to continue creating heartfelt melodies, sharing my voice, and crafting a plethora of beautiful songs.
- Shehzar Abro
- I am an experienced visual artist, mid-level animator, and educator currently residing in Canada and originally from Karachi, Pakistan. I've lent my skills to various projects, including notable works such as TV series "Sausage Party: Foodtopia" (Bardel Entertainment) and "Mia and Codie," (Relish Studios). My enthusiasm for education has led me to roles such as Studio Technician for Animation at Emily Carr University and Lab Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. I've crafted courses like "Drawing for Animators" and "Visual Story and Character Development” at Alberta University of the Arts. I directed an animated/live-action short “Now Showing” with support from the Canada Council of the Arts and in collaboration with Fight With A Stick Performance. I have exhibited and painted live in various shows in Vancouver, Karachi, Newcastle, Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne. In 2018, I was commissioned by the High Commission of Pakistan in Australia to paint a mural on its façade. In collaboration with the Karachi Biennale in 2019, I introduced an Australian mental health initiative at the NJV School in Karachi. I also curated and exhibited at Impact I and Impact II, which were shown at Movenpick Hotel Karachi Art Gallery and Gallery ArtOne62. In 2018, I organized a Pakistani photography exhibition for Consulate General of Pakistan in Sydney, and assisted in curating Jimmy Engineer’s exhibition at the Willoughby City Council in North Sydney. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Media Arts from University of the Fraser Valley (2022) and diplomas in 3D Animation from Vancouver Film School (2020) and SAE Institute Sydney (2019).
- Sherry Prenevost
- I am privileged to have been witness to many wondrous people and places on earth. Through photography, I strive to capture the essence of these experiences in order to share the splendour of landscape and spirit. Challenges of the human condition and natural environment work to educate, expand and strengthen my creativity and capacity for compassion. My greatest inspirations come from raw moments of human experience and the exquisite beauty of nature. Photography allows me to capture environment and culture, independent of bias or censorship, as a means to explore diversity; through which, I hope to bring about an understanding of differences and a sharing of commonalities.
- Shujuan An
- Visual Artist AnShuJuan,The happiest thing for me is definitely my love of drawing,especially Chinese ink painting. It is hopped that people of all nationalities in the world can understand and appreciate Chinese ink painting .
- Signe Miranda & Richard M. Kiernicki
- Signe Miranda and Richard M. Kiernicki are authors, musicians & workshop leaders both in the band, Signe Miranda's Veranda, an alternative-roots-rock five-piece band, also performing solo/duo acoustic-folk-pop, with two band albums & one solo album. The live band includes Signe (vocals, guitar & songwriting), Richard M. Kiernicki (drums), Chris Birkett (lead guitar), Shari Tallon (keys) & Marcus Walker (bass). Signe has toured across Canada multiple times, played in the UK & Norway, charted on college radio across Canada and received the honour of "Musician of the Year" 2020-2021 from the Toronto Musicians' Association. As author of "The Song Creation Formula," (Signe) & multiple award-winning "The Capitalist's Worst Nightmare Come True: The Crucifixion of Capital" (Richard), Signe & Richard run songwriting workshops & as financial professionals, workshops on "Finding Money You Didn't Know You Had," to help artists protect their financial future so they can focus on their passion & purpose. Music & Songwriting Workshops: signemiranda.com Richard's Book Website: richardmkiernicki.com Financial Professional Website: signeandrichard.ca
- Simran Patel
- I am a practicing artist. I started learning art in high school and have continued ever since. I specialize in mandala and pattern art. I enjoy working with different art mediums and mixing them to create beautiful pieces but mandalas patterns are a foundation of my art style and are visible in all my digital and print work.
- Sima Naseem
- Sima is a Pakistani Canadian artist who works with multiple mediums with a focus on animation, painting and illustration. I enjoy making playful creations that come alive and make the viewer feel engaged and foster emotions of pure childhood happiness. I try to bring urgency to my work and have won multiple time-sensitive art competitions. I want to combine my love for all art mediums into mixed media, installations, and films. I am always looking for new and creative ways to share my artistic knowledge and love for creative expression.
- Sahana Murali
- Sahana, a Canadian singer-songwriter from Mississauga, began singing and writing at the age of 7. Trained in various genres including pop, classical, jazz, and Broadway, she showcases her versatility and captivating performances. Additionally, Sahana has pursued Indian classical dance (Bharatnatyam) and piano since the age of 4. Sahana attended Cawthra Park High School for her high school education and is presently an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo, where she is majoring in Literature and Digital Media. She has completed her Level-8 Vocals and Level -5 Piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Her exceptional talent caught the attention of renowned Hollywood music producers during her audition for 'Vocal Star' in Toronto, leading to a performance in Los Angeles and a 3-song production deal. Since then, Sahana has been making waves with her original music. She released her debut single, "Time of the Year," a delightful Christmas pop song, and has followed it up with six more singles, showcasing her growth as an artist. Her latest release, "Paralyzed," received praise from critics, affirming her talent and potential. Influenced by Demi Lovato, Alessia Cara, and Adele, Sahana aspires to leave her work in the music industry with her powerful vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and unwavering passion.
- Sneha Subramanian Kanta
- Sneha Subramanian Kanta is an award-winning writer and academician. She is the author of five chapbooks including Every Elegy Is A Love Poem (Variant Lit, 2024), Ancestral-Wing (Porkbelly Press, 2024), and Ghost Tracks (Louisiana Literature Press, 2020). Her work has been supported by several institutions including Ontario Arts Council, The Writers' Trust of Canada, The Vijay Nambisan Foundation, British Council, The Writers' Union of Canada, and Rutgers University. A 2024 Tin House Winter Workshop Scholar and Resident Artist at Deer Lake Artist Residencies, her work has been widely anthologized. She is one of the founding editors of Parentheses Journal. She is currently working on manuscripts of poetry and prose supported by funding from the Ontario Arts Council.
