Artsweek 2023 Artists

Alfonso, LA

Project: Look Out! – POV

LA Alfonso is a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Studies at Trent University, a Philippine-born Canadian multidisciplinary artist known for his award-winning films Twelve and Trying to Be Some Hero. He explores aspects of the Filipino diaspora, self, memory, (dis)placement, the image in relation to words, media archives, and cinematic self-inscription. An artist/academic known for his films, he also provides ukulele-inspired podcasts, 35mm street photography, and large-scale video-mapping events. His work has established him as a genre-defying multi-media maverick. In 2021, he staged a nine-week live performance called Agent Sunless. In 2022, he created a video installation from a film he wrote, produced and directed called One Day in December about a tragic event in Peterborough, Ontario’s history. Also, in 2022, in collaboration with artist Age of Moss, they exhibited a live-video-performance sculpture called OctaHedon at the Lumen Festival in Waterloo. LA’s documentary about a family, Circus Boy, is now available on iTunes and Kanopy. His upcoming film, book, and Ph.D. dissertation is a personal history of first-person films called MeMovie, as told through his movies and those that influenced them. He is also developing Sugar Town, the first full-length Filipino animated film inspired by family accounts of encounters with creatures from native folklore. In 2023, the Journal of Embodied Research published a video article he co-authored with Jessica Marion-Barr and Jenn Cole.

Addis, Kirsten

Project: Porchapalooza

Little Fire Collective: percussion, vocals, kazoo, harmonica 

Allison, Sam (Lotus Wight)

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

Bell, Derek

Project: Dark Eyes

No bio provided.

Bunce-Yaxley, Tammy (Sixx)

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Lifetime member of the frequent crier club, Sixx wears her heart on her sleeve, feels things deeply, and finds healing and truth between the lines of poetry. Writing about intergenerational trauma, addiction & overdose, emotional health, and her lifetime mission to break cycles of mental poverty and self-sabotage, her work is sentimental, raw and metaphorical. Pre-pandemic, Sixx was performing multiple times a month and hosted Come as You Are – a tribute to idols and icons reading series. As she fights to emerge from her shell, Sixx continues sprinkling kindness, love and empathy like pixie dust on souls that need it the most.

Butrsingkorn, Vanita

Project: Construction Guys

Vanita Butrsingkorn (Co-creator/Performer) is a circus and theatre practitioner based in Toronto. She has performed as an aerialist and stilt acrobat for Hercinia Arts Collective, Zero Gravity Circus, les Chasseurs de Rêves, and Little Dada. Sparked by an interest in fusing artistry with the engineering world, Vanita collaborated with Make Friends, a maker collective, to create a light show controlled by choreographic movement on stilts and aerial hoop. Favourite career highlights include stilting in Dubai’s biggest mall, performing silks over Niagara Falls and Gordon Lightfoot seeking her out to tell her she’s very talented and should keep going.

Cadence, Jeff

Project: Woodland Woodland & The Wilds Promenade

Jeff is a social worker and therapist practicing in Peterborough and was first drawn to circus arts when looking for an activity that blended expressive arts with athleticism to participate in with his partner Victoria. Coming from a rock climbing and guiding background, the transition to aerial silk and ropes came naturally and provided an opportunity to blend story-telling, live music and acrobatics. Having brought a variety of characters to life on different apparatuses, Jeff returns to the (outdoor) stage on stilts this time.

Cameron, Satah

Project: Dark Eyes

No bio provided.

Cole, Jenn

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Jenn Cole is a mixed-ancestry Algonquin Anishinaabekwe from Kiji Sibi territory, associate professor at Trent University, and director of Nozhem First People’s Performance Space. Jenn’s artistic practice seeks to connect more deeply with territory and ancestral epistemologies toward livable futures for all her relations.

Colton, Mary & Martha

Project: Hot Spots

Mary and Martha Colton graduated from high school a few years back. They grew up on a farm just outside of Peterborough, Ontario, and began singing at the age of 14. At 16, they learned to play guitar and took an interest in song writing. The Colton Sisters are passionate songwriters and their harmonies create a unique and captivating sound. These talented twins won the first round of the Don Skuce Memorial song writing contest in February, 2021 and had their winning song recorded by James McKenty and mastered by Grammy award winner, Greg Wells. “A lot of the music we write is in between indie/folk/pop genre. We play many instruments including guitar, ukulele, piano, and canon (box drum) and get our inspiration from Taylor Swift and James Bay. We have very unique and distinctive voices that harmonize well with each others. And hope to inspire others!” 

