Her dedicated passion and skills shine through her work. And the fact that she consistently keeps producing has been an inspiration to watch again and again. Observing both her artistic vision and her craft is quite inspiring. Her recent writings will be useful for the next generation and is also a means of sharing the lessons learned along the way, as well as the importance of persevering and believing in one’s own talent and capacity. Jennifer Lieberman is an inspiring artist to watch develop, cultivate and create meaningful works.

-Written by Mira Carniol, friend

***

Which ’hood are you in?

I’m right in the heart of the Entertainment District off King Street, walking distance to some of Toronto’s hottest attractions: The Well, Waterworks, Rogers Centre, CN Tower, TIFF/Bell Lightbox, Kensington Market, Stacked Market, The AGO, Harbour Front, Second City, YukYuk’s and so much more! My guilty pleasure in the hood is Dark Horse coffee shop; they have the most delicious kale and cheddar sourdough scones, they’re hard to resist.

What do you do?

In a nutshell, I guess what I do is a lot of pivoting and hat collecting. I’m an actor who got tired of waiting to get picked, so I started writing and producing my own film and theatre productions. I had been working in production for several years and was writing scripts since childhood, but it took years before it all came together with my solo show “Year of the Slut”. After working on the show for a few years and turning the initial failure into a success, I adapted the story into my debut novel “Year of the What?”, which led me to becoming an award-winning and #1 Best-Selling Author. I’ve also written, produced & acted in several short films that have won awards and screened at many international festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner.

In addition to my creative work, I founded Make Your Own Break to help other frustrated actors, writers, directors and performance artists learn to produce their own productions with little to no resources through my workshops and consulting. Most recently, I taught a theatre production course at TMU and adapted the material into the book “Independent Theatre Production for the 21st Century In Seven Simple Steps,” which became a #1 Amazon Best Seller the week it was launched.

What are you currently working on?

Like most creatives, I’m juggling several projects at various stages of development. My feature film is moving forward, and we’re scheduled to shoot in Toronto in 2027. It’s a tumultuous dramatic love story and a major passion project for me. “Year of the Bitch”, my second novel and part two in my “Year of the What?” series, will be coming out in 2027.

I’m also attached as producer on an AI feature film out of the UK, and two plays in New York City by the same playwright – one is being developed for Broadway in 2028 and the other for Off-Broadway in 2027/28.

Where can we find your work?

My novel “Year of the What?” and my most recent book “Independent Theatre Production for the 21st Century In Seven Simple Steps” are both available on Amazon.ca and Indigo.ca. You can get more info about the novel here, or if you’re interested in production information or my workshops, you can check out here. For my acting work, check here.

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

What is your channel called and what is it about?

@jenna.rachel.kaplan I am a food and lifestyle creator in Toronto who really aims to share my personal taste with my audience.

When did you start it? What motivated you at the beginning?

I actually started by creating my food account, @lilfoodiejj, while living in Montreal for University in 2016. My friends and I joked that I take so many pictures of my food and I should start a food blog. A few too many gin and tonics later, and the account was born. I began posting, and shortly after, businesses and brands like Foodora began to want to collaborate with me long before influencer culture had grown to what it is today. This always remained a cute thing I did on the side while I pursued acting. During the pandemic, I career-flipped from acting to marketing, and I soon came to the realization, after working with a bunch of content creators, that I could advocate for myself in this industry too. In 2022, I started to take it seriously and focus on my main channel, @jenna.rachel.kaplan (which has gone through many name changes through the years). Though I’m not some huge influencer, I am proud of my work and know my community trusts my recommendations and that I’ve built something special.

Who were you inspired by? Any influences?

I am always inspired by incredible women around me who constantly remind me to be myself. My mom is always my biggest influence, but I’ve had many theatre professors, friends, and fellow creators who are so authentically themselves and share their unique voices. I’m very lucky to have a community of women around me who help me shine and support me.

How would you describe your audience?