- Jahmarri Christie
- My name is Jahmarri Christie, I go by the artist name “SoDead,” I love to learn, grow, and thrive through art and music.I go by SoDead because that used to be my mental state. I now put those emotions on to canvas and try to paint a beautiful scene from my emotions and world view. Growing into a young man I understand there's stigma around my name and meaning. My name means new beginnings to me, dying and coming back to life. Because I have truly experienced that and the horrors that follow. Aswell as the beauty and growth.
- Seon-Sook Park
- Artist, art teacher, mentor and sunday school teacher based in Milton, Ontario. A passion for working with children. She was born in Seoul, Korea, and earned a BFA at the University of North Texas, majoring in Painting and Drawing. She has been a Fine Art Society of Milton member since 2010 and actively participates in juried exhibitions and the Celebrate the Season and From Heart to Hand member shows. Outside the studio, she mentors for Next Generation Youth to promote fine art in her local community. She strongly believed that early years of art education can help creative thinking, self-esteem, emotional development, expression, imagination, and breaking down cultural barriers.
- Soon Cho
- Soon Cho, also known as Niña, is an illustrator based in Canada. Originally from South Korea, Soon studied illustration at Sheridan College, and completed her BFA in Textiles at Rhode Island School of Design (2008). Soon has lived and worked in Mississauga since 2001, and has recently relocated to Niagara Falls. Soon's practice ranges from hand drawing and painting to murals, installations, digital art, clothing, and recently books and toys. Soon enjoys simple line drawings with a childlike aesthetic, often depicting elements of nature and the essence of our everyday life. While she was doing her masters program in Design Management in Spain (2017), Soon drew a fictional character in her work who all of her friends called “Niña” - which means “a little girl” in Spanish. Soon quickly found joy in including Niña as part of her work, it almost seemed like Niña was her second soul, always being there as a hidden cheerleader. You will likely find Niña hiding somewhere in Soon's recent works. Through a little encouragement and humour in her work, Soon hopes to slow things down and boost self-value to individuals in our modern society.
- Sarah Srdarev
- Sarah is a multi-disciplinary artist specializing in both cute animated characters and abstract art pieces. In her work, you’ll find a range of art pieces, from frog stickers to mixed-media statement pieces for your home!
- Stella Jurgen
- Limitless creator of art in various disciplines. Passionate about creating unique art that attracts attention. Paintings, illustration, digital art, multi-media, mural design, videography, photography, sculpture, graphic design, textile, fashion accessories. Graphic designer for 30 years, business entrepreneur for 20 years. Musician, vocalist for the jazz quartet "Stella Jurgen and Jazz Plazma". TV show producer and host for my own TV show "Stella's Studio" promoting local and international artists since 2019. Music video producer illustrator and animator. Radio host. Cartoonist for a local cultural newspaper. Marketer, visionary, goal oriented. Eccentric.
- Stephanie Schirm
- I began my career as a fashion designer, studying in Berlin, Germany in the 80’s. While designing for a number of fashion houses, in the Toronto fashion district, I also created fashion illustrations for catalogues, storyboards, and advertisements for Canadian Designers. I eventually left the fashion industry to become a graduate of Communication and Design at OCAD in Toronto. Only then to enter the Liturgical world of Design, where I established Labyrinth Studios Inc., designing and manufacturing sanctuary décor for Churches across Canada and the US. Here I engaged in designing and creating large size interior installations dictated by the massive sanctuary spaces. My passion for designing and painting lead me to sharing my knowledge in the arts through workshops, with the Continuing Education Board in Wellington County, Mohawk College, and in various establishments throughout the GTA area, such as Visual Arts Mississauga, Credit Valley Artisan, Clarkson Society, Haliburton School of the Arts to name a few. Due to my expertise and comfort in working at a large scale, I turned my focus on engaging elementary and secondary schools in producing large size murals. My teaching engagements have been growing over the year, as guest workshop instructor, or speaker, and now my schedule includes instructing online. Fascinated with the Human figure whether dressing it or documenting it, I have had the pleasure of painting the odd portrait of a few celebrities, legends; and people in my community. It has been said that I have a way of capturing the inner essence of my subjects through my sense of design and colour. I continue to attempt to participate in Solo and Group gallery showings. My creations can be found in private collections throughout Canada, US and Europe. www.stephanieschirm.com
- Stephanie Braganza
- Stephanie Braganza is a powerhouse vocalist whose performances helped her win a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Live Artist. The vocalist has performed in a wide array of settings throughout her career, including a private event at the Art Gallery of Ontario which was attended by former president George W. Bush, and at the MuchMusic Video Awards. In celebration of Canada’s South Asian Heritage Month, Stephanie was listed in CBC Music's top "10 South Asian–Canadian Artists You Need to Hear Right Now". Notably, she achieved the feat of breaking the Guinness World Record for participating in the “World’s Longest Concert” in 2017. An outspoken animal rights activist, her latest music video; “Chains of Silence” has won two Global Music awards for “Best Female Vocalist” and “Best Music Video,” and has received support from Tony Kanal (No Doubt), the Save Movement and PETA. In 2020-2021, Stephanie was instrumental in being a part of Mississauga’s virtual Rise Up Concert (2020), and Hazel: A Celebration 100 Years in the Making (2021). In 2023, she was asked to sing the national anthem at the opening reception of the Canadian Blind Hockey national tournament at Maple Leaf Gardens, and introduced her first summer and Christmas performances at Canada’s Wonderland. In May/June 2024, Stephanie sang at the Rogers Centre during the Toronto Blue Jays game.