Contreras, Jose

Project: 3C84

No bio provided.

Crowe, Cale

Project: Hot Spots

Cale Crowe is a one-of-kind storyteller, seamlessly looping layers of vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar in a signature style that mixes upbeat dance music and sentimental folk pop. From the hills of Alderville First Nation in Ontario, Canada, Cale was fueled by music since he could tie his shoes and has been taking audiences on a turbulent journey since he first picked up a guitar at 13. Cale himself describes the songs that make up “Stars & Promises”, his debut EP, and the sophomore EP “Til You Let Me Go”, as different stages of his own life, each telling a different chapter of the same story. Aside from the records, Cale’s unique performance uses little more than an acoustic guitar and a looping effect pedal and has given him the opportunity to perform across central and southern Ontario and outside the province from Nova Scotia to New Mexico. When it began, Cale’s journey into music was an escape from the trials and tribulations of a socially awkward young adult. Now it’s a chance to connect with like-minded people worldwide and share his experiences through the power of an acoustic guitar and a loop station. Sometimes you have to stand as one in order to reach the many.

Dickson, Sioux

Project: Look Out! – Shadow Selves

Sioux Dickson is an interdisciplinary artist living in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough. Her hyperlocal art practice ponders difference and disability. Amidst the forgotten and discarded, she finds joy in salvaging that which might be overlooked by some as they embrace the ugliness of exclusion. Sioux’s abstract photography was recently exhibited at the 10th SPARK Photo Festival as part of their emerging artist exhibit.

Driedger, Curtis

Project: Porchapalooza and Closing Celebration

Curtis Driedger has a history of over fifty years in the music business. Most notably, he headed the seminal Queen St. new wave band in the eighties, the CeeDees. Currently residing in Peterborough, he heads up the Zippity Doo Dah Community Soul Chorus, the Mandolin Society of Peterborough, fiddles in the cajun Pays d’en Haut, is the tenor and guitar accompaniment for The McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet, and otherwise teaches and performs solo and with other groups in the area.

Duvall, Naomi

Project: Dark Eyes

Naomi Duvall is a regional actor, playwright, puppeteer and burlesque performer and has been making art in Peterborough for the past 6 years. She has been involved in a variety of dance/theatre/puppetry shows in that time. She is currently an artist in residence with Public Energy and “Dark Eyes” is the project she is developing with their support.  She set up a small workshop exploration of “Dark Eyes” at  The Theatre on King in December 2021 when restrictions allowed, with the purpose of gathering feedback on how to develop the story further. This was taken into consideration when creating the updated version for Artsweek.

Eastland, Tom

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

Edmunds, Jay

Project: Woodland & the Wilds Promenade

Jay Edmunds: Musician, Recording Engineer, Record Producer, Composer, Performer & Educator. As a musician Jay has played many shows, events, festivals, bars, parties, weddings, funerals and parades. As a producer of recorded music, he has produced about 20 albums for other musicians. Jay also teaches private music lessons to about 30 students every week. Victoria Kopf- Victoria is a fish biologist by day and a circus performer by night! An experienced rock climber and guide, she began training with her partner under Opal’s keen guidance and has been a part of the Peterborough Circus ever since. She performs on silks, corde lisse, stilts and aerial canoe, and began instructing aerial silks last year. Victoria is most grateful for PACA for bringing new creativity and exploration through movement to her life.

Elchuk, Jennifer (Opal)

Project: Woodland & the Wilds Promenade

Opal (Jen Elchuk) is a Peterborough/Nogojiwanong-based interdisciplinary artist with a history of presenting nature-themed, outdoor, site-specific performance and community-based art. She has played an integral role in the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts (PACA) since it was founded in 2014, instructing, performing, and producing shows. Her current projects include a Canada Council Funded project with her aerial canoe, and a circus mentorship program at Curve Lake First Nations.

Fisher, Kris (Sweet Muriel Mountain)

Project: Porchapalooza

Sweet Muriel Mountain, described as a “hillbilly Betty Boop”, enjoys current notoriety as the sidekick (and wife) of one of Peterborough’s favourite sons, Washboard Hank Fisher, who incidentally has served as a valued advisor to McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet since its inception. Rose, as was her counterpart in the Chuck Wagon Gang, is the darling “baby” of the family.

