The short stories are personal memories of some of the most accomplished creatives in our city. As a listener, you’re brought into significant and life shaping moments in time for the subjects. As the memories unfold, you may feel the urge to ask, “and then what happened?” or ask “how did that happen?” or maybe “why did that happen?”. In other moments you may experience a sense of joy and can’t help but smile.

WEP is known for involving some of the country’s greatest writers and photographers as they share their stories about their neighbourhoods. The Indigenous City Edit brings a collective of amazing contributors including…

Waubgeshig Rice: storyteller, award-winning author and journalist. His short story collection Midnight Sweatlodge won the Independent Book Award and Northern ‘Lit’ Award both in 2012. He also was awarded the Debwewin Citation for excellence in First Nation Storytelling in 2004.  In 2021, he launched the podcast Storytellers with Jennifer David where they feature Indigenous books and bring the conversations to a broader audience.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson: musician, writer, poet and academic. Author of several books including Noopiming: A Cure for White Ladies, named one of the best books of 2020 by the Globe and Mail. In this novel, Simpson’s artful writing style offers readers an alternative view of healing and Indigenous transformation. This Accident of Being Lost has been described as a collection of shorts stories and poetry that is both poignant and humorous — ways in which the Indigenous people used to help them survive and find joy despite the history. This book won the MacEwan University Book of the Year; was a finalist for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Trillium Book Award; was long listed for CBC Canada Reads; and was named a best book of the year by the Globe and Mail, the National Post, and Quill & Quire. With  Simpson’s stunning voice, critically acclaimed record Theory of Ice was recently released by You’ve Changed Records.

Chief Lady Bird:  an Anishinaabe artist (painter, illustrator, muralist) who lives in the Upper Beaches. Her art practice stems from memory and connection. Her art inspires strength and healing. She has collaborated with fellow Indigenous (Oneida) artist Aura and their work can be found around Toronto including murals on Queen Street West, Beverley and D’Arcy Street, Ravina Gardens, Withrow Public School, Ryerson University and Underpass Park under the Don Valley Parkway. Her work has also appeared in solo or group exhibitions at Twist Gallery, the Gladstone Hotel, Gallery of Northumberland, Arts Square, the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite, Yorkville Village, Super Wonder Gallery, the Carlu, Harbourfront Centre, Summer in the City Gallery and the Woodland Cultural Centre. By the way, she’s also the illustrator of the cover for this audio series.

Ryan McMahon: an Anishinaabe writer, comedian and is renown in his podcast work. His show Thunder Bay was named to the ‘Best of 2018’ lists with Globe and Mail, CBC Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, New York Magazine, Vulture magazine and The Atlantic. His hit podcast series Red Man Laughing has recently returned for its 9th season. In 2012 McMahon became the first native comedian to ever record a mainstream comedy special with CBC. Since then he’s recorded other specials and was touring around North America (pre-pandemic times). He’s performed at Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival , New York Comedy Festival, and more.

Ivy Knight: is a former cook turned food journalist. She’s the creator and host of Industry Sessions – a speaker series for food professionals. She develop Canada’s largest industry night, 86’d Mondays, at The Drake Hotel in Toronto, which has hosted chefs and food personalities including René Redzepi, Gail Simmons, Christina Tosi and Anthony Bourdain. In 2019, she was was nominated for the Landsberg Award, presented by the Canadian Journalism Foundation that celebrates a journalist who is raising awareness about women’s equality issues in Canada.

Alex Jacobs-Blum: award winning photographer. Nationally Jacobs-Blum’s work has been exhibited at the University of Ottawa, Woodland Cultural Centre and
Critical Distance Centre for Curators. He is the recipient of the 2015 Canon Award of Excellence for Narrative Photography as well as the 2017 GAMMA Young Artist of the Year, Yonsei University.

