December 2023 Canadian of the Month

Matt Smiley
Artist, Filmmaker 

Matt Smiley is a versatile artist and filmmaker celebrated for his vibrant and thematic paintings, crafted through a unique blend of automatic writings, vivid colors, and imaginative characters. His artistic journey extends beyond the canvas, delving into impactful documentary filmmaking and showcasing a commitment to social causes.

In 2014, Smiley made a significant mark with the direction of "Highway of Tears," a documentary shedding light on the missing women along Highway 16 in northern British Columbia. Narrated by international television star Nathan Fillion ("Castle"), the film premiered at the TIFF Human Rights Watch Film Festival, earning widespread acclaim and multiple awards while screening globally.

Venturing into the art world, Smiley unveiled his first solo exhibition in 2017, titled "Dreams Fizzle into Space." The showcase featured a 32-piece Warholian "Smiley" Soup Can collection, establishing him as an artist with a penchant for bold concepts. Subsequently, in 2018, Smiley's "Lessons in History" graced the LA Art Show, followed by exhibitions at The Other Art Fair Presented by Saatchi Art in Brooklyn and the prestigious Aspen Institute.

Among his standout works is the mural "The Blocs of Love," an Instagram sensation located in downtown Los Angeles. Building on this success, Smiley presented "Dear Diary…" in Hollywood, captivating audiences with his ability to seamlessly blend narrative and visual art.
In 2019, the iconic Mondrian Hotel's Magic Box Gallery hosted Smiley's exhibition, showcasing his evolving artistic narrative. Parallel to his artistic pursuits, Smiley directed "For Love," a documentary centered on Indigenous Child Welfare in Canada. Narrated by the iconic singer-songwriter Shania Twain, the film found its platform on Netflix in Canada and Amazon in the United States & UK.

Throughout his career, Smiley has exhibited alongside luminaries such as Ed Ruscha, James Turrell, Shepard Fairey (Obey), Mel Bochner, Punk Me Tender and many more, solidifying his place in the contemporary art scene. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Smiley has consistently supported various charitable causes, including Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, Race to Erase, Phase One, Wearable Arts, and LIFT Communities. Today, his artwork is represented by Denis Bloch Fine Art in Beverly Hills, a testament to the enduring impact of his creative vision.

Why did you decide to make For Love?
I’ve been focused on Indigenous stories for a little over nine years now. After my first documentary “Highway of Tears,” I started to take a more active role on how I could best impact the communities I was visiting across Canada, not only by sharing their stories, but by working with my friends to help change policies in Canada to help protect women & girls. That work opened my eyes to many other issues First Nation, Metis and Inuit communities were facing. Then, through my friendship and collaborations with Mary Teegee (Deputy Chief of Takla Landing, within the Carrier Nation in northern BC) over the years, I got a glimpse into the beauty of Indigenous culture that was starting to really thrive in Canada. 

The initial decision to make the “For Love” was by a special invitation from various communities across Canada that was orchestrated by Mary (Teegee). At the time, I didn’t really think I was the right person to tell the story and wasn’t planning on making more documentaries. But, the more Mary and I continued to dialogue about some of the work she and other leaders across the country were doing. I started to picture how we could collaborate to tell this story that was very dear to Mary’s heart. I knew it wouldn't be an easy task to tell this vast story. It was a challenge that I welcomed on many fronts! Thankfully we got a lot of help from so many amazing communities across the country! 

Tell us what it's like to direct and produce a documentary and what tips you have for our members?
The number one rule/tip is passion. On “For Love” I gave up whatever I was focused on at the time to dedicate myself to telling that story. It was a massive undertaking, as it wasn’t just covering one particular storyline, but weaving an intricate web of stories across the entire country. That wasn't an easy mountain to climb. You have to understand the issues communities are facing, but also try to be as objective as possible. 

The second rule that I pride myself on is to be as flexible as possible with your expectations. As the director and producer, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, but also be extremely adaptable to change and open to people’s ideas. A documentary for me is a collaborative process. The film isn’t yours. You need to be able to give up some of your darlings in order to tell a story that will impact a global audience. 
The third rule that I have is to research until there isn’t a stone unturned. At least on the subjects I cover, it’s critical to cast a vast net of information in order to see a subject from all angles. 

What inspires you and how do you feed your creativity?
Everything around me fuels my creativity! It’s a bit of a pinball in my brain at times, but I’ve learned over the years to zero in on projects that fuel my heart and creativity. There’s rarely a moment where I don’t have a sketchbook in my hands, coming up with ideas. The thing I’ve been most passionate about is painting. There’s a million ideas brewing in my brain. I wish I could get them all done. A sunset, a sunrise and any small mundane moment in my daily life gives me inspiration. I made a commitment to live a creative life long ago. I don’t care where I rest my head, as long as I have crayons and paper nearby.
Other artists and friends certainly inspire me too! 

Tell us about your current exhibit?
My current exhibit “Work in Progress: Emotions” is now open to the public at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood. I’m truly honored to be the first Artist in Residence at the hotel. Our opening was such a special night and I’m happy that everyone can now enjoy a few moments of happiness walking around the gallery space.
The exhibit is focused on emotions, with a heavy emphasis on the usage of smiley symbolism, which serves as the perfect tool for my creative emotional exploration. While often associated with happiness, the smiley face has a spectrum of emotions that it can relay to people. From the simple arc of a grin to the subtleties within the eyes, each smiley face represents a snapshot of our emotional life. Or mine at least. I used to be very uncomfortable with my last name. There’s a high bar that is set to constantly be happy. I’ve learned now through my art process, that we can have a range of emotions and many of them lead to happiness. I hope that’s something people walk out understanding when they visit. And now that we've finally opened the doors to the public at the 1 Hotel, it’s been a blessing to see how people interpret the work and follow the story I was trying to tell. Or rather, the emotional rollercoaster ride my heart takes me on. I’ve always been a shy cat in an extroverted body. It’s really the beginning of sharing who I am. Unapologetically me. Lead with your heart and see where the journey takes you. 

What's next for you?
I'm focused on our exhibit at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood for the next month. There's so many amazing people flowing through the hotel that it makes everyday a pure joy to come in and explore. I'm here constantly now. I love meeting with everyone and hearing their stories and we've only just gotten started. 
I also have a bunch of art shows coming up in 2024. I had taken a break from exhibiting for three years while I was working on “For Love”. I did release a few pieces publicly. One for a special group show hosted by a dear friend, Punk Me Tender and a mini-series at Level 8 downtown that was opened by the Houston Brothers. I was very touched to share some of my work in their new downtown LA hotspot. They create some of the greatest experiences for nightlife and push the boundaries of what can be done to move the bar forward downtown. 

I’m uber excited to start sharing some of the collections I’ve been privately working on with the world. There’s a few cool shows in the works happening here in the U.S., in Canada and in Europe! I’m also working on a few fun art projects with brands that I’m excited to share soon! 

What advice do you have for people who are trying to be successful as an artist?
Never give up on believing in yourself. Easier said than done. 
My creative career has had a few shifts throughout my life. While my grandparents were artists, I never imagined a life as a ‘painter’. I always thought I would be solely focused on film, but it was in my blood and something that I can’t escape. I love it. It's what gives me purpose and what drives me to wake up in the morning. 
There’s no golden rule outside of putting in the work. You need to put in your 10,000 hours and be willing to sacrifice everything to succeed. Everything. 

How do you stay connected to Canada?
Having spent the last 20 years in LA, I’ve always kept in close contact with my friends that I grew up with in Montreal. I’ve also built an infrastructure of great friends here that are from various parts of Canada. Your organization in particular has always led me to meet great Canadians and stay in tune with Canada. 

Prior to filming “Highway of Tears”, I had done my best to escape Canada for personal reasons, but as fate would have it, when I returned, the blessings it has brought me over the years have kept me grounded and fueled my dreams. I’ve been lucky enough now that I have had the opportunity to travel across the country. Over the last few years, I’ve been to every province and territory. It’s opened my eyes not only to the vast beauty of Canada, but always the heavy load of work that we have ahead of us to ensure that not only our beautiful resources are here for future generations, but make sure all children have equal opportunities for a prosperous life. 
I’m still also very connected to many friends across the country and thankful to now be collaborating with storytellers across the country as I’m producing a new mini-series of short docs. I’ve been lucky to grow up on film productions. I’m in a happy place in my life now where I can help guide filmmakers to achieve their goals and create their own stories dear to their hearts. This particular series of mini docs are all focused on Hope & Strength of Indigenous Women across Canada. We have a lot of big announcements about those projects coming up soon!!!!! I can’t wait to share those!!!! 

What made you want to be a member of Canadians Abroad?
I was lucky to be born in Canada. My childhood was unconventional, but the community at large was responsible for creating the person I am today. There’s a saying that former President Clinton had talked about in a speech years ago about his travels to Africa that really impacted me. The phrase was “Ubuntu” which roughly translates to "I am because we are”. I truly believe that I am because of our community at large. So many Canadians here in LA have impacted my life and career in meaningful ways. One prime recent example is a dear friend of mine, Anna, who worked for Air Canada. I had met her through Canadian consulate events and Canadians Abroad. Not only was she a dear friend, she played an instrumental role in ensuring that all Air Canada flights (domestically) played “For Love” along with Netflix. She was a true champion for everyone she cared for and had a deep soft spot for children. I wish she was still around with us to see the impact she’s had on people’s lives. Whenever I fly back to Canada, I book Air Canada. Anna is one of the prime reasons I only book on that airline, but I now refer to it as “Air Anna”. She should be graced with a few dedicated wings. Long story short, Canadians Abroad is a helpful community that is rooted in Canadian values. It’s impacted my life in positive ways. 

November 2023 Canadian of the Month

Jennifer Candy-Sullivan
Actor, Comedian

Jennifer was born in Toronto, on February 3rd.  She spent most of her youth growing up in Los Angeles with summer vacations to their family farm just North of Toronto. She attended Loyola Marymount University, and graduated as a Theatre Arts Major. After that, she moved to Chicago to work and study at Second City Chicago. It took only two winters when she decided to move back to Sunny California! At that point, Jennifer really started to build her acting resume. 

Jennifer is the host of COUCH CANDY, where she chats with alumni of Second City, SCTV and many more amazing talents about comedy, life, and their favorite candy! She has worked on a variety of tv shows & films. You might have even seen her face on that one commercial after your favorite show! Jennifer loves to spend time with her family and paint when she has free time. She has studied with the late Bill Howey and Ian Tucker. Acting is her passion and is in her blood, she is so fortunate and happy that she is able to do this for a living (well until this strike is over!). 

What inspired you to become an actor and comedian?
I have always loved to make people laugh. I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was younger, like every other girl in the 80’s. But that required too much science and math and those were not my strongest subjects! So I decided I can always just play one in a movie! I also grew up in a family where an education in "Comedy" was a given! I grew up watching Faulty Towers, Monty Python and SCTV. The 80’s and 90’s was one of the best times for classic comedies in my opinion.

What is something that people don't know about you?
I actually love to do dramatic stuff as well. People always just assume I only do comedy! 

How do you stay connected to Canada?
I try so hard to make it back up to Toronto once a year. It has been hard with the last few years, but finally got to make it up at the beginning of October! It was perfect timing too as we got to attend the 100th anniversary game of the Toronto Argonauts! It was such a great time with my family. My son is a dual citizen, so that makes me happy. I also still have a lot of extended family up there. Even though we live in Los Angeles, I am CANADIAN! 

What is one of your favorite memories of your Dad?
There are so many great memories! You will just have to wait and watch for the doc ; - )

Is there any inside scoop you can tell us on the John Candy documentary from Colin Hanks, Ryan Reynolds and with the support of your mother, your brother and yourself?
Super excited to be starting this project with Mom, Rose and Brother, Chris! We have a great group leading the way with Colin Hanks Directing, Company Name and Ryan Reynolds with Maximum Effort as part of the producing team. 

Any other projects you're excited to tell us about once the strike ends?
I cannot wait till this strike is over! BUT it is so necessary. Other than the documentary, it's been slow, but looking for things to pick up in the new year! I'm loving being a mom right now, so I get to spend so much time with our son who will be 5 years old this month. It's the best!
I am also on the board of an amazing Chicago-based charity called Letters Charity, where 100% of our donations go to support families experiencing poverty. We have two great events coming up in December in Chicago and Los Angeles! For more information, you can go to www.unconditionalgiving.org and follow us on Instagram @LettersCharity

October 2023 Canadian of the Month

Rahnuma Panthaky
Actor, Writer, Producer

If Tracee Ellis Ross and Cher had a love child Rahnuma would be it.
She is currently the voice behind Rukhmini, one of the leads opposite Jack Black and James Hong in DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight currently in its 3rd season. Born in Montreal, raised in T.O. she got her start on camera in the O.G. Degrassi and has done pretty much every Canadian show there was before moving to LA.  
She was chosen by The Casting Society of America as one of the top 20 actors to watch. Rahnuma’s been blessed to share the screen with peeps like Alfred Molina, Tony Shalhoub, Gary Sinise, LL Cool J (#lifetimecrush #youngermewasfreakingout #dreamcometrue!!), opposite Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, and Ed O’Neill in Modern Family where she recurred for four seasons and other really freaking awesome people.
She’s a secret shower rockstar, Idris Elba and Classic House music lover and her special skills include driving cars full of screaming kids, freezing her nuts off at hockey arenas (guess you can’t take the Canuck outta her) and pretending she knows how to cook.
You can find out more about her at: https://www.rahnumapanthaky.com/

When did you first get the acting bug, and realize you wanted to make a career of it?
I kind of fell into acting in high school.  I originally auditioned for a school for the performing arts in dance but bombed the audition. Hard. Like I totally blanked on the choreography, decided to just do jazz runs for a minute straight before they pressed stop on my music and said, “that’s enough,” kinda hard. But I really wanted to go to that high school so I re-auditioned for the drama program and got in.
Back then I always thought I’d be a lawyer.  Until I had to do a mock trial in a grade 11 law class and bombed hard…(I’m seeing a pattern here).  But hey, at least now I get to play lawyers on TV!
It wasn’t till theatre school where I truly got bit by the bug after doing 1837: The Farmer’s Revolt…every teenager’s dream play. I originally thought I’d be a drama teacher but once I got the bug, decided I had to give this a go and did every free theatre show I could to build up a resume and get an agent. 

As a working actor in Canada, did you always dream about moving to LA?
Honestly, I didn’t when I first started out. My focus at that time was theatre. I wanted to be on all the main stages in Canada, and if I was lucky enough, in New York. But then I got an audition for a TV show called Blue Murder and booked the role. That was my first TV credit. I still remember the director, T.W. Peacocke, and the lead actress was Maria Del Mar. They were so kind and took me under their wing. I was so green and knew nothing about on camera acting.  But they were so gracious and taught me the ropes. I got bit again and fell in love with being on set. 

Was moving to LA what you thought it would be?
Is it ever what one thinks it’d be? My very first visit to LA I packed nothing but heels and fancy clothes cuz that’s what I thought everyone wore here. I quickly discovered that wasn’t the case and after the first day of blisters and sore feet, went to the nearest Target and bought some sneakers and jeans. I continued to come back and forth for pilot season etc., and I remember being in awe of everything. All these iconic places I had either heard about or seen on TV, I was actually seeing in person!  But visiting LA is very different than living in LA (at least for me).  Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in awe of these places but now I have to race by them on my way to school drop off / pick up or on the way to hockey rinks (#momlife). But on the plus side at least I’m rushing by with palm trees and sunshine in my rearview!