Fisher, Washboard Hank

Project: Porchapalooza

Washboard Hank’s exploits as singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and comedic backwoods philosopher, have delighted and entertained people for over 35 years. He started as a street musician playing all over North America where he learned how to present a truly entertaining show. Late at night he would have total strangers laughing and dancing in the grimmest of urban settings. This ability to spread joy has been Hank’s constant goal. The Stradovarious Washboard, from which he gets his name, is a musical phenomenon of the first order that he plays with breathtaking virtuosity. With wild flailing motions he carves out melodies in the most unlikely yet spectacular fashion. Hank also plays guitar, 4 & 5 string banjos and the kitchen sink tuba.

Fortin, Rob

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

Gentle, Evangeline

Project: 3C84

Evangeline Gentle is a Scottish-Canadian internationally acclaimed folk-pop songwriter, performer and vocalist based in Ontario, Canada. Produced by Jim Bryson, and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer Philip Shaw Bova (Bahamas, Feist), her 2020 debut self-titled release earned international praise. Gentle was interviewed on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, appeared in Forbes, and was played on BBC, CBC, SiriusXM and more. Debuted on CBC Q in Dec 2022, her recent single “Gay Bar” embodies queer joy as an act of resistance. Gentle’s new singles “Gay Bar” and “Sarah” are now available on all streaming platforms.

Glasspool, Charlie

Project: 3C84

Charlie Glasspool is a musician and music educator. He is a founding member of The Silver Hearts and currently plays in the Evangeline Gentle band. He is a proud winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Education. He is also trying his hand at curating and programming music events with the quarterly LiSTEN MuCH! music series at TTOK and the monthly BGO Presents Volumes at Jethro’s. 

Gleason, Jim

Project: Closing Celebration

Member of Pays d’en Haut.

Harbhajanka, Mridul (Harbhajunkie)

Project: Hot Spots

Harbhajunkie’s music ranges from dreamy jazz to shitty rap. It is often experimental, and can be described as trippy, laidback, “space” music. Or sometimes just shitty rap. Recorded and produced solo in her bedroom, Harbhajunkie’s music has a raw feel, combining the ukulele/keys with layers and layers of dreamy vocals. Harbhajunkie is the stage name for Mridul Harbhajanka, a multimedia artist, musician, and singer/songwriter. Mridul has been writing tunes on her ukulele for 10 years and has ended up with a huge collection of songs – which one day she hopes to record. Her first album “Making Tunes and Eating Fruit” was recently released in February 2023. 

Hedderwick, Jon

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Jon Hedderwick is a spoken word poet and performance artist of mixed Ashkenazi Jewish and Scottish heritage. He is the Artistic Director of the Peterborough Poetry Slam, co-director of Take-out Poetry, and half of the spoken word duo, WordCraft. He has created and performed in two solo shows, Bubbie’s Tapes and Enkidu, and is a 2023 recipient of Public Energy’s Generator Program. 

Hedge, Robert

Project: Dark Eyes

No bio provided.

Hoffman, John

Project: Porchapalooza

Member of the Chester Babcock Trio.

Hughes, Emily

Project: Construction Guys

Emily Hughes (Co-Creator/Performer) is a circus-theatre artist, multidisciplinary creator and the co-Artistic Director of Hercinia Arts Collective. She is a classically trained actor, Pochinko clown and has been performing as a professional aerialist for over 20 years. Emily’s recent work includes touring in Femmes du Feu’s early years circus-theatre shows Tweet! Tweet! and Flora & Fauna, becoming a dust bunny clown for AP Event’s Wonders of Winterland and collaborating with Lindsay Bellaire of Articus Production on her slow-circus meditative piece Slipstream. You can find out more about Emily’s work at www.emilyhughes.ca

Isiekwena, Laurin

Project: Event Title Link

Ebelechukwu Laurin Isiekwena is a Trent University student in her third year in Business Administration and Sociology, specializing in criminology and socio-legal studies. In addition to being a poet, she is also a spoken word artist. After winning the Charlie Earle Memorial grant in February of 2021, she became more prominent in the art world. She has been featured in Peterborough Currents and also highlighted as one of the artists on EC3s spotlights on black artists in Peterborough. She is currently one of five artists participating in 4th Line Theatre’s first Interdisciplinary Residency Program. She is the president of an organization of her own called Urithi Black Academic Mentorship Program which is an organization dedicated to black youth in the Peterborough, Kawartha, and Lakefield communities, providing them with opportunities to explore their strengths, talents, leadership, and academic potential within a safe, encouraging environment. Her most recent endeavour is starring as Tituba in Peterborough theatre guild’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”. Other plays she’s been in include: The Revolutionist as Marianne, Concord floral as greenhouse, The wolves, Innocence lost and more. As a writer, Laurin enjoys the art of storytelling through poetry and spoken word. She uses poetry as a form of therapy and hopes to help others do the same.