Tom Wilson: musician (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond). His songs have been performed by Mavis Staples, Colin James, Stephen Fearing, Adam Gregory, Billy RayCyrus, Craig Northey, David Ricketts and Edwin. Numerous Wilson songs have been used in television, commercials and motion pictures. In 2017 Wilson published a memoir of his life to date, titled Beautiful Scars. The memoir addressed his discovery of his Mohawk heritage.This edit also includes two newly commissioned pieces by Tom Wilson and Alex Jacobs-Blum have never appeared in the paper before.

Liz Howard ~ poet. Her debut collection collection, Infinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry as well as  the winner of the 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize where the Judges’ Citation describes her work as ‘delightfully off-balance with its mix of lyricism and experiment, allusion and invention’. Her poems are filled with energy and magic. Howard’s work has appeared in The Capilano Review The Puritan, and Matrix Magazine.

The Kobo Original series is hosted by West End Phoenix writer, publisher and musician David Bidini and is produced by Michael Philip Wogewoda.   The West End Phoenix: The Indigenous City Edit a perfect on a walk as you listen and reconnect with the contributors in a meaningful way. The audiobook is available now through Kobo ($6.99 CDN).

LISTEN TO THE INDIGENOUS CITY EDIT HERE

More about the first audio edit titled The Hungry City Edit can be found here.

*This content was sponsored by KOBO

The post West End Phoenix latest audio series shares the Indigenous experience in Toronto appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

When it comes to music, Drake tops song and album charts. Not only did our hometown boy make the Apple Music charts for top song and album, but he also has 3 songs in Canadian top 10 charts, plus a fourth when you account his feature on BlocBoy JB’s “Look Alive”. Drake is also Apple Music’s Artist of the Year. Right behind Drake at number 2 on the music charts is Loud Luxury — they’re from London, Ontario!

In Top Apps, Toronto-based developer Snowman is named Apple TV Game of the Year for their Alto’s Odyssey game.

Canadians most downloaded podcast ever is The Joe Rogan Experience, followed by The Daily (New York Times) and TED Talks Daily. Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations breaks the top 10 at number 6. Top Canadian podcast is Semi-Prose, the books podcast that’s “half as serious and twice as smart as your other favourite books podcast.”

On Apple Books, Best Fiction book goes to Canadian author Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black title and Miriam Toews tops Best Fiction audiobook with Women Talking.

Here’s more in detail…

Best Apps of 2018:

iPhone App of the year – Procreate Pocket
iPhone Game of the year – Donut County
iPad App of the year – Froggipedia
iPad Game of the year – Gorogoa
Mac App of the year – Pixelmator Pro
Mac Game of the year – The Gardens Between
Apple TV App of the year – Sweat
Apple TV Game of the year – Alto’s Odyssey*

Top Free iPhone Apps in Canada:

Instagram
YouTube
Messenger
Facebook
Snapchat
Spotify Music
Google Maps
Bitmoji
WhatsApp Messenger
Netflix

Top Paid iPhone Apps in Canada:

1.Facetune
2.kirakira+
3.PlantSnap Plant Identification
4.The Wonder Weeks
5.Afterlight 2
6.My Talking Pet Pro
7.Oh She Glows*
8.Full Fitness: Exercise Workout Trainer
9.AutoSleep Tracker for Watch
10.Forest — Stay Focused

Top Free iPhone Games in Canada:

1.Fortnite
2.Helix Jump
3.Rise Up
4.Hole.io
5.PUBG MOBILE
6.Love Balls
7.Snake Vs Block
8.Knife Hit
9.Wordscapes
10. HQ Trivia

Top Paid iPhone Games in Canada:

1.Heads Up!
2. Plague Inc.
3. Minecraft
4. Pocket Build
5. Bloons TD 6
6. Geometry Dash
7. Bloons TD 5
8. The Game of Life
9. Getting Over It
10. Earn to Die 2

Best Music of 2018:

