Emilea Semancik

Nestled on the western tip of Montréal, a 245-hectare forest reserve stands as a testament to conservation, education, and research.

Alyssa Martin expresses the messy, ecstatic extremes of human experience with a precise, dynamic language all her own.

Meet Faiza Kulle, a high-energy comedian known for her bubbly and peppy style, delivering politically charged material with a delightful twist. Described by fellow comedians as the “Black Elle Woods,” Faiza brings a unique juxtaposition to the stage, blending deep, insightful humour with her infectious positivity.

In a city where inclusion often remains a challenge, West Toronto KEYS to INclusion is making strides to change that narrative. Led on a daily basis by Program Coordinator Laura Danowski and her terrific team of staff, volunteers and community experts, this day program is dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. Since its inception in 2011, KEYS has provided a vibrant, supportive environment where participants can learn, work, and engage with the community. In an exclusive interview, Hélène Paulyn Murray, founding family member and Volunteer Board President, sheds light on the organization’s mission, its growth over the years, and the ongoing efforts to ensure that every adult, regardless of ability, is visible and valued in the community.

Robby Reis is a Scorpio and channels his intense, transformative energy into his work. I've always known him to have a strong expressive instinct that fuels his approach to art.

Laura Isidean, Past Chair of Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, shares her journey with the charity, which provides free programs to help cancer patients and their families cope with the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of the disease. After her own breast cancer diagnosis, Laura found Wellspring’s services invaluable and joined the Board in 2017.

Meet Kyle Bergstresser, a Toronto-based comedian whose high-energy, act-out-heavy style blends the boundaries of stand-up and sketch comedy. Describing his approach as a mix between Rory Scovel and Pete Holmes, Kyle embraces a wild, chaotic performance style that often feels like a whirlwind of characters and absurdity.

Fatima Zaidi and Lauren Arnold, Co-Chairs of #Tech+Biz4SickKids, are at the forefront of a unique initiative combining technology and philanthropy to support SickKids Hospital. With backgrounds as CEO of Quill Podcasting & CoHost (Fatima) and Co-founder of Category Communications (Lauren), they bring their passion for innovation into healthcare. Their work with #Tech+Biz4SickKids focuses on raising funds for initiatives like the development of new AI-driven healthcare tools and the reimagining of the SickKids campus to provide state-of-the-art care.

When I first met Ravyn R. Bekh at a cafe, it was like the sun had entered the room. Her energy is so vibrant and warm.

Portia “Po” Chapman may have sung before she could speak. She came into this world as a creative person. From an early age, one could tell that her feisty, sparkling spirit would brighten the world someday. Po is Po and will always be Po. Even in her BFAH studio program, her colleagues would often say, “There is Po…and then there is everyone else.” Growing up in an arts studio, fostered an environment where she could sing, dance, act, play, crochet, sew, sculpt and even paint on the walls. The only thing she really liked better than being creative, was playing dollies and building things outside in the woods with forest creatures. Her first drum collection featured a robin’s nest with baby robins in it. In her bedroom window, robins would nest every spring and as she laid in bed staring at the moon through her skylight, she and the robins would chat and sing as the moon drifted them to sleep. In most of Po’s artwork, she still includes animals, trees, and Grandmother Moon. As a teen, she travelled with her parents to trunk shows and entertainment venues. From an early age, Po learned to communicate with potential clients, as well as the arts of negotiation, dream building, and inspiration. It was on the road, that Po embraced the colour pink. Although her favourite colour remains “rainbow,” Po embodies the smiling, girl in pink brand for which she has become recognized. But don’t let that fool you, she is a young woman who knows where she is going and is determined to achieve her goal of becoming an established Canadian Listed Artist. There truly is NO OTHER PO!