- Steve Puersten
- Stevie is an up and coming singer/songwriter with a quirky folk/rock/gospel style,...his unique acoustic guitar/harmonica combination not only lends itself to classic gospel songs but also allows him to present familiar classics in a way that forces people to listen. His line up of 25 original songs (2 which were written by his late wife) represent an interesting range of styles,... Why 12? When I was in a church softball league I drew the jersey number 12 and I thought, a good Biblical number,...12 tribes, 12 disciples, but then I remembered that when I would make a childish joke, my wife Nancy would ask 'What are ya, 12?' and so 12 has become a significant number to me,...
- Studio.89
- Studio.89 is a fair trade cafe and nonprofit community hub providing a free space for events, workshops, and resources. We encourage community dialogue, interculturalism, artistic expression, and conscious consumerism while focusing on youth leadership development. We aim to benefit humans, animals, and the planet in all that we do.
- Erdmute Gottschling
- Erdmute Gottschling is a freelance visual artist and illustrator at Studio Erdmute, and has been painting since forever and loving it! She works with acrylics, oil paints and watercolour paints. She is a long member of the Mississauga Arts Council, Clarkson Society of Artists, Visual Arts Mississauga, Arts Etobicoke, and the Central Ontario Art Association. She exhibits her paintings in shows across southern Ontario, and her works are included in private collections across the U.S., Canada, Germany, and England.
- Sucharita Maitra
- Full Artist Biography SUCHARITA MAITRA works in water-colour and mixed media. She is inspired by her travel adventures and an appreciation of beauty everywhere, even in the ordinary. After a successful career in finance at Edward Jones (www.edwardjones.com), she decided to embark on another adventure that beckoned her since childhood. Thus began her artist journey in 2020. Covid times restricted travel and she embraced Zoom online art lessons to awaken her desire to share beauty and emotion through art. These online lessons include courses by Andrew Carter (Elephant Academy UK), Online Zoom workshops by Bonnie Steinberg (Visual Arts Mississauga), Online workshops by Michael Solovyev, demo workshops by Frank Eber, Christopher Gorey, and personal mentorship by Olivia Burdett-Coutts (South African Master Painter). Her portfolio has been compiled with feeling and a story behind every painting, connecting the viewer with different moments and the emotions felt in that moment. The viewer's imagination can make the ordinary feel extraordinary through her artistic representation. "My heart leaps when I see beauty in anything and evokes a spontaneous desire to capture and share it through art. The interplay of colours and light through the dance of the brush can charm and inspire that feeling" (Sucharita Maitra's Artist Statement). www.SuchFineArt.com Sucharita Maitra is a member of the Toronto Watercolour Society (TWS), Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor (CSPWC), Society of Canadian Artists (SCA), Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), Visual Arts Mississauga (VAM) and St Louis Watercolour Society (STLWS) USA. Recent exhibitions include Toronto Watercolour Society's 38th juried Aquavision Fall Show ( 2022), Toronto Water Colour Society's 36th juried Aquavison Spring Show ( 2021), Visual Arts Mississauga's juried Online Wildlife Exhibition ( 2021), Bengali Heritage School’s Community Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Mississauga's 'Intuitive Blues 'Exhibition ( 2022), Visual Arts Mississauga's Why do you Create ? juried art show (2023), Art Point Gallery, Dubai -a sample of Sucharita Maitra's collection ( 2023) and more. Sucharita Maitra has her studio Such Fine Art in Mississauga, Canada. Visit her website: https://www.suchfineart.com One should make one’s life a mosaic. Let the general design be good, the colours lively and the materials diversified-Marthe Bibescu.
- Sujata Chander
- Hi there, I am an artist of 2 very different mediums and I am equally passionate about both of them. They are watercolours and a unique art form called Lipan work from India. I have taken several courses in India, at VAM and a workshop on staging at Sheridan College. I am a Registered Early Childhood Educator which has helped me and my family settle down in Canada over the last 20 years. My passion for Art was rekindled a few years back and since then I have not looked back. In my watercolours, you will find I have a variety of interests, from painting florals both real and loose, to landscapes and architecture. I love colour and you will see an array of colours in my paintings. Lipan, my other art form is from India. I do this work on Wooden panels using an epoxy resin for giving shape, and use a variety of mirrors to decorate and finally acrylic paints. All my designs are original, but I have also designed according to client specifications for some commission work. Do visit my Instagram @sujataart and @mantradecorart
- Shobha Wagley
- Artist Statement I had worked with different subjects before like mother and child, daily life , and homeless people etc. More than 15 years I have been focusing on the subject of Human Mind and Senses. What I realized is.It is a very complex, very important and very interesting subject matter.. The information I understand about Human Mind and Senses that usually put in my paintings I am trying to show the Human Mind and Senses power according to our development stage of our Mind and Senses. There are three stages of our Mind and Senses. First is not the developed stage, the second one is the developed stage and the third is highly developed of our Mind and Senses. In another words, the first one is an uneducated person, the second one is an educated person and the third is a Genius person. My Human Mind and Senses works start from the Highly develop stages of Human Mind and Senses or describing about the Genius Mind Or According to Hundu belief of awakening the Mind and Senses process when a person reaches the highest level of chakra Sahasrara - Chakra (Crown Chakra) their mind and senses power enlarge. That power I am trying to show extending our Mind and Senses outward in my art work. When a person reaches that level their knowledge reaches the universal form and so many things. Each of these painting describe about these I get inspiration from humans and many more things like nature, natural beings, man made things.etc. I love to work on different mediums like watercolor, pastel color, print, mix media, oil and Acrylic on canvas etc. Education and Exhibition History Shobha Wagley was born in Nepal. When she was eighteen she joined Fine Arts at Kathmandu in 1985 for a better education system and in 1988 her father, a PHD in education sent her to India, where she completed her BFA ( 5years degree course) From Sir J. J. School of Arts (one of the best college of India) In 1994 Shobha had her first solo exhibition in Nepal and since1996 to 2001, as well as exhibiting in Nepal has shown her works in India, Korea, Tibet, Japan, Bangladesh, Britain, Paris, USA and Canada. Her works have been collected by Museums, Embassies, Corporations, and private collectors in numerous countries. She also got many awards for her work. She had a studio at Nepal Academy Fine Arts for 16 years. Teaching History From 1997 to 1999 she taught Free Hand Sketching to Architectural students at the engineering college for Architecture in Nepal. From 2000 to 2004 she taught composition and portrait study at Tribhuvan University, Fine Arts Campus for BFA students and from 2000 to 2011 she taught Landscape, Portrait, Design and Composition at Cambridge International University affiliated UK Campus in Nepal. She also taught The Roundhouse Community Center for Arts and Recreation Center Vancouver, BC, Canada February to October 2012.