My audience is people who love food as much as I do. I have a lot of members in my community with exquisite taste who send me recommendations, and some who are looking to learn more about where to go, what to try, and who to bring along with them.

What is your creative process? Do you have people who work with you?

Though I work alone, I have found tremendous support and inspiration from my fellow Toronto food and lifestyle creators. My creative process is “chaotic-good” – just like me! My notes app is filled with ideas and lists. I constantly text my friends if they want to come shoot with me. Most of all, my biggest piece of advice: when an idea strikes, don’t stall, just get up, film it, and post it. I think a very important part of my creative process is not stifling my impulses. It takes away the fear of judgement if you just get out there and do it without letting your brain even contemplate any doubts.

How do you monetize your content? Do you also have another job?

Like many of the content baddies in the city, I do have other jobs (emphasis on the jobS). I work part-time as a UGC Coordinator for Serotina Media, and I work part-time as an autism support worker with adults on the spectrum. I do create UGC content myself, which is how I monetize my content. From my acting experience, it’s been a seamless transition from stage to screen.

What is your favourite piece of content you have created?

My favourite piece of content I’ve created in 2026 so far has been collaborating with McDonald’s to promote their $5 McValue Meals. I’ve always been a McDonald’s lover, so getting the email from them that they wanted to work with me was a big moment! I also got to shoot it with my mom, whom I love so much!

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part about being a content creator for me is the constant ability to be creative. Since I was little, I had dreams of being an actor. I got my BFA and MFA in theatre and was living and working in London as an actor. Being a content creator gave me a feasible way to repackage those dreams. I get to share myself, my life, and my opinions with the world while still getting to work creatively. It’s been an absolute whirlwind to work with brands I love and to get invited to epic events and activations. Though despite the glamour, the most difficult part is twofold: The first being inconsistent income. If you’re not being represented by an agent who is constantly pushing work for you, it can be hard to maintain steadiness. The second being burnout. I know, “my steak is too juicy, my lobster is too buttery,” but the events overlap, new trends pop up every single day, and you have to be super dialled in to the zeitgeist to be successful, and that can get very overwhelming.

What are your future plans for your channel?

I would love to keep growing and see how far I can take this channel. Would I want to be a full-time content creator? Tricky question. In theory, I do love that idea. In practice, that is such a massive leap into uncertainty that, transparently, I’m not ready for just yet. But if the time comes and it feels right, that would be pretty cool!

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Canadian content creator that you love?

One of my favourite Canadian creators who I love both personally and professionally is Sarah Smart @sarahpsmart. She is such a light in the community, is always welcoming, and so fun to dance alongside at concerts.

The post My Digital Life: Content Creator Jenna Kaplan appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Toronto audiences will have the chance to discover five emerging Canadian filmmakers this September as the National Film Board of Canada and the Toronto International Film Festival present REDEFINED, a new short documentary initiative focused on the changing ways Canadians understand identity, belonging and community.

The five films will premiere on Wednesday, September 16, at 6 p.m. ET at TIFF Lightbox Cinema 3, before becoming available worldwide through the NFB.

Developed following a nationwide call for submissions, REDEFINED brings together a new generation of filmmakers whose work looks at Canadian and Indigenous identity through deeply personal stories. The resulting films move across animation, documentary, experimental filmmaking and personal storytelling, offering perspectives shaped by different communities and experiences across the country.

For Toronto audiences, the programme also has a particularly local connection. Two of the five filmmakers are based in the city, with Toronto-based writer, director and artist Prajj presenting Butter Chicken to Go, while Halifax-born, Toronto-based filmmaker Sylvia Mok presents Restaurant Kids.

Together, the five films examine culture, memory, food, family, urban life and the search for belonging, while asking broader questions about how Canada is changing and how its stories are being told.

Five filmmakers, five perspectives

The REDEFINED showcase begins with RE/ROUTE, a nine-minute, 18-second film by Montreal filmmaker Gabrielle Côté.

Using surreal transformations of real-world imagery, Côté explores two different visions of urban life and considers how the cities Canadians build can influence the way people live, interact and imagine the future.

