Spring 2022
As the 2022 academic year comes to an end and we begin to see signs that we might finally be able to turn the corner on the pandemic; I want to say thank you. Thank you to our students for their perseverance over the past few years as you adapted to new ways of learning and engaging. Thank you to our faculty for their dedication to making online, hybrid, synchronous and asynchronous learning a meaningful and rich experience for our students. Thank you to our staff for their continued support, both in-person and online.
While it seems like a lifetime ago when things were "normal," it has only been two years. Despite all the uncertainty the pandemic thrust upon us; I know we are coming out on the other side better for the challenges and obstacles we have had to overcome. From launching fully online programs to implementing hybrid and hyflex models, we have never been more ready to meet our learners where they are and want to be.
As we publish this edition of Storyteller and I look back at previous editions, I can't help but say, Wow! It is remarkable to see what we as a community have achieved. It is truly outstanding.
The academic year is ending soon and I can't wait to see and celebrate all the fantastic things our students, graduates, faculty, and staff will achieve next.
OUR NEW PERFORMING ARTs Centre IS Coming soon!
The grand opening of our new performing arts space will be here before we know it, and we are absolutely thrilled at what this space means for our students and instructors.
From dance and theatre studios, to music practice rooms and a fully-equipped black box theatre space, our Music, Dance, Theatre, and Performing Arts Fundamentals programs will have a space of their own to learn, create, and practice.
Theatre students perform "beyond the stars" at toronto's Factory Theatre
As one of their first shows back in front of a live audience, students in the Theatre Arts and Performance program magnificently performed Beyond the Stars - a piece loosely based on Antoine St. Exupery’s beloved novella, The Little Prince, from April 8-10 at Toronto's Factory Theatre.
Program Coordinator, Patrick Robinson, says being able to connect once again with a live and engaging audience was like no other. "Being back reminds us of what the most important things of live performance are - having that connection with one another and with the audience, and being able to be in the same space day after day to create."
Beyond the Stars was a co-production by ReDefine Arts, and it was the first time the program collaborated with another theatre company of this size. It was also the first time they were able to do the show in a well-known, mainstream theatre space, which provided an ever greater experience for everyone involved.
GRAD PROFILE
Aysanabee
Evan Pang, known professionally as Aysanabee, is a 2015 graduate of our three-year Journalism program. After spending several years in the industry working for Huffington Post Canada and CTV, Evan recently decided to take a momentous leap and quit his job to pursue music full-time, which has been a passion of his since his teenage years.
Now signed with Ishkode Records, one of the country's first Indigenous-owned and operated labels, Evan is working on a full-length project that combines his storytelling and musical talents.
Photo by: Lisa Macintosh
After Refuge
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION BY TOBI ASMOUCHA
Photography holds the incredible power to tell stories and can act as a platform to share captivating moments that compel us to find out more. An exceptional demonstration of this is After Refuge - an ongoing project created by Tobi Asmoucha that documents the lives of individuals who immigrated to Canada.
Tobi has set out to uncover what happens after Refuge is granted using visual and auditory mediums. Through this project, Tobi is sharing the important stories of those who experienced difficult paths when creating a new life in Canada.
PROGRAM PROFILE
Advertising - Media Management
The Advertising - Media Management program is a one-year post-graduate program that launched in the Fall of 2008. Over the years, the program has transformed along with the ever-changing industry. Its hands-on, industry-approved approach to learning provides students with the opportunity to dive into a career feeling prepared.
Program Coordinator, Colette Brochu, shares "[The program] covers the whole spectrum of media disciplines from research, planning, buying, sales, digital, and data analytics. The curriculum in the program is considered quite fluid, which allows for quick adjustments to market requirements, allowing the program to remain relevant."
First YEAR PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS CREATE ONLINE PHOTOJOURNALISM EXHIBITION
Students in their second semester of the Photography program put together an online exhibition of photographs that demonstrate how our lives have adapted throughout the pandemic.
STORYWORKS PROJECT
STUDENTS CREATE KITEworks magazine VOLUME 2
As part of their Storyworks course, students in the Professional Writing - Communications program and the Photography program collaborated with KITE – UHN - the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (which is part of the University Health Network) to expertly create the second volume of their magazine: KITEworks.
Similar to the first volume, this magazine is made entirely by students to help showcase KITE and the work they do.
Students did an exceptional job pulling together all of the various parts to this magazine, and their professionalism and skills shine through.
PROGRAM PROFILE
AN INTRODUCTION to THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM
+ NEWS ABOUT THE 2022 CONTACT PHOTO FESTIVAL
The Photography program is a two-year program that provides students with the opportunity to obtain the skills needed to succeed in the commercial photography industry while also allowing for an abundance of creativity through projects and work with industry professionals.