- Sylvie Stojanovski
- Sylvie Stojanovski is a multidisciplinary artist, creative facilitator and community organizer who is passionate about inspiring social change through creative entrepreneurship and community art-making. For over a decade, she has designed and delivered interactive art installations, and workshops across Canada that invite people to see the earth as an extension of themselves. As the co-founder of the hyperlocal artist collectives, Scarbrite and Roots To Bloom, Sylvie also supports emerging creatives in building their capacity to work with natural materials and mobilize art for social change. Previous clients include: StreetARToronto, Mural Routes, Park People, Youth Challenge International, and the International Centre of Art for Social Change.
- Tahira Rajwani
- Tahira Rajwani (she/her) is a South Asian spoken word artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. Her poetry, which is rooted in themes of diaspora and women's empowerment, aims to uplift marginalized stories, empower young artists, and foster community dialogue. She is the winner of the 2022 Mississauga Poetry Slam and was runner-up in Button Poetry's 2022 Poem Cover Contest. She has featured with the Art Gallery of Mississauga, the Festival of Literary Diversity, and Workman Arts. Tahira has been published with Paper Crane magazine, Poetry Undressed and The Stranger Poets. She is currently Promotions Lead with Sauga Poetry an arts organization focused on fostering community amongst local poets. Tahira is a recipient of the 2023 Didihood grant and is a psychology major at the University of Toronto by day.
- Tao Li
- Born in China in 1981. Graduated from the Chinese Painting Department of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts in 2003. I have already been widely recognized as a paiter in contemporary China art scene. I have won many important arts awards , and my works are collected by Chinese and foreign institutions and individuals. Many of my works were selected for the “ Young Artists Exhibition” and participated in the exhibition.
- Tetyana Bibik
- Tetyana Bibik, originally from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, is a fine art painter with over 10 years professional experience working out of her studio in Toronto, Canada, where she currently resides. She specializes in large scale interior & exterior murals, abstract artwork, pop art paintings, portraits, and creating custom commissioned artwork.
- hai tang
- Hi there! My name is Hai Tang, and I am a developer at a tech company with a passion for exploring my creative side. During the Covid pandemic, I found myself with some extra time on my hands and decided to take up painting as a way to fill my days. I taught myself the basics, and I have been hooked ever since. As a developer, I spend most of my day working on code and troubleshooting technical issues, so painting has become a way for me to unwind and escape into a different world. I find that it allows me to tap into a more intuitive and emotional side of myself that I don't often get to explore in my work. Despite being self-taught, I have been amazed at how much I've been able to learn and grow as an artist over the past year. I love experimenting with different styles and mediums, and I find that each piece I create tells its own unique story. When it comes to fitness, my favorite activity in the gym is powerlifting. There's something incredibly satisfying about being able to lift heavy weights and push myself to new limits. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes with setting a new personal record, and I find that powerlifting has helped me develop both physical and mental strength. Of course, I also enjoy trying out new workouts and mixing things up to keep things interesting. Whether it's HIIT, yoga, or a long run outside, I believe that staying active is key to a healthy and fulfilling life. Of course, painting and fitness are not my only passions. I also love trying out new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen, as well as exploring new technologies and tinkering with gadgets. I believe that life is all about exploration and discovery, and I'm excited to see where this journey takes me next. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll come back soon to see what I'm up to!
- Thamara Perera
- Thamara Perera is an emerging mixed media illustrator, artist, and creative based in Toronto, Canada. She is a recent graduate from OCAD University and holds a Bachelor of Design in Illustration. Her work explores themes of human identity, duality, transformation, and femininity, especially relating to her South Asian heritage. Skilled in traditional and digital mediums, her current practice focuses on experimental hybrid approaches to art-making, fusing analogue painting and collage techniques with digital painting and manipulation.
- Vinita
- As an artist I strive to capture the essence of nature and its timeless beauty in my own colorful way. Flowers are one of my favorite subjects to paint due to their ability to uplift the spirit with their vibrancy. Using mixed media, I try to explore the intricacies of florals, toggling at times between realism and impressionism. Through my art I hope to share this appreciation for the nature, to slow down and rediscover the beauty of flowers.
- The Heartland Singers
- The Heartland Singers is a four-part harmony show chorus based out of Mississauga. They have been a part of the Sweet Adelines International singing organization for over 25 years. THS sings without any musical accompaniment which makes this style of artform rare as they try to produce overtones and undertones giving listeners goosebumps. Education and performing is an integral part of chorus life. Learning how to sing and perform is elementary to our success. The Heartland Singers compete in the spring every year at a regional convention held in Ontario. This year not only was The Heartland Singers awarded first place in their division, they were also named most improved chorus. The chorus is not formed of professional, or even amateur, musicians but instead an ensemble that loves music, singing and harmony. Performances occur regularly within the community too.