James, Mintu Maria

Project: Hot Spots

Under the direction of dancer/choreographer Mintu Maria James, five accomplished dancers perform a mixed program of classical Indian dance and Bollywood dance. Dancers are Mintu Maria James, Gopika Mohan, Nevin K Vettickal, Sivadath S and Ashwin Raj. Mintu Maria James was born in India and moved to Canada as a student in 2016.  She is a trained Indian classical dancer specializing in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Born into a family of professional dancers, she started learning dance at the age of 3 and worked in her father’s dance studio teaching youth. She now performs both Indian classical dance as well as Bollywood dance on various stages and conducts dance workshops. 

Jenkins, Elizabeth

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart and Hot Spots

Elizabeth Jenkins is a poet, spoken word artist and activist. She finds beauty in broken by embracing hard edges. She is the Peterborough Poetry Slam’s Artist Liaison and co-organized the 2017 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. She’s performed across Canada and is a two-time Canadian Independent Poetry Slam Championship finalist.

Jones, Kristal

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Kristal Jones is a multi disciplinary artist who loves to spend her limited free time creating poems, pictures and paintings inspired by the her experiences being a human in this peculiar, marvelous, world. She likes her poems like she like her snacks, served hot and from a cart -with love. 

Jordan, Judy

Project: Porchapalooza

Little Fire Collective: electric banjo

Kopf, Victoria

Project: Woodland & The Wilds Promenade

Victoria is a fish biologist by day and a circus performer by night! An experienced rock climber and guide, she began training with her partner under Opal’s keen guidance and has been a part of the Peterborough Circus ever since. She performs on silks, corde lisse, stilts and aerial canoe, and began instructing aerial silks last year. Victoria is most grateful for PACA for bringing new creativity and exploration through movement to her life.

Lanigan, Stevie

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Stevie is a 20-something Trent student getting a degree in something his parents don’t understand, and the parent to the best pet parrot someone could ask for. His notes app and too many notebooks are filled with attempts to make sense of his life as a sober trans-masculine person. He doesn’t have any fancy awards or titles but is working on a book that is supposedly coming out soon. He is always excited to be included with the art scene in this sweet little town.

Latchford, Dianne

Project: Porchapalooza

“Lil” (alto) of the McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet is played by Dianne Latchford, also a great veteran of the stage, both musical and theatrical, most notably appearing in the Murdoch Mysteries, Queer as Folk, not to mention numerous commercials. She is currently one half of the pop music duo, Latchford and Greig, performing regularly in the Peterborough area, and is also the second in command of the Mandolin Society of Peterborough.

Lee, Casandra

Project: Look Out! – An Ode to Trees

Casandra Lee is an Asian-American visual artist and author. She has written and illustrated two children’s books, The Sun Dance (2014) and Building a Home (2021). Recent projects include the installation of Under an Apple Tree, as part of the Indoor-Outdoor public art project, an exhibition at Erring at King George, and designs for ReFrame Film Festival. Casandra primarily works digitally and with oil paints, but loves about every medium at the art store.

Lewis, Sarah

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Sarah Lewis (she/her) is an Anishnaabe Kwe (Ojibwe and Cree) spoken word artist, activist, musician, community organizer and mother. She has ancestral roots in Curve Lake First Nation and Pukatawagon, Manitoba. She served as Peterborough’s inaugural Poet Laureate and has been featured on CBC Arts, Global News, and stages across the world. Sarah utilizes poetry as an act of resistance, giving voice to Indigenous resurgence and reclamation of identities, culture, strength and sovereignty. She encourages aspiring poets to speak their truth, and to envision a decolonial society where sexism, the patriarchy, capitalism and racism do not exist.

Lowe, Adrian

Project: Hot Spots

“The kind of music I compose is essentially originals that can be best described as contemporary classical new age, motivational in terms of Genre. Mixing keyboard with a loop pedal. I started fooling around on the keyboard around 12 after a big move and had no friends, Isolated myself the vibrations and colors I experienced while playing. Quickly began teaching myself unscripted musical theory before formally attending music school for a few years. Ultimately I play and learn by ear and compose music by drawing from life experiences.”

