Transmedia Zone and 640 Toronto join forces to shape Toronto's Tomorrow
The Transmedia Zone, a community-focused incubator for innovative storytelling and entrepreneurship housed in The Innovation Studio at The Creative School, has recently announced an exciting and long-term partnership with Global News’ local radio station 640 Toronto (CFIQ AM). The collaboration aims to provide residents of Toronto with a captivating glimpse into the future while fostering meaningful discussions about the changes shaping the city.
The new radio show, Toronto Tomorrow, airs every Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the visionary ideas of Toronto's most innovative and future-forward thinkers. Listeners will also gain valuable insights that go beyond fleeting trends, empowering them to make informed decisions about Toronto's future.
Anchored by Dan Speerin, Co-Director of The Innovation Studio and Manager of the Transmedia Zone, Tamer Gargour, Program Coordinator at the Transmedia Zone and Music Den, and Jessie Lee, Startup Experience Coordinator at the Transmedia Zone, the newly launched radio show will focus on themes at the intersection between arts, technology, and entrepreneurship. The show also serves as a captivating platform for individuals to contribute their perspectives, further enhancing the dynamic and diverse discussions surrounding Toronto's future.
"What we're trying to do is paint a better picture for people about what their tomorrow will look like,” explains Dan Speerin. Whether it's discussing Toronto's underground journalism movement or exploring the impact of AI on the workforce, the conversations on the show are centred around the residents of Toronto while considering the broader global perspective."
From today’s changemakers to tomorrow’s thought leaders, Toronto Tomorrow brings on a diverse set of guests with one thing in common: they are all intimately connected with the success of Toronto and have the knowledge and experience to paint a better picture of Toronto’s tomorrow.
An interdisciplinary space for creative innovation
The Transmedia Zone, alongside the three other incubators in The Creative School’s Innovation Studio, serves as the epicentre where technology and creativity collide. In this era of unprecedented challenges, Speerin firmly believes that creative thinkers will play a pivotal role in solving complex problems and driving change.
"If you look around at the things happening worldwide, it feels as though we've never had more challenges. However, these challenges also present unprecedented opportunities for transformation,” Speerin said. “Creativity will be the catalyst that changes the world, and our guests on Toronto Tomorrow are either documenting or actively participating in this change."
The partnership between the Transmedia Zone and 640 Toronto, established with the help of the Director of 640 Toronto and Journalism Lecturer Amanda Cupido, exemplifies the teams commitment to inclusivity and knowledge-sharing. While the Transmedia Zone is situated within The Creative School's Innovation Studio, it extends its support to storytellers, creators, artists, and innovators from all walks of life. This unique incubator welcomes individuals of all ages, backgrounds, education levels, and viewpoints, ensuring a diverse and enriching learning environment.
At the corner of storytelling and entrepreneurship
Students who want to harness their creativity and become better storytellers and entrepreneurs can join the TZ Student League (opens in new window) at the Transmedia Zone. Open to all students, the league provides opportunities for students to connect with a diverse community and gain insider industry knowledge on advancing their projects and ideas.
"Anybody can join the student league, and they don't need to have a fully-fledged out startup idea either," said Speerin. "The Transmedia Zone is an interdisciplinary space and I’m happy speaking with fourth-year students who know exactly what they want to do but also to first-year students navigating their careers who are still in the early stages of exploring what options are out there moving forward."
What's more, the Transmedia Zone, along with the Fashion Zone, Design Fabrication Zone and the Music Den, all incubators at the Innovation Studio, have access to the headquarters, a vibrant venue designed to foster impactful and out-of-the-box experiences. From performances and pop-up exhibits to fireside chats, HQ serves as a centralized hub for connecting audiences, artists, creators, and thought leaders across Toronto's creative cityscape. And the collaboration between the Transmedia Zone and 640 Toronto amplifies the possibilities for innovation and collaboration within this thriving ecosystem.
Interested in learning more about Toronto Tomorrow? Listen to past episodes (external link, opens in new window) of the show and stay informed by following the Transmedia Zone on Instagram (external link, opens in new window) .
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.