“My passion is connecting people to new experiences and new perspectives. My work focuses on the positivity and things that bring people together,” says Michael Newman, Global BC  Community Reporter. Newman has been at Global TV News for the last three years, having come over from the United States. He's tasked with covering events and local campaigns around Lower Mainland and British Columbia. He was born in Florida but has both Canadian and US citizenship, with parents from Jamaica and Trinidad. 

“In the era of digital entertainment, representation on the big screen is important for Black people, I take it as a very serious responsibility to be a voice for up and coming generations,” insists Dayo Ade, an accomplished actor, producer, and writer.

“Don't change your dreams just because no one else has done it.”

Black creatives in Canada are aware of the disparity in access for BIPOC support and representation across any creative outlet.

“It needed to be a radical gesture that was amplifying Black voices.” With her aim squarely focused on empowering Black artists, Obsidian Theatre’s new artistic director, Mumbi Tindyembwa Otu, brings forth her first major project with the company. 21 Black Futures is a series of 21 monodramas created by Black creatives which will stream on CBC Gem beginning February 12. Otu was undaunted by the large scope and intent of the project.

“I’ve been in this business for at least two decades and one of the things I’ve seen in other communities is that filmmakers would often bring their children in and shepherd them into the work. You would look at a young director working and wonder about their backstory. Oftentimes it’s their parents who shepherd them into the work. They have them around the cameras and other technology while ‘talking shop’ around their kids. I saw the opportunity, now that I’m a father, to do something in collaboration with my kids and also show them the ropes.” -Ryan Singh

After more than 20 years of living in both New York and Toronto, I rep for both hard, but being born and raised in Montreal will, of course, give it a special place at the top of the list. 

"We don’t want to knock on anyone’s door anymore. We want to build our own door and our own building so we can create our own opportunities and be self-sufficient. This is not something that’s going to be around for a month or two; this is something that’s going to be around for a very long time." -Stephan James  "The idea of putting Black voices on a national stage has been a goal of Stephan and I. We used this past year to refine and polish B.L.A.C.K., form our board of directors, and launch the Black Academy." -Shamier Anderson

The creative arts sector has stepped in to play a supporting cast to the global discord of our times. People have steadily turned to the arts for a taste of much needed joy—whether it’s via home concerts online or at drive-ins to free showings of plays and events. Filmmaker, photographer and actor Howard J. Davis aka HAUI, understands how during isolation, creative art is one of the things that has kept us sane. The previous ByBlacks People’s Choice Award winner for best film director sees how his work can provide that release. Simultaneously, he gets us to think beyond the…

To continue to amplify the necessary conversation around sustainability, innovation, community activism Planet in Focus celebrates its 21st Annual International Environmental Film Festival from October 14-23rd. Planet in Focus is an environmental media arts organization with year-round programming. The mandate is to produce cultural events that showcase engaging and artistic films that question, explore and tell stories about the world in which we live.