Rho Centurion is a queer and multi-instrumental musician based out of Kjipuktuk/Halifax, currently studying Music Arts with NSCC. Rho not only breaks the gender binary, but also plans to break the genre binary with their own music once released.

Brenda Dubois is a mother and grandmother (kokum), from Muscowpetung First Nation. She has worked extensively in the areas of child welfare, human justice and environmental issues. She is an advocate for education and vulnerable peoples. Brenda believes that practicing culture and traditions is important for people to continually learn and evolve. She has contributed to many community building initiatives including Northern Survival Gathering, Peyakowak, Family Support Centre, and the Randall Kinship Centre.

“I consider it a great honor to be placed in such a position to mentor youth and young adults from a variety of cultures, for we are all one human race.”

Brenda Dubois est une mère et une grand-mère (kokum) de la Première nation Muscowpetung. Elle a beaucoup travaillé dans les domaines de la protection de l’enfance, de la justice humaine et des questions environnementales. Elle défend l’éducation et les personnes vulnérables. Brenda estime que la pratique de la culture et des traditions est nécessaire à l’apprentissage et à l’évolution continus des individus. Elle a contribué à de nombreuses initiatives de développement communautaire, notamment le Northern Survival Gathering, Peyakowak, le Family Support Centre et le Randall Kinship Centre.

“Je considère que c’est un grand honneur d’être placée dans une telle position pour encadrer des jeunes et des jeunes adultes de diverses cultures, car nous formons tous une seule race humaine”.

The Sadler Sisters with Kasey Kurtz are not only a musical trio, but also close friends! Growing up in the same neighbourhood in Winnipeg Manitoba, Elizabeth, Ashleigh and Kasey attended the same K-12 schools. They share many musical memories from participating in the same school bands and choirs, to later meeting again at the University of Manitoba’s Jazz Faculty. Their musical tastes and influences may differ yet their shared experiences bring forward an ease and chemistry on stage that doesn’t go unnoticed. Watch for The Sadler Sisters with Kasey Kurtz around town both together or in their own separate musical projects!

Philip Cote, MFA of Moose Deer Point First Nation is a Young Spiritual Elder, Indigenous Artist, Activist, Educator, Historian and Ancestral Knowledge Keeper.

Citing all of his ancestry, he is Shawnee, Lakota, Potawatomi, Ojibway, Algonquin, Mississauga and Mohawk. Philip is the 7th Generation Great-Grandson of Shawnee Warrior and Leader Tecumseh, and his ancestor Amelia Chechok is the Grand Daughter of Chechok, who was the first signer of The Toronto Purchase of 1805.

A graduate of OCAD University’s Interdisciplinary Art Media and Design Masters program, Cote has been exploring ancient ways of communicating Ancestral Knowledge through Mural Painting and Oral Traditions of Storytelling and their Spiritual Cosmology. Cote studied Beaux-Arts Style painting/drawing at OCAD under the direction of Carmen Cereceda Bianchi (Diego Rivera’s longtime mural assistant). Philip has also collaborated with numerous World-Renowned Mural Artists.

He is engaged in creating opportunities for art-making and teaching methodologies through Indigenous symbolism, traditional ceremonies, history, oral stories, and land-based pedagogy. His art and teaching philosophy evolves from his practice of experiential learning and the transmission of Indigenous Knowledge.

Philip Cote emphasizes the resurgent power of nature and the importance of listening to Indigenous teachings through his Mural Art. Philip has created public artworks for the Mississauga’s of the New Credit First Nation (Kiinwin Dabaadjmowin “Our Story”, a 1000 square foot mural), Fort York National Historic Site (Niinwin Dabaadjmowin “We Are Talking”, a 20 panel, 80 foot mural), and the City of Toronto (The Nindinawemaaganidok “All My Relations”, a 1600 square foot mural). In late 2017, Philip received a grant from the Toronto Arts Council to create a mural based on the Niagara Treaty of 1764 for Massey College, University of Toronto with the theme of Truth and Reconciliation/Canada 150. Also in 2017 he painted the “Indigenous History of the Land” at Spadina & Dupont and “Resurge: First Timeline” at the Humber River. In early 2019, he created a large 120 Foot x 37 Foot Mural entitled “The Original Family” for CentreCourt Condos in Toronto, and also “The Gathering of The Clans” Mural for the Boardroom Table at Rogers Communications Inc. Head Office at 1 Mount Pleasant Road. Most recently, Philip painted a Mural on the Facade of The Bickford Learning Centre (located at 777 Bloor Street West) depicting The Thunderbird who is the Co-Creator (the one who reminds us of where we get our gifts from), and The Turtle (which teaches us about the 13 Moons), and The White Buffalo (which is connected to the Sacred Pipe).