Being a SAG and ACTRA member, how has the strike affected you?
Oddly I actually found some comfort in the strike. Getting to walk and talk with my fellow actors and writers was kind of therapeutic. So much of what we do as actors is solo. Until we actually book the gig. Before the pandemic going to an in-person audition was also a way for you to reunite with friends you hadn’t seen in a while. But now with almost all auditions being on tape or via zoom it can be a bit isolating. The strike gave me an opportunity to be in community again…and get my steps in.   

What have you been doing to keep busy during the strike?
You mean besides driving to every ice arena in SoCal? You haven’t truly lived till you’ve been to the rink in Yorba Linda!
Workwise, I’m lucky because I also narrate audiobooks, and thankfully I have been able to keep busy with those. But I miss acting opposite human beings.    

You are also a writer/producer; are there any projects you are excited about once the strike ends?
My writing partner and I have a few features we’ve been developing and I’m looking forward to getting those up and running. 

You were a Cher impersonator, please elaborate!?
Don’t judge. Mama had to find a way to pay for college. It wasn’t anything glamorous, it was usually going to corporate events and walking around with a Sonny impersonator roasting people and taking pics. Man am I grateful smart phones weren’t around back then!

September 2023 Canadian of the Month

Chef Jeffray D Gardner
Co-Founder & Chocolatier, Marsatta Chocolate

Chef Jeffray D. Gardner, is LA's first bean-to-bar Chocolate Chef. Originally from Canada, he launched Marsatta Chocolate with his wife, Naomi Gardner, in 2003, with a focus on delivering the best chocolate experience in the world. In 2007, they launched their bean-to-bar chocolate, inspired by Chef Jeffray's heritage in Western Canada and French-Alsace region. This year, Marsatta Chocolate celebrates its 20th Anniversary with the launch of a flagship Experience Centre in Downtown Old Torrance. 

Where are you from in Canada?
Oh jeez, that's a hard question because I've lived in so many different places in Canada! I was born in Saskatoon, but spent time in Calgary. I actually worked at the Stampede at one point in my life. But I spent a lot of time in Victoria, and that's where I truly consider home. That's where my family still resides. 

What brought you to California?
It was actually from my athletic background. I represented Western Canada in cycling, and when I got to an age, I had to choose between my first two loves: hockey and cycling. Like most Canadians, the allure of hockey propelled me to get involved in any way possible. I started to get involved in refereeing, and soon found myself rising to the top of refereeing professionally. 
I then came down to Los Angeles to support the LA Kings, and referee some early games. The proudest moment was refereeing the international games, that included some of the greats including Teemu Selanne and Eric Lindros.

Take us from the world of hockey to being a chocolatier?
Although I grew up in Western Canada, like most Canadians, my family immigrated here from overseas. My mother is from the Alsace region in France, which borders Germany, and my grandfather is Italian. As a child, I would often get these great chocolates from France. After spending some time over in France as a young adult, I loved the culinary expression that's possible in this craft. It's not unlike a beautiful deke, or a tic-tac-toe pass in hockey. 
I built my first chocolate company in Canada in the 90s, that focused on sugar free chocolates, and was actually in over 200 Walmarts in Canada. I've learned a lot from that experience, but I realized that there isn't a chocolate that rivaled the french-style chocolates I became accustomed to as a child. 
I met my wife on the Santa Monica pier, and she convinced me to bring european-style chocolates to North America. In 2003, Marsatta Chocolate was born, which took inspiration from my Alsace-French heritage, but emplaced by my Canadian upbringing. For me, it's inspiring to be able to give my clients an experience that is truly unrivaled. Not just in North America, but we think our approach to chocolate is competitive against the best-of-the-best from Europe. 

What do you love more, hockey or chocolate?
I'm not going to lie, every time I see a puck, I think of bonbons. This is a really hard question, because hockey and chocolate is so ingrained in my life and even Marsatta. We had our ups and downs, but I will never forget the love, the gratitude, and the support from the LA Kings in our early years. 
We even have a Marsatta Chocolate hockey team. We believe we're the 3rd most relevant hockey team in California (Sorry Shark fans...but I think you agree that last year's performance can't be considered "hockey"). And yes, we will gladly challenge the Hershey Bears for the best chocolate team on the ice. 

Tell us about bean to bar and what that means?
So there are a lot of chocolatiers in the country. However, in this profession, you rarely make your own chocolate. For chocolatiers, you source industry chocolate that you then melt and turn into shapes. 
When I was in Canada, I was a chocolatier. But I always wanted to tinker, and change the profiles, and experiment to achieve a more flavorful bite. In the 2000's, I went to a prominent chocolate academy, and I asked if I could make my own chocolate. I might as well have asked him to flunk me...the professor said, "No, YOU CANNOT MAKE YOUR OWN CHOCOLATE." He said that in all-caps, crazy! So the next day, I read every book I could find about making my own chocolate, rolled-up my sleeves, and started tinkering. After years and years of development, I launched my first bean-to-bar chocolate bar in 2007. 
Bean-to-bar means we source the exact bean from Central and South America. We then roast the bean, winnow (which means to remove the outer shell), and grind the beans into a beautiful chocolate liquid that we internally call it, "chocolate liquor." We then do some special secret recipe steps to turn that raw bean into a bar that is more than just a candy bar...and an edible journey of expressive flavor. 
Our whole focus is to make natural and authentic chocolate. That means no preservatives, and our philosophy is to unlock the most remarkable flavor in chocolate. 

Tell us about the new Marsatta Chocolate store you opened in Old Torrance, and how people from around the US and Canada can buy your chocolates?
We are so thrilled to launch this new Experience Centre in Torrance! 
We would like to invite any Canadians to come join us for a Tasting, and learn more about our chocolates. Our new store is in the heart of downtown, and can be found here. 
If you are interested in an in-person Tasting Experience, let us know and take 40% off all in-store tastings with the code VIPTasting40. We love meeting new Canadians, and you get to learn more about our story, through the lens of chocolate. You also get to try our latest chocolate that is currently in beta, which is an 89% dark chocolate with infused maple syrup and garnished with Ocean salt that we harvested from the Ocean....it's absolutely lovely, and quintessentially Canadian.

If you buy online, you can visit our website HERE
Just for you Canadians Abroad, take 20% off your first order with code: CanadiansAbroad20 And that offer is valid for everyone, including Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Can our chocolate help you get past the 2nd round of the playoffs? The short answer is yes. 
In all our packaging you will find a hidden maple leaf, and we would be honoured to be your very own chocolate maker!

August 2023 Canadian of the Month

Lisa Schimnowsky
CEO / Co Founder of L8
CBD Sparkling Beverages

Lisa is from a small town outside of Vancouver, and has lived in the US for 10 years. How’d she get here? She moved from Vancouver to Toronto in 2011 to further her career, and landed a job with a well known vegan protein company that was based in Vancouver but looking for people to go down to the US and spread the Canadian love. The company moved her to the US in 2013 and her first city was Washington, DC. While there, she met some people that would remain in her life for years to come, however her sights were set on something bigger. Lisa always wanted to be in one of America’s biggest cities, New York City or Los Angeles were ultimately where she saw herself thriving. One day while working she received a call from her manager who asked her to come out to LA and work one of her dream roles within the company. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 and has remained here ever since! In 2018 she quit the job that changed her life to start something of her own. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of a CBD sparkling beverage company and her brand L8 can be found in Erewhon along with several other retailers. (Go check it out!) 

What made you want to start a CBD sparkling beverage company?
I decided to start a CBD beverage company in order to fill a gap in the market. I personally have suffered from a lower back injury from when I was 22 years old while playing soccer and used prescription medication to help with the pain management. When CBD came on the market it was a new product and I wanted to explore a healthy natural alternative over taking prescription medication. I found CBD to help with my inflammation along with my nerve pain. CBD has also been proven to help with anxiety issues, which I suffer from as well.

What can you tell us about L8 and your future plans?
The future for L8 is bright! We are currently located in all Erewhon locations in LA, along with a number of bodegas in New York City. We are expanding across the United States and hope to eventually bring L8 to Canada.

Any pointers on how to get your brand into one of the top grocery chains here in LA?
Having worked for a big Canadian protein manufacturer for a number of years, I developed a skill set in order to approach top-tier retailers. The trick is to not take no for an answer and to believe in your product while also listening to what kind of product they need/want. Knowing your competitors is also key when approaching any retailer, so that you can highlight and identify differences between their product and yours. 

How do you stay connected to your friends and family in Canada?
I keep in close contact with my family and friends via FaceTime and text. I try and get back to Canada at least a few times a year. They also love a good LA trip as well :) 
 

July 2023 Canadian of the Month

Kirstine Stewart
Media, Technology, Author

Born in Toronto and trailblazing her way from transforming broadcasting to orchestrating digital strategies for the social media titan Twitter, Kirstine Stewart continually reimagines leadership amid the digital revolution. She's a powerhouse expert working at the crossroads of media and technology, renowned for her knack for turbocharging revenue, boosting profitability, and spurring expansion across global markets.

Kirstine's career began modestly when she applied for a position as a Girl Friday at a film distribution house. She propelled through the ranks and became President - while still under the age of 30. 

Kirstine went on to a career filled with leading business positions; first heading up the international channel business for Hallmark Entertainment, next HGTV and Food Network establishing household name stars of design and lifestyle. In 2006 she took on the role leading Programming at CBC TV, injecting much-needed critically acclaimed hits like Heartland, Dragons Den (Shark Tank) Murdoch Mysteries and started development of Schitts Creek. She was promoted to the top job and headed up all programming and operations at the network for television (news, sports, entertainment) cable broadcasting, radio and digital, overseeing 5,000 employees across the country. She became the first woman and youngest person to head the CBC, revitalizing the network’s primetime ratings. 

An exciting transition to tech was next at Twitter, leading the company’s expansion into Canada-and later overseeing North American media teams and content partnerships in New York. 

Kirstine’s best selling ‘Our Turn,’ published by Random House, delves into the possibilities of leadership in a world already undergoing significant change. She articulates: “Digital revolution has created a new reality that demands a new style of leader with attributes and perspectives.”

For her expertise across media and tech she was recruited to serve as Head of Future of Media at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2018 with a portfolio of over 50 of the largest media-related companies in the world and worked with the CEOs of member companies like Tencent, Google, P&G and more.  
Kirstine currently sits on the several private and publicly traded boards including Think Research, sports gaming Rivalry Corp and serves as Chair of the board of Blink49Studios in Los Angeles and Toronto.  She is actively committed to social change through her work with organisations like the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She is an active mentor at Toronto Rotman School, CreativeDestruction Labs, and advises a number of early-stage tech companies.

Tell us about your impressive career?
A lot of people are impressed when they learn I was president of a company before the age of 30 - especially since I started at that same company when I was fresh out of university and my first job was as a “girl friday” - changing the office cooler water bottle, faxing and filing (when we used to deal with paper:) and all “miscellaneous duties as assigned”. But I think it’s that first job that gave me the training for the top job. Flexibility, willingness to do whatever job needed to be done, seeing every piece of paper that crossed the desk gave me the scope of knowledge that when I answered the phone at the front desk, I didn’t just take a message - I was trying to help the people who called. My boss at the time overheard and gave me my first sales position, selling shows like Degrassi, to MENA and SE Asia. Having that job taught me how people evaluate and use content, especially in other cultures; that lead to the next job. 
Everything I’ve done has lead to the next thing, even when that “next thing” looked like a whole other industry. I sold tv shows and film libraries around the world so I learned how the world craved content. I also learned its value with every contract. When I swapped sides of the table and started buying shows, I knew what was needed. At Hallmark I was licensing for about 80 countries from major studios. At Alliance Atlantis I started commissioning productions and helping build brands of a lot of Canadian design and food stars who became big US hits. At CBC I took all of that and applied it to running not just a prime time schedule but also news and sports. Then added responsibility overseeing 5000 employees across the country and adding radio and digital when I took the top job. Launching shows like Dragons Den that became household names and making it big in the US on Shark Tank. 

Leaving that all behind for Twitter, that had yet gone public, seemed strange to many, giving up such a big job running the CBC, but I saw the future was beyond linear. I had done the first Netflix deals for CBC, there was a new world to explore. I did first in Canada, then was lucky to head up North America for Twitter out of New York. 

My advice is that one thing leads to another, if you’re willing to never stop learning, and you’re ready to embrace the unknown. And raise your head up once in a while when your nose is into your work, you can see what’s coming next, and you can also see the impact you’re making and take the time to let others shine. 

Tell us about LA life at the Consulate?
As the “Madame” - a completely honourable title in this case :) - I’m present for a lot of the events at the house. And that’s the part most people “see”, the celebrations honouring the achievements of great Canadians here in LA. But there’s so much more to the office and team of about 50 people my husband works with covering trade, immigration, safety and more. He’s a lot busier than the pictures you see on my Instagram, he and his team cover three states (SoCal, Arizona, Nevada) working on cross border relations in so many categories from agriculture to investment to tech and space, military and more. 

My days are filled with work on a number of public and private boards both in US and Canada, a few projects in the entertainment industry and advisories to digital projects. I wasn’t even meant to live in LA, as my work had taken me to Geneva and then NYC in CG Shaikh’s first year in the house, then the pandemic changed everything. 

I’m really proud of what he and the team have done and it’s great to see it up close. Even though I’m only seeing the public side of his duties, in the public sphere he’s been very intentional to make sure the work is impactful and inclusive of a new Canada, and show that to the people here in his US territories. 

In launching the Key to the Consulate recognising achievements of successful Canadians in LA, he’s not only giving an honour, it’s an invitation to contribute to the programming in the house. Recipients are chosen because of their efforts to use their own success to lift up their communities, it’s brought some great life to an old house. Even the art on the walls CG Shaikh selected specifically from the archives so that they paint a literal picture of the real Canada for our US neighbours to see. Black, Indigenous, women, LGBTQIA’s talents are not only on the walls but create food that’s served, perform the music, and are on the guest list of attendees. It’s also the theme of different business incubators his Trade team has launched to great success. It’s been a great run and look forward to the year ahead. 

June 2023 Canadian of the Month

Patrick O'Keefe
Production Designer, Sony Pictures Animation

Patrick O'Keefe is a production designer at Sony Pictures Animation, currently at work leading the art department on the upcoming "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
O’Keefe most recently served as art director on “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” winner of the 2019 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Previously, he served as a visual development artist on Sony Pictures Animation's “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.”  
O’Keefe has worked on a variety of films, video games, commercials, and television shows. He served as a visual development artist and matte painter on commercials for brands like McDonald's, Kellogg, Kraft, Amazon, and more. He also worked as a background painter on Disney Television Animation's “Big Hero 6: The Series.”
O’Keefe has worked on award-winning virtual reality short films such as “Henry,” which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Interactive Program in 2016, and “Invasion!”, which took home a Daytime Emmy in 2017. He has also served as a production designer for short films “Fragile” and “Ashes Fall.”
His additional credits include serving as a concept artist for Electronic Arts video games such as Battlefield 4, Battlefield Hardline, Dead Space 2, and Dead Space 3.
O’Keefe studied illustration at Sheridan College before transferring to the Emily Carr University of Art and Design where he received his Bachelor of Media Arts in Film and Animation design.