Artist of the year: Drake
Breakout Artist of the Year: Juice WRLD
Song of the Year: I Like It – Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny & J. Balvin
Album of the Year: Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves

2018 Apple Music Charts – Canada’s Top 10 Best of 2018 Songs Charts:

1.Drake*, God’s Plan
2.Loud Luxury, Body (feat. Brando)
3.Post Malone, Rockstar (feat. 21 Savage)
4.Drake*, Nice for What
5.Post Malone, Psycho (feat. Ty Dollar $ign)
6.Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J. Balvin, I Like It
7.Drake*, In My Feelings
8.Camila Cabello, Havana (feat. Young Thug)
9.BlocBoy JB, Look Alive (feat. Drake*)
10.Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, Meant to be

Canadians in the Top 100:

25. Drake*, Nonstop
44. Migos, Walk It Talk It (feat. Drake*)
56. The Weeknd*, Pray For Me
58. The Weeknd*, Call Out My Name
60. Drake*, I’m Upset
65. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, Despacito (feat. Justin Bieber*)
71. NAV*, Wanted You (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
74. Bülow*, Not a Love Song
75. Drake*, Mob Ties
76. Shawn Mendes*, In My Blood
84. DJ Khaled, No Brainer (feat. Justin Bieber*, Chance the Rapper & Quavo)
90. Logic, 1-800-273-8255 (feat. Alessia Cara* & Khalid)
100. 88GLAM, Bali (feat. NAV*)

Canada’s Top 100 Album charts:

Here are Canada’s Top 10 Best of 2018 Album charts:

1. Drake*, Scorpion
2. Post Malone, Beerbongs & Bentleys
3. Post Malone, Stoney
4. XXXTENTACION, ?
5. Migos, Culture II
6. Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Deluxe)
7. Travis Scott, ASTROWORLD
8. Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd* & SZA, Black Panther The Album Music from and Inspired By
9. Khalid, American Teen
10. Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy

Canadians in Top 100 Albums:

12. Drake*, More Life
20. The Weeknd*, Starboy
23. Drake*, Views
25. The Weeknd*, My Dear Melancholy
27. Shawn Mendes*, Shawn Mendes
34. Tory Lanez*, MEMORIES DON’T DIE
41. Drake*, Take Care (Deluxe Version)
54. NAV*, RECKLESS
71. Daniel Caesar*, Freudian
73. Shawn Mendes*, Illuminate
81. Drake*, Nothing Was The Same
82. The Weeknd*, Beauty Behind the Madness
83. NAV* & Metro Boomin, Perfect Timing
87. Drake*, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
88. KILLY*, Surrender Your Soul
91. Justin Bieber*, Purpose

Best Apple Podcasts of 2018 — Canada:

Semi-Prose*
Home Cooked*
TIFF Long Take*
Escaping NXIVM*
The Big Story*
Side note*
Personal Best*
Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo*
Chosen Family*
Earth Rangers*
Thunder Bay*
History of 1995*

Best Books of 2018 in Canada:

Best fiction: Washington Black* by Esi Edugyan
Best nonfiction: I’m Afraid of Men* by Vivek Shraya
Best mystery: Hysteria* by Elisabeth de Mariaffi
Best SciFi & fantasy: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Best romance: Too Wilde to Wed by Eloisa James
Best bio and memoir: Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot
Best young reader book: Children of Blood & Bone by Toni Adeyemi
Best Canadian fiction: French Exit* by Patrick deWitt

Best Audiobooks of 2018 in Canada:

Best fiction: Women Talking* by Miriam Toews
Best nonfiction: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Best self-development: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
Best business: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Best family: Rebound by Kwame Alexander
Best bio and memoir: Educated by Tara Westover
Best mystery: The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn
Best Narration: Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz
Best Canadian Audiobook: Split Tooth* by Taya Tagaq

*Canadian!

The post Apple releases their Best of 2018 lists in Canada appeared first on Toronto Guardian.