Côté uses image collage as a form of social observation. Her previous animated documentary shorts include Fenêtres sur Montréal and Des gens vivent ici, both of which examine contemporary urban experiences.

The programme then turns to food, family and Indigenous identity with pahkwêsikan sâkihitowin: Bannock is Love, a 10-minute, 39-second film by Tyra Delver.

A Two-Spirited artist, photographer and filmmaker from Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory in Alberta, Delver centres the film around bannock and the way a familiar food can connect generations.

Family, friends and members of the community gather around the traditional food as the film reflects on memory, identity and connection. Delver’s filmmaking is rooted in lived experience and personal truth, drawing on generations of Indigenous artistic expression.

The third film, Where Our Flowers Grow, comes from Maxime Kornachuk, a Red River Métis animator.

Running 11 minutes, the animated documentary follows Métis people of different ages as they share experiences of reconnecting with their culture. Their individual stories become part of a larger portrait of cultural resurgence and belonging.

Kornachuk, a graduate of Université de Saint-Boniface’s Multimedia Communications programme, draws on Métis beadwork traditions in his visual approach. His use of stop-motion and rotoscope animation provides a way to explore identity and memory while connecting traditional artistic practices with contemporary filmmaking.

A Toronto story about restaurant families

For Toronto audiences, Restaurant Kids offers a particularly familiar setting.

The 12-minute, 21-second documentary by Sylvia Mok looks at the experiences of Chinese restaurant families in Halifax, focusing on the sacrifices, resilience and sense of community that shaped a generation growing up in family-run restaurants.

Mok brings a personal connection to the subject. She describes herself as a “restaurant kid”, having grown up in her family’s restaurant after her parents immigrated from Hong Kong.

The Halifax-born, Toronto-based writer and director graduated from York University with a BFA in 2026 and is interested in contributing her perspective to Canada’s evolving film and television landscape.

While the film focuses on Halifax, its themes are likely to resonate strongly with Toronto audiences, where family-run restaurants and immigrant-owned businesses have long been an important part of neighbourhood life and the city’s cultural landscape.

South Asian delivery drivers take centre stage in Toronto

The fifth film brings the story directly onto Toronto’s streets.

In Butter Chicken to Go, Toronto-based writer, director and artist Prajj follows South Asian delivery drivers navigating the city during a winter evening dinner rush.

The 11-minute, 48-second documentary uses the drivers’ experiences to explore migration, identity and belonging. As they move through Toronto’s streets, they reflect on the individual journeys that brought them to Canada, revealing experiences that ultimately connect to a much broader search for a place to call home.

Prajj’s work spans film, video art, installation and zines, with a style described as playful and genre-bending. Previous work has screened at TIFF Next Wave, the Reel Asian Film Festival and Toronto Youth Shorts.

The film’s focus on delivery workers and the city at night also gives REDEFINED a distinctly contemporary Toronto perspective, connecting questions of immigration and belonging with the everyday reality of people working their way through one of Canada’s largest and most diverse cities.

A new generation of Canadian filmmakers

REDEFINED was developed by the National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with TIFF, with the filmmakers receiving mentorship and production support from the NFB over the course of a year.

The initiative is intended not only to showcase five completed films, but also to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers to develop their voices and reach wider Canadian audiences.

“At a time when understanding one another has never been more important, the filmmakers of REDEFINED are bringing fresh perspectives to the conversation about who we are as Canadians and who we are becoming,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson. “The many voices and experiences that shape this country are a source of strength.”

TIFF Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee similarly described the five documentaries as examples of the creativity and distinct perspectives emerging from a new generation of Canadian filmmakers.

The partnership also connects REDEFINED with TIFF’s ongoing support for emerging talent, including the TIFF Next Wave programme.

When and where to see REDEFINED in Toronto

The five films will premiere as a showcase at TIFF Lightbox, Cinema 3, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET.

Following the Toronto premiere, the REDEFINED films will also be available worldwide through the National Film Board.