What were the reasons that led you to work in LA?
I always dreamed of making films and, at a young age, focused my attention on drawing and painting. At my secondary school in Toronto, I took every art class that was available to me and would eventually end up at Sheridan College studying Illustration. After my first year, however, I fell in love with another Torontonian who was studying in Vancouver, and as any sane young man would do, I dropped out of school and chased her to the west coast. I enrolled at the Emily Carr Institute, where I found an opportunity to combine my love for illustration and filmmaking in the Media Arts program. While I was finishing school, I got a job working as a storyboard artist in animated TV, but as I graduated, the 2008 recession began and the animation industry in Vancouver all but dried up. Fortunately, the video game industry was strong, and I landed a gig as a concept artist with Electronic Arts. From there, I transferred within the company to Montréal, where I would eventually begin working with EA’s San Francisco head office. As my connections with the head office grew, I decided it was time to head south and try to inch my way back to my dream of making films. 
As an inter-company transfer, my family and I qualified for the L-1B Visa. My then-girlfriend and I had a small ceremony at City Hall in Toronto to officially become a family, grabbed the cats, and headed to Northern California. After several years in the Bay Area with EA Games, I received my Green Card, and due to a changing of the guard at EA, I decided it was time to make the move to LA. I had secured a job at Disney TV, and although it was ‘film adjacent,’ I was excited about getting closer to my passions — but was and would spend the next several months commuting from Oakland to Burbank while preparing my move to LA.
As I was leaving EA, I posted on Twitter that it was my last day and Sony reached out to say the timing was perfect. I came down to LA to start working for Disney TV, but had a meeting set up with Sony Pictures Animation to work on a film that was never completed. I felt an instant connection to the studio and people there. At this point in time, I was commuting from the Bay Area — I would fly into LA every Monday morning and go to work, and then fly back on Fridays. I wrapped up at Disney TV, started full time with Sony, and began to transition my home base to LA.

Tell us about your scholarship fund!
While attending Northern Secondary School in Toronto, I enrolled in every single art class that was available to me, but the head of the department, Mr. McNaughton, suggested that I enroll in an extracurricular weekend course as he could see my developing passion for art.
A pair of former Sheridan professors, Gerald Sternick and Vince Peets, had started their own school as a sort of art prep school for artists looking to build their skills and prepare for post-secondary art school. Money was always tight in my family and, after begging with my Mom and setting up a payment plan with the professors, I started my long-term relationship with the Animation Portfolio Workshop. I would eventually take a second, and third class with them, sometimes back-to-back on the same day. My Big Brother (from the Big Brothers program) would often drop me off or pick me up after a long day, and I think he probably even paid for some of the classes. Even once I entered into my post-secondary studies, I would drop in for the occasional life drawing class. As the years went on, I always stayed in touch with the school and eventually I began to understand how fortunate I was, fortunate for the access to the class, fortunate that they were willing to let me pay as I went, fortunate that my Big Brother was there to help me out. It had such an impact on my life and I dreaded the idea that there is an artist out there who does not have these fortuitous opportunities.  
It was during a trip to Toronto and a drop in on the Animation Portfolio Workshop that the idea emerged to start a scholarship for young artists in a similar situation, who just need a little help to get the opportunity to discover their dreams. We would eventually pair with Big Brothers and Big Sisters Canada to help find suitable candidates. The collaboration with BBBS made it even more impactful for me. 

How did you get your break as Production Designer for the animated Spider-Verse films?
On my last day at EA, I made a Twitter post thanking the studio(s) and all the incredible people I worked with for a memorable 8 years across three studios. I was unprepared for the amount of interest from other game studios asking about my next move and availability, but the one that stood out was from Justin K Thompson, a Production Designer at Sony Pictures Animation. Justin and I had met years earlier while I was on a trip to LA looking to make connections within the film industry. He and I had tried over the years to work together but the timing never quite worked out, until now. I was commuting from Oakland to Burbank to work at Disney TV but stopped by Sony and found the dream job waiting for me, designing films.
After a few months of working on an untitled film, there was a shakeup at the studio and my current project was going on hiatus. I was super nervous because I was pulled into a meeting informing me of the hiatus and then flew back to Oakland to finish packing up my apartment and getting ready for the big move down. The plan was to drive the car and cats down, then fly back north a few weeks later and make the final move. When I got back to the studio I was informed that I still had a job and that we would all be joining the then-unannounced Spider-Verse film. A few weeks later, I was driving the U-Haul down the 5, while my wife read the script aloud.  
I started on the first Spider-Verse film as a visual development artist. Similar to my role in games, I was creating artwork, designing sets, etc. I fell in love with the project and was so excited to finally have my dream job, that I went all in. After several months of hard work, I was asked to take on the role of environment Art Director — basically, I was in charge of designing and directing the creation of the sets for the film. The film would go on to be a critical success and was awarded the Oscar for Best Animated Film. As the sequel began, the Production Designer from the first film moved into a Director role, and I would eventually take over as Production Designer. 

What are you most proud of that you've worked on?
I couldn’t be more proud of this latest iteration of the Spider-Verse. We continued to push ourselves and the medium of animation to new heights. I am honoured to be a part of something that is so groundbreaking and to have such an incredible crew, as well as the support of our studio, Sony Pictures Animation, as we attempted to do the unprecedented.

How do you stay connected to Canada?
I try to get back to Toronto and Vancouver as much as possible to see friends and family. Additionally, I am a big sports fan and make a point of going to every Leafs and Raptors game when they are in town. In fact, watching the games on the hometown feed always makes me feel like I am at home — for the last playoff run, I was busy finishing the film, which means constantly watching the files and reviewing the lighting, so I was forced to listen to the sweet sounds of Joe Bowen doing the play-by-play.

May 2023 Canadian of the Month

Josh Iwanaka
Owner, Studeo Gyms

Josh Iwanaka is a Canadian born, Los Angeles based, fitness entrepreneur at Studeo Gyms. Born and raised in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Josh grew up an athlete excelling in football and eventually went on to play for the University of British Columbia. After graduating from college, Josh pursued a career in the tech industry and was a game designer at Electronic Arts. After leaving the tech world in 2010, he began working in the Vancouver fitness scene.
In 2015, Josh took a major step in his career and moved to Los Angeles to become a partner in Studeo Beverly Hills, a boutique personal training studio specializing in athletic training. As a partner, he helped manage the business through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and is poised for the future.
Josh has 2 children with his wife Mira and currently lives in the Valley Village area.

What brought you to LA?
Honestly living in LA was never the ultimate life vision for me. However, when the opportunity to become an owner of a gym in Beverly Hills came up, I could not turn it down. I figured if I want to create the best fitness experience in the world this was where it had to be done. Plus, it’s a lot less rainy here.

Tell us about the strengths and "stretches" of owning a gym?
Being an entrepreneur is both exciting and terrifying. Owning a gym is always exciting and a fun place to be. Rarely does it feel like work. I’m lucky to be a part of something special and to have surrounded myself with good people who trust me, and the process. 
Fitness has become exer-tainment which is definitely a strength but part of the “stretch” is creating magic to attract new members and consistency to retain members. There will always be clients quitting so it’s important to never let your standards lower. Growth is always challenging in the fitness space since it is such a competitive market, but it’s been even more challenging since Covid. Thankfully we have been able to weather the storm and are poised to push through the crowd this year.

What type of athletic training do you specialize in?
We specialize in being able to train anyone and everyone, so we offer three types of training to fit people's goals and needs: Private Training (one-on-one), Semi-Private attaining (one coach with up to four clients) and Group Personal Training (30+ person classes). We take the college weight room experience and make it available to more people. What makes our training different is how we take the science of fitness and dress it up in a way that people love. We’ve been touted as “rugged athleticism meets progressive design” by Architectural Digest. 

It's AAPI month and we would love to hear about your own heritage and how you celebrate your culture with your family living as a transplant here in the US.
I'm third generation Japanese on my fathers side. Two of his brothers were born in internment camps in the interior of British Columbia. He and his younger brother were born on the journey back to Vancouver. My grandfather contributed in fighting for the redress of agreement with the Canadian government.
Despite this deep history, Japanese culture was not instilled in my brother and I as children. In my experience most hapa people my age share similarities in their upbringing. As a father raising two children of mixed Asian heritage, my goal is for my kids to have a deeper understanding of their heritage than I did growing up. Fortunately Los Angeles is a city that celebrates cultural diversity and offers a plethora of ways for me and my family to reconnect with our heritage.

Who is your inspiration in your field?
The fitness field is a vast space. It has grown into a variety of paths: gym owner, trainer of stars, fitness influencer, strength and conditioning coach and brand ambassador to name a few. However, my ultimate inspiration would be the founders of Soul Cycle, Barry’s Bootcamp and F45. These founders of fitness concepts mastered the user experience. They are the most sought after concepts in the fitness space and I think Studeo has the tools to become the next brand to scale.

If you could tell your 21 year old self playing football anything about athletic training, what would it be?
I would tell myself to get a coach to give me direction in my training and nutrition. Despite being a gym-rat, I eventually came to the conclusion that I lacked the knowledge to take my performance to the next level. I needed a coach to identify my weaknesses and help me improve them. My ignorance in nutrition also hindered my success as an athlete. Without a proper understanding of how to fuel my body for optimal performance, I felt inconsistent in my energy levels on game day. Had I had a coach, I believe I would have elevated my performance from good to great.

March 2023 Canadian of the Month

Sean MacDonald
Chef & Restaurateur 

Chef Sean MacDonald is the owner of new Bar Monette in Santa Monica. Bar Monette (named after his wife) is an intimate tapas wine bar above the beach, serving Neapolitan-style pizza and dishes drawing inspiration from Spain and Italy. 
He began his role as an Executive Chef at the age of 23, at MARKET Restaurant in Calgary. After being named a 2016 Game Changer, he was featured on the cover of BRANDED Magazine’s 2016 winter issue, a Calgary, based magazine. In June 2016, at 24 years old, he won the Canadian title for the San Pellegrino Young Chef Competition and represented Canada in the World Championships in Milan, a competition for the best young chefs in the world 30 years old and younger. In August 2016, Chef MacDonald was the Official Chef of Diner en Blanc Calgary. He was formerly the Executive Chef of Hexagon Restaurant and 7 Enoteca in Oakville, Ontario. With his year at Hexagon restaurant, he brought it to being the highest rated new restaurant of 2017 by Toronto Life Magazine, with a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. In 2018 he was selected as #221 chef in the world by “The Best Chef Awards,” the only Canadian chef on the list. In 2019 he was selected as one of the 16 Rising Talents for North America by The Art of Plating. He was recently the chef owner of ēst Restaurant and Biga Pies in Toronto. ēst Restaurant recently made Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants List at #35 and was selected by “Blog TO” as one of Toronto's 100 Essential Restaurant’s List. 
MacDonald was a contributing columnist to The Globe and Mail. He is also a brand ambassador for All-Clad Metal Crafters LLC, Caesarstone, Le Nouveau Chef Apparel and was a sponsored chef of Patron. 

What inspires you as a chef?
My biggest inspiration as a chef is the constant ability to create. I love it because everyday I can wake up and be creative and make something, whether it’s super tasty that me or others can enjoy, a dish that looks aesthetically pleasing to the eye (essentially making art) or creating an environment that others get to come together in and enjoy food and make memories.

At 23 years old, you were already an Executive Chef. How did you get your big break and stay so successful?
I guess I got my big break when I did become an executive chef at that age, running a kitchen. The owner of a restaurant I worked at back in the day reached out to me asking if I wanted to take over the restaurant. I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted the pressure and the responsibility. I then went on to being named the best young chef in Canada a year or two later through the San Pellegrino Young chef competition and representing Canada in the worlds. That was a big moment for sure. A lot changed after that and kick started my success. 
Success for me has been an uphill battle, no overnight success. You get what you put in. Constant roadblocks, unpredictable moments and persevering through them. I’ve had to overcome a lot to get to where I am today. People, unforeseen circumstances, things out of my control. It was no easy path and looking back I’m very proud of myself for being such a fighter and always being positive and setting goals and working to achieve them. Also super grateful for those people who have supported me along the way. I find the biggest thing to being successful is relentlessness and never giving up. That’s the difference between those who make it and those who don’t. 

What brought you to LA?
In the back of my mind I always could see myself living in LA. I love the weather and energy. When I met my now wife who was located in LA, it essentially acted as the catalyst that brought me here. I took a leap of faith and now there is no other place I would rather be. I think it was a little bit of fate. I feel a sense of peace living here that I haven’t felt living in other places. 

It's Sunday night, what are you making for dinner at your house?
I’m having friends or family over and I’m going to make a tapas-style dinner where I make whatever I’m inspired by. Go to the market in the morning to buy the ingredients. Maybe some small bites and salads to start. A stuffed pasta course or pizza, then meats and shellfish cooked over the charcoal grill. Finish with a few desserts. It’s never just one thing. I love to cook for the people I love and go all out.

What can you tell us about your new menu at Bar Monette and why did you choose the genre you did?
We are a tapas-style wine bar drawing inspiration from Spain and Italy. I love making and eating Spanish and Italian food. Two of my favourite places to visit. I found a crazy love for making pizza over Covid. So I wanted to create a place where I could bring them all together on one menu and they obviously work very cohesively together. We will be serving Neapolitan-style pizzas with a crispy, chewy airy sourdough crust. We’ll have some small bites and well balanced small tapas style dishes to accompany. I wanted to use really high quality ingredients and serve them in a setting that feels like home. We will be serving products from A5 wagyu, truffles and caviar to stuff bought in the morning from the Santa Monica Farmers market to the highest quality imported Spanish and Italian ingredients. I can’t wait to show everyone what we have been working on. Essentially Bar Monette (named after my wife) will be serving menu items I would “cook on a Sunday night” for friends and family.

February 2023 Canadian of the Month

Flo, Singer/Songwriter

Flo is known as a pop/soul phenomenon. She’s a captivating artist with undeniable stage presence. She has shared the stage with artists like Lauryn Hill and Boyz II Men. Whether it’s an arena or concert hall, Flo is in her element on stage, her powerful, emotive voice shaking the rafters. Flo followed up the success of her self-titled album with her sophomore release, “Pieces of Me”. Produced by Western Canadian Music Awards “Producer of the Year” Arun Chaturvedi, "Pieces of Me"(crowned Western Canadian Music award urban album of the year) is a reflection of who Flo is: an artist who represents encouragement, personal strength, passion and positivity.
Flo’s enduring message of faith and self-empowerment reflect her will and desire to overcome all obstacles and follow her dreams, "I believe this dream is bigger than I am.” Luckily for Flo, her voice is bigger than her dreams. She is passion in living form, travels into realms of soul that some artists never tap into, and this is only the beginning...
"And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." 
- Marianne Williamson

What was your first experience with music in your youth and any tips on how to foster a greater sense of appreciation in children at a young age?
This is going to sound like a cliche answer, but since I can remember as a kid, I was always copying what I heard on the radio. I fell in love with artists, had favorite songs, and of course would imitate what I heard, that was my first source of learning. For kids, I'd say let them experiment, let them have fun. Kids are instinctually, and innately drawn to their natural passions and inclinations.  If you watch them from an early age, you'll come to learn what they're born to do. And music early on has such an effect on babies and toddlers: you see them bouncing around, smiling, dancing, and some even singing and making musical sounds before they can talk.  I'd say from the beginning, let kids experience and explore different things, and by watching them, it'll become clear what they love, what they're naturally drawn to.

