What is beauty and who sets the universal standard for beauty?

Ethọ́s Lab is a space providing Black youth with the opportunity to engage with STEM fields and chart a career path in something that interests them. It's a direct counter to the limited access and systemic anti-Black racism within the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field. According to the Nigerian-Canadian founder of Ethọ́s Lab, Anthonia Ogundele, “There needs to be a greater intersection of culture and STEM to give more opportunities to young people for exploration and experimentation.”

Dr. Andrea Fatona is an independent curator and an associate professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design University who is concerned with issues of equity within the sphere of the arts and the educational potential of artworks produced by Black Canadians to articulate broader perspectives of Canadian identities.

Photo: Canadian ecologist Maydianne Andrade known for her work on the mating habits of spiders. Photo by: Nick Iwanyshyn A network that connects Black Canadians in STEMM plans to hold national conferences annually to celebrate and promote them. “So, that’s going to be called the B STEMM conference,” said Canadian Black Scientists Network president and co-founder Maydianne Andrade. The name of the conference stands for ‘Black excellence in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine.’ Andrade, like the others who make up the network, is a Black scientist. She specializes in evolutionary biology. 

Unique models in all shades, shapes and ages have found their home at Soli Production Management Inc., a modelling agency in Halifax created by Solitha Shortte.

“After growing up in Grenada in extreme poverty as a child, without food or clothes and shoes, knowing that I had the opportunity to make a better life kept me going, and every time I face a challenge or think about giving up, I think about those days,” Charlyn Asher shares.

Maya Annik Bedward grew up in a quiet, predominantly White neighbourhood where she struggled to have a sense of belonging.

When COVID19 hit, many of us developed our own pandemic distractions to stay sane, whether it be baking, crafting or renovating our spaces. But for one Toronto woman, an act of pandemic self-care turned into a booming business. “Last year was particularly hard for most people,” says Sagal Ali. “I made candles to take my mind off things and share something with everyone.” 

Transit, the word modern urban centres like Toronto use to describe our public transportation, is a short form cousin to the word, transition.

“There's so much room for Black ownership in the Cannabis industry and it's only right that we take advantage of an industry that we helped build,” says Josh Creighton, one of the co-owners of Fumes Rolling Papers & Accessories.