For Toronto filmgoers interested in discovering emerging Canadian filmmakers, the showcase offers an opportunity to see five very different approaches to a shared question: what does it mean to be Canadian today?

Rather than attempting to provide one definition, REDEFINED presents a collection of voices shaped by different communities, histories and experiences. From bannock and Métis beadwork to family restaurants and Toronto delivery routes, the films suggest that Canadian identity is less a single story than a collection of stories continually being written.

REDEFINED premieres Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. at TIFF Lightbox Cinema 3 in Toronto. The films will also be available worldwide through the NFB.

The post REDEFINED brings five new Canadian and Indigenous voices to TIFF Lightbox this September appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

After a 31-year career as a secondary school teacher, Nina’s retirement has been anything but quiet. Alongside caring for her elderly parents, she enjoys cycling with her family, participates in fundraising rides for the Heart and Stroke and Baycrest Foundations, serves as Education Committee Director at the Women’s Art Association of Canada, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Association for Media Literacy.
Her work has been exhibited throughout the GTA, including the McMichael Canadian Art Community Gallery, AGO, CONTACT Photography Festival, Dignam Gallery, Super Wonder Gallery, and the Toronto Public Library.

Through every exhibition, workshop, and new creative pursuit, Nina demonstrates that an artistic practice doesn’t have to fit neatly into one category. Her work reflects a lifelong love of learning, experimenting, and connecting with others through art. She also keeps her growing community up to date on her latest exhibitions, artisan and fine art markets, and creative adventures through Instagram.

-Written by Karen Pe’er, Founder of B’Kef Collective

***

Which ’hood are you in?

I live in the Old Village of Weston. It is a lovely neighbourhood, consisting of century-old, tree-lined streets, annual street sales, bustling Halloween evenings, a seasonal farmer’s market, and a community of many sharing and caring individuals. We are also blessed with many talented artists and Artscape Weston Common.

What do you do?

I am a visual artist who spends time creating many kinds of pieces for pleasure and sale. I participate in artisan markets, photo and painting exhibits, and take workshops from other artists to improve my craft. When I’m not working on my art, I tutor high school students with their English studies, I check in on my elderly parents who live in Long Term Care and Independent Living Homes, I serve on the Board of Directors with the Women’s Art Association of Canada (WAAC) and with The Association for Media Literacy (AML), I take regular fitness classes at the York West Active Living Centre, and I ride my bike. I also help to hang art shows and host social functions at WAAC.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on 3 series of art creations. One is a series of multi-media collages featuring old recipes and vintage catalogue models, incorporating various clippings from vintage magazines. The second series is a multi-media project using acrylic paint, mixed media gel sticks, and paper cut-outs of hand-drawn human figures. The third is my series of elderly couples painted with acrylics.

Where can we find your work?

In addition to seeing samples of my creations on my Instagram, I also have several online print-on-demand shops where my images can be purchased on products like mugs, phone cases, throw pillows, t-shirts, etc. One is here.

My original paintings and resin art can be found and purchased on my artist website. My wearable art can be seen and purchased here.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Visual Artist Nina Silver appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your channel called and what is it about?

My podcast is called But What Do I Know? It is an award-winning, holistic wellbeing podcast and digital community based in Toronto, Canada. It’s dedicated to facilitating honest conversations with the lived experiences of Black and Women of Colour globally and that support healing and growth. Our episodes cover a range of topics, including personal and professional development, wellness, and navigating complex relationships. The podcast has achieved notable chart rankings, such as holding strong in the top 1% podcasts globally listened to in over 50 countries, consistently on Apple Podcasts charts in Canada and the USA and receives about 20K monthly downloads.

When did you start it? What motivated you at the beginning?

I started the podcast in 2020 during the COVID 19 Pandemic and what motivated me at the time was the idea of having my voice and specifically, my thoughts, opinions and experiences, as well as facilitated conversations with guests on demand for individuals to discover, listen to and find something meaningful to take away.

Who were you inspired by? Any influences?

