Summer 2022
And just like that, Labour Day is upon us, and back to school is top of mind. After two and a half years of remote and hybrid learning, returning to school this year takes on a new but familiar look as we swing our doors wide open to welcome everyone back to campus. You may still have some online and hybrid classes, but for the first time in three years, most of your classes will be in-person at the Story Arts Centre.
I look forward to welcoming you all to the Story Arts Centre; it is a fantastic campus with a unique creative vibe. For students and staff, September will present the first opportunity to experience campus life. Despite the halls being empty, the work around campus didn’t stop. As you have read about in earlier editions of Storyteller, one of the most significant changes has been the complete rebuild of our library and learning centre. It is a great facility and an outstanding new amenity for everyone.
Visiting the Story Arts Centre campus over the past few years with pandemic restrictions has been a strange and often lonely experience. The fish and Koi were there, but there was no piano music in the foyer and no echoing of students, faculty and staff talking and collaborating. The building will truly come alive with the energy of our students, faculty and staff this September!
Please enjoy this Storyteller edition; I’ll see you on campus soon!
GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENT, MARIANA QUINN, WINS BRONZE AT SKILLS CANADA COMPETITION
Mariana Quinn, a student in our online Graphic Design program, took part in the annual Skills Canada National Competition after winning Silver at the Skills Ontario competition - one of the largest competitions in Canada for skilled trades and technologies.
We are excited to announce that Mariana took home Bronze in the Graphic Design Technology segment of the ceremony! Her hard work and creativity were evident in the work she produced, and we are so proud of her accomplishments in the industry so far.
FILM AND TELEVISION BUSINESS GRAD PRODUCES AND DIRECTS SHORT FILM
Mudder's Hands is a short film by Film and Television – Business graduate Clint Butler that highlights the life of Rosalind O'Driscoll, Clint's mother. Rosalind takes viewers through her traditional Newfoundland raisin bread recipe while also sharing flashbacks of her past along with what she faces now living with arthritis.
"The entire process was like a crash course in film school but also a way to put my knowledge from the program to work in real-time. At the end of the day, I have a product that I am extremely proud of," Clint shares.
GRAD PROFILE: Anthony Ou
In April 2018, Anthony Ou, a graduate of our Public Relations – Corporate Communications program, made a momentous decision to move to London, England to work at one of the largest PR agencies in the world. This significant step, which he describes as the best decision he ever made, has led to some phenomenal accomplishments, such as being recently selected for PRWeek UK’s 30 Under 30 and short-listed for Young Game Changer of the Year at their annual PRWeek UK Awards.
"[Centennial's PR program] provides an essential set of tools for anyone looking to pursue comms and PR - regardless of where they are practicing in the world. The networking opportunities are also very valuable - I made connections who helped me secure roles later down the line in my career."
Broadcasting GRADS help Bring "Hospitality TV" to the screen
Developed by the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, Hospitality TV has been storyboarded, produced and executed in collaboration with professors, students and graduates of the School of Communications, Media Arts and Design.
"It was amazing to work with some of my classmates again and even to meet some folks in a professional setting for the first time... I also had the opportunity to work with some great people from Centennial’s Hospitality program, whom I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to meet otherwise." - Joel Souza, a 2021 Broadcasting grad & Producer/Director of Hospitality TV
Post-Grad at Centennial: A Step towards success
Post-graduate programs have the opportunity to provide students with the real-world skills that are needed to progress in their industry. With a hands-on, experiential learning approach, students can graduate feeling better prepared and confident for their future careers.
"They are very professionally focused programs. Whether it's in Interactive Media or Professional Writing, Children's Media or Public Relations, the courses are all designed to build employment skills... and to prepare you to enter the workforce." says Barry Waite - Chair of Communications and Media.
Also be sure to check out the latest Post-Grad Diaries blog where recent Communications - Professional Writing program grad, Cassandra Mair, shares her final thoughts on why pursuing a post-grad program was the right decision for her.
Game - Development Students At Collision
North America’s fastest-growing tech conference, Collision, took place from June 20 - 23 and included numerous companies, booths, discussions, and more surrounding the global technology industry. With more than 35,000 attendees and 1,200 journalists from 130 countries, we are thrilled that some of our very own students took part!
The City of Toronto invited Game - Development students, alumni and faculty Brian Sinasac, Terry Youn Min Lueng, Benroy Chayson, Vladislav Volodin and Pedro Loures to showcase their video games and virtual reality arcade. Their set-up featured re-imagined games, including skeet ball and pop-the-balloon. Students, faculty and some VIPs, including Deputy Mayor and Centennial Board of Governors member, Michael Thompson, visited and tried out the games.
Check out The Inn, one of the featured games at the conference, and several others on the Game - Development programs itch.io page.
Juno Award Winning Faculty
Michael Occhipinti, a music professor at the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design, recently won a Juno Award for his participation in the jazz group, Avataar.
In addition to teaching guitar and pop at Centennial, Michael is a jazz instructor at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Humber College. Michael also regularly performs with his brother, Roberto, and the duo has been part of the local jazz scene for decades.
Watch Avataar perform at CBC Music's Junofest jazz showcase.