MacAdam, Colin

Project: Porchapalooza

“Jim” (bass) of the McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet is played by Colin MacAdam, who has his roots in the kitchen singing tradition of Cape Breton. He is a veteran choral singer, currently enjoying his twelfth season with the acclaimed Peterborough Singers, under Syd Birrell. He also steps out as a modern dancer, most notably with the Peterborough troupe Old Men Dancing.

Malbeuf, Nicole

Project: Construction Guys

Nicole Malbeuf (Co-Creator/Performer) is an aerial artist, movement enthusiast and physical theatre performer based in Peterborough, Ontario. A graduate of OCAD University (material arts) and Fleming College (Sustainable Agriculture), Nicole’s work is excited about nature, tactile things and the process of creation. She operates under Trellis Arts, where she and other collaborators combine aerial arts, dance and theatre to produce shows and experiences for the stage and in-studio learning, especially in the Peterborough/Nogojiwanong area. Nicole has worked with various performance companies including Hercinia Arts Collective, A Girl in the Sky, Flying Solo, Cirque Revolution and 4th Line Theatre.

Maracle O’Toole, Brenda

Project: Opening Ceremonies

Unity is the collective talents of Barb Rivett, Brenda Maracle O’Toole, and Heather Shpuniarsky. They are a blended a cappella women’s drum group who have been performing their own works that have been influenced by many Indigenous cultures, as well as traditional Indigenous music, for over 18 years. The group has performed at numerous venues: from presentations to schools, social groups, conferences to music festivals. Each member is either a retiree and/or alumni of the Indigenous Studies faculty of Trent. Unity has performed the honour song for each convocation at Trent for over 18 years.

Marshall, Kelli

Project: Hot Spots

Kelli Marshall is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) from the Mississauga territory of Hiawatha First Nation. She represents the Pike Clan. Her most important jobs are, a Mother, sister, friend, and provider. She is a Professional dancer, facilitator, teacher, and storyteller. She has been dancing since she could walk, and has been taught in most forms of dance. She has been teaching workshops, and dance classes on Indigenous style dancing for six years. Kelli has preformed, all over Canada, and throughout the United States. She went to a school for the arts, and has been preforming since childhood. She is currently involved in the production of a child’s cartoon that teaches anishinaabemowin. Teaching about her culture is one of her passions, as her GrandFather went to residential school, and her family has suffered greatly from his life there. She hopes to help heal those wounds through education and inclusion. Kelli studies the Indian Act both for herself, her family and to help schools create a foundation for learning about Indigenous issues.

McGrath, Leslie

Project: Closing Celebration

Member of Pays d’en Haut.

Mclean Purdon, Ryan

Project: Dark Eyes

No bio provided.

McNeilly, Sarah

Project: Dark Eyes

No bio provided.

Million, Justin

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Justin Million is a poet, performance artist, and editor who lives and works in Peterborough, ON. Million is the founder of the Show and Tell Poetry Series, is the poetry editor at bird, buried press, and has been featured in countless small magazines, journals, and zines. Million is the author of over 20 poetry chapbooks, and his first trade book “EJECTA: The Uncollected KEYBOARDS! Poems” was published in 2020 by Ottawa’s Apt. 9 Press.

Mohan, Gopika

Project: Hot Spots

No bio provided.

Moss, Paul (Age of Moss)

Project: Look Out!

Paul has been creating and curating transformative psychedelic art and events for over ten years. His video projection installations explore the intersections of light, form, geometry, and time. Paul’s work seeks to challenge the mind’s sense of what is possible. He aims to push the boundaries of perception to create unique and ephemeral experiences for his audience. When he is not creating strange new works, Paul enjoys cycling, DJing, climbing, and cats.

Moulton, Jade

Project: Hot Spots

Jade (they/she) a biracial black, queer multidisciplinary artist experiments with visual arts and sound making while trying to make sense of the chaos around us. A transplant from the Ottawa area who enjoys playing djembe in improv settings with loved ones and fellow creators as a way of exploring culture and community.