Joseph Marranca, Program Coordinator, shares "We teach real-world experiences while keeping in mind where the industry is going in the future. Many of the faculty are working professionals, so much of what is taught is not just from the curriculum but also from experiences that are happening presently, often the week of a class."
A significant component of the program this year is the 2022 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival that students and alumni took part in. "Showing your work to the world is the most frightening experience one can have. Putting your heart out there for others to view and possibly critique? That’s hard to swallow at times, but it creates personal growth that can only be learned through life experiences like this. As with anything worth doing, the more you do it, the better you get," Joseph shares.
Image credit: Zach Smith for KITE-UHN
Nuit Blanche returns for 2022
...AND THE STORY ARTS CENTRE IS TAKING PART!
We are incredibly excited to announce that the Story Arts Centre will participate in this year's Nuit Blanche - Toronto’s all-night celebration of contemporary art.
Using the theme Space Oddity, which falls under the greater Nuit Blanche theme this year, The Space Between Us, our campus will transform this October to host a variety of exhibitions and activities. Plans are underway for a massive canvas that will invite visitors to paint and draw on the scene, a photo studio where attendees can stage photoshoots, performances from students in our Dance program, music that draws from the theme, a twelve-hour Game Jam, and more!
2022 DEAN'S AWARDS
The School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design Dean's Awards were handed out at a virtual ceremony on Thursday, May 5.
The event unofficially marks the end of our academic year and it is always a special event that celebrates our exceptional students. You can watch the full awards ceremony below.
GET TO KNOW THE MEMBERS OF OUR PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEEs
Program Advisory Committees (PAC) at Centennial play a crucial role in providing programs with insight into various industries.
PAC members inform curriculum to ensure programs stay current with industry trends and adapt to their industry's changing skill and knowledge requirements.
We wanted to introduce you to some of these incredible professionals through our new Meet the PAC Series.
ARTS MANAGEMENT STUDENTS bring the industry together with their annual symposium
Post-graduate students in the Arts Management program never fail to impress with their annual Arts Ahead symposium, and this year was no exception.
Like last year, the symposium was held online through Zoom, which is an adaptation of the program’s typical in-person symposium. However, students successfully carried out the two-day event with an abundance of thought and care. There were engaging panel discussions and inviting workshops centred around their theme – Reawakenings: Art as a Catalyst.
SUMMER CAMP AT THE STORY ARTS CENTRE
Our summer camps for kids are back! From Animation and Design to Arts and Media, all of our camp experiences offer instruction from industry professionals who will guide attendees through the creative process using all of our state-of-the-art facilities and technology.
Dean, Nate Horowitz, shares "This is the first time since 2019 that we're running face-to-face, in-person summer camps. They are proven to be very popular with children and their parents right across Toronto."
STUDENT PROFILE
JACOB VARCOE
Jacob Varcoe, a student in the Sports Journalism program, has always had an immense interest in sports. Growing up, he played every sport he could. It was through those experiences that further fostered the passion he has for sports to this day.
“I grew up as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and every Saturday night I would watch Hockey Night in Canada with the volume down so I could pretend I was a broadcaster. I have always found ways to be involved in sports, and I was always participating on teams growing up,” he shares.
After immersing himself in various sports for many years, such as spending twelve years umpiring baseball, Jacob decided to start two YouTube channels: The Bills Bunker and Maple Leafs Media.
Scarborough Hero Awards INSTALLATION ARRIVING ON CAMPUS
Neighbourhood Garden is a community art installation created by students in the Fine Arts Studio program for the inaugural Scarborough Hero Awards. The event awards everyday heroes who go above and beyond in serving and supporting Scarborough communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having travelled throughout Scarborough, Neighbourhood Garden is set to visit our campus for six weeks from May 16 to June 30.
BIG WINS AT THE Ontario Community Newspaper AWARDS
Centennial was nominated under the College/University Awards for Student News Writing and Best College/University Newspaper Website, and the results are in. Drum roll please...
In Student News Writing, Alexander Varoutas finished in second place and Arsheen Shamaila placed third, while the Toronto Observer, run by our Journalism students, placed second for Best College/University Newspaper Website! 🎉
CONGRATULATIONS TO GRADUATE BAMBANG SADEWO ON FOUR NOMINATIONS AND WINS!
Graduate Bambang Sadewo took home top prize for Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience; finished 3rd in the Education Writing category; placed 2nd for Best Feature/News Series circ. 10,000+ for a story he co-wrote; finished in 1st place as a co-writer in the Online Breaking News Coverage category.
GRAD PROFILE
Stella Partheniou Grasso
Stella Partheniou Grasso is a 1999 graduate of our Publishing - Book, Magazine and Electronic program and has since immersed herself within the publishing industry, having written several of her own children's picture books published by Scholastic Canada.
