Emilea Semancik

5th PROJEKT is a psychedelic art-rock band blending elements of ambient rock, grunge, shoegaze and post-rock with ethereal vocals and soundscapes. Their music moves through mythology, shadow and transformation, blurring the line between song and ceremony and creating what many listeners have described as “pictures in the mind’s eye.”

What is not seen is not supported — and that simple truth became the foundation of everything Anick Silencieux has built. As the Founder and Executive Director of Support Black Charities (SBC), Anick has spent nearly a decade working to close one of Canadian philanthropy’s most glaring gaps: the fact that only a fraction of a cent from every $100 donated by major foundations reaches Black-led organizations. What began as a personal recognition of how transformative nonprofit support can be — rooted in her own experience as an engineering student — grew into a national platform that connects donors, volunteers, and companies to vetted Black-led and Black-serving organizations across Canada and beyond.

Hailey Guzik creates installations that draw people into glowing, layered worlds where real plants sit alongside the virtual, and where the future feels present.

Growing up before the internet meant entertainment was something we created ourselves. On a single income, our family found joy in simple, affordable adventures, weekly trips to the library for VHS tapes and chapter books, long days playing outside with friends, and endless afternoons making our own fun at home. With a creative mom, crayons and paper became paper dolls of our favourite books, movies, and TV characters, and those moments helped spark Justine Eva Smith’s lifelong love of art.

John Moses crafts comedy he likens to getting smacked—shaped by Tough Crowd-era sharpness, Sarah Silverman’s subversion, and classic bite from Rodney Dangerfield and Joan Rivers. His gateway came at twelve through Eddie Murphy’s Delirious, opening his eyes to a world beyond his understanding—a sensation he now associates with artificial intelligence. Spending six years hosting Bronx strip contests in a packed, smoke-filled club where he was routinely the sole white face aside from cops taking bribes taught him crowd management skills most comics never acquire, and yes, Cardi B passed through that same venue.

Alex Walsh has been working as a paramedic for 10 years and has recently completed his advanced care certification. Between responding to 911 calls, Alex enjoys drawing, oil painting along with playing the guitar. Alex has helped design shirts and artwork for promotion for the last two Artists in the Ambulance shows.

Heart to Home Meals delivers chef-crafted meals and trusted support, helping seniors and veterans stay independent at home.

Shawn Evans creates contemplative paintings that explore memory, perception, and colour through his evolving Quantum Sky series.

Hamoodi transforms personal experiences into storytelling-driven comedy, shaped by a life that’s given him plenty of material to work with. Inspired by Kevin Hart’s ability to turn life into narrative and Russell Peters’ immigrant humour that mirrored his own upbringing, Butt has developed a mature sensibility that now gravitates toward Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr’s fearless approach to uncomfortable truths.

Ontario’s Among Legends have been playing their own brand of energetic punk rock for nearly a decade. Formed in 2016, the band built its reputation through a run of EPs before releasing their debut full-length album Take Good Care in 2022. Since its release, the band has played consistently throughout Canada and the United States, with energetic shows and a firm belief that playing music should be a good time. After carving some time out of a busy show schedule to record, Among Legends returns with their second full-length album, Lose My Grip, due July 10, 2026, via Little Rocket Records. The new record finds the band more confident in their melodic punk rock sound, leaning into more aggressive tendencies with tighter hooks as the band reflects on both personal and external challenges. This year, Among Legends are ready to take Lose My Grip on the road, playing as many dive bars, basements, DIY spaces, concert halls and backyards as possible.