There is, however, strong evidence that Rose brings so much passionate, vulnerable, kind, curious, raw honesty to every moment that most of the people who know them would happily bear their love child. (It is possible that Mr. Momoa is actually one such love child, because what is time, really?)

As a fan and witness to a few of their recent miracles, I will testify to the obvious facts: Rose is more metal than your platinum jockstrap and gentler than a bulldozer-load of butterfly kisses. Rose goes so hard that Mercury melts down, Saturn jumps through hoops and Uranus clenches, repeatedly. Who knows what extraordinary, unworldly feats of generosity and perceptive clarity you yourself might accomplish if you pay attention? Rose knows.

-Written by David F, Rose’s head chef

***

Which ’hood are you in?

The Annex. I keep finding my way back here, and it keeps taking me back. Long live the Tranzac, RIP basement of Sonic Boom, and thank you Vietnam Lovely Noodle for being casual and comforting.

What do you do?

I act and perform, and I’m a capital T taurus, so for balance, I try to buck my attachments to the material world. Bruce Lee and I call this practice: be water. Shapeless, formless, flowing. This is what I do. Materiality being connected to literality, and my current project being a non-narrative, reflexive, process-based contemporary performance piece, I’ve got a tremendous opportunity right now to be water in a deep-sea reef.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a performance called The Herald, written and directed by Jill Connell. It explores the concept of labour, working a job, how we see and (de)value other people’s work. We experiment in collective dramaturgy, improvisational choreography, myth, time, sound. It feels Piscean, lush, and avant-garde. Aiming for alternate dimension, but I’m happy with whatever soft caress of magic might emerge.

Where can we find your work?

Do you know how Simone Weil defines labour? Labour: to feel with one’s whole self the existence of the world. When you’re there, that’s where I’m trying to be, too.

The Herald runed March 4-14 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and I’ll also be performing in take rimbaud by Susanna Fournier, running May 6-23, also at Buddies. I would love it if you came.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Performing Artist Rose Tuong appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

-Written by Christine Armstrong

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live in Portsmouth Village in Kingston. It is a historic part of the city and a hidden gem. I live in an apartment building that looks out over the lake; I can hear the waves crashing as I write this. I pretend it is the Atlantic Ocean, and that helps me stay connected to people and places I love.

What do you do?

I am a professor of Drama at Queen’s University. I am also a writer, theatre maker, and mother. That last part has become important and takes up most of my time and energy.

What are you currently working on?

I don’t have much writing time these days but I am currently working on three projects: a literary memoir about IVF and parenting called Dreambaby; a scholarly article related to Dionne Brand’s masterpiece A Map to the Door of No Return; and I am also revising an old play that I previously abandoned because the characters were telling me things I found too scary.

Where can we find your work?

My play Heartlines: A Love Story about the lives and love of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore is out now with Talonbooks; you can find it wherever books are sold. In terms of other recent work, you can find my first published play, Monstrous, in the journal alt.theatre issue 13.3. A creative non-fiction piece I wrote about IVF was published last year by MUTHA Magazine here. A few years ago, I had the chance to write about race and the future of Canadian theatre in an essay entitled “We Are Holding Our Breath” in Theatre Research in Canada. I hope to find a publisher for that above-mentioned memoir so you can eventually read it too! In the meantime, I’m also hoping to make Substack my friend via @writingwhilemom

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Writer Sarah Waisvisz appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

She is a graduate of Humber College’s acclaimed Theatre Performance Conservatory Program, an intensive, physically focused training ground for actors. Roselie also trained for years in the Masterclass at Toronto’s Pro Actors Lab under the late David Rotenberg, one of Canada’s most respected acting coaches. She is a proud member of ACTRA.

Her background in theatre, and other physical disciplines – including martial arts, Pilates, yoga, and more – enhances her ability to embody a wide range of characters. With each performance, Roselie brings a unique blend of empathy, humour, and emotional truth, offering audiences a raw and honest lens into the human experience.

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live in Toronto, Ontario, around Trinity Bellwoods/ Dundas West & Ossington/ Little Italy.

What do you do?

I’m a professional actress for film & TV.

What are you currently working on?

I’m a Canadian actress appearing in a major supporting role in Nicely Entertainment’s holiday film, The Christmas Bookshop. The movie premiered in Canada on Super Channel Heart & Home on December 6 at 8 p.m.

The Christmas Bookshop follows Adeline Wilson, a meticulous Christmas expert and bestselling author, who clashes with Garth Bowman, a laid-back bookstore owner, during her final stop on a lacklustre holiday book tour. A playful bet turns their rivalry into a heartwarming journey of love, self-discovery, and the true magic of Christmas.

I play a central character in this story about community, love, and holiday magic—the kind of feel-good storytelling that felt especially meaningful this year.

Where can we find your work?

The Christmas Bookshop trailer can be found here. Also, visit my website.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Performing Artist Roselie Williamson appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Emilia first caught wider attention with her powerful self-published autobiographical graphic novel Be Yourself! Oh, Not Like That, self-published and crowdfunded in 2024. The book shares her experience growing up undiagnosed autistic and the complicated journey of learning to accept herself after years of feeling like she never quite fit the expectations around her. It’s honest, vulnerable, and surprisingly funny in moments, which is very much like Emilia herself. In 2025, the book was nominated for a Doug Wright Award for Best Small-Press Book, and in 2026, she was nominated for two Zelda Awards: Best Graphic Novel Non-Fiction and Emerging Trailblazer.