What brought you to LA?
I came to LA to fully see what would come of my musical pursuits, to give it and myself as many opportunities as possible. You know, to answer the big, "what if" question (again another cliche answer that most artists and creatives that come to LA give, but it's the common truth of what draws so many of us from around the world to La La Land 😉).

Where does your musical inspiration come from? 
My musical inspiration comes from LIFE in general: what I see happening around me and of course personal experiences. But more often than not, my "musical downloads" (what I call the spontaneous ideas that just pop into my head out of nowhere whether I'm deep in REM sleep, in the shower, doing the dishes, or driving my car) will come and deposit a melody, a chord progression, a chorus/hook, or seemingly a nonsense lyric that I know has something special to it, a seed of an idea, a beginning that must be fleshed out and finished. Also I'm very chord and melodically driven and inspired. I'll be at the piano or keyboard and either hear something in my head and play around with that idea, or maybe I'm just playing around on the keys and I'll stumble upon a chord, and the richness, texture, tone, and coloring of that chord will immediately let me know if I'm about to create a sad, deep, ballad, or a victorious, unstoppable, anthem. A lot of my songs are stories that shaped around the colors/themes that got their genesis, their beginning from the FEELINGS that particular chords and melodies spoke to me.  

What kind of challenges have you faced in your field and how have you overcome them?
CHALLENGES?! Oh my goodness, where do I start! 😂😂😂  Well let me just preface by saying that the cool and reassuring part with most of these challenges that I'm going to state is that I've come to realize that I'm not alone, and so many of us creatives all face and go through similar things. But here we go: proving yourself, making a name for yourself as you knock on doors in hopes of finding the open doors of opportunity and demonstrating that you can hold your own and are where you are meant to be. So many things to do and accomplish that all require money, so constantly trying to prioritize what imminently needs the investment, and finding ways to be creative and still bring out quality results while working with (and often times figuring out ways to wisely stretch) the budget and resources you have on hand. The wait. Persevering, and enduring, not giving up: keeping your eyes on the prize, nose to the grindstone and continuing to hustle, continuing to work hard, fighting doubt as you wait and work towards "the big break", "the big opportunity" that can sky-rocket, catapult your career and change your life. Questioning if the magic that you feel you have on hand will translate to others, if they will resonate, feel, and love it too? So many more challenges, BUT I'm not going to leave a novel for you to read, so I'll stop here 😂. I'll tell you one thing that so many of us in the entertainment industry know: it's not an easy road, it's not for the faint of heart, BUT if you LOVE it, if you're PASSIONATE about it, the challenges, the ups and the downs are SO WORTH IT!!! And if you truly believe in your heart and spirit that you're doing what you're created to do, then really there is no other option. If this is what makes you heart beat, what makes you come ALIVE, then it's like: LET'S GO, LET'S DO THIS! You know what they say, the most rewarding things in life often come with challenge (they don't come to us easy). So hey, if this is part of the package, part of the picture, I'll take it 😉! So I guess that's my long-winded answer to overcoming😂: knowing that I'm doing what I LOVE, that deep down inside I know and believe that all of the challenges will be worth it in the end (it's also making me into a stronger, more courageous, human being with a story to tell), so I'm going to persevere and take the short term sacrifice for that long term gratification, my pot of gold that awaits me on the other side of the storms with my rainbow and my silver lining, yeah it's coming! 😉

What are you working on now and how can we Canadians living in LA support YOU?
Oooooo my favorite question! I'm working on lots of new songs!!! The songs that will be part of my future new releases! I'm excited to start releasing them and sharing them with everyone!!!! Stay tuned to my social media page: www.instagram.com/flosoul for future updates that will come once these songs are ready to step out into the world 😉😊!

January 2023 Canadian of the Month

Julia Cohen, Showrunner/Writer

Julia Cohen is the creator/showrunner of ABC’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, starring Milo Ventimiglia. With a passion for character driven, serialized drama, Cohen has developed projects for FX, HBO MAX and the CBC. Hailing originally from Toronto, she is a graduate of the WGA Showrunners’ Training Program and the Warner Brothers Writers’ Workshop. Most recently, Julia was a Co-Executive Producer on A MILLION LITTLE THINGS. With a proven track record of helping to launch first-season shows onto successful multi-season runs, her past credits include such acclaimed series as RIVERDALE, QUANTICO, DEGRASSI, THE ROYALS, LEGION, and DALLAS.

What was your first professional writing job?
My first professional gig was a freelance episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation that I co-wrote with the lovely and talented Lara Azzopardi. That show launched so many careers it’s almost a Canadian writer’s right of passage, so even though it was only a freelance ep, I was so thrilled to be a small part of TNG during its heyday. 

What was the moment that made you think you could do this job forever?
The moment I realized that TV writing was for me was when I fully understood the collaborative nature of television - most especially the writers’ room. I love so many aspects of this job but my happy place is the writers’ room. Passing the creative ball back and forth, bouncing ideas off one another, getting inspired by other writers’ ideas and instincts - that’s the part of this job that I find the most thrilling. Not only does it yield the best possible work, it’s also incredibly fun. That spirit of collaboration runs through so much of what we do in television - from development, production through post-production - and it’s by far the part of the job I find the most gratifying. 

How have writing rooms changed or evolved for you over the years?
Rooms have changed quite a bit with the advent of streaming and mini-rooms and, unfortunately, not always for the better. Unlike when I started my career on the TNT reboot of Dallas - it’s unusual for lower level writers to get to produce their own episodes and, essentially, be trained up in all aspects of production. I was lucky enough that in Cynthia Cidre - my first showrunner - I had an executive producer who was truly willing to teach, delegate and empower. It’s not uncommon now, to have co-executive producers who have come up through the ranks and have spent little or no time on set producing their episodes, no time in post-production, etc. Being a TV writer is as much about producing television as it is about writing television - so I count myself lucky that my early credits were on shows that let me learn all those skills. On the plus side of meaningful ways that writing rooms have changed - nowadays rooms are so much more diverse and inclusive than they were before. So that’s certainly a change for the better. I was definitely the token female in more than a few rooms back in the day. 

Did you ever aspire to be in front of the camera? 
I’ve always loved the performing arts and briefly entertained being an actress. I went to the Etobicoke School of the Arts for drama - and it was there that I took my first playwriting course which was the fuse that lit my passion for writing. Ultimately, I quickly realized that I was far too self-loathing and in my head to ever really be an actress… But lucky for me, they’re qualities that lend themselves perfectly to being a writer!

What brought you to LA?
I moved out to LA with my former writing partner, Lara Azzopardi, when we were lucky enough to get into the the WB Writers’ Workshop. I briefly moved back to Toronto but once I got my first staffing job in 2011, my husband and I made the move to LA permanently. We love LA and our life here - turns out we were West Coasters the whole time, we just didn’t know it. 

What are some of the biggest differences between being a writer in the US versus Canada?
Most of my career has been in the US, but in general, the writing rooms tend to be a little smaller in Canada. I would say that working on shows with smaller budgets forces you to be more resourceful which is a skill that really helped me in my career down here and proven useful time and time again. 

Tell us about how The Company You Keep came to be?
In late 2020, I was approached by some producers for ‘my take’ on a Korean format that they'd optioned called MY FELLOW CITIZENS. Ultimately, of all the writers they met with/heard from, they liked my take the best. At that time - given that we were in the middle of the pandemic and coming off a fraught election - I was craving something escapist, fun and wildly romantic. Baked into this concept is a little bit of everything that I love. It’s part epic romance, family drama, part crime caper and part spy thriller - so it has something for everyone. As we were preparing to take it out to networks we found that Milo was looking for his next project. After pitching him the project, he and his producing partners came onboard as our partners which was a game changer. Needless to say, having one of television’s biggest stars sign up to star in your show has been a literal dream come true.

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP premieres Feb 19th at 10pm on ABC. 

December 2022 Canadian of the Month

Trina Hendry

A lover of food, wine and travel, Trina launched her nearly 20-year career as a hospitality and travel/tourism marketer at Toronto-based Metropolitan Hotels where she served as the PR Director at three Canadian properties and Senses Restaurant before managing the public relations for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). Upon graduation at UCLA Extension with a Certificate in Marketing with a Concentration in Digital Marketing & Analytics, Trina worked at various marketing agencies in Los Angeles representing both luxury and boutique properties, including Terranea Resort, Alisal Guest Ranch and Santa Monica's Shore Hotel, as well as destinations like Beverly Hills and Redondo Beach, until the pandemic hit and the travel industry came to a screeching halt. It was during this time that she came up with the idea of One California Day, a sustainably minded experiential travel company that has reimagined the quintessential California road trip, while working part-time as the Director of Brand Marketing for The Culver Hotel. Most recently, she was responsible for heading up the marketing for two newly opened Hollywood hotels - Thompson Hollywood and tommie Hollywood - and their restaurants and nightclubs, including Mother Wolf, Ka'teen, Mes Amis, Bar Lis, Desert 5 Spot and Citizen News. Trina balances her work with a personal passion for day tripping, as well as spending time with her senior rescue pup, Atticus.

What brought you to LA, and what have you been doing since you arrived here?
I have dreamed of living in Los Angeles for as long as I can remember but it was the ice storm of 2014 in Toronto that sealed the deal, as I swore I’d never endure another Canadian winter again. 

My story is a bit unique in that I didn’t move to LA for a job. I moved here because it was my dream to live in California. I enrolled in a Marketing Certificate program at UCLA Extension, which provided me with not only a student visa but the opportunity to gain US work experience, and most importantly, the ability to network for one year following graduation. With an established background in Travel and Hospitality Marketing back in Canada, I was able to build upon my career here, working at various marketing agencies, as well as assuming the role of Director of Brand Marketing at The Culver Hotel, and most recently as Complex Director of Marketing for the Thompson Hollywood and tommie Hollywood, where I opened both hotels and their respective restaurants, including Mother Wolf and Ka’teen. 

You recently launched a new business. What is One California Day, and where did the idea come from?
With a hospitality marketing background, a deep love for California, and an entrepreneurial spirit – I owned a culinary tourism business back in Toronto – my goal was to one day launch a travel business in LA.

One California Day is a sustainably minded experiential travel company that offers travelers a fun way to explore California by taking self-guided day trips with a catch: they won’t know where they are going until the day of their trip. Departing from three major cities–Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco–the mystery itineraries are designed to surprise and delight, revealing a beautiful California destination, one memorable stop at a time.

I conceived One California Day during the pandemic when travel options were limited and travelers took to road-tripping as a safe and fun way to satiate their desire to get outside and explore. We partner with local businesses, offering them another way to market to travelers, and we promote sustainable travel through our business practices and by offsetting carbon emissions through memberships and donations to organizations like 1% for the Planet and One Tree Planted, as well as offering responsible travel tips.

We officially launched in October 2022. To celebrate, for the month of December, I’m offering Canadians Abroad members a 40% discount off all itinerary purchases until December 31st using the promo code CANADAEH. They can be used anytime of the year and make great gifts!

When you have friends and family visit, how do you spend one perfect day in LA?
Oh wow, that’s a tough question because there are endless things to do here, and a relatively thorough tour of LA requires multiple days. But, anyone who knows me well knows that I love Malibu. So, if I only had one day, I’d take my guests on a mini road trip up the PCH, enjoy brunch at Cafe 27 in Topanga or Malibu Farm on the Pier, followed by shopping at Malibu Country Mart and a hike at Solstice Canyon, or a relaxing afternoon at a lesser known beach. We would finish the day with dinner (and a sunset) at The Sunset Restaurant or Neptune’s Net before making our way back down the coast for a cocktail and some celeb spotting at Nobu.
As a board member of Canadians Abroad, you are obviously a proud Canadian happy to be living in LA.

What do you miss about Canada and love most about living here?
I proudly tout that I am Canadian to anyone who will listen, and am so thrilled to be a part of bringing a little bit of home to Canadians living here. I miss my family and friends the most obviously, but a close second would have to be ketchup chips and Cadbury Caramilk chocolate bars, which are nearly impossible to find here. :) The weather and natural beauty were the initial draws but what I soon discovered I love most about LA is the creative energy fueled by ambitious innovators, an active outdoor lifestyle, limitless things to discover and experience. As they say, if you can dream it, you can find it in LA. I feel inspired every day. 

What’s your favorite day trip from Los Angeles?
With dozens of incredible destinations within a 2-3 hours drive of LA, it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite day trip. Whether it’s a trip out to the desert, an adventure into the mountains, or an epic drive along the coast, all are equally enchanting. The one place I frequent the most though is Santa Barbara and its wine country in the Santa Ynez Valley. It nourishes my food and wine loving soul like nowhere else.

November 2022 Canadian of the Month
Aliya Jasmine
Environmental Journalist/TV Host/Director

Aliya Jasmine has spent the last two decades as a prominent TV Host, Producer, and Environmental journalist (M.A., F.R.C.G.S.) who's award-winning stories have been staple viewing on national and local networks including NBC News, NBCUniversal, CTV Bell Media, MTV News, IMPACT, Discovery Channel, and more. 

Aliya holds a Masters in Environmental Journalism from the University of Southern California, a Social Media & Digital Marketing Certification from Harvard University, and bilingual (French & English) BA in Comms from the University of Ottawa. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Nature Conservancy's Canadian Chapter, Nature United, and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. 

She is currently directing her first feature film, LionBridge; Co-Host of the Discovery Channel’s new series, The Mightiest; And co-founder of LILI Media Corp. 

Big Announcement! You have a brand new TV show premiering this month, can tell you us about what you're working on right now?
I'm hosting a new series for the Discovery Channel called, The Mightiest, which premieres November 23rd in primetime! We've been filming the show for the last six months and I'm so proud of it! The six-episode, one-hour, docu-series follows myself and fellow veteran adventure co-host Teddy Wilson as we take to the field and witness the mightiest of machines take on astounding new missions. From re-engineered Chinook helitankers fighting wildfires 24/7 in Southern California, to a train that helps sustain life and connect communities, the series reveals the innovation and science that enable machines like these to conquer near-impossible challenges. We filmed the show across the USA, Canada, and Europe.

How did you get your big start working at Much Music and tell us a bit about what you did there?
Working in TV has been my dream since childhood. So after graduating from University, I started interning at Fashion Television, and eventually got a paid gig as a cable wrangler at Star TV. I worked my way up from there, learning as much as I could about how TV was made, until I eventually scored a position as a producer at MuchMusic. I produced the daily Live flagship show MuchOnDemand and some iconic Canadian faces like George Strombo, Rick the Temp, Matt Babel, Leah Miller, etc. I feel really lucky to have been able to understand the behind-the-camera side of television, and worked with so much incredible on-screen talent, before I landed my first major on-camera gig as anchor of MTV News. I ended up hosting and producing a bunch of different shows at MTV Canada for over a decade.