Image source: ©Toronto Star
MEET THE PAC
JUDY LEWIS
Program Advisory Committee member, Judy Lewis, is the co-founder and partner of Strategic Objectives, Canada's most award-winning public relations and marketing communications company in Canada, and advises in our Public Relations - Corporate Communications program.
PR STUDENTS TAKE HOME MULTIPLE AWARDS AT THE 2022 ACE AWARDS
The Canadian Public Relations Society, Toronto Chapter announced the winners of their annual Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards, and students from our Public Relations - Corporate Communications took home multiple awards once again!
This year's wins include:
Student of the Year – Kathy Yang
Silver - Student Public Relations Communications Plan of the Year
Bronze - Student Public Relations Campaign or Event of the Year, Executed
Bronze - Student Public Relations Communications Plan of the Year
Congratulations on these outstanding results! The work from students in our PR program continues to blow us away.
Rebecca Peirson JOINS THE ASSOCIATION OF ARTS ADMINISTRATION EDUCATORS BOARD
Rebecca Peirson, Program Coordinator and Instructor within our Arts Management program, recently announced she joined the Board for the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE). This organization represents arts administration programs from around the globe.
"There are many exciting initiatives at AAAE. I am excited about the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Research Fellow(s) initiative investigating the intersection of EDI and arts management programs."
ARTIST Q&A WITH GRAD Natalie Plociennik
Natalie Plociennik, a 2019 graduate of our Fine Arts Studio program, is a professional fine artist, trained illustrator, and graphic designer whose incredible work is primarily inspired by natural forms and what she describes as "surreal puzzles and biomorphic utopias."
"I stumbled upon a YouTube video about the Fine Arts Studio program at Centennial College, which featured an enthusiastic and expert faculty guiding students to their personal creative goals. It was one of the best decisions I made for myself. Some of my teachers are still mentoring me today."
PR GRAD, HANNAH SUNDERANI, PUBLISHES THE TWO SPOONS Vegan COOKBOOK
When Hannah Sunderani, a 2014 graduate of our Public Relations – Corporate Communications program, moved to France six years ago, she thought it would be a great chance to start blogging about being vegan while sharing her recipes and learnings. During the four years she spent living there, she shared her experiences with readers through her blog, Two Spoons. Now, back in Toronto, she continues to post recipes and lifestyle content, in addition to the content on her Instagram page that has amassed over 150K followers.
Little did Hannah know, starting her blog would ignite even more creative passions that would lead her to obtaining multiple outstanding achievements. Not only has she launched a Two Spoons app, but just this year, she published The Two Spoons Cookbook, which includes over 100 French-inspired vegan recipes.
Image by ©Craig George
GRAD PROFILE - Kristin Annable
Kristin Annable, a 2011 graduate of our post-graduate Journalism program, works as a journalist for CBC on their long-term investigations. "My day is not as typical as your average daily reporter," she shares. Having obtained many career accomplishments, Kristin says a story that she reported on that stands out is the national investigation on in-custody deaths, which won the National RTDNA award for investigative journalism.
"The program itself lays the foundation, and then you are given a term to really get your stride, make contacts, and build a name for yourself as a reporter. I was an intern at the National Post covering a first-degree murder trial – you can't ask for better hands-on experience," she says.
Faculty News: MIKE Countryman pens a historical novel
Mike Countryman, Instructor and Program Coordinator of our Communications and Media Fundamentals program, recently published a historical novel titled CICADA, which is based on a true story set in Colombia in 1852.
FINE ARTS STUDIO GRAD, Kai Hart, ORGANIZES SOLO EXHIBIT: URBAN GRIT
Kai Hart, a graduate of our Fine Arts Studio program, launched a solo exhibit at the Leslie Grove Gallery in June that included a series of abstract art pieces called Urban Grit.
In reference to the art in his exhibit, Kai shares, "They're really about perseverance, having the attention to keep going and not give up, having that grit in these very strange times, when things are changing by the day, by the week, by the hour, you don't know. And that became really important to me to have something more uplifting; something that was productive for me to do as an artist, but also, for people to see that anything is possible if you work for it."
PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENTS WORK WITH NATIONAL SERVICE DOGS FOR STORYWORKS
A group of students in our Public Relations - Corporate Communications program had the opportunity to work with National Service Dogs, a non-profit organization in Ontario, for their Storyworks course. As part of the scope of work, students had to personalize a pitch for CP24, which was eventually aired on TV!
"The highlight of this project has to be the TV appearance and the way our team celebrated. To put it mildly, there were tears and screams. I am so grateful for all the opportunities and experiences that this project gave me." - Rajvi Shukla, 2022 PR grad
The Canadian Remembrance Torch Releases "Thankful" with the help of our broadcasting students
A group of graduates from our Broadcasting – Radio, Television, Film & Digital Media program (Kenesha, Juliana, Sam, Ferd, Julie, and Hakan) make up the production team for a music video titled Thankful by The Canadian Remembrance Torch.
Intended to encourage gratitude for the gift of peace and freedom for Canada Day, the video, which has lyrics in English, French, and Anishinaabemowin, includes Canadian veterans from the Second World War to recent conflicts and people of all ages.
Check out the full music video below.