- Tali Voron-Leiderman
- The Ampersand Review of Writing & Publishing is a bi-annual literary magazine publishing poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, book reviews, and interviews. The Ampersand Review is rooted in the belief that reading is both enjoyable and enlightening, and that writing in Canada is dynamic, diverse, and worth celebrating. In our pages we seek to provide a venue for excellent, innovative writing from across the country, representing literary voices from a vibrant spectrum of identities, intersections, backgrounds, creativities, and lived experiences. Like the Ampersand in our name, we embody the essential relationship between writing and publishing. In addition to publishing The Ampersand Review, we host the annual & Festival, as well as the monthly Ampersand Reading Series, and the Ampersand Writing Series.
- The Boneheads
- The Boneheads have kept true to the roots while emerging from the Toronto music scene. The award-winning band brings a refreshment of blues-tinged rock 'n' roll, combining old school and modern influences with the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Black Keys, and Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown. They have built up their local reputation quickly as winners of Best New Group at the Mississauga Music Awards, with other nominations in Best Online Content and Fan Choice. The group has seen success outside their hometown too, landing performances with The Glorious Sons, JJ Wilde, and New Friends, as well as finalists of 500 artists competing at the Sound of Music Battle of the Bands. Featured on The Music Jerks radio show, their latest original single Ride was described as “a huge, stadium-worthy sound and stellar melodies. While the style is commercially viable, it's still gritty and edgy."
- Mel Flower
- Raised in Mississauga, Ontario (Canada), Mel Flower is an R&B artist with an authentic and classic vibe. With influences ranging from Chaka Khan, Tamia, Toni Braxton, Aaliyah and Usher to H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan and Ella Mai, her sound has elements of old and new alike - for all listeners. Mel Flower has been active in the local music seen for 14 years now, with her style and sound blossoming as time goes by. As for her intentions for her upcoming releases, she plans to continue all efforts in honoring and producing authentic R&B/Soul; with new sounds blending and emerging.
- Jasy
- I’m Jasy. I’m an 20 year old singer raised in Toronto. I started playing piano at 7 and singing publicly at 12 years old. While living in Belgium, I’ve performed at talent shows and school concerts. I’ve always had a passion for music as I was raised in an old-school hip hop and R&B household. Being influenced by artists such as Craig David, Boyz II Men, Justin Timberlake, Destiny’s Child, Chris Brown. As I grew up, I started having a passion for writing songs and poems and decided that I wanted to write and release my first debut single, Rising Queen. During my last year in Belgium, I recorded my single and released it in 2020. I’ve continued to write and feature in songs to show people my music. Singing and songwriting is my escape from the real world and to communicate with others through the love of music. I’ve always wanted to inspire others around me. As this journey continues, I hope you enjoy and vibe with my songs 🙂
- the Savoy Band
- A modern 5-piece swing combo that takes inspiration from the vintage sound of the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
- Ruby Yip
- Ruby Yip (aka Tiana_4am) is a Hong Kong Canadian Artist who primarily focuses on two dimensional oil paintings.
- anthony tirado
- I am Taino Indian artist native to Puerto Rico, raised in new york city and now living in mississagua. My art is mainly sculptures and backdrops. I mainly focus on Indigenous and puerto rican icons, but i do also dabble in various other designs and sculptures. I do speak spanish and focus on creative pieces that connect you my people. my goal is to one day curate my own show and create conversational pieces that tell a story.
- Tracy Cui
- Based in Mississauga, Ontario. Tracy Cui is a Singer-Songwriter who specializes in writing pop/folk ballad music. Growing up in both China and Canada, her music is a fusion of both Chinese pop and English pop. Known for her melodic melodies and story-telling lyrics, Tracy's songs can make an 80 years old man cry.
- David King - Troubador
- Solo singer/guitarist covering classic songs to entertain you. I cover musicians like Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, John Denver, Eagles and many more. I can entertain you and your friends at a backyard or basement party, in cafés/pubs/restaurants, at public or private events ... reach out to me for a customized playlist. Then sit back and relax - let the music take you back in time. Or sing along, if you like. You do not need to provide any equipment - I use my own professional systems.
- Tylor Key-Carr
- Tylor Key-Carr is a photographer hailing from Toronto. With a keen eye for capturing the essence of moments, Tylor employs both digital and film cameras to craft evocative imagery. Specializing in fashion photography, captivating portraits, and dynamic event coverage, Tylor's portfolio showcases a multifaceted talent that reflects a deep understanding of his subjects. Tylor's artistry goes beyond the lens, as he seeks to immortalize the authenticity of human experience. His passion lies in documenting individuals immersed in their everyday passions, emanating pure joy. The interplay of light, emotion, and atmosphere in his work creates a narrative that resonates deeply with viewers. Fuelled by his insatiable wanderlust, Tylor draws immense inspiration from his global explorations. The diverse landscapes and cultures he encounters enrich his perspective, infusing his work with a sense of worldly charm. Yet, his ultimate satisfaction stems from collaboration, as he thrives on the creative synergy that arises when working alongside fellow artists. In the realm of photography, Tylor is not just an observer but a storyteller. His portfolio is a testament to his dedication to freezing moments that speak volumes and etch memories in the sands of time.