What brought you to LA?
A job offer from NBC, and opportunity to sign with an agent at CAA. It was only a short three month contract, but figured I'd take the leap and hope for the best. I actually sold my condo in Toronto before I moved down here, as a sort of self-inflicted insurance policy that I wouldn't have a crutch to lean on and run home if things got hard. At the time I thought that move was ballsy, and truth be told: it worked! But now, in today's housing market, I should've kept that condo! haha

How did you transition into being a Film Documentarian and Environmental Journalist here in LA? Do you have any advice for those looking to make their big break in LA?
Like many people working in the Canadian Television industry, I wore many hats. In addition to being a producer, writer, editor, and on-camera journalist - I also worked across genres: in sports, entertainment, news, etc. But I always loved environmental storytelling the most, and had many opportunities to do this type of reporting at MTV News, MTV Impact, and as a reporter for Discovery Canada. Unfortunately, in the early 2000's many of my environmental stories were buried in late time slots from network fear of negative reactions from advertisers, or what I was told was lack of interest by viewers. The tipping point we find ourselves facing now, in the climate crisis, seems to have changed that "lack of interest" in a massive way. When I saw an opportunity to be able to tell more of the stories I loved - as a full time gig - and make it my niche, I went back to school (while working full time at NBC News) to get my Masters in Environmental Journalism, from the University of Southern California. That would be my advice to reporters coming to LA, being generalized in Canada works because the industry is small, but think about honing in on a particular niche in LA.

My Master's thesis centered around the endangered mountain lion population living in Los Angeles, and I spent two years deep in research on the subject for my dissertation. With my job as a reporter for NBC News in LA, I was subsequently able to report on many more stories about these incredible predators that live in Santa Monica Mountains, and my reporting was nominated for a few local press awards. This caught the attention of the National Wildlife Federation who approached me about making my reporting into a feature film. We are currently in production and you can get a taste of what it looks like here: www.lionbridgefilm.com

Can you tell us about your media company, founded by BIPOC women, LILI Media & Design Corp?
Yes! LILI Media is an environmentally-focused media company and climate research lab that I founded with my sister, Aliza, who is a Landscape Architect out of Harvard. Our industries overlapped in an incredible way and we're working on some really innovative projects that span the globe. Our North American headquarters is in Santa Monica, and our European headquarters is in Toulouse, France. You can find out more about the work we're doing here: www.lilimedialab.com

September 2022 Canadian of the Month

David Brown,
Founder & CEO of SellStuff, Inc.  
Founder of Terry Fox Foundation Santa Monica. 

David is passionate about technology and media which work for the benefit of consumers. This has manifested in his career having worked at multiple startups, including MyThum Interactive Inc (acquired by Olson), Mobile Marketing Association’s Company Of The Year and Campaign of The Year for Wireless Box Office, powering Live Nation’s end-to-end mobile ticketing solution, under his leadership as the Head of Business Development, US market. As CEO of Omnia Media Inc (acquired by Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc), he grew a digital studio with over 3 billion views per month, as well as pioneering digital content formats across the major distribution partners. As The Head of YouTube Canada, he forged partnerships with innovative content creators, and built out a thriving Canadian ecosystem for content creation with more traditional media partners. A Corporate Development Manager role for consumer software at BlackBerry allowed him to hone his technology licensing and M&A experience as a for consumer software. 

David is the Founder and CEO of SellStuff, Inc. A platform to remove friction for online resale and promote sustainable fashion consumption. 

Having survived brain cancer, he proudly founded and organises the annual Terry Fox Foundation run for cancer research in Santa Monica, now in its 5th year, having raised over $50K (CAD).

Amateur dad-joke teller, fortunate husband, grateful step-parent, and obsessive dog dad. Resilient character built from lifelong Toronto sports team fandom. 

What brought you to LA?
I had been working at YouTube in Toronto for about three years. I had just finished several large scale projects and milestones as the Country Manager for YouTube Canada (launching Fan Fest, Ensuring a creator studio for Toronto creators, etc). 
Around that time I was ready for a new challenge, several Google colleagues approached me asking if I’d be interested in a new startup which was pre-product, focused on fan engagement for content creators. They had already signed up several of the largest content creators on YouTube and Instagram to take part in the platform they were creating. One stipulation is that I had to move to Los Angeles to be part of the company. I must say it was really difficult to leave the neighbourhood I loved so dearly in Toronto, near Trinity Bellwoods Park. Ossington Ave for instance, was just voted as one of the 33 coolest streets in the world, by Timeout magazine. I spent a lot of time on this street and will miss several of the restaurants that are no longer there. Also riding my bike to work was quite a luxury (don’t see a lot of that in LA). 
Ultimately though, I took the leap and decided to take a chance!

What prompted you to start the Terry Fox Run in Santa Monica and why is it important to you personally?
I had several friends from back home reach out and ask if I was running. I looked on the website for an LA run and they didn’t have one. Disappointed, I had a fleeting thought of “why don’t I start one?’ The guidance I received when I reached out to the Foundation was they welcomed me as a Founder of an LA chapter, but there wasn’t enough time to be successful in this particular year. I credit my wife who prompted me that there was nothing but upside as far as putting something together in little time, and that worst case, there would be learning I could apply to the subsequent years. 

The cause itself is important to me because of the impact cancer has had on my life. I was robbed of my mom when I was 23 years old. Her funeral was the day before my college graduation ceremony. I’ve seen the damage it can do first hand. My life is defined into a “before” and “after” her passing. Cancer then reared its ugly head, taking my best friend, Arjun. I kept my promise to him in his final days and he was the best man at my wedding, in memoriam.

Lastly I’ve seen the promise and hope of advancements of research first hand. After being diagnosed with a stage 3 brain tumor, I had many of the same questions I imagine everyone else would have; focused on mortality rates, survival rates, survival lifestyle etc. Answers to my questions from my neuro-oncologist (who is excellent) are all prefaced with “that’s just what we know today” a few years from now, who knows what the prognosis will be, based on the advancements we’ve made. Funding provides research. Research provides hope.

What do you love about LA and miss about Toronto?
Firstly, I’d say people who tell you “you’ll miss the seasons” are lying hahah. At least that hasn’t been my experience. I’ll take a 65 degree winter and an 85 degree summer. We still have seasons, just much less dramatic. I love the family I’ve made in LA with my wife and 2 step-children, who are both now in college. 
Things I miss about Toronto are the heartbeat and the energy of the city. But mostly I miss my friends and family whom I grew up with.

What are you working on now?
I have just finished raising a friends and family investment round for my new startup, SellStuff. We are building a solution that reduces friction in online resale. We are promoting smarter consumption. Online resale is a massive industry with people being more conscious about their consumption choices. Fast fashion is currently responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. Our focus is on a clean earth, clean closet and fresh dough (for the sellers). I’ve been incredibly fortunate that I’m working with friends. My two board members are both friends whom I hold dear, but also high achieving leaders at Google and Shopify, which really round out the experience I need to make this successful. 
If that sounds like something you’re interested in as a reader, I’ll shamelessly encourage you to sign up for our beta at: https://www.sellstuffapp.com

As the former Head of YouTube Canada, any advice for Canadians wanting to make the jump to Silicon Beach?
Firstly I would say “don’t sleep on Toronto.” The tech scene is awesome there and continuing to grow. 
If you decide to make the leap, I’d encourage you to make contacts and connections in LA before you make the jump. Find people in your industry here in LA and create a dialogue before you make the move. Equally, keep in touch with your contacts from back home. 
Lastly, there’s this awesome group called Canadians Abroad. Get involved with them ;)

August 2022 Canadian of the Month
Donald Mowat, Award Winning Makeup Artist

Donald Mowat is one of the film industry’s most sought-after makeup artists. Born and raised in Montreal, to British parents Thomas Mowat and Flora MacDonald, he has served as makeup designer/ makeup department head on such films as Damien Chazelle’s “First Man,” Tom Ford's “Nocturnal Animals,” and Denis Villeneuve's “Blade Runner 2049”. Other titles include “Prisoners”, “Nightcrawler”, "Sicario”, “8 Mile”, “The Fighter” and personal make-up artist to Daniel Craig on “Spectre", “Skyfall” and “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. Most recently, Mowat was makeup, hair and prosthetics designer/department head on Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" for which he received his first Academy Award Nomination and third BAFTA film award nomination.
With a career that spans over 35 years, Mowat is a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited (1999), The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (1990), The European Film Academy and IATSE Hollywood Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild 706 LA and 798 NY 873 Toronto and BECTU (UK).
Mowat's other honors include a BAFTA nomination for Blade Runner 2049 and Nocturnal Animals, MUAHS Guild Artisan Award win for Tom Ford's “Nocturnal Animals” in 2017 Saturn Award and MUAHS Guild Artisan Award wins for “Prisoners” in 2014, and a Primetime Emmy Award win for Enchantment - Mark Twain and Me in 1992.
In December of 2018, Mowat was awarded with The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his work with BAFTA-LA.education outreach by the Governor General of Canada and in 2012, he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to the film industry and as a former Board Director of The Actors' Fund of Canada 2008-2014.

How did you get your first big break and which movie was it on?
One thing that peaked my interest at a rather unhappy time at West Hill High School was a drama class which led to my involvement with community theatre in NDG, Montreal West, St.Laurent Operatic Societies and Les Creations des Enfants/Children's Creations in Montreal. Makeup, costume, actors and the character component was what I loved.
There was no training for most things in film and tv back then, it was a time where we made contact with others following similar paths. At 18 I met people like actor now director Leslie Hope who was 17 (we both waited tables in a cafe on Sherbrooke Street West in Montreal). I was getting my name out there, building my resume, test photos, student films and then I got to spend time in London doing makeup demos at Harrods, which broadened my experience.
In the Summer of 1994, I got a call from the union SNC to fill a job call for Assistant Makeup Artist on . . . brace yourselves - MEATBALLS 3!!! This was followed by Joshua Then and Now.

Did you always have aspirations to work in make-up for blockbuster films?
By 1986, Toronto was becoming "Hollywood North'', so I went by VIA Rail and faced the reality of finding affordable apartment housing back when there was zero vacancy. I knocked on quite a few doors that were mostly open and friendly and was tested and hired by Head of Makeup Shonagh Jabour at ACFC for CBC's Anne of Green Gables which led to my working on The Believers and The Fly. This solidified my moving forward as a key makeup artist now called Head of Department on "Captain Power and The Soldiers of The Future' earning a Daytime Emmy Nomination.

At what point did you decide to move to LA and why?
I continued to work in Toronto and Montreal, and in 1992 won an Emmy for Dan Petrie's Mark Twain and Me and was starting to get actors, directors, producers suggesting that I apply for a Green Card and move west, which I did. I was very happy in Canada as we had an industry that had been growing there. But it seemed to be a huge shift and was never quite nurtured nor supported so I suppose that was the push for me to make my base in LA.

Congratulations on your appointment as Order of Canada! Take us back to the moment when you got the news and what this means to you?
I maintained a presence for a long time in Montreal in the 90's as well as in Toronto with my involvement on many film projects. I was a Board Member for the Academy of Canadian Cinema representing the Art Department members 2007-2011 and The AFC Actors Fund of Canada 2008-2014. I was also an active member of AMPAS Executive Committee Makeup Hair Branch for 12 years and student film judging and BAFTA LA Education Outreach. Being named as a member to the Order of Canada is a great honor (honour!) and I was simply delighted when the call came from the GG's office. I was still not sure it was all quite real until Fiona Reid texted from Toronto and Rick Mercer sent a message to say how my dear friend the late Shirley Douglas would be thrilled with this news which made me smile.

What’s next for you?
I am on location filming part 2 of Denis Villeneuve's "Dune"!

July 2022 Canadian of the Month
Stacy Grace - Founder, KENT

Stacy Grace is the founder of KENT, the compostable underwear brand that’s on a mission to help save the planet, one super natural basic at a time. Born in North Bay and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Stacy started her career in sustainable business consulting across apparel, consumer goods and entertainment in North America, UK and Europe and started KENT after being frustrated with her underwear drawer filled with scratchy, unbreathable and uncomfortable synthetics. Stacy is a former lead consultant at one of the world’s pre-eminent purpose brand consultancy and has worked with TOMS, Timberland and SONY. Her post-graduate degree is in sustainability from Cambridge and holds an MA from London College of Fashion. She is an avid home-composter and Tory Burch 2019 Fellow.

Why were you always interested in fashion sustainability? 
I'm inspired by small everyday actions that can make big change - from the type of dental floss you use to the underwear you put on in the morning. And because everyone wears underwear or clothes (for the most part), it's something everyone can relate to, have a voice and help drive positive change. After learning of the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, namely CO2 emissions and landfill waste - I wanted to be part of helping create a change.

What brought you to LA? 
I originally moved to LA after being hired by a sustainable textile start-up, that worked with women in emerging markets who created handmade fabrics and collaborated with fashion brands in North America. It was an enlightening experience in not only sustainable fashion but ethical supply chain management. After I arrived in LA, which I had never been to before moving here (as a fun fact), I saw the manufacturing that existed and eventually realized I could bring my idea for KENT to life. 

Why underwear and what can you tell us about your product? 
We all wear underwear! It’s the one piece of clothing that you also can’t donate or resell at its end of life, and most often ends up in landfill. Over 100,000,000 pounds of clothes end up in the landfill every year, and so I saw underwear as the perfect starting point to create that change. Our underwear are 100% organic, fully compostable at end-of-life and softer and stronger than conventional underwear. Everything we make is made in Los Angeles, and all components are fully plant-based and verified compostable by our composting partner, LA compass. We love composting because it has a net-positive impact. When you compost your KENT undies whenever their time is up, they actually capture carbon from the atmosphere.

Can you tell us about the trials and tribulations of starting your own brand here in LA and any advice you have? 
I was told 'no' too many times to count! That it would be impossible to manufacture underwear domestically in the U.S. (everyone was doing it overseas). Luckily, LA still has a manufacturing industry, though I know it is much smaller now than before. My advice? Expect the no's, celebrate the maybe's and thrive in the 'yes' once you get them - because if you are passionate, driven and have grit you’ll find a way. 

How can Canadians here in LA support YOU? 
The best way to support a small brand is to choose to shop with them! Or to share their story with friends and family. 

June 2022 Canadian of the Month

Giselle J. Phelps, Founder & CEO of Grand Rising Talent

Giselle J. Phelps (she/her) is the Founder & CEO of Grand Rising Talent. Marking a decade of media entrepreneurship, Giselle has proven to be a highly trusted, strategic, and creative client advisor. Giselle has extensive experience in the development of high impact, results-driven media and communication strategies that elevate talent and brand awareness. 

Before entrepreneurship, Giselle spent a decade working in television news. Giselle was a general assignment news reporter for a television station in Syracuse and a weekend anchor/reporter for a 24-hour cable news station in Buffalo. Giselle also worked as a reporter in Dallas, which is the 5th largest media market in the U.S. Additionally, Giselle has held various producing roles at the national level in the U.S. & Canada. Giselle was also a part of a Daytime Emmy-winning team for a nationally syndicated court program. 

Giselle holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She grew up in Ontario, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in Toronto. She also attended the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia on a study abroad program. Giselle is a regular public speaker and emcee for nonprofits, colleges, and youth organizations. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Outfest. Giselle has appeared on ABC News’ Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Bravo, Sirius XM Radio, Fox News Radio, and many other outlets across North America. 

