In the cultural industries, Nicole Brooks is beyond a triple-threat. Her extensive accomplishments include: filmmaker, director, performer, singer, playwright, composer, curator, teacher and ‘art-ivist’. Brooks has devoted over 20 years producing innovative content (for the stage and screen), with a focus on narratives that illuminate the peoples of the African Diaspora. In 2012, Brooks officially added playwright to her list of talents. Her debut theatrical work Obeah Opera - which she created, wrote, composed and performs in - has been staged in various incarnations from festivals to staged workshop productions in Toronto between 2009 and 2014. Honoured with a Dora nomination for Outstanding New Opera/Musical in 2012 and with continued development thereafter, an updated version of Obeah Opera premiered in August 2015, as a prestigious commission from the cultural arm of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games. Its final incarnation mounted in June 2019 as part of the critically acclaimed roaster of the Luminato Festival (Toronto) and was honoured with two additional DORA nominations in 2020 for Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Feature Performance.

Shantay Parsons is a Production Coordinator at Corus Entertainment. She also provides opportunities for emerging talent, and creates space for collaboration within her community. She specializes in marketing which has aided her to create a consultancy to provide knowledge to upcoming business owners and artist professionals. This experience has also led her to launch Black Creative Alliances. Black Creative Alliance is an incubator organization focusing on the success and collaboration of Black Artists and Black Creative Professionals. Her podcast, “Tea With Tay”, explores topics including social justice, equity, and mental wellness which has allowed Shantay to be affiliated with projects such as SPARKTHAT, a Peel-based organization building a marketplace for creatives around the within North America, UK, South America, The Caribbean, and Africa, be a panelist on a series of conference conversations hosted by the City of Brampton and be a mentee for Black Leaders of Tomorrow, a mentorship program providing a funnel of success for Black entrepreneurs.

Rasika Tyagi wrote, cast, and directed two award winning docu dramas on Indian television after graduating from university. She launched and helmed 3 news channels across India and even one in Nigeria, developing deep insights into the geopolitical and human cost of story telling.

In 2008 Rasika was appointed head of the English entertainment channels run by 21 Century Fox, later Disney, in India. A decade later, Rasika moved to a digital production house in Mumbai where she led the creative team to deliver 8 comedy shows for Amazon Prime.

Rasika has recently moved to Canada where she hopes to continue to tell stories, across formats and work with diverse storytellers who bring unique perspectives and challenge the status quo of the news and entertainment industry.

Susan Walker is a freelance editor, writer and arts blogger based in Burk’s Falls, ON and Victoria BC. Susan was the founding editor of Canadian Art and before that editor and publisher of Quill & Quire. As an editor of fiction and non-fiction books, she is known as Book Doctor. As a journalist and reviewer, Susan pursues her interest in books, visual arts, dance and theatre on the website www.susanwalkerartsblog.com

Eden has a background as a bilingual child actor, professional experience as a community health instructor for seniors, and an academic interest in community health. Eden’s focus is the wide array of health challenges and disparities in access to healthcare affecting aging populations around the world. By showcasing the more intimate health experiences of older individuals on screen, Eden hopes that audience members will become more knowledgeable advocates for the delivery of accessible, complete, and patient-centred healthcare that optimizes the experience and wellbeing of aging individuals and their families.