- U.N. JEFFERSON
- U.N. Jefferson is a 9 piece collective that fuses elements of Soul with the fundamentals of Motown and early R&B to create a sound that is both familiar and fresh. Rooted in the vintage sounds of James Brown, The Temptations and Wilson Pickett, the band manages to keep one foot in the foundation of traditional Soul while cultivating an authentic take on a classic genre. Fronted by singer-songwriter Ajay Massey, U.N. Jefferson’s dynamic live performance delivers a high degree of energy and showmanship. The band’s infectious sound and Massey’s fervor for entertaining the crowd knows no bounds. Standing still is not an option.
- Susan Ksiezopolski
- Susan Ksiezopolski, is an award-winning writer of two poetry books “My Words”, “Writing for Change”, and two writing aides “The Writer’s Workbook” and “Fuel Your Creativity”. Her poetry has also been featured in various anthologies, the Canadian Immigrant Magazine, Alt-Minds Magazine and FreeLit Magazine as well as on various other on line platforms. A graduate of Humber School for Writers, Susan has developed and delivers expressive writing workshops across the GTA. Visit www.mywordsnow.com for more information or follow her on Instagram @WriteWell_2020
- Vasundhara
- I am a singer and performer with specializing in bollywood, sufi, punjabi, folk, ghazal and other genres of Indian Music. I have been singing since I was a kid. I gained music knowledge from my grandfather. I have been awarded as the best singer at school and university level. I have participated and won awards in local community events. I moved to Canada in 2019 and since then, I have been participating in various open mics and also hosted musical events. Music is not just my passion but it uplifts my soul and energy. I look forward to connecting with the Music community in Canada.
- Valerie Barton
- I live in Port Credit and feel gratitude each day for the serenity and beauty of my surrounding or being inspired by the vibrance of downtown. I have been painting for over 25 years in watercolours and acrylics and continue to explore and learn with many talented Ontario artists. I describe myself as an "eclectic" artist I love variety, and my work reflects my travels both near and far, land and sea scapes flora, nature sometimes abstract and commissions. Several years ago I joined with other artists known as "Painting Ladies" and we have exhibited successfully as a group or solo in local exhibits, community functions, stores and galleries throughout the GTA. I love to create, to sit with a blank canvas to see what unfolds and reveals itself, to be lost in time and to have captured a piece of art that can be shared and enjoyed by others. My home studio may be visited by appointment or visit Valerie Barton "Painting Ladies" www.valerie barton.wordpress.com
- Veronica Spiljak
- Veronica Spiljak (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Mississauga, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe First Nations. She completed her BFA at the University of Toronto Mississauga in 2021. Spiljak combines text, sculpture, textile, writing, video, installation, and performance to create artworks that facilitate collaborative, tactile and immersive experiences. She borrows found archival footage, objects, photos, audio clips, words or phrases that weaves her experience as a first-generation Polish-Canadian woman. Spiljak has exhibited locally, including shows at the Blackwood Gallery, U of T Art Museum, Women’s Art Association of Canada, the Tiny Fist Gallery, Propeller Gallery and Visual Arts Mississauga. She is currently a candidate for her MFA at York University. As a first-generation Polish-Canadian woman, her work indicates the personal grief left behind in childhood trauma, family dynamics within the home, the ritualization of religion, women’s labour within domestic-like spaces. Spiljak recreates these site-specific ephemera to primarily ask how can the idea of space and language bring up familiarity, intimacy or memory? In what ways can recreating, assembling, manipulating ephemera be used as a tool for resistance?
- Veronika Benjamin
- After working as a graphic artist a graphic artist/art director I switched to painting and teaching. I have exhibited at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Nielsen Park and Visual Arts Mississauga at Riverwood. Currently I am the president of White Oaks art group
- Vibha Malhotra
- Artist statement: Vibha Malhotra Magical colours, their interaction, created beauty brings immense joy. Passionate about all expressions of art, poetry, writing, acting, photography,sculpture, sewing, crocheting, knitting. Self taught, with workshops Sheridan and VAM. Expressionism, pen-air, portraiture and flowers. Exhibited in several galleries, Various Juried and other shows at VAM, Baux Brampton, Neilson Park, Joshua Creek, Assembly Hall, TD Mosaic, Art in Park, Artusiasm, TWAC Art world, Mississauga Central Library, CFS. Member of CFS, AOTC, ArtTrendz, Bindaas Artists, Run an Artist Hub. Realtor by profession, with the heart and spirit of an Artist. Vibha Malhotra 416-520-5212 malhotravibha@hotmail.com www.artbyvibha.com
- VIRAJ PONKSHE
- Viraj Ponkshe introduces ‘ZapinFusion' - The Art of Self Evolution, revolutionizing contemporary art. His style exudes a fresh whimsical twist, captivating modern audiences and sparking a vibrant evolution. This powerful fusion merges ancient wisdom with modern expression, uncovering insights into universal spirituality, mystic heritage, and cultural influences, harmonizing past and present.
- Viraj Ponkshe
- Throughout his life, Viraj Ponkshe has kept evolving on his creative journey, as a busy advertising creative lead, as an avid explorer of art forms, and as a volunteer through art for which he was honoured with Canada’s ‘Mississauga-Malton Annual Remarkable Citizen Award 2021’. As a Creative Director, he worked with leading advertising agencies across the globe in India, Egypt, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, and the North America. His work on world-renowned brands received numerous international honours, including a Cannes Lion, London International Award, Cresta Award, and been showcased in Lurzer’s Int’l Archive. As a prolific painter, he graduated from the prestigious Sir J. J. School of Arts, the foremost art school in India, and over the years has molded his art, by stretching his imagination, fuelling ideation, and inspiring his craft to push boundaries, for which he was recognized as an ‘Emerging Artist’ by Saatchi Art, the world’s leading online gallery. As a world traveler, he has embraced different nuances of life, like universal spirituality, contemporary themes and diverse philosophies. This constant evolution gave birth to his unique style of ‘ZapInFusion’ which he calls the Art of Evolution. A fusion of dynamic styles, vibrant cultures, and powerful ideas, from the past, present and the future, these creations explore a spectrum of concepts, through the lens of everyday life, uncovering startling insights on universal spirituality, diverse philosophies, mystic heritage, cultural influences, and more. The overarching message through it all is ‘positivity’, something the world craves for, in these turbulent times. These creations have been showcased at art exhibitions in Paris, Switzerland, Toronto and USA, and are on display in private collections and on corporate walls in India, Egypt, Kuwait, US and Canada.
