Creative Industry: Fashion

Project: Entrepreneurship

To kick off Toronto Fashion Week, we present Toronto fashion pioneers, Jennifer Halchuk and Richard Lyle. Constraints have constantly shifted over the more than three decades that these two have been partners, but they have successfully navigated the landscape of the Toronto fashion scene by keeping various pies in the air from starting their own label, to opening an iconic boutique shop, to working in the film & television sector. They carved their own unique path from their days at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, and they’re not done yet.

Gaspard Shop

Creative Industry: Charitable Organization - Film

Project: Implementing a Vision

At its November 13 to 15 meeting, Toronto City Council will vote on whether to adopt Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025-2035). This episode’s guest, Maxine Bailey, was on the city’s external advisory panel for the action plan’s development. She also co-founded the Black Artists Network in Dialogue (BAND), which showcases Black cultural contributions nationally and internationally, and is on the advisory board for the Luminato Festival Toronto. She shares with Louis her many insights on the challenges she faced establishing and realizing her vision as the executive director of the Canadian Film Centre, in the wake of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.

Creative Industry: Documentary Filmmaking

Project: Mbira Talks

It’s no secret that time constraints can help motivate the creative process - a deadline is often a great motivator. But as Adrienne Amato learned, sometimes value can come out of time extensions. In her case, set-backs allowed aspects of her documentary about the Zimbabwean traditional musical instrument, the Mbira, to reveal themselves and enrich the film in ways that wouldn’t have been possible if everything had gone to plan. Also, since working as a therapist gave Adrienne the freedom and flexibility to pursue her love of film-making, it is fitting that we release this episode four days after the UN’s World Mental Health Day.