Murphy, Megan

Project: The Verandah Society

Megan Murphy is a graduate of York University’s Fine Arts program and has worked as an actor in film, television, theatre and radio for more than two decades. She is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and the Seneca College Documentary Filmmaking Institute. Recent theatre: Angel in Angels in America (News Stages); Euna Wyndham in Fool of Cavan: A Christmas Caper (4th Line Theatre). Television: Deputy Inman in Dark Matter (SyFy/Bell Media); Sally Knox in XPOD (CBC/Xenophile Media). She co-hosted a morning radio show on Star 93.3FM for over a decade. Her feature documentary, “Murphy’s Law”, won Best Documentary Film at the Fingal Film Festival in Ireland and her short film, “Towns End” won an audience Choice Award at the Vox Popular Film Festival. She is a public speaker and published writer and can be found at Website: murphyslawfilm.net

Newman, Susan

Project: 3C84

Susan Newman is a Peterborough-based musician, theatre artist, and composer. In 2015 she was the co-recipient of a Dora Mavor Moore Award for “Beneath Springhill” for which she composed the songs. She is a member of the jazz vocal trio Chester Babcock, the folk ensemble Carried Away and the director/arranger of the Convivio Chorus. In 2022 she composed the songs for the film “One Day In December”. She is currently working on a new musical “Airborne” for Firebrand Theatre.

Nyarady, Zita

Project: Construction Guys

NZita Nyarady (Director) is a dance, theatre and circus artist based in Toronto. As a circus director and dramaturge Zita has worked with Hercinia Arts Collective on The Flying Machine and The Chaos Project. She has also directed shows for Bike Circus and Look Up Theatre’s Social Circus. As co-artistic director of The Grand Salto Theatre, Zita’s interdisciplinary performances have been presented at comedy, clown, theatre and dance festivals across Canada. She has participated in Director’s Lab North, Nightwood Theatre’s Young Innovators Lab, Buddies in Bad Times Young Creators Unit, Crow’s Theatre’s Auxiliary Training Program, Circus Sessions, Montreal working group on circus research, Producers Learning Network and the Auxiliary Training Program at Crow’s Theatre. As a direct result of Zita’s interdisciplinary and multi-faceted arts career she is a sought after collaborator as a performer, director, dramaturge/outside eye, administrator and outreach coordinator.

Paluck, Laurel

Project: Woodland & The Wilds Promenade

Laurel Paluck is an interdisciplinary artist whose work engages professional artists, students and community members towards creating visually charged performance, exhibitions and installation work. She is the artistic producer of Atelier Ludmila Gallery, an art gallery featuring visual art exhibitions and an arts production house whose works include: outdoor theatrical performances; curriculum-based classroom art projects; art sessions bringing elders together with young learners.

Pastic, Jeremy

Project: Opening Ceremonies

No bio provided.

Pilgrim, Jesse

Project: 3C84

No bio provided.

Quinones, Carlo Jose

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

NSi Carlo Jose Quinones, ikatulong anak ni Celia Pestaño Quinones og Eduardo Diama Mainit Quinones, apo ni Cecilia Buga Remedio Pestaño og Arsenio Puno Pestaño. Si Carlo ga dako sa Mandaue, Cebu hangtod sa iyang pagbalhin sa Peterborough, Ontario tuig 2012. Carlo is an Aries Sun, Cancer Moon and Ascending. Carlo likes to write, play badminton, and make art. Their poems are informed by their migration, gender, sexuality, culture, their racialization, trauma, memories, and home. Carlo would someday want to be by rough waters and surf the waves.

Raj, Ashwin

Project: Hot Spots

No bio provided.

Rivett, Barb

Project: Opening Ceremonies

Unity is the collective talents of Barb Rivett, Brenda Maracle O’Toole, and Heather Shpuniarsky. They are a blended a cappella women’s drum group who have been performing their own works that have been influenced by many Indigenous cultures, as well as traditional Indigenous music, for over 18 years. The group has performed at numerous venues: from presentations to schools, social groups, conferences to music festivals. Each member is either a retiree and/or alumni of the Indigenous Studies faculty of Trent. Unity has performed the honour song for each convocation at Trent for over 18 years.

Rowland, Benj

Project: Interactive Musical Animations

Born and raised in the Peterborough, ON area, Benj Rowland is the singer-songwriter and instrumentalist behind the acclaimed Canadian folk duo Mayhemingways. Having toured across Canada several times as part of a band, Community Garden is Benj’s first solo album released under his own name, an album he has been touring now since 2022. Recorded and produced by Canadian musical icon Joel Plaskett at his Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Studio-FANG RECORDING, Community Garden features a collection of songs that speak to small town Ontario and tell stories about the life of an independent Canadian musician. Though mainly featuring original compositions by Roland, the album also has Traditionals and Ontarian folk covers which push the album’s theme forward.

Roy, Phaedra & Marc

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

S, Sivadath

Project: Hot Spots

No bio provided.