- Visual Arts Mississauga at Riverwood
- Visual Arts Mississauga (VAM) at Riverwood – Where Mississauga Creates! Visual Arts Mississauga extends a warm invitation to all. Come and be a part of the healing and co-operative arts community. We have a diverse and interesting group of people who have discovered their hidden talents and enjoyment through art. We know that art has an important role in helping people through particularly difficult times. Visual Arts Mississauga would like to acknowledge that the land on which we operate is the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Wendat, and Haudenosaunee nations. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement. Today, this place is still home to many First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples. We are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on this land. Founded in 1977 and incorporated in 1978, Visual Arts Mississauga (VAM) at Riverwood is a not-for-profit charitable arts organization. As one of Mississauga’s pillar arts and culture organizations and its premier visual art centre, VAM concentrates its efforts on three areas of excellence: Art Education, Art Exhibition and Community Engagement. VAM at Riverwood is a leading provider of visual arts programming for adults, teens and children (6+). VAM’s team of artist instructors offer over 200 courses, workshops, and camps in-house and online. Courses cover all levels and most mediums – acrylic, oil, watercolour, drawing, clay, and mixed media. VAM also runs its acclaimed Kids’ Arts Camp during March Break and the summer months. VAM hosts special workshops and exhibitions by VAM member artist groups throughout the year as well as exhibitions at Mississauga’s Central Library. Major events include Art in the Park (September), the Holiday Artisan Marketplace (November), the Annual Juried Show hosted by the Art Gallery of Mississauga, now in its 39th year (January), the Members’ Show & Sale (March), and the Children’s Art Celebration (June). The VAM Gallery and Studio hosts member group and special exhibitions September – June. VAM’s highly successful ArtReach Schools program delivers quality visual arts workshops to over 85 Peel Region schools. Other outreach programs are geared for community centres, to Older Adult groups and to Corporations for team-building retreats! Throughout the year, VAM fundraises for its Creative Children’s Fund which gives deserving children in need a week-long, summer camp experience; its Older Adult program which brings arts workshops to seniors who are in financial need or who are experiencing decreased mobility; and the VAM General Arts Fund which supports VAM programming throughout the year. VAM’s Art Centre located at 4170 Riverwood Park Lane, houses VAM’s administrative offices, five large classroom studios, members’ exhibition space and additional studio, print-making facilities and The VAM Gallery in the neighbouring MacEwan House.
- Vivek Mehmi
- Vivek~ A given name of Sanskrit origin meaning wisdom or knowledge Vivek utilizes musical expression as a way of healing. When faced with a life changing ailment, he was forced to examine the darkest and most challenging parts of life and transmute them with his art. It became a much-needed cathartic outlet to cope with the hardship and transition he faced and still continues to battle. Through this process he began composing some of the most inspired tracks he has ever created. These songs now serve as guidance for others seeking wellness and purpose. Vivek has performed his work at Northern Touch Music Festival and Conference in Winnipeg, the legendary Toronto $5 Dollar Rap Show, Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre, Mississauga Celebration Square Amphitheatre, as well as various places in the local community from cafés to busking. His art has been recognized and supported by The SOCAN Foundation, Mississauga Business Enterprise Centre and Mississauga Arts Council. In 2021 Vivek won The People's Choice Award at the MAC Music Spotlight for his video Rubik's Cube. His latest collaboration as a featured artist, was placed on the popular Japanese TV show soundtrack, Promise Cinderella. Find out more at vivekmehmi.com
- V Serve Canada
- V Serve Canada is a federal not for profit community organization established in 2019 with a platform to increase wellness in communities; encourage, promote, and celebrate social well-being through cultural arts, and heritage; present impactful arts and cultural events; and initiate need-based programs to connect seniors, youth, and adults in communities. V Serve Canada plays a leadership role in encouraging mental-physical wellness through arts and culture and need based workshops for the overall welfare of all Canadians. V Serve Canada’s mission is to encourage a state of physical, mental, and social well-being to the diverse population residing in Ontario and Canada through presenting arts and cultural events; educating the youth on wellness and giving them the diverse experiences of different cultures; providing need-based awareness and educational programs and workshops for youth, women, and seniors to promote wellness. V Serve Canada is lead by Anu Srivastava who is an exceptional community leader, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Anu is the Founder/CEO ARRA Arts; Executive Director V Serve Canada; Finance professional in the Municipal Sector; Past Chair Panorama India; fundraised $14m critical funds for Trillium Health Partners- community hospital; Member of prestigious Boards & Panels; recipient of Queen Diamond Platinum Award, Queen Diamond Jubilee Award; CIBC’s Midweek top ten South Asians in North America in the field of Community Leadership; Top 20 South Asian Power List; Top Forty over Forty; Leading Women Building Communities by Premier of Ontario; 2017 The A-List, Mississauga Credits Heritage Chairman’s Award, Jewels of India - Leading Indo Canadian Personalities - High Commission Ottawa
- Rezoana Islam
- I like to do paintings with watercolor, acrylic paints, oil pastel. Like to do paper craft, bottle art, mandala and so on.
