The Canadians Abroad Impact Awards (CAIA) exist to pull them into the spotlight: to recognize the people doing impactful, inspiring, and innovative work while carrying the values and spirit of Canada with them wherever they go.

In a crowded beauty market saturated with synthetic ingredients and empty promises, Licensed Esthetician and Entrepreneur TK Trinidad carved out something refreshingly different. Her Canadian-owned brand, Center In, is rooted in a philosophy as pure as its ingredients: that true self-care reaches beyond the surface, touching the body, mind, and soul. Every handmade product, from its all-natural skincare line to its thoughtfully crafted candles, is a quiet invitation to slow down, look inward, and reconnect. We sat down with TK Trinidad to talk about the inspiration behind the brand, her Canadian roots, and what it really means to live a centered life.

There's a particular kind of Canadian success story that unfolds slowly, steadily, and largely without fanfare. Jeff Toyne's is one of them.

Toyne was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and first landed in Los Angeles in 1999 to attend the Henry Mancini Institute. It was there he discovered USC's scoring program, went home, and came back the following year to attend. Over two decades later, he's scored films and television seen around the world, worked with extraordinary collaborators, and in 2024, took home an Emmy Award for his theme for the Apple TV hit series Palm Royale. Not bad for someone whose website is famously, deliberately, devoid of information.

Some people leave home because they have to. Matt Becks left because he knew, deep down, that staying would mean playing it safe, and playing it safe was never really part of the plan.

"I've always been quite ambitious," he says, "and I was starting to feel like I would just not be able to fulfill my dreams if I'd stayed in Montreal." For a kid from one of Canada's most creatively charged cities, that's saying something. Montreal punches well above its weight when it comes to artistic talent, and Becks is the first to acknowledge it. "Lots of very talented and creative people, especially considering we're not that many people on that island. I'm proud of my roots."

A Grammy and JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter, Member of the Order of Canada, and recipient of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, Chantal has spent decades writing songs that move people, literally and emotionally. But her reach extends far beyond her own recordings. She is one of the most sought-after songwriters of her generation, having penned hits for Kelly Clarkson, Drake, Avril Lavigne, and many others. Her words have traveled the world many times over, carried by voices not her own, and yet her fingerprints are unmistakable.

A musical signature from Quebec will accompany Estonian figure skater Niina Petrokina during her short program at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan. Montreal-born violinist and composer Nathalie Bonin will hear her piece Criminal Tango resonate across the Olympic ice, as the athlete has selected the work to support her performance.

Originally from Montreal and now based in Los Angeles, Nathalie Bonin has carved out an enviable place in the world of music for film and television. Her composition, from the album Taste of Light, will underscore the 21-year-old skater’s performance, scheduled for February 17.

Los Angeles accueille une nouvelle voix francophone avec le lancement du Petit Journal Los Angeles, une édition locale d’un média bien connu des expatriés à travers le monde. À la tête de cette nouvelle publication, la journaliste Agnès Chareton, déjà très engagée au sein de la communauté francophone de Californie du Sud, porte une vision inclusive, indépendante et profondément humaine du journalisme d’expatriation.

Actress Claudia Ferri has spent her career moving easily between cultures, languages, and countries. Born and raised in Montreal to an Italian father and French Canadian mother, she grew up in a home where diversity (thanks to her extended family from Egypt, Lebanon, to name a few) was the norm and curiosity was encouraged. That mix of influences shaped her approach to storytelling and to life.

A First Nations Composer Bridging Tradition and Modernity Through Music

This Indigenous Peoples Day, Canadians Abroad honors Geneviève Gros-Louis, a Los Angeles–based First Nations composer, producer, and violinist from the Huron-Wendat Nation. Through her music, Geneviève builds bridges between generations, between worlds, and between tradition and modernity.

Dr. Gail Humble is a Canadian-American physician and researcher whose career bridges science, aesthetics, and innovation. A pioneer in regenerative medicine and aesthetic practice, she has spent more than 25 years advancing research on the Klotho gene and developing breakthroughs that are reshaping how we understand aging. While she now practices and leads biotech ventures in California, her Canadian roots remain an important part of her identity, shaping both her perspective and her path.

When Jacob Kantor steps on stage with Paris Chansons, audiences are  treated to soulful guitar, rich vocals, and just a dash of humor. Born in  Moscow and now calling Los Angeles home, Jacob brings his unique  background, including a Canadian connection, to the multilingual  ensemble that performs in English, French, Russian, and more. He  claims his trademark hat is to keep people from knowing he’s bald  (though we all suspect it anyway), and jokes that the real reason he’s in  the band is because he married one of the singers. Whatever the  reason, audiences are glad he’s there.

Escape Artist will be screening at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills on September 28th at 9:15pm as part of the Lady Filmmakers Film Festival. If you’re in the area, it’s a perfect opportunity to experience Sergine Dumais’s latest work on the big screen. And if you do attend, be sure to say hello! 

Watch her first film, Wichita, on Amazon Prime.

From the cold lakes of Quebec to the sunlit waves of California, Carolyn Day has spent her life chasing adventure, building community, and breaking barriers.

Originally from Pierrefonds, Quebec, Carolyn’s journey to the U.S. began in 1999 when she joined Cheval Theatre, a traveling show created by members of Cirque du Soleil. There, she became the first woman ever to perform a back handspring on a galloping horse and served as the company’s media spokesperson. By 2003, she had settled in California, pursuing a career as a stuntwoman and building a life deeply rooted in both performance and the ocean.

For Los Angeles-based painter Sylvain Latendresse, art has always been more than a career; it’s a way of being. Born in Jonquiere and raised in Lévis, Québec, Sylvain credits his early connection to nature and light to the Canadian artists who first inspired him: Jean-Paul Riopelle, Paul-Émile Borduas, and the Group of Seven. Their influence laid the groundwork for a lifelong journey of visual exploration.

Okay, somebody said something to me recently that I haven’t stopped thinking about.

We were having a conversation about raising capital and building regeneratively, two things I have been thinking about and informing my life lately—and they said,

“Oh, love that you’re Canadian. You already think more regeneratively.”

At first, I laughed. And then I paused. Because… huh?

Moving from Toronto to Los Angeles wasn’t just about swapping snow boots for sandals. It meant rethinking almost everything I knew about daily life. One week I was bundling up for preschool drop-off in a parka, and the next I was Googling the best sunscreen options for the February sun.

Born in California to a Canadian family, Liv has dual citizenship and deep roots in both countries. Her Canadian connection runs through her family line—from her dad, originally from Toronto, to her grandfather who grew up in Quebec. Though her parents once planned to move the family back to Canada, the waves of California had other plans.

This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate these inspiring Canadian trailblazers, who are proving that success knows no borders!

This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate these inspiring Canadian trailblazers, who are proving that success knows no borders!

Candace Frazee, originally from Port Credit/Mississauga, Ontario, found her way to Pasadena, California, after marrying Steve Lubanski. What began as a heartfelt exchange between the couple—calling each other “Honey Bunny” and gifting bunny-themed treasures daily—blossomed into a remarkable collection. Together, they brought to life The Bunny Museum, a charming and enchanting haven dedicated entirely to rabbits, which first welcomed visitors in 1998.