Krista and Stephen (Steve) Bull are a husband and wife duo who own and operate Among the Pines out of their home in Ontario’s Durham Region. They make handcrafted, one-of-a-kind goods inspired by Canadian nature. I met Krista and Steve at a holiday market in Toronto in late 2016 when I was picking up wooden…
Kristina Benson comes from a long line of artists - and it seems only natural that her passion for creating and expressing herself has developed into two successful businesses in western Canada, while also encouraging other like minded people to do the same. Living in Kamloops, BC, Kristina has been working in the creative industry…
Letticia Cosbert is a writer, poet and digital curator who was born in Guyana, but left as a baby to live in New York. She grew up in Albany and spent her entire youth there, splitting summers between Toronto and Brooklyn. Now permanently in Toronto, Letticia holds a Master of Arts from the University of…
Margot Trudell is a graphic designer and art director from Toronto who has worked across all media (print, digital, broadcast and web). Margot is also a painter, storyteller, event planner, entrepreneur, project manager and brand-owner, spearheading the Toronto Design Directory, a database of graphic design and creative jobs in that city, and Strange Flora, a…
Lighting a candle has always been one of the most exciting (and easy) ways for me to freshen up my home and my mood. I’ve written a lot about my journey with anxiety, and how feeling stuck is one of the biggest contributors to it. Living in a small condo, it’s not hard to get…
Margeaux Feldman is an educator, a PhD candidate, a writer, a queer woman, an event producer and a person who is helping the world become better allies. A powerful speaker, a body-love advocate and a community-builder, Margeaux is committed to doing more than fighting back and making things right. She’s here for the long-lasting impact,…
Ashley Burk is the Founder and CEO of Steady Hand Creative Co., an organization that sells one-of-a-kind plant hangers and handmade art, while also conducting workshops for folks interested in learning how to make macramé and practice lettering. Ashley identifies as a life-long creator, now specializing in macramé fibre, independent design, hand painted signage and…
Barbara Erochina is the Founder of Be With, offering coaching, retreats and resources to help you banish anxiety, embrace change and learn to trust yourself. She is an Emotional Wellness Coach and the Creator of Cards for Self-Care. Barbara is deeply aligned with who she is and what she loves. She is also strongly connected…
My first friend in university was a girl I met across a carpeted hallway waiting to enter our Media Writing class. If I remember correctly, I think Amanda Urbanski and I had connected on a Facebook group for our program before we started, so there were awkward stares and anxious laughs until one of us…
Savannah Olsen is a west-coast business owner and metaphysics enthusiast. Originally from Edmonton, AB, this creator moved to Vancouver, BC 11 years ago. It’s in this city that she’s launched two shops. Most recently, Savannah created The Good Spirit, a Vancouver a metaphysical boutique and tarot studio. We connected with Savannah to learn more about…
Lindsay Rosset is originally from Brandon, Man., a city approximately two hours away from Winnipeg. A freelance photographer, Lindsay moved to Toronto after visiting her sister in Ontario’s capital. Drawn to Toronto’s multiculturalism, energy and urban life, Lindsay became instantly inspired by the prospect of personal and creative opportunity. She enrolled in Humber College’s Creative…
I met Alvia Giash shortly after moving into my west-end Toronto condo. We spotted one another a few times on the sweaty eastbound streetcar, slowly transiting to our full-time jobs. Shortly after saying hello, we would soon find ourselves enjoying tea and wine in one another’s homes, exchanging gifts over the holidays while snacking on…
Lauren Kenney is the founder of the Guelph Vintage and Makers’ Market (VAMM), a series of events that bring creators, makers, crafters, thrifters and purchasers together to support locally produced and often handmade goods. Lauren is also an advocate for the sustainable production of all goods. With passion for design, community-building and advocating for change,…
Usha Rajpal Cheddi is a hand lettering artist in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), curating an online hub where diverse everyday audiences will find tutorials on fun, accessible lettering and creative crafting projects. Her brand, Lettering by Usha, launched on Instagram on July 28, 2016, followed by an accompanying blog in March 2018. Lettering by…
Candid creator Sarah Brown talks freckles, ice cream and the death of adult colouring books in our most recent interview. Read more: https://aquarteryoung.com/2016/07/09/candid-creator-sarah-brown/
In September 2017, Amanda Laird launched Heavy Flow, a podcast about menstruation and reproductive health. A writer, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), podcast host, entrepreneur, intersectional feminist and mother, Amanda remains committed to recognizing the parallels between prejudices within the healthcare and medical industries and women’s wellness. Through her work with Heavy Flow, her strategic business…
Canada’s own The Packaging Company launched in August 2016 to help businesses, large and small, send packages and deliver orders in creative, custom and speedy ways. The company’s goal is to collaborate with businesses to help them work efficiently and effectively, leaving long-lasting impressions with the material they send to customers and clients. We connected…
Christina Angelopoulos and Katie Wasserman are Co-Founders of Burnt Toast Collective, an organization that launched in October 2016 with the goal of celebrating Toronto artists of all styles and mediums. Christina and Katie strive to foster a community that allows creators to showcase their work with minimal stress, ultimately bringing people together for fun weird…
Erika Loggin was born in Terrace, a community in northern British Columbia, and is an International Studies student at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Erika is on exchange in Sweden, where she has been taking education and political science courses. On Twitter on evening, I saw Erika share news about a challenge she was initiating…
Ryan Aberin owns Red Line Contracting & Consulting Ltd. He works with Toronto brands to bring their visions to life. He’s also a traveller, yogi and storyteller. I met Ryan at a networking event in late 2016. There were a lot of people around, trying to pass their business card out to make a quick…