Sarol, Winsome

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

Scott, Bon

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Bon Scott is a non-binary trans settler raised in Tkaronto/Scarborough and living in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough. They graduated from Trent University with a BA in Cultural Studies. They are an avid food grower and horticulturalist. Bon is an emerging writer, poet, and artist whose work grapples with growth, grief, gender, and landscape.

Shadgett, Irish Millie

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

Shahsavari, Sara (Shahrazi)

Project: Hot Spots

Shahrazi is borderless; somewhere between the earth and the stars, she/they explores themes of diaspora, spirit, love, war, wilderness & rebirth through genre-bending cinematic music and surrealist visual art. A captivating performer with a deeply soulful voice, Shahrazi has a wild, dreamy aura that inspires free-spiritedness and interconnection among all walks of life. Shahrazi is a singer-songwriter, percussionist, and guitar player that often performs with a band or solo with a keyboard, various loop pedals, electronic beats, and a daf (persian frame drum). They also use video production and bellydance to explore multidimensional storytelling. Actively experimenting live since 2018, every Shahrazi performance is a unique energetic experience. 

Shpuniarsky, Heather

Project: Opening Ceremonies

Unity is the collective talents of Barb Rivett, Brenda Maracle O’Toole, and Heather Shpuniarsky. They are a blended a cappella women’s drum group who have been performing their own works that have been influenced by many Indigenous cultures, as well as traditional Indigenous music, for over 18 years. The group has performed at numerous venues: from presentations to schools, social groups, conferences to music festivals. Each member is either a retiree and/or alumni of the Indigenous Studies faculty of Trent. Unity has performed the honour song for each convocation at Trent for over 18 years.

Suárez, Ále

Project: Hot Spots

Ále Suárez is a Venezuelan- American singer songwriter who infuses latin styles with rnb and jazz chords for a relaxing combination that will leave you feeling like you were just laying on the beach. Ále is a queer, trans, non-binary, Venezuelan-American, Canadian immigrant, multi-instrumentalist, Expressive Arts Therapist and singer songwriter. Phew that’s a whole lot of adjectives but bare with us! They are currently a Master’s of Divinity student at Luther Seminary. Their dream is to create a safe space for the LGBTQI2SA+ community to dwell and commune with the divine and spirituality. They believe the arts speak the language of our souls, which gives us direct access to our most authentic self.

Suhr, Kate

Project: The Verandah Society

Kate Suhr studied Opera at The University of Western Ontario and holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Music from Humber College. Recent theatre: Good Ol’ Country Gospel (Drayton Entertainment); Tess Wilson in Bloom: A Rock n Roll Fable (4th Line Theatre); Nancy in A New Brain (Ryan DeSouza/Randy Read); Harper in Angels In America (New Stages); Our Lady Of The Spa in Nine (Podium Concert Productions); Glinda in The Wizard of Oz (Diversified Theatre); Rose/Mrs Winthrope/Claire in Secret Garden (Podium Concert Productions); Ariel in The Little Mermaid (Randolph Theatre); Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins (LOT); Ensemble in Assassins (Steve Ross); Kate is also a singer songwriter who has been featured at Boots and Hearts and many festivals all over Ontario. Her music is available on all streaming platforms. Instagram: @katesuhr  Website: katesuhr.com 

Suzie

Project: Porchapalooza

Little Fire Collective: songwriter, vocals, guitar

Tangir, Sammy

Project: Look Out! – Winter Weeds and Spring Shoots

Sammy Tangir is an all around nature nerd, with an always growing passion for plants and utilitarian crafts with natural materials. That includes-but is certainly not limited to carving spoons, weaving and making paint/ink from plants and rocks.  Sammy is always enthusiastic about engaging people in the beauty of plants. Beyond crafting and admiring plants Sammy works in ecological restoration and is a farmer- growing willow for basketry, herbs and plants for dye.

Thomas, PJ

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

PJ Thomas launched her second poetry book, Waves, in November 2022. This collection is garnering great critical acclaim. Thomas published her first volume of verse, Undertow, in October 2020. Thomas’ lyrics appear on Rick Fines’ 2021 Juno-nominated album, Solar Powered Too. Her work involves the movement of celestial bodies, the natural beauty of the local geography, and the searching human heart. Thomas moved to Peterborough/Nogojiwanong from Toronto in 1982 to attend Trent University. She fell in love with the townspeople and the surrounding area. Thomas gratefully makes her home with her cat by the Otonabee River.