- Andrew Wilson
- Mississauga born and raised singer/Songwriter crafting folky story songs. Bandleader with Wilson & The Cast Aways. Interested in telling honest stories (even if they’re completely made up) and connecting people through creative community.
- Victor Wong
- Victor strives to create quality work that satisfies his love of nature, bright colours, and geometric shapes. On his free time, he enjoys exploring the world with a camera in hand, bumming around bonfires at the beach, and diving head first into new projects.
- Zijing Wu
- I am a theatre act focusing on the children's art who have lived whole life in field of it . I born in 1985 in Beijing , CHINA, graduated from the acting department of Beijing film academy , with excellent performance skills and profound artistic heritage, I have traveled to more than 20 countries and regions in the world, and have made achievements in child's play performance, performance training , film and television acting. In the children's Art Theatre of China, I have been playing the role of the main actor and senior mentor and having outstanding performance in children's plays, I am good at playing different characters, different styles with great spirit , The show is popular with children and audiences for its humorous ,touching ,realistic and natural performance, through my won keen and sensitive response, bright and vivid performance style, real and touching emotions, i have made more contributions to a vigorous and abundant human culture.
- Xu Fang
- Art grows in life, and emotion is the source of art. As an artist, I think the most important thing is the expression of emotion. But where do emotions come from? Art comes from our real lives, where eyes, listening and speaking are my way of expressing my emotions. The formation of each work, the form is important, but the most important thing is to inform the audience of my emotions and feelings through the work, through different media.
- Yasaman Mehrsa
- Yasaman Mehrsa is a Toronto-based Multidisciplinary Artist. Born and raised in Tehran/Iran, Yasaman has been devoted to the arts and to painting since she was five years old. She began her artistic training at an early age; She completed her studies with a Bachelor of Visual Communication and Graphic Design from Iran and later achieved Bachelor with honours in Visual Arts at Brock University, Canada. Her unique artworks are mainly influenced by nature. Striving to create work that is distinctive, engaging and above all, memorable, she conveys a story or invokes a certain emotion in each of her works. With her narrative style, she tries to communicate with her audiences. In addition to painting and illustration, she contributes to public art and street art as well. Her goal is to be more engaged in beautifying cities and involved in the communities. She has a passion for public art and strives to create works that are distinctive, engaging and memorable. She has become an active public artist since 2018. She has worked on different public art projects for various communities and organizations within GTA.
- Chris Yao
- Chris is an art adventurer whose work celebrates and explores their experience as a neurodivergent transgender person of colour. Their practice is titled ‘Maker Meyao’ to reflect and celebrate their growth with and love of cats. Their work centers zines, clay, and exploring their joy.
- Yen Linh Thai
- Yen Linh Thai is an interdisciplinary artist, illustrator and muralist based in Mississauga. Her work is inspired by stories and storytelling, explores the whimsical and exists on the cusp of two and three dimensions. Since expanding her practice to public art in 2019, she has created artwork for High Park Zoo, Mississauga Celebration Square, City of Hamilton and the Toronto Chinatown BIA. Her murals are vibrant and illustrative. Inspired by communities they live in, they often depict diversity of community representation and biodiversity of flora and fauna.
- Zohra Zoberi
- Zohra Zoberi’s short stories, poetry and plays have been published in numerous anthologies in Canada and the USA. Previous banker, she won the Top National Sales Award from CIBC. Artistic Director of Bridging the Gap Productions with a mission of Enlightenment through Entertainment she has staged five socio dramas in Mississauga. Winner of Marty’s Literary and two Performing Arts Awards, she also addressed cyber bullying; sexual harassment; woman abuse & marital issues. For raising inter-cultural awareness, Zohra has received recognition awards from the Governments of Ontario and Canada. Two books to her credit are: “True Colours” (poetry) & “Window Shopping” For lasting Love. Zohra is now completing her memoir “The Other I”, a compelling story of a Mississauga resident since 1976. Supported by Micro grant from the Mississauga Arts Council In 2018 US based, International Association of top professionals (IAOTP) selected her as the Top Artistic Director of a non-profit organization, Bridging the Gap Productions.
- ZyRuP
- ZyRuP is a band with two artists, who do music as a passion. We are exploring our music in various genres and we are trying to create our own unique taste within the music we do. Vayanga Rajakaruna - Pianist/Guitarist/Music Producer Dilini Gamaarachchi - Main vocalist/Song Writer We have been started the journey by covering our favorite tracks, and we are working on our originals as well. Do follow us, stay tuned for more music from us. Team ZyRuP
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Events
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All Day
Malton’s Aviation History
Malton Airport Gallery Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, Mississauga
Free
Bijoux Mini(art)ure Exhibition – Crescent Hill Gallery
Crescent Hill Gallery 10-2575 Dundas Street West, Mississauga
Free
Mississauga Festival of Trees presented by CreativeHub 1352
Small Arms Inspection Building 1352 Lakeshore Road East, MississaugaDIY Studio Time
Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives 9 Wellington St. East, Brampton
Included in general admission. Free for members.
Jazz Rangers live at the Port Credit Legion
Port Credit Legion 35 Front St. N,, Port Credit, Mississauga
Free
A Swingin’ Christmas with the Toronto All-Star Big Band
FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton 1010 Main St E, Milton
$59
Christmas Jazz Vespers – Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble
Cooksville United Church 2500 Mimosa Row, Mississauga
donation of food
All Day
Fourth Annual Juried Show of Visual Arts
Art Gallery of Mississauga 300 City Centre Drive, MississaugaMalton’s Aviation History
Malton Airport Gallery Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, Mississauga
Free
Bijoux Mini(art)ure Exhibition – Crescent Hill Gallery
Crescent Hill Gallery 10-2575 Dundas Street West, Mississauga
Free