What brought you to LA?
The pandemic brought me from NYC to L.A. After months stuck inside my Harlem apartment solo, I was looking for a change and more access to the outdoors. Also, my sister moved to L.A. during the pandemic too. She’s wanted to live here for about 20 years. Her excitement about the city definitely influenced me. 

What does Juneteenth mean to you personally?
My maternal family line has been in Canada since before the Emancipation Proclamation was passed here in the U.S. My great-great grandfather was a part of the Underground Railroad and settled in St. Catharines, Ontario. Black families in Niagara have marked Juneteenth for decades with an annual picnic in Port Dalhousie that I attend every year growing up. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, a defining central value for me. 

How do you support diversity and what advice do you have on how to increase representation?
Diversity is at the core of my daily work and my business is dedicated to representation. I founded Grand Rising Talent, which is a Los Angeles-based licensed talent agency & media strategy firm connecting diverse television talents and on-camera experts to impactful opportunities. We specializes in advocating for talent from diverse, intersectional backgrounds, including communities of color and LGBTQ+ identities. We currently represent a growing roster of talent including national talk show hosts, news anchors, cable news contributors, on-camera food experts, health & wellness experts and business experts. My advice when it comes to increasing representation is to honor who people are authentically and amplify everything that makes them unique. 

What made you decide to start your own business?
When I was a TV reporter in Dallas, I developed a passion for telling stories that gave underserved populations, women, and millennials a voice. I saw an opportunity to step outside of the newsroom and help people get their stories told by the media, so I started GJP Media Services in 2012. From there, friends across the television industry frequently inquired for strategy, referrals, guidance, connections, and support in their career journeys. It became clear there was power in talents being served by an executive who understands first-hand what it means to be a talent, and empathizes with the challenges talent face navigating an ever-changing media landscape. This is what led me to create Grand Rising Talent.

What advice would you give your 21 year old self?
Don’t be afraid to pivot and shift as you gain new experiences, develop new skills, and are exposed to new opportunities. Our goals and priorities can change and that’s what life is all about. Be as flexible and open as possible. You never know where it will take you. At 21, I never would have imagined I’d be living in L.A. running my own company. 

May 2022 Canadian of the Month

Ghen Laraya Long, Technotainment Attorney

Ghen Laraya Long is an experienced international technotainment attorney. She specializes in transactional contracts for the creation, production, and distribution of traditional media content over new media platforms. Her most recent projects were production legal on Oscar Nominated Shorts Welcome Back, White Eye and Boxed, as well as permissions on Nell Scovell’s memoir Just The Funny Parts. She has a roster of technotainment clients ranging from producers, directors, writers, musicians, and actors as well as startups for whom she provides advice and production attorney services. Prior to recent stints with Disney and Red Bull Media, she was VP Business and Legal Affairs for Mandalay Digital Group Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Digital Turbine Inc., Assistant General Counsel and Director of Mobile Partnerships for CBS Corporation, International Corporate Counsel for Amp’d Mobile, and Business and Legal Affairs Counsel for Tokyopop! Inc. She is currently a board member of Echo Training and has served on the boards of Women in Film and Greenlight Women, and is an active member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, serving on her Peer Group Executive Council. She is qualified to practice law in Ontario, and California and is a polyglot.

What is Technotainment? 
I first heard the term when I was starting out as an in-house lawyer at Yahoo! Inc. in Silicon Valley – I have always taken it to mean the merger of technology and entertainment- so technology as a means by which we consume and interact with entertainment content and also technology as entertainment content in and of itself.

Did you always know you wanted to work at this specific intersection of law and entertainment?
I didn’t always know because I like to think that I was part of the ‘nerd culture’ that found technology entertaining and turned it into content. It’s even more surprising because although I didn’t really enjoy (real) property law, intellectual property law is my jam.

What advice do you have for women wishing to enter the tech space and rise to a C-Suite position?
There’s so much that happens between those two events that it’s hard to give really useful advice so I think I’ll give the standard legal response: it depends. Entering the tech space seems to be a lot easier than it was before: there’s been some movement on women CEOs but of the Fortune 500, only 74 companies are led by female CEOs; it’s up from 41 in 2021 and 7 in 2002 but that’s still not even 15%. I do find it hopeful that there are so many more female entrepreneurs out there- 28% of startups have at least one female founder. So some general advice would be: know your space (industry), take up space, better to ask for forgiveness than permission, find mentors and champions who are in the space and when you are in a position to do so, pay that forward. We need to rise and fight together as a marginalized group to be able to get equity of opportunity and pay. I only recently started digging into the distinction between equity and equality and I think it’s a really important difference in terms of defining success as an advocate.  Also, believe her- let’s get out of the habit of victim shaming – if a colleague comes to you and says she’s been treated unfairly or worse, assaulted, believe her. 

You are involved with a lot of nonprofit organizations. Tell us about your involvement over the years and what are your latest projects?
Most if not all of my nonprofit work stems from me actively defining myself: I identify as so many things but because of my identities are all marginalized, I’m always looking for ways to fight for equity for the marginalized.
As such, I served the maximum 9 year term on the board of Women in Film Los Angeles, the founding chapter of the international organization, I am a co-founder of Greenlight Women, served on the boards of Echo- a non-profit focused on trauma informed training, have been active with Fil-Am Creative, CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), Canadians Abroad and am starting a tenure with the board of Fil-Am Arts. 

Why do you feel it’s important for you to be so involved in nonprofit work?
I became a lawyer because I wanted to be of service- I definitely want to leave this world a better place for me having been here. I feel that non-profits are a natural fit to my profession: Non-profits are thought leaders and centralized resources for people wanting to fight for the same cause – they’re already pre-organized and motivated to act to effectuate change.

It is Asian American Heritage Month. The Asian American community has come under increased racial profiling and threat since the start of the pandemic. Have you experienced anti-asian racism and how do you deal? 
I find it interesting that the US calls its AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage month but Canada calls it Asian Heritage month. There’s a whole conversation for another time about what it is to be AAPI versus Asian American versus Asian Canadian versus Asian but if I understand the question correctly, I have never felt as Asian as I did when I moved to the US. I’ve lived in Europe and I guess because I expected to be a ‘foreigner’, any racism was tolerable because I was visiting and could leave. But here like in Canada, I’m a visible minority; but unlike Canada, I’m very conscious and aware of where I go in the US – there are places I do not feel safe travelling to – alone or with my mixed race child.
At the start of the pandemic when I saw the first viral post about a Filipina at a local park near where I live being told to go back to whatever Asian country she came from and that that same woman had verbally assaulted an Asian man with a young son and physically assaulted another Filipina at the local mall, well, I got really angry. I did feel less angry when I heard how many allies ended up going to the park the very next day to make sure all Asians felt safe exercising at the park without harassment. But then elderly members of our communities were getting beaten and killed and the only response I could think of was to take self-defense courses to minimize the damage when incidents are unavoidable. I made sure that my mom who is a snowbird would not be travelling anywhere unaccompanied- and that added to pandemic lockdowns just really made me feel caged and afraid. I would only shop at places where I knew there would be other Asians shopping and working there “out of an abundance of caution”. 
The Atlanta spa shootings happened and were really traumatizing. I got angry all over again- especially when officials were saying that it wasn’t a hate crime or racially motivated. That so many couldn’t see that the press releases that were initially released by officials were so systemically racist was horrifying. Even having discussions with friends or colleagues who stated they believed it wasn’t racially motivated was very triggering. I hadn’t yet heard of the concept of calling someone ‘in’ versus calling them ‘out’ so I just shut down because my lived experience of this horrific tragedy was being denied. I knew as did every other Asian woman that they were killed because they were Asian women. I attended a lot of panels and did some reading (I am still in the process of doing more and will likely always be) and now when I experience anti-asian racism or really hate in general, I feel I’m better equipped to deal with it- I know where my community is and how to ask for help and support, and also how to use the situation as a way of spreading knowledge and understanding and hopefully helping everyone turn hate into understanding if not love and division into unity. I am using these tools to be an ally for the marginalized groups that I’m not a member of as well because working against hate is a process and we all have to come to terms with our role in a systemically racist society: it’s not binary – we’re all on a spectrum of racism. 

Do you think we will see positive change come from all of this?
Well we know change is inevitable and the needle has recently been moving to the positive side but I feel like the pandemic definitely set us way back to net negative. I want to believe that love triumphs over hate but hate has lately been so. very. loud.  I hope that as we call in more people rather than calling them out that we can gain the momentum we need to back at net positive. I’d love to see substantial change in our lifetime but recognize the constant battles required to win this war.

Who are some of your Asian-American, and Asian-Canadian, heroes?
That’s a tough question. Michelle Yeoh is actually Malaysian but as I’ve told everyone I can, go see EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, because she’s AMAZING and it’s bananas but such a fun movie.
What I love about my identities is their intersectionalities: what Canadians and Filipinos have in common in my experience is the ‘claiming of celebrities’. For example, if you see Ryan Reynolds, you immediately point out that he’s Canadian…well if I see Lou Diamond Philipps, I  say “he’s Filipino”. So I’m going to go on a claiming spree for Asian and Asian descended s/heroes. In no particular order (and please everyone take note of this list and go watch and/or listen to their stuff): Bruce Lee, Sandra Oh, Lucy Liu, H.E.R, Lea Salonga, George Takei, Simu Liu, Veena Sud, Miranda Kwok (showrunner for The Cleaning Lady), Ming-Na Wen, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita, Tia Carrere, Janina Gavankar, Russell Peters, Jo Koy, Vanessa Hudgens, Nicole Scherzinger, Shay Mitchell, Saweetie, Olivia Rodrigo, Manny Jacinto, Hailee Steinfeld, Bruno Mars, Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Ziyi Zhang, Awkwafina, Brenda Song, Veena Sud, Mindy Kaling, Daniel Henny, Henry Golding, Leylah Annie Fernandez,  Constance Wu, Gemma Chan, Harry Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, the Jabbawockeez, Ronny Chieng, Nico Santos, Rex Lee, Tanya Evidente, Stella Abrera, Chad Mowrey, Liz Masakayan, Dan Inosanto, Ali Wong, Margaret Cho, Amy Chan, Rowena Arguelles, Karla Bobadilla, Isabel Sandoval, Chloe Zhao, Karyn Kusama, Justin Chon, Steven Yeun, Lana Condor, the Basco brothers, Walt Boholst, AJ Calomay, AJ Rafael, Maia Alvina, all the Asian Disney Princesses. Aargh, I know I’m missing so many- all of the Asians who are out there representing in their industry! And last and most importantly my family including my brother who was a child actor, my mom, for being my personal shero and my dad, a Filipino-Canadian martial arts legend.  

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get a Turning Red donut and some Jollibee while wearing my LA Kings jersey with my Roots Sweatpants and the Bay Jacket. Those of you who know me, know that this is 100% accurate. 

April's Canadian of the Month
Nicole Demerse, Screenwriter and Producer

Nicole's passion for storytelling has taken her on a continent-wide adventure, writing for over three dozen productions, including as writer and Consulting Producer on Hulu's YA, sci-fi series Utopia Falls, Peacock's half-hour dramedy Mohawk Girls and Teen Nick's Degrassi: The Next Generation. Nicole's writing on Degrassi: The Next Generation garnered her a Canadian Screen Award nomination for a two-part episode on teen abortion that was banned in the U.S. and she won a Writer's Guild of Canada Award for her script on the family comedy Blobheads.

Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science degree and started her Master's in Marine Biology before being accepted into the prestigious University of Toronto Medical School, is a proud alumna of the Canadian Film Centre, the National Screen Institute, the Shaw Media Showrunner Training Program, has sat on the Writer's Guild of Canada board and is a Governor for the Television Academy.

Tell us more about your transition from University of Toronto Medical School, to writing, and how your parents took the news?
Not well! Growing up in Toronto, even with all the service production we do there, I never knew “television writer” was an actual job. My mom was a first generation Canadian, and like most immigrant families, there were only two acceptable jobs in my house – doctor and lawyer. Luckily, I loved biology and enrolled in a pre-med degree before specializing in Marine Biology. It took me a few years but I eventually realized that a “Marine Biologist” was only a job one had on TV, and that started the whole unravelling process. I had grown up watching Nova, Jacques Cousteau, a Disney show called Danger Bay about a Marine Biologist… you see where I’m going with this. After I graduated, it hit me that television had thoroughly shaped my life and my career goals. So I started writing scripts on the weekends while simultaneously applying to medical school. In my early twenties, I hit a proverbial fork in the road – go to med school or take the high risk/high return road of becoming a television writer. Fortunately, my mom was incredibly supportive and used to dream of going to the Oscars one day. I didn’t have the heart to tell her my dream was to be at the Emmy’s! The life of a writer can be so insecure, I used to wonder if I made the right decision but when the pandemic hit, I knew I did. I was not cut out to be a Doctor, just to write about them on TV. 

Tell us about one of your first jobs working with Drake and Nina Dobrev. What were they like, and did you know they’d go on to be such big stars south of the border? 
Degrassi: The Next Generation was one of my first jobs in the industry. I started writing when I was in my twenties and wasn’t much older than the cast. I learned so much on that show, both about myself and how to write for television. Drake, well we knew him as Aubrey back then, was already cast when I joined the show in season three, but our team cast Nina Dobrev. She was brand new to TV and when we saw her audition, it was clear to everyone she was going to be a big star. I remember one day, Aubrey came up to the writers and told us he was doing a “rap battle” that night. I only had a vague idea what that was, but looking back, I wish I had gone to see him perform. Who knows, maybe I could’ve had a career in artist management and been much, much wealthier.  

How does pursing a writing career differ in the US versus Canada?
When I started writing television in the mid-aughts, television definitely felt more regional. You were either a Canadian TV writer or an American TV writer. Now with streaming, and the decline in the traditional broadcast model, series are much more international. So it’s a huge benefit and privilege to be able to work in both countries, across international borders, with no restrictions. I worked really hard to earn my Green Card, but it was worth every tough, challenging moment. As far as the day-to-day challenges go, it’s basically the same in both countries. Everyone always says there’s much more competition in the US, but there’s also much more opportunity. When you delve into the numbers, sorry that’s my scientist brain at work again, there are basically the same amount of working television writers in both countries, adjusted for population size. 

Tell us about your new role as a Governor for the Television Academy? 
I was elected this year by my peers at the Television Academy to represent writers and to be one of their two Governors, along with my fantastic colleague and friend, Judalina Neira. Television has always been a love of mine, ever since I could remember, so to be a part of such a storied institution is a dream come true. We’re really excited to make things happen for our community, plus it’s really cool to be able to go to the Emmy’s! 

How do you keep yourself motivated when not writing on a show?
Fear and self-loathing. I joke, but honestly, there really isn’t a time when I’m not writing on a show. If I’m not getting paid to write on someone else’s series, I’m creating and writing my own stuff. There have been a few times, especially during the pandemic, when I thought it would be nice to get off the proverbial hamster wheel for a month of two and recharge, but whenever I try that, that’s always when the next idea strikes and I have to write it down before I forget. I always have an unfinished something on my computer that taunts me at 3 a.m. when I’m trying to sleep. 

With everything moving online, is it is easier to be a cross-border writer?
Yes and no. In some ways it’s an introvert’s dream and I think the switch to Zoom has made some of the day-to-day aspects of our industry easier. For instance, you don’t have to drive across town for a meeting in rush hour, or even physically be in town for a meeting. But as the pandemic drags on, I really miss being in an in-person writer’s room and on-set. There’s something about having 8-10 incredibly smart and funny people stuck in a room together until they come up with a workable solution. Or 100+ people on set all working toward the same goal of making the series the best it can be. There’s no replacing that, and as exhausting as it can be sometimes, it’s still the most exciting and fulfilling part of my job. 