Cote has been a tour guide with First Story since 1999, a three-hour tour providing an Indigenous history of Toronto uncovering the last 13,500 years. Cote’s academic practice includes public speaking, land acknowledgements, Indigenous Cosmology and cultural interpretation offered at The Art Gallery of Ontario, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection Art Gallery, The Royal Ontario Museum, York University, The French School Board, The Catholic School Board, The University of Toronto, U of T Mississauga Campus, Ryerson University, Six Nations Polytechnic, OCAD University, The Peel District School Board, and the Toronto District School Board through the Aboriginal Education Centre.

Currently Philip is working on a large-scale Mural for Suncor Energy, Scotia Bank Central (location at Bay & Queen), and the MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.) Launch Pad in Toronto.

Philip has won numerous TABIA awards for his public Street Art Murals Across the City of Toronto.

Sukruti Tirupattur is a Bharatanatyam performer, teacher and a Yoga instructor from Bengaluru, India. She moved to Toronto in 2019 to further her career. She is a Bharatanatyam instructor at Citadel + Compagnie and an Associate Artist at Nova Dance.

Some of her recent performances include: ‘METAMORPHOSES 2023′ with Theatre Smith-Gilmour’SVAHA’ @ TO Live Fall Season 2022 and ‘Decoding Bharatanatyam’ @ Festival of New Dance 2022, with Nova Dance.

Sukruti aims to bring joy and well-being to society through her work.

Crislyne is a born and raised Calgarian whose parents immigrated to Canada from the Philippines and Vietnam. The Canadian vocalist is the current 2022 Best Vocalist Winner of the Intercontinental Music Awards. She has captivated listeners, having shared stages with seasoned professional musicians all across Canada and Europe. Her songs have been featured on Brazilian and Italian radio and have been streamed online over a million times.

Visit Crislyne’s website here.

Jesse Crowley has been writing, performing, and collaborating on musical projects since he was a child, playing on stages across Canada and overseas. For the past several years, Jesse has been performing with the Grindstone Theatre production runs of ThunderCATS and Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer, local improv shows, and also as a solo artist with his creative project The First Humans. Jesse has also spearheaded innovative educational programming for youth during his years as a music teacher in the public education system and is passionate about all things creative.

Andrea An is a multi-talented pop, R&B, and country artist. The Vietnamese-Canadian singer/songwriter has performed at notable festivals including The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Country Thunder, and Trifecta Music Festival. Andrea was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards and is currently a SaskMusic Board Member. She was the only successful Saskatchewan candidate in the SOCAN/TD Bank 2021 Incubator for Entrepreneurship Program.

Paulina Salisbury (she/her) is a young woman full of energy, with contagious positivity. She has been immersed in music since her early childhood. She is the winner of the 2022 Nouvelle Scène singing-songwriting competition, where she also received the People’s Choice Award. She recently represented Saskatchewan in the ChantOuest Western Canadian tour in March 2023. She also dances, plays piano and clarinet and is passionate about musical theatre. Paulina writes songs to inspire and hopes to lift spirits up with her upbeat pop vibe.

Evelyn who goes by “It’s Ev” is a Canadian singer/songwriter and poet. Evelyn was born in Arlington, Virginia and has lived in 5 countries, primarily being raised in Ottawa, Canada. There she discovered and continued to explore her love for music and writing. Evelyn has described her music as mainly R&B/Soul, but she aspires to incorporate different genres into her sound. With her melodious vocals, mesmerizing harmonies, and authentic lyrical content Ev’s music is sure to resonate with listeners.