Alumni Portfolio
Creative Industries
Promoting Indigenous culture and building sustainable careers in the music industry
Award-winning record label executive and Creative Industries alum on what it takes to lead change
Creative Industries alumna, Sarah Elaine McLay, is creating sustainable careers in the arts and promoting Indigenous culture in her new role as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the full-service, award-winning Canadian record label, Hitmakerz (external link, opens in new window) .
Fashion
Fashion Zone member Alexa Jovanovic on why representation matters in fashion
Aille Design founder shares entrepreneurial journey launching inclusive brand
Alexa Jovanovic is a Fashion Communication grad and founder of fashion brand Aille Design (external link) . What began as a capstone project in her final year in the Fashion program at The Creative School, is now an emerging Canadian fashion brand that’s garnering a lot of media attention—including The Globe & Mail, blogTO, etalk, BT Toronto, and more!
Image Arts
Creators of Little Mosque on the Prairie spotlight how comedy can be used for social change
Journalism and Image Arts alumni discuss the power of their award-winning television series as part of Alumni Week
Journalism alum Zarqa Nawaz and Image Arts alum Michael Kennedy joined The Creative School for a powerful, witty and inspirational conversation about the power of film, television and comedy: all through the lens of award-winning sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Thought-provoking ‘Bloordale Beach’ short doc opens possibilities for city building
Image Arts student film extends conversation about public space
Fourth-year Image Arts film studies student and emerging writer-director Beth Warrian (external link) explores a humorous public art project on reclaiming public space in a new short doc (available to screen below). The film sparks important dialogue around the housing crisis and asks viewers to consider who holds the power when it comes to city planning and development.
Award-winning filmmaker and IMA alumna succeeds as first female film director and producer in the United Arab Emirates
Image Arts alumna, Nayla Al Khaja, (external link) who graduated in 2005, is blazing a successful trail while breaking down barriers as the first female film director and producer in the United Arab Emirates, advocating for women in cinema.
Adjunct professor and IMA alumnus wins $100,000 Rogers Best Film award
Kazik Radwanski’s film ‘Anne at 13,000 ft’ shot with a small team of Toronto Met alumni
Kazik Radwanski, filmmaker, adjunct professor and alumnus of the School of Image Arts (IMA), has reached rarefied artistic rank. His latest film, Anne at 13,000 ft (external link) , recently won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s $100,000 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award, (external link) Canada’s richest art prize.
The film has garnered glowing reviews from critics and also received five nominations at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle, winning both ‘Best Actress in a Canadian film’ and ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film.’ It also received an honourable mention from the jury at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress at the Canadian Screen Awards in May 2020.
Shot over the course of two years, the film centres around a 27-year old daycare worker named Anne (played by Deragh Campbell) who struggles to combat the inner volatility of her undiagnosed mental health condition. After a friend’s bachelorette presents her with the opportunity to skydive, she finally feels in her element, at a great distance away from the pain in her life below. The experience affects Anne profoundly.
Interior Design
Interior Design alumna masterfully reimagines this Toronto Restaurant
Dyonne Fashina draws in guests to The Gardiner Museum restaurant using a clever design concept
Interior Design alumna Dyonne Fashina and principal at Denizens of Design Inc. (external link) was featured this month in the latest issue of Canadian Interiors for her reimagining of Clay Restaurant, (external link) at The Gardiner Museum, (external link) Canada's ceramics museum, which masterfully combined form and function while also prioritizing profitability.
Journalism
Creators of Little Mosque on the Prairie spotlight how comedy can be used for social change
Journalism and Image Arts alumni discuss the power of their award-winning television series as part of Alumni Week
Journalism alum Zarqa Nawaz and Image Arts alum Michael Kennedy joined The Creative School for a powerful, witty and inspirational conversation about the power of film, television and comedy: all through the lens of award-winning sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Muslim film festival champions new narratives
The Muslim International Film Festival, co-created by Journalism alum, brings diversity to the big screen
Journalism alum Hirra Farooqi co-founded the Muslim International Film Festival (MIFF) in 2020, with the objective of creating a platform celebrating Muslim excellence in film and empowering Muslim filmmakers to tell their stories on screen.
A meaningful fashion statement from Vogue writer and journalism alum Christian Allaire
Toronto Met Alumni host Book Talk with Allaire on his new book ‘The Power of Style’
In a conversation led by Toronto Met School of Fashion Chair Dr. Ben Barry, School of Journalism, (RSJ) alum Christian Allaire, (external link) discusses his newly released book, The Power of Style, (external link)
Interior Design alumna masterfully reimagines this Toronto Restaurant
Dyonne Fashina draws in guests to The Gardiner Museum restaurant using a clever design concept
Interior Design alumna Dyonne Fashina and principal at Denizens of Design Inc. (external link) was featured this month in the latest issue of Canadian Interiors for her reimagining of Clay Restaurant, (external link) at The Gardiner Museum, (external link) Canada's ceramics museum, which masterfully combined form and function while also prioritizing profitability.