"The program taught me that there are a lot of different ways to express creativity. My career has taken me down a very specific path but I couldn’t have gotten where I am today without the strong foundation I developed at Centennial," she shares.
Stella took part in the 43rd Annual Toronto International Storytelling Festival where she held an event called Beaver Tales, a family event at the Tranzac Club that featured a fun re-telling from her book, Five Busy Beavers.
virtual production at the story arts centre
Virtual production is a game-changer that's becoming increasingly popular in the film and television industry. Through various software tools, studios can combine physical and virtual environments that appear incredibly realistic.
No longer needing to wait for post-production, digital elements can be created beforehand and integrated directly into a scene in real-time, which creates significant opportunities for creativity and collaboration among professionals.
Image credit: IGI
ArtworxTO Spotlight Emerging Artist: Sidia Atabales-Schnitzler
Sidia is a 2021 graduate of our Fine Arts Studio program and was recently recognized as an up-and-coming artist by the ArtworxTO Spotlight Emerging Artists program.
"I went into the Fine Arts Studio program right after graduating from high school. I wasn’t exactly set on a specific career when researching post-secondary courses. But I knew it would be under the arts umbrella," she shares. "The program stood out to me because of the emphasis on how hands-on it would be, and they weren’t wrong!"
Artwork by: Sidia Atabales-Schnitzler
GRAD PROFILE
LOVEY REID
Lovey is a 2018 graduate of the Bachelor of Public Relations Management, Honours program and has since gone on to become the Event Coordinator and Acting Communications Lead for the Centennial College Student Association. Her experience in the PR program led Lovey to uncover several vital lessons about the industry, which she has since been able to use in her career today.
"Public relations is about the humans involved. The brand, the story, and the experiences you share are real, meaningful, and valuable. I learned PR's power and the ethos required to perform well in this role and do meaningful work," she shares.
GRAD PROFILE
KRUTI Buch
Kruti, a 2021 graduate of the Arts Education and Community Engagement program, is currently working for STEPS, a charitable organization that activates public spaces through art and community engagement - a role she obtained after completing her placement with the same organization.
During her time at Centennial, Kruti learned valuable lessons that helped prepare her for the career she has embarked on today. "I came in thinking I would pursue education and curriculum design, but through it, I realized that I had a passion for community-engaged work through public art. This program changed the trajectory of my life, and I look forward to seeing where else it takes me," she shares.
Publishing Grad David Halpert gets ahead of the curve with his Cannabis magazine
David is a 2008 graduate of our Publishing - Book, Magazine and Electronic program, and has spent several years working within the publishing industry. However, in early 2018, David took a calculated business risk to be his own boss and incorporate his trade publication, Cannabis Prospect Magazine, during a time when Canada had not yet legalized cannabis.
After its legalization in October of the same year, David's publication picked up in popularity and is currently distributed to 3,000 subscribers across Canada.
CBC News JOAN DONALDSON SCHOLARSHIP Awarded to Journalism Grad MICHELLE MCCANN
Michelle is a 2021 graduate of our Contemporary Journalism program and is this year's recipient of the Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholarship!
Over the next 16 weeks, Michelle will gain hands-on experience by participating in multiple digital, radio, and television placements. "I get to do investigative work at Marketplace, get a taste of radio with the Radio Syndication department. Finally, I am going to Newfoundland to work with the local team," she shares.
POST GRAD DIARIES
A WHOLE NEW WORLD: THE SURPRISES BETWEEN UNDERGRAD AND POST-GRAD
Cassandra Mair, a 2022 graduate of the Professional Writing – Communications program, reflects on her time in the program and shares her experiences between her undergrad degree and post-grad degree.
"My undergrad and my current post-grad are extraordinarily different in many ways! This program has surprised me nearly every week and continues to surprise me as I’m coming close to the end."
GREENLINE.TO officially LAUNCHES
The Green Line is a community-driven, local news outlet in Toronto that officially launched in April. Following an original theory-of-change model, which they describe as "encourages Torontonians to create positive social change in their communities after consuming our journalism," The Green Line generates conversations and explores important ideas within the city.
The Green Line was created by Anita Li, a longtime journalist who teaches within our Journalism program, while Contemporary Journalism grads Alexandros Varoutas and Arsheen Shamaila, are among its contributors. Additionally, current Journalism students Amanda James and Senna Gill completed their Storyworks placement with the news outlet.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS SPRING EDITION OF STORYTELLER, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SHARE IT ON YOUR SOCIALS. TAG US @STORYARTSCENTRE
Credits:
Created with an image by ipopba - "Man using mobile global network connection on social media virtual screen. Digital technology and networking."