Tomkins, Saskia

Project: Hot Spots and The Verandah Society

Saskia Tomkins is a master musician of Violin/Fiddle Viola, Cello and Nyckelharpa. She is classically trained with a folk background and a B.A.hons. in Music (Jazz & Popular Music), and she won All Britain Champion Irish Fiddler. Over the years, Saskia has worked with many musicians, including: Jimmy Bowskill, The Chieftains, Kim Doolittle, Tim Edey, Tim Garland, “Jabbour”, Robb Johnson, Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Ron Korb, James McKenty, Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker), David Newland, Donald Quan, “Sin E” Ted Staunton , “Sultans of String”, Miranda Sykes, “Uriah Heep”, Lotus Wight (Sam Allison), Ken Whiteley, “Al-pha-X” and Astrid Young, her husband Steáfán Hannigan and son Oisín Hannigan, and a plethora of other amazing musicians, actors and dancers! Saskia’s theatre work includes: Originating the “Celtic-ifying” of the broadway hit “Come From Away”; The English Shakespeare Company and Michael Bogdanov; 4th Line Theatre, Ontario; Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, UK. Saskia’s current personal projects include Steáfán & Saskia with Steáfán Hannigan, the instrumental jazz/roots duo 2ish, with Brandon Scott Besharah; the global roots string quartet MEDUSA, and the jazz trio Marsala and the Imports. She also plays in the Maple Leaf Jug Band. She is currently principle 2nd violin for Quinte Symphony Orchestra. Saskia also teaches privately from her home near Cobourg, Ontario, and runs workshops at festivals. 

Tree, Niambi

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Born and raised in Jamaica, Niambi Tree spent formative years in Peterborough. A past member of the Peterborough Poetry Slam Team and two-time individual Grand Slam Champion, her spoken word poetry explores the intersectionality between race, relationships, self-worth and mental illnesses. Niambi’s work is lyrical, deeply felt, and rooted in storytelling, reminding you that even the act of breathing is an expression of strength. When Niambi is not busy making jewellery, hairstyling, or doing kickass things for her community, you can probably catch her by a waterfall, singing too loudly on the bus, or talking to plants more than she does to people.

Unterlander, Lindsay

Project: Dark Eyes

No bio provided.

Vettickal, Nevin K

Project: Hot Spots

No bio provided.

von Bieberstein, Ziysah

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart

Ziysah is a parent, poet, editor, community cultivator, and unsettled settler on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabe territory. Their work seeks to connect us to our imaginations, our responsibilities, and each other. Ziy’s writing has appeared in various magazines and anthologies as well as their most recent collection, consents+/=/- severances. 

Ward, Will

Project: Hot Spots

will ward (he/they), Black queer activist n settler in nogojiwanong who dabbles in soft jazz/blues piano n occasional singing

Watson, Matthew

Project: Closing Celebration

Member of Pays d’en Haut.

Wear, Hilary (Tootah)

Project: Take-Out Poetry Cart and a surprise appearance

Hilary Wear is a theatre artist who, more and more, has become a Clown. This is a fascinating and challenging art form that, at its heart, is about connection, humility and resilience, and which often manifests as finding fun in failure and foibles. Studying with all the best teachers in Ontario, she has developed 2 personas: Tootah and Granny Kokum (an Old Lady) as well as many Bouffon characters. She is now working primarily as a Therapeutic Clown in pediatric and geriatric settings and beginning to offer QiGondidaa! (Qi Gong sessions conducted in Anishinaabemowin) at Festivals.

Wilde, Tami J

Project: Porchapalooza

No bio provided.

Wood, Victoria

Project: Woodland & The Wilds Promenade

Victoria Wood, AKA Pyrobelle is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator specializing in Circus Arts. She has performed across North America for celebrities, Fortune 500 companies, and family festivals; currently she resides in Peterborough works with the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts. Pyrobelle’s dream is to share Circus Arts with the world; to champion letting your freak flag fly and making yourself & others happy.

Yeh, Victoria

Project: 3C84 and Porchapalooza

Canadian violinist Victoria Yeh’s unique style….haunting, daring and electrifying. Classically trained, Yeh combines the purity of her musical heritage with the edginess of progressive fusion. She lights up the stage with her infectious energy, her passion and her distinctive style, captivating audiences across the country with the violin as it’s rarely seen. Victoria performs a wide range of original music inspired largely by Jean-Luc Ponty, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and John McLaughlin.