Award-winning creative agency Media One Group establishes student distinction awards
RTA Media and Journalism alumni spur boundary-breaking technology use in media production and innovative approaches to storytelling
Media One Group, (external link) has established two generous awards for students of The Creative School, with recipients honoured this past fall 2021 academic year. ‘The Derek Rider Award of Storytelling Excellence, in partnership with Media One Group’ and ‘The Corey Peck Award of Production Excellence, in partnership with Media One Group’ encourages students to push the boundaries of storytelling and expand what is technologically possible within media production. In affiliation with award-winning digital video agency Media One Creative, (external link) co-founders and alumni of The Creative School, Derek Rider, (external link) (Journalism ‘10) and Corey Peck, (external link) (RTA Media ‘10), established the accolade as a way to give back to the alma mater they credit with helping to build the foundation for their success.
RTA Media
RTA Media grad student claims space as an Indigenous creative
From Pow Wow to PRESTO, Media Production MA student Kary Cywink explores identity through art and community
Karly Cywink, RTA Media alumna, first-year Masters of Media Production graduate student, and design and website lead for this year’s Pow Wow, external link, (external link) is reclaiming her narrative. A multidisciplinary Ojibwe artist from Whitefish River, Cywink is exploring her identity through creative expression and claiming space as an Indigenous artist.
RTA alumnus Arthur Smith inducted into the Realscreen Hall of Fame
Realscreen celebrates Arthur Smith as an industry veteran and pioneer in non-fiction television
Each year, the Realscreen Hall of Fame awards are presented to entertainment leaders who have made their mark on the unscripted and non-fiction content landscape. This year, RTA School of Media '82 alumnus Arthur Smith was inducted into the Realscreen Hall of Fame, (external link) in celebration of his stature as an industry veteran and pioneer in non-fiction television.
How to broadcast the Olympics: A day in the life with CBC Sports Executive Producer and RTA alum Joel Darling
Behind the scenes producing broadcast coverage of the Olympic Games
Joel Darling, (external link) has worked as an Executive Producer with CBC Sports since graduating from RTA in 1986. Currently, he is the Executive Producer of Special Events for NHL on Rogers Sportsnet. For the 2020 Olympic Tokyo Games, he oversees Tokyo Today, a daily Olympic program from 12 pm-6 pm on CBC. Follow Joel during a day of the hectic two-week period as he works to produce Olympic coverage watched by millions of Canadians.
RTA Media alum Margot Daley on the use of cutting-edge technology in new critical series about North America’s Freedom Seekers
The groundbreaking TV series ‘Underground Railroad: The Secret History’ to kick-off Black History Month on Discovery Canada
In time to honour Black History Month, the new must-see docu-series ‘Underground Railroad: The Secret History, (external link) delves into the lost and hidden history of the clandestine network of abolitionists and safe houses used to help African Americans escape enslavement in the American South, oftentimes to Canada. Narrated by actor-director Clark Johnson, the four-part series debuts Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 8 PM ET on Discovery Canada, (external link) the project was series-produced by RTA Media alum (‘90) Margot Daley, (external link) who shares her experience working on this necessary show and its importance as part of our shared national narrative.
Riverdale Netflix series writer offers unique mentorship
A look at how one RTA alumnus Michael Grassi provides meaningful industry experience and access as part of the first-of-its-kind graduate mentoring program
In collaboration with Toronto Met’s Tri-Mentoring Program, The Creative School launched the first graduate student mentoring program this year, with an incredible network of industry professionals ready to help students understand life after graduation. The program is designed to help students build their networks, gain industry insights, and take on new challenges as they work towards their career goals.
Performance
Performance Alumnus Rodney Diverlus on Black arts in Canada today
A Q&A with the Performance Artist and Co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada
Black Lives Matter Canada co-founder, transdisciplinary artist and school of performance alum Rodney Diverlus is at the forefront of a movement that supports and celebrates Black artists. As a movement artist, Diverlus uses performance and dance to speak truth to power, blurring the lines between protest and performance. For Diverlus, the challenges faced by BIPOC artists today also offer opportunities for finding their voices and genuine growth. It also offers opportunities for participating in and expanding networks of support, and to be creatively visionary.