Are there major sensibility differences you’ve noticed when writing between countries, and what is your favorite genre to write?
That’s an interesting question. I’d say that yes, 10 or 20 years ago, Canadian TV got the (sometimes unfair) rap of being softer, or having less conflict than the direct, in-your-face, American-style TV. Streaming has changed all that – now people from around the world can watch whatever they want, from whatever country they want, on demand. That has definitely affected both the tastes of the audience and what writers like myself want to write. One only has to look at the phenomenal success of shows like SCHITT’S CREEK to see that Canadian television has definitely come into its own. As far as my favorite genre goes, that’s a bit more complicated. In Canada, you have to be a jack of all trades and cobble together a career by writing for drama, comedy, kids & family and animation. In the US you can be more of a specialist, in fact, it’s encouraged. I’ve written my fair share of YA (young adult) and comedy and while those genres will always be close to my heart, I’m really focusing on medical series and sci-fi now. I always tell emerging writers that it helps if you can sum up what you do in one sentence, so I like to say I will be the “almost Doctor” on your medical show, or help put a bit more “sci” into your sci-fi series. 

March's Canadian of the Month
Shereen AraZm Koules
Restaurateur, Nightclub Owner and Television Personality

Shereen AraZm Koules is an international restaurateur, nightclub owner and television personality. The Canadian native got her start in the hospitality industry waiting tables at Toronto-based Italian eatery, Terroni. After ascending to the top of Los Angeles’ nightlife scene, AraZm returned to her Terroni roots in 2007 as co-owner of the Italian import’s West Hollywood location—the first in the United States—which she has built into a local institution and expanded to Downtown L.A. in 2013.

Having established herself as a power player in L.A.’s dining and nightlife culture, in 2010, AraZm added TV personality to her resume, serving as resident judge on “Top Chef Canada” for four seasons. She was named one of Los Angeles Magazine’s top four entertainment hosts in Southern California, and from 2013-2014, served as brand ambassador for Nespresso Canada.

In 2015, AraZm opened Dopolavoro, a modern neighborhood market and deli located next to Terroni's downtown location's storefront.

In fall 2019 AraZm teamed up with a Canadian plant-based restaurant group, Fresh Restaurants, to open the first U.S. location. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, AraZm and Fresh Canada decided that it would be best for Fresh to return to the U.S. at a later date.

In Feb 2020, AraZm opened Dopolavoro's second location, next door to Terroni Beverly, which has become a neighborhood favorite like the restaurant itself.

Currently Shereen is working on expanding the Terroni brand, the first step being the expansion and remodel of the beloved first Terroni US location on Beverly Blvd. Shereen is married to husband Oren Koules whom she met by happenstance on a flight from Toronto in 2005. They have three children and are based in Los Angeles.

When and why did you decide to permanently relocate to LA?
I was living in NYC in 1999 and came with a friend to “visit” for three months. I never left!

What's your secret sauce for being a successful Canadian female in the Canadian and US food scene?
Honestly, just hard work. There is no shortcut. Work everywhere, do every job. There isn’t any job that you are too good for. I washed dishes and made coffee at the first Terroni! I didn’t ever say no to a shift. I was never that girl that wanted to be out instead of at work.

For those wishing to expand their business globally, do you have any advice about how to do it?
Everything is relationships. Remember that, make positive connections and be your authentic self. Make your intentions clear and plant roots in other places you want your business to grow.

You've achieved a lot of success - nightclubs, numerous restaurants and even serving as a judge on Top Chef Canada. What's next for you?
Next for me is growing the Terroni brand in Los Angeles. We survived the pandemic and are expanding the Beverly Blvd location. After 14 years of being a neighborhood and city favorite, we need to give the space a little love and remodel. It will still be the same beloved space, just with a few updates and more seats.

What advice would you give your 25 year old self?
It’s all going to be ok. Keep going, your best life is coming!

January's Canadian of the Month

Sara Perry, Director & Senior Counsel, Marketing Legal at Netflix

Recognized as a leader in Marketing and Advertising Law in the United States and Canada, Sara has over 20 years of experience working with the world’s largest brands, media, tech and entertainment companies. In her current role as Director and Senior Counsel at Netflix, Sara heads up the UCAN Marketing Legal team supporting Netflix’s Films, Documentaries, Kids & Family, Awards, Communications and Marketing Partnerships teams. Prior to joining Netflix, Sara built up and ran the Marketing Business & Legal Affairs department for the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group composed of Universal Studios, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation. Before going in-house, Sara worked in private practice in Toronto at Heenan Blaikie LLP and in New York City at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz and Skadden Arps. In her early career Sara was recognized as one of Marketing Magazine’s “Ones To Watch: Marketing’s Next Generation”. Sara has also been named in The Best Lawyers in Canada – Best Lawyers® for her work in Advertising & Marketing Law. 

While Sara has lived in Los Angeles since 2014, she is originally from Vancouver, and will always consider this ‘home’. Sara holds a B.Comm from Queen’s University and a J.D. from the University of British Columbia. Outside of her work in entertainment and advertising, Sara’s passions include travel, skiing/snowboarding (at Whistler), hiking, running, attending concerts, interior design and spending time with her nephews Emmanuel and Elijah. 

What brought you to LA?
The law firm I was working at dissolved seemingly overnight. I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. A client of mine - DreamWorks Animation - had just secured a distribution deal to create multiple shows for a company called Netflix and convinced me to move to Hollywood to build up and lead their Marketing Legal department supporting marketing, partnerships, publicity and branding. I had only been to LA once before (for a bachelorette party) and wasn’t sure whether I would like it. But, I’ve always been comfortable with change and have had a difficult time saying no when an exciting new opportunity presents itself, so I said YES. That was eight years ago!

Tell us about the day in the life of Sara?
It’s changed a lot since the Pandemic. I used to pride myself on packing in a full day every day and my life revolved around work. Now, I’m travelling less and things that used to fill my calendar, like premieres, industry events, concerts and dinner parties are almost non-existent. The forced slow down made me realize I was burning myself out mostly for the benefit of others. As things start to open up again I am being much more intentional and selective about how and with whom I spend my time. I also learned how to prioritize and incorporate self-care into my daily routine. I start each day with a ride or run on the Peloton bike or tread (find me @PtiteSirah) followed by strength training or yoga. I do a short morning meditation, some journaling and set some goals (and boundaries) for my day. These are non-negotiable for me now. After my morning routine, I listen to the headlines on a few news podcasts - a favorite is CNN’s 5 Things - and then I spend some time catching up on the entertainment industry and pop culture. Part of my job working in entertainment marketing requires me to have an understanding of what’s trending, how people are connecting with one another and where they are spending time (yes, even if that means taking a scroll through TikTok!). What typically follows is a day of back-to-back meetings and calls that usually require quick decisions and guidance to support and provide direction to our incredibly hard working teams at Netflix. We’re constantly releasing new programs so it’s never a dull moment. Days start early and run late when you’re working with international teams, so I block off time during the day to take a walk outside and I make sure to turn off at a reasonable time so I have enough time to recharge and do something for me. 

Did you always know you wanted to be in advertising and marketing law?
Definitely not. I didn’t even know that was a career one could have! I did however, grow up obsessed with advertising and branding and dreamed of working on Madison Avenue in New York. I majored in marketing in Business School and began working in advertising agencies straight after. I loved working for brands on strategy and being involved in the creative process. But I had two dads growing up, both lawyers, and I felt the pressure from my family to get a second degree. So I went to law school and following a successful three years at the University of British Columbia, I joined the prestigious law firm Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom working in Mergers & Acquisitions and Project Finance. The firm was located at 4 Times Square so I got my dream of moving to New York after all! But after a few years I felt pulled to pursue my passions of working in marketing, media and entertainment. I spoke with a headhunter who helped me find a boutique law firm that specialized in entertainment and advertising law. I was able to merge my interests and my expertise and carved out a rewarding practice in a niche space. I can happily say I’m practicing the best kind of law and I never feel like a “lawyer”.

You head up the UCAN Marketing Legal team supporting Netflix’s Films, Documentaries, Kids & Family, Awards, Communications and Marketing Partnerships teams. What’s your favorite part and why?
All of it. Getting to work at this company is incredible. The people, the pace, the work, the culture… I am surrounded by a stunning group of colleagues who are all passionate and excellent at what they do. The quantity and quality of the work we produce is amazing. The teams I support are always thinking outside of the box and pushing the boundaries. Each day is truly unique and entirely unpredictable. I love that. I never get bored and I am constantly learning and growing as a result of working here. 

Why do you feel that it’s important to connect with other Canadians living here in Southern California?
I can’t think of a time when connection and community felt more relevant than they do right now. It’s been difficult for many of us to travel back to Canada to see loved ones. Spending time with other Canadians helps me feel more connected to home. It also provides a sense of comfort and familiarity, which contribute positively to mental health. In addition to the support Canadians can provide to one another during these difficult times, there are several added benefits to staying connected with Canadians in SoCal. You will meet incredibly interesting people, some of whom may turn into lifelong friends! You can learn invaluable tips and tricks that will save you time, money and hardship - like, don’t import your vehicle…just don’t. You can also make life changing connections! I’ve never met a Canadian who’s not willing to help out another Canadian, or make a connection, or invite them to a party so they can meet some folks. Never underestimate the value of a good networking opportunity or how good it feels to help a newly arrived Canadian find their footing. So on that note, please feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to connect. Otherwise, I look forward to seeing and meeting many of you at the next Canadians Abroad event in LA!

December's Canadians of the Month

Lisa Ng & Paul St Onge, Founders of Doing Good Digital

Paul and Lisa moved to LA eight years ago and recently launched Doing Good Digital on an E2 investors Visa. They currently manage a remote team located across the US and Canada with a strong client base here in Southern California.

Doing Good Digital is a boutique agency of expert online fundraisers and digital consultants. They help nonprofits grow their digital fundraising program by providing strategy, design and development for their online assets. Their expertise includes digital fundraising, website builds, peer-to-peer fundraising, social media strategy, email marketing, Luminate Online, TeamRaiser, and many other fundraising platforms.

Their clients include Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Rady Children’s Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Providence of Southern California, World Wildlife Fund, National Park Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Central Park Conservancy, Skechers Foundation, Can Do MS, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Ontario SPCA, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and more, some even back home in Canada.

Part of the understanding with their Visa is that they had to create jobs here in the US - so the pressure was on to grow quickly when they first launched the company back in 2018.

They will be an eight person company by the end of this year with 50% of the full-time staff being women of color. As an Asian woman, representation and diversity on the team is incredibly important to Lisa. Lisa wants to see diversity in the team they build and that they intentionally include diverse voices for the communities they serve.

What brought you to LA?
A large portion of the clients we serve are based in Southern California. In pre-COVID times there were more in-person meetings, so we had decided that LA would be an excellent home base for us. And of course, the weather doesn’t hurt either! Now we have clients based all over the US, but we just love it out here and choose to call California home.

What does Doing Good Digital do and what made you want to start your company?
We help nonprofits raise money online - by leveraging the technology, tools, software, and digital strategy available to them. That can mean making sure donation forms and websites follow best practices and are mobile-friendly, running integrated multi-channel fundraising campaigns, cleaning up databases, creating stewardship pieces, or dreaming up engaging and unique fundraising campaigns.
We really enjoy working with nonprofits and having this mission of helping make the world a better and kinder place. We started our company with this goal in mind, but we also love the flexibility of working for ourselves, being able to choose our clients, and running our own company.

Where is your remote team located and as an employer, how do you maintain a strong connection with them over such a far distance?
We have team members based in Boston, Salt Lake City, Asheville, Missouri, and people in different parts of the west coast. We book regular virtual airbnb experiences and happy hours where our team can connect in a relaxed creative setting, where we all learn something new. We’ve taken virtual chocolate making classes, painting classes, mixology nights, wine tastings, walking tours of European cities, and even a charcuterie styling class. It’s just a fun way to learn more about our team members - especially the ones we onboarded virtually and have never met IRL.

What advice do you have for people looking to start or scale their online technology companies?
Read and learn as much as you can, as fast as you can to shortcut your success. I made a goal to read a book every other week on topics like entrepreneurship, management, business books, personal development, mindset, finance, and whatever was speaking to me during our growth period. It was like getting a personal MBA and creating a syllabus for your business and your life. A habit like this can really help propel you personally and professionally. Since we’re always stuck in traffic in LA, I actually listen to all of my books on audible or when I’m out walking my dog.

We know you are huge foodies and have your own instagram. Tell us what your favourite hot spots are these days and why?
I share fun food photos on my personal IG @helloLisaNg and on my food account @EatWithLisa_

For dim sum, I absolutely love Capital Seafood in Beverly Hills or Lunasia in SGV. For pizza, the Burrata pizza at Gjelina is my all-time fave - the sauce is perfect and the wood-fired pizza crust is some of the best I’ve had. I have also been loving the homemade hummus and pita pocket sandwiches from Hasiba. We’ve also been getting our Japanese curry and karaage fix from a takeout window on Sawtelle, called Anzu. And if you’re going out with a group, a hot pot night at HaiDiLo is entertaining and delicious!

November 2021 Canadian of the Month
Dave Morris, Talent Manager

Dave Morris started his music career at EMI Music in Toronto. Three years later, he would spearhead the record-setting “59 Ways to Funk” campaign.

After a series of successful platinum campaigns across Virgin, EMI and Astralwerks labels for 30 Seconds to Mars, Daft Punk, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nickelback, The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Air, Tina Turner and many others, Dave lead career-spanning initiatives including the infamous Iron Maiden Eddie releases, Massive Attack’s 100th Window - which landed at #1 and owned the Top 3x Billboard catalogue chart positions - and a global Rolling Stones classic reissue series.

Morris then moved to Capitol Records in Hollywood, taking American-signed acts like Sean Lennon, The Dandy Warhols, Jane’s Addiction, Yellowcard, and OkGo, worldwide.  

In 2007, he transitioned into artist management, implementing his expansive music expertise with Melissa Etheridge, Dave Koz, Adam Cohen, Vicci Martinez, and discovering platinum-selling singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson.

Morris soon formed the management company Cornerman Music, leading major-label artists Philip Sayce, Eric Hutchinson, Puddle of Mudd, Kay Cook, Falls, Julian Moon, Distant Cousins, Finger Eleven, Serena Ryder, Kai Exos, and many others.

Its branding offshoot CornerMarket, is a licensing and consulting service for corporate clients; Custom Made is Cornerman’s label division.

As a music supervisor and a producer, Dave produced and co-created the successful podcast People in My Phone (HarperCollins), countless music videos, and is currently developing documentaries on rock superstars.

How did you make the move from EMI in Toronto to Capitol Records in Hollywood and how was your transition to LA?
There were a series of exciting projects at EMI that I was fortunate enough to be part of. We had incredibly successful career-spanning launches for the Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Tina Turner, Jane’s Addiction and Massive Attack that got global attention, as well as our domestic priority, Nickelback.  Leading those campaigns paved the way for an international post at Capitol, my dream job. That first summer here was mind blowing, landed on Thursday, started on Monday, and feels like full speed ever since.