When I began, I was inspired by Brittany and Germani of the Black Girl Bravado Podcast, Dr. Joy Bradford of Therapy for Black Girls Podcast and Les Alfred of She’s So Lucky Podcast. These hosts were having important, bold and grounding conversations that centred Black women at a time when very few podcasts did.

How would you describe your audience?

My listeners are women who are interested in living great, whole lives and seeking conversations to either provide them with more information or affirm that they are on the right track. They are more likely to participate in a “75 soft” challenge than they are to “wake up at 5 am” to rise and grind. They are both 9-5 women and entrepreneurs who are looking to continuously develop themselves outside of just their businesses and careers. Most of all, from virtual events I’ve hosted, they are so warm, friendly and wanting to be in true community with other women as they build out their lives.

What is your creative process? Do you have people who work with you?

My process for creating an episode has evolved over the years. When I started in 2020, I was doing everything from topic ideation, guest research, episode production and post-production as well as short-form content creation. However, as the platform continues to grow, I’ve been fortunate enough to find and afford other talented creators to support me. This process is what has truly confirmed to me that podcasting, and specifically, podcasting well, is not an easy feat. Now my focus is primarily on topic ideation, guest research, episode development and interviewing.

First, I usually choose a topic based on something that I’m curious about, that is being discussed in popular culture or both. This is the easy part. The hard but fun part comes right after and involves finding the right guest to have this conversation with. Someone who doesn’t just know about the topic but is also able to have a deep, engaging discussion about it. Next is crafting a conversation outline that is fluid, guides the guest to go deeper and engages the audience. These are the things that I love and enjoy tremendously about podcasting. The ability to lead a conversation that can make someone say “yes girl I was thinking the same thing” or “I never thought about it like that” is honestly underestimated, brings about a rewarding feeling for me and is a skill I hope to continuously improve on.

How do you monetize your content? Do you also have another job?

I have been able to monetize my podcast through radio-esque programmatic ads as well as direct episode sponsorships from brands. One of my 2026 goals for the podcast is to grow the YouTube channel and become a monetized program partner. I would love to one day podcast full-time (a girl can continue to dream lol), but currently, I’m an Urban Planner and a part-time Creator.

What is your favourite piece of content you have created?

This is such a difficult question to answer because I want to do that thing Creators do where they say “I love them all. It is so hard to pick” lol, but I’ll resist it. So, I’ll say that one of my favourite episodes to produce was a conversation I had with Ericka Parker that was released in June of last year. The episode is titled “Boss Babe But Add Wellness” and can be listened to here.

I love this episode so much because it was recorded at a time when Ericka and I were going through uncertainty related to our careers, businesses and overall dreams. Regardless of this, we delivered a REAL but lively conversation explaining the ups and downs of having ambition and working towards it, building a great team and knowing when it is time to stop trailing a specific path.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part of podcasting for me is actually having the conversations with others or solo. That, to me, is the easy, most fun and rewarding part. An honorary mention is when I get feedback in the DMs about how an episode impacted an individual. The worst part of it to me is the overemphasis on video podcasts (can a girl share her voice without feeling the pressure to always show her face) and the ever-changing algorithms that make it hard to reach an audience; alas, they are beyond my control, so I’ll keep navigating the changes that come with being a Creator.

What are your future plans for your channel?

As noted previously, one of the short-to-medium term goals for the YouTube channel is to become monetized and grow to a subscriber count of 5,000. Regarding audio platforms, we have crossed the 500,000-download mark with about 100 episodes, and so it feels right to aim for 1,000,000 downloads in the medium to long term. Beyond this, I’m starting to work on establishing a community beyond the podcast of women who want to deepen their wellbeing practice, network and earnestly support other women.

Where can we follow you?

Please connect with the podcast @bwdikpodcast across social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok

Listen on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Canadian content creator that you love?

Anna Akoto (she can be reached at anna.akoto1@gmail.com)

The post My Digital Life: Content Creator Chidinma Azubuike appeared first on Toronto Guardian.