Outside of drawing, Emilia is someone who genuinely cares about helping other artists and readers feel less alone. She often speaks on panels about mental health, disability, and storytelling, and she brings the same compassion to her community that she brings to her comics.

***

Which ’hood are you in?

I’m currently based in Guelph, but Toronto still feels like a second home to me. I lived there for about five years and still spend a lot of time in the city. One of my favourite things to do is sit by the lakeshore and sketch. I also love meeting up with friends, visiting comic shops, and attending comic conventions and arts festivals around Toronto whenever I can.

What do you do?

I’m a comic artist and writer. Most of my work explores themes of neurodiversity, mental health, identity, and resilience. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In addition to making comics, I’m a keynote speaker and panellist, and I’m passionate about and often speak about topics like autism, disability, mental health, and getting started in comics.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m working on Oriana: The Forgotten Deities, a fantasy comic inspired by Slavic mythology that reimagines old folklore in a modern setting. The first issue is set to release in June 2026. I’m also working on A Little Unsteady: A Journey with POTS, a semi-autobiographical comic about living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and navigating invisible chronic illnesses. That project received support from the Ontario Arts Council!

Where can we find your work?

The best place to find my work is on my website. There you can find my books, original artwork for sale, blog posts, and free resources I’ve created for comic artists and creators. I’m also active on Instagram and Bluesky, where I share artwork, behind-the-scenes progress, and updates on upcoming projects and convention appearances, such as the upcoming Toronto Comicon on March 20 to 22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Artist Emilia Strilchuk appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Heidi cares deeply about cities, how they hold memory, how they evolve, and how their citizens find themselves reflected in them. She brings both intellectual rigour and generosity to her work, pushing institutions to be more open, more collaborative, and more courageous.

At Museum of Toronto, she found a challenge that matched her ambition: building a city museum from the ground up. What motivates her isn’t prestige, but purpose: creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and connected to the place they call home.

Those who know her admire her boldness, her steadiness, and her unwavering belief that culture can shape civic life for the better.

***

What neighbourhood are you in?

I live in what is now deemed Little Ethiopia (formerly Greek Town). I love the eclectic nature of the Danforth. Great restaurants, local businesses and a great mix of people. The food is terrific in this part of town – truly unexpected, with some Michelin-recognized fare as well as some family-run places. Like all of Toronto, this area feels like many people have come from very different places and experiences and made it home. There is a real sense of lived histories here – so much of it layered, evolving, and shared. There is also a mix of old and young, which makes the neighbourhood feel alive and very rich in interests.

I have a dog, so green space is important. We walk a lot, and the choices from local parks to Taylor Creek to Ashbridges Bay – where the winter stations feature – this time of year, is wide-ranging and the walks are easy.

It’s these layers of experience that reinforce for me why an initiative such as the Museum of Toronto is so vital. Each of us has a unique relationship to the city, and we work on projects that share and highlight how we are all unique and integral to this city, to our neighbourhoods, stories, and public spaces. You can’t consider how we will shape our city together without sharing what we know, love and question about it.

What do you do?

I’m the CEO of Museum of Toronto, a different kind of city museum that curates the untold histories that shape the identity of our city. My role is to define how communities tell, share and bring our stories to life so every Torontonian (and visitor) can feel more connected with this city.

We work with communities, with academics, archivists, artists, and many partners across the city to make sure that Toronto’s histories aren’t just a list of dates and facts, but a living, breathing conversation that reflects the diversity and energy of the people who live here.

What are you working on right now?

We’re working on the remount of The 52 Live Theatrical experience, to be presented in association with Luminato Festival in June of this year. Did you know that 52% of the population of Toronto are women? The 52 celebrates 52 women who helped make Toronto what it is today. It is performed throughout the City of Toronto Archives, told in an intimate set of monologues and music. It’s quite brilliant, and unlike anything you will have ever seen.

Where can we find the work of the Museum of Toronto?

Right now, you can visit The 52: Stories of Women who Transformed Toronto, an exhibition at our 401 Richmond Street West space, which is free to the public. The exhibition highlights 52 women who helped shape Toronto and brings forward stories that deserve greater recognition.
Until the end of March, we also have Mr. Dressup to Degrassi: 42 Years of Legendary Kids TV at Harbourfront, another exhibition, which explores the cultural impact of the golden era of children’s TV programs.

As the summer approaches, we are preparing to launch a new exhibition called the T.O. You Don’t Know, which will inspire people to learn about the more hidden layers of our city. We are excited to share more details soon.

This work matters because sharing experiences and histories is how we can connect. Toronto is more layered and revelatory than people think. And we have seen firsthand that people get excited as they find out more about the histories of this place. More often than not, it surprises people and even moves them. We believe that what connects us is knowledge about something that happened right here in the city, whether it’s a historical figure whose work changed the city or a cultural movement that shaped a neighbourhood. We know that sharing these stories in a museum space creates a deeper sense of connection and belonging to this place. We are building a space where people feel seen by each other, and connected to the shared histories of this city.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Heidi Reitmaier, Executive Director, Museum of Toronto appeared first on Toronto Guardian.