What is your typical day like as a music manager?
It’s never a typical day, usually a mix of shows, meetings, studios, endless communications. The artists are 24-7, but I try to stick to some routine for focus and creativity. There’s a lot of moving parts that go into all of it – recording, touring, releases – it’s an artful balance keeping different personalities aligned. The through-line, though, is always the music, the rush of hearing a hit song for the first time, the electric energy from a live performance, seeing an idea happen spontaneously in the studio...the constant feeling that anything is always possible.

What's your secret sauce to scaling your talent globally?
My philosophy is locally, regionally, nationally, globally. If a song works somewhere it can work anywhere. But it needs to happen somewhere first. The other piece of this is knowing what the next step and last step looks like. You may want to have a huge hit, but just didn’t expect it would be in Japan. What happens along the way is usually filled with amazing surprises, hits make for a wild ride.

You've worked with the world's best talent including 30 Seconds to Mars, Tina Turner, Melissa Etheridge, Daft Punk, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nickelback, The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and the list goes on. Who did you enjoy working with the most and why?
Each artist brings their own energy, there’s a lot in common, but the journey is unique. Sean Lennon was above and beyond in every way. An amazing artist, gentlemen, and visionary. The campaign, while originating in the US, really caught fire in France and spread from there. We were going to Europe constantly to stoke the success. Sean was a different level worldly, there was an incredible cast of characters showing up, and with them came opportunity…a spontaneous photoshoot with Italian Vogue at the Ritz, to The Stones as surprise dinner guests. At some point, you just go with it. Dave Koz is another, a brilliant artist and person, Southeast Asia was exploding for him after we did a version of the album with local superstars and were on a whirlwind promo tour, police escorts roaring through the streets of Japan, or we’d be at a mall in Jakarta and thousands of people would show up when we were expecting hundreds. It was nuts.   

Now that you run your own management company Cornerman Music, can you tell us a bit about what you look for when you decide to manage talent?
I’m grateful to work with so much Canadian talent. The perspective from the US, especially for campaigns generating from Canada, has proven a valuable expertise, applying it either as a talent manager or providing specialized label and management services. It’s a niche that also keeps me connected to home, which I’ve missed so much during Covid. We play with big stakes, If you can parlay a hit to the US, you can take it worldwide, and we work to accomplish that every day. There are more ways for artists to succeed than ever, but the fundamentals haven’t changed. I look for artists that can write their own songs, perform live, and want it more than anything. Successful artists have that burning passion to win, so do I, and having that in common usually makes a good match.

Do you have any tips for the musical hobbyist looking to take it to the next level?
Strive to be the best at what you do and keep your focus narrow. You can’t be everything and everywhere. Don’t be distracted by the highlight reel, focus on the game and play your heart out. Listen to feedback – especially when it’s positive – and know hits find their way eventually.

What's next for Dave Morris?
I’m excited for the world to hear and see the new Finger Eleven! We’ve been delayed by the pandemic, now ramping up for a big 2022. There is an amazing new artist, Cameron Philip, bursting out of Toronto, who is lighting up audiences everywhere; Cornerman Label Services, especially in US radio and sync, has grown exponentially and we’re also creating our own opportunity platforms, including podcasts and visual content, for Cornerman clients.

October 2021 Canadian of the Month
Sergio Navarretta
Director

Sergio Navarretta is an international award-winning director with a view to telling entertaining and meaningful stories on screen.
Sergio’s directing career began with award-winning short films, commercials, lifestyle television and documentaries, and has evolved into the world of feature film and television series, among other media. Sergio has helmed three dramatic features for S.N.A.P. Films Inc., including the true historical drama LOOKING FOR ANGELINA, THE COLOSSAL FAILURE OF THE MODERN RELATIONSHIP, and THE CUBAN. Sergio’s films have had successful festival screenings across the globe, won multiple awards, have had theatrical success, and are now in worldwide distribution.
Having worked in both live action and animation with top Hollywood talent, Sergio also brings his experience as a producer, service producer, and executive producer to S.N.A.P. Films Inc. He executive produced sci-fi feature ANDRON, starring Danny Glover and Alec Baldwin; executive produced and oversaw all aspects of production and casting for the star-studded animated feature ARCTIC DOGS, starring Jeremy Renner, James Franco, Anjelica Huston, Alec Baldwin, John Cleese, and Heidi Klum; is executive producing LAMBORGHINI, starring Alec Baldwin and Antonio Banderas, and acted as a consulting producer on TRADING PAINT, starring John Travolta and Shania Twain.
In addition to his prolific work in entertainment, he has served as a mentor in the Being Black in Toronto initiative; taught masterclasses for Reel Works in New York City, and sat on several panels for the Academy of Film and Television, TIFF, Women in Film Toronto, Ontario Creates, Halifax Black Film Festival, Alzheimer’s societies, and FOLCS (New York City). Recently, he was named president of the Jury for the ICFF/Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival in Toronto.
Sergio is currently developing a number of feature projects, television series, and projects across media.

How did you make the jump from short films, commercials, lifestyle television and documentaries to feature film and television series?
I always knew I wanted to be in film. I didn’t know anyone in the business and did not have a clear path to learning the craft and certainly not to enter the business. After a serendipitous encounter with film director James Cameron, (whos advice was the catalyst) I mustered up the courage to pave my own path and find my way. I made an ambitious film Over A Small Cup of Coffee on 35mm film. I realized the incredible advantage of embarking on a journey without knowing what you are in for affords you the opportunity to act without limitations and do things a rational and reasonable person would not do. There is nothing reasonable about this business, but I figure if you are to do a thing, you may as well do what you absolutely love. After my first film's world premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, I caught the bug as they say, and I never ever looked back. Obviously there are shifts in the industry, advances in technology and changes in the way audiences consume content. However it is imperative for all artists to continue creating and to quote one of my mentors, ‘no one can stop you from being creative’, regardless of what’s happening.

How has the consumption of film changed during the pandemic? (ex. special screenings, more pop-ups, streaming platforms, etc.).
It is incredible how resilient the industry and artists in general have been in what is arguably the most challenging time in the western world since WW2. With my last film The Cuban, we had just come off an incredible festival run ready to release theatrically in the US and Canada, until our dreams were dashed into the ditch by the pandemic. It was about a week that we were really deflated, then we got busy and started to dream again. We asked the simple question, what is a safe way to get the film out to our audience and get it screened during full lockdowns? We decided to explore a drive-in theatre release- a roadshow of sorts. It seemed to fit the esthetic of the film. We were invited to premiere the film at the iconic Ontario Place in downtown Toronto as part of the Lavazza Film Festival. It was the first time I drove a red carpet and conducted interviews via zoom on the red carpet from my car. In the U.S we had over 40 cities that booked the film as part of our theatrical roll out. As the world started to shut down like a row of dominos, they pivoted one by one to virtual. That presented its own set of challenges such as educating both the public as well as news outlets on what virtual cinema was and how it all worked. Despite that, it was met with much enthusiasm and great reviews. The cast, producing team, and I did about a four month “virtual” press tour. Suddenly the impossible became possible. I could do national interviews from the comfort of my home office. It was also much easier for the cast to accept requests as many of them were home. 2020 was a year I will never forget. I believe the industry has changed and like many industries, we see the before the pandemic and after the pandemic trends.

Are you seeing any trends in relation to independent films?
I feel the independent community (whatever that is nowadays) is larger than ever. As the film industry becomes polarized, on one side massive tent poll films and on the other micro-budget films, artists have the ability to tell their stories with accessibility of resources and technology. With adversity and pressure comes innovation and a desire to tell stories. I am optimistic about the new community of emerging filmmakers. I have made time to mentor lately and the ambition and drive of younger filmmakers is inspiring. Finally we are seeing a diversity of stories and a more balanced representation, which was long overdue. Also we have found creative ways to find our audiences for content and build them. Technology has been incredibly helpful in that and social media has also become a powerful tool.

What advice would you give to a film studies student?
This is mostly a game of resilience. It is hard for a reason. What I found in my experience is that it is hard for everyone, regardless of ones connections, good fortunes or background. Because of that developing ones craft is important, as well as developing the inner muscle and mindset. You have to know who you are, what value you bring, acknowledge your gift and share it any way that you can. We are all unique so comparing yourself to others is futile. We all have our own unique path. Also don’t be afraid to ask for advice and help. This is a team sport, and no one has ever made it alone. Eventually you will have a team of people working with you, so learn to collaborate and most importantly to communicate. Fall in love with the craft and commit to it fully. There are a lot of distractions but when you distill it down to its core, film is a form of storytelling, something humans have been doing since the beginning of time. It is the way we learn about ourselves, each other and ultimately connect to the world.

Has being Canadian shaped your craft?
Being Canadian is something I took for granted until I started sharing my work internationally. The fact that Canada is an amalgamation of cultures, and not clearly definable, makes our work unique. Our stories are diverse. This perspective is something that has been communicated to me and something I now appreciate. The displacement I felt growing up being caught between two worlds, two cultures ended up being one of my superpowers. I truly believe we as Canadians suffer from an identity crisis. As we strive to discover who we are, and uncover our collective history, that becomes a powerful driving force behind our content. I think it is important for Canadian artists to continue to pursue the truth in the work, and not make films that we think we have to make. Audiences respond to truth and authenticity.

Why do you choose to focus on socially conscious projects that explore the human condition?
From when I started making films, I was clear about who I was and what types of films I wanted to make. Obviously initially there was confusion around the definition of “socially conscious”. We eventually softened the mission statement to be broader but underneath it all, whatever we have done deals with the human condition and the goal is always to entertain, uplift and ultimately make an impact. I don’t watch horror movies or enjoy them so as a director I would not bring any kind of value to that type of project. I make the films I would like to see in a theater. It comes from my burning curiosity to learn, expand, and experience parts of ourselves and cultures that I don’t know much about. That is what I find exciting about it. There is enough negativity in the world today, that for me to get out of bed, I have to know that my work makes people feel something and somehow enriches their lives, even if it is only for 90 minutes.

What's next for you?
There are a couple of new film projects circling that I am exploring. Our company S.N.A.P. Films has optioned a book that is being developed into a series, and we have our own film projects in development. I am also launching a podcast entitled ‘Creativity Unleashed’ which will highlight leaders and top performers in sports, business, arts, and politics. The goal is to explore the mindset and rituals that contribute to their success and share those skill sets with artists in general. I’m sure many of these pearls of wisdom are transferable and valuable, especially for artists starting out. With technology, the information is out there and easily accessible, so there are less and less excuses to create.

April 2021 Canadian of the Month

Brian Christopher
Social Influencer and Founder of BC Slots

Brian Christopher, formerly of Toronto, moved to Los Angeles in 2015 with hopes to further his acting career only to find his life take a different direction one year later. He is now the world's top Social Influencer for Slot Machines and Casinos. With over a 250 million views, his channel BCSlots.com, showcases Brian as he posts daily videos and hosts weekly live streams and events from all over the country to more than 600,000 followers.

What brought you to LA?
I was an actor in Toronto since I was 11. It was my life long goal to get there. Once an opportunity for a work transfer came up for my husband, we jumped on it and moved within 6 weeks!

Tell us about your YouTube channel?
On my channel, I play slot machines. I upload 10 videos a week and go live three times a week from the casino and my studio (online slots). Each video I gamble thousands of dollars from $3 to $100 a spin at casinos all over the country and also host events with fans.
I have just over 600k followers between YouTube and Facebook and get around 600k views a day. YouTube alone has over 240 million views and we are growing by about 50k followers and 7 million views a month.

Why would anyone watch someone else play slots?
The same reason that the number one YouTube channel is a guy playing video games. Or why kids are fascinated watching other kids play with toys. Or why adults watch other people play sports. I’m doing something exciting that they can’t necessarily do easily, or be able to afford. Can’t say I’m more ‘skilled’ at it though, as slots require no skill. They also watch because of my personality and commentary. I’ve built a great relationship with my audience and have a great rapport with them. During the pandemic many fans have said that I kept them sane while they couldn’t go to the casino.

What is it about slots that you love more than any other casino game?
There is legitimately zero skill involved in playing slots. It’s for fun, a chance to relax and have fun with friends and maybe come away a winner! I get my excitement from it, so rather than spending $200 on concert tickets or a sporting event, I go to the casino! Slots have changed so much in the past 20 years and even in the past few years. Gone are the days of a single line game to hit three 7’s. Now you play games that are digital with hundreds of paylines and full of features and bonuses which makes it much more enjoyable (and volatile!). 

Take us on the journey from Canadian actor to YouTube star? 
I never planned for this. Doing what I do was never a job before I carved it out for myself. I literally uploaded a few videos of myself playing slots just for fun on my actor YouTube account not expecting anything from it. I saw a few others did it and so I thought it would be fun. I had my actor YouTube page for years and it probably had a few dozen subscribers and a hundred views on my demo reels. Within a month I had over a thousand subscribers and was invited into the partner program to start monetizing my videos. When I started making more money on YouTube than my Lyft/Uber/catering joe jobs, I decided to jump right in and see where it took me. Never did I expect how successful it could become. 

Any advice for people who want to monetize doing what they love?
You have to do it for the passion, and not for the money...at first. Build your audience by posting on a regular schedule with the highest quality videos you can put out there. The first 100 videos will suck, but you will grow and learn. As time goes on, and you build the trust of your audience, you can start listening to what they demand or what you think they would enjoy. For me I started off giving away free merchandise. Any time someone would spot me in a casino, I’d give them a poker chip with my face and name on it. By doing that, it made all my viewers jealous and they wanted to know how they could order theirs. I used to sell them for $2.50 including shipping. Now a single chip goes for $6 plus shipping. Next up I added a fan club, t-shirts, wristbands and more. We now ship over a thousand orders of merch a month, from our offices where we even press our own t-shirts.
Figuring out ways to diversify your money is the smartest. After only uploading to YouTube for 3.5 years, I decided to start publishing my videos to Facebook at the same time. After one year of that I’ve now doubled my audience and revenue - and just by uploading the same content twice. 

What are casinos doing to keep people safe during the pandemic?
As time goes on, they’re lifting restrictions, but for the most part: Masks mandatory, temperature checks at the door, social distanced games or games turned off in between others, buffets closed, half capacity indoors, including restaurants, and plexiglass everywhere. Some casinos keep all slots on but placed plexiglas in between each machine. I’ve spent over 100 days at casinos in over a dozen states this last year and managed to stay Covid free. 

What other projects are you working on now?
The list is endless. We (our team is now seven) are in conference calls constantly as our demand continues to outweigh our availability. There are calls about visiting casinos and hosting events, hosting cruises (two are planned in 2021 and 2022 to start, each with around 160 fans), promoting apps, sportsbooks, new slot machines coming out, and more that I can’t talk about right now. Most recently we opened the ‘Brian Christopher Slots at Plaza’ gaming area within Plaza Casino in downtown Vegas featuring my favorite slot machines. It’s super cool to have your name on a neon sign in Las Vegas!

Do you have plans to film at casinos back in Canada?
Canada is too strict at the moment to allow filming. Most of their casinos are still closed, but they’ve never been open to the idea of a camera on the floor. I was told I couldn’t take a photo with my parents in a casino there once. Hopefully they come around one day as around 10% of my audience is located there. And 100% of my family!