Fall 2021
Dean's Message
This fall saw the return of many more students, faculty, and staff to campus, and it seems to make the season’s colours a little more vibrant. Seeing people with a bit of an extra jump in their step is exciting. The pandemic is not over, though, and we will not take our eye off of the health and safety of everyone in our community as we welcome people back to campus.
Things are also exciting on campus due to the new library facility that greeted us all as we returned. It is a remarkable facility with a bright and airy feel, and there are many new learning spaces and amenities for students. It’s a most welcome addition to our campus, and I would encourage you all to check it out when you find yourself on campus. The library team, including our new librarian Muyi, is eager to support your work and learning.
I always enjoy writing these introductions since I am always so impressed with the work and achievement of our students, graduates, faculty and staff. This issue, like all of the others before it, highlights so much amazing work. Our Sports Journalism students covered the Tokyo Paralympic Games remotely and produced a “ton” of great content across multiple channels. Our Fine Arts students saw their “Neighbourhood Garden” installation unveiled at the Scarborough Hero Awards and have begun a tour to various locations across the city for everyone to enjoy. One of our music students took home top prize at the SOCAN Awards, and a Children’s Media graduate was part of an Emmy nominated team.
As well, our Broadcasting students, graduates and faculty came together to film a documentary over the summer; our Interactive Media students put on “Nexus”; another fantastic showcase of their work; and a graduate has just re-published her book to celebrate its 10th anniversary. And lastly, a group of Broadcasting students and graduates came together to complete a film written by Issac Henry, their classmate who passed away suddenly in the fall of 2020. Their drive and dedication to doing this for their friend is incredibly inspiring.
I hope you all enjoy this edition and find some inspiration in these articles as I did. I am, as always, immensely proud to be a part of the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design community.
Nate Horowitz
Dean, School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design, Centennial College
The library is now open from Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
With floor to ceiling glass windows, new individual study spaces, a large silent room, and a flexible and modern space to engage with classmates, we are absolutely thrilled with this addition and what it offers our Story Arts Centre community.
Taking your classes online? You can still access all of our library resources and facilities! Just be sure to check out our campus entry requirements before arriving. You can also access and explore Centennial Library services online.
Fine Arts Students Create Art Installation for Scarborough Hero Awards
Centennial College, Scarborough Health Network, Toronto Zoo and the University of Toronto Scarborough launched the Scarborough Hero Awards in February 2021 as a way to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their community.
In celebration of the award winners, students from the Fine Arts Studio program created a community art installation called "Neighbourhood Garden" that was on display at the awards. Each panel represents a different story and theme to represent the Scarborough community, which was supported by an immense amount of research and consideration by our students.
The installation will now be available to the public and travel to various sites throughout Scarborough. For a list of locations and dates, visit the Scarborough Hero Awards website.
Image Credit: Photographer Desran McKie from Dez.Photography
Sports Journalism Students Gain Thousands of Views on Tokyo Paralympic Games Coverage
With 106 stories, 14 radio/podcast updates, 7 television shows, extensive social media updates, and a cumulative 20,000+ reads on the Toronto Observer, students from the Sports Journalism program impressively covered the Tokyo Paralympic Games – a 12-day event with athletes competing from more than 160 countries.
Although coverage had to be done virtually, students worked tirelessly to provide in-depth and professional coverage to viewers keeping up with the Games.
Music Industry Arts and Performance Grad Wins Big at SOCAN Awards
Music composed especially for a film (aka a film score) can transform not only a scene but also enhance the storyline and experience for the viewer.
The process of creating a film score and telling a story through music requires immense creativity and dedication, and Andrés Galindo Arteaga, a graduate of the Music Industry Arts and Performance program, did exactly that for the film – In Despair.
The work Andrés put into the film was so successful that he won Best Original Score – Non-Fiction at the 2021 SOCAN Foundation Awards in the Emerging Screen Composers category.
Daytime Emmy Nominations
Pooja Inamdar, an alumni of the Children's Media program, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy this past year, as well as Suzanne Wilson, founding faculty and former program coordinator of Children's Media!
Daytime Emmy Nomination #1: Outstanding Short Form Children's Program: Imagination Trips
Pooja was employed on a project basis as a Writer/Producer from March 2020- April 2020 with New Games Productions which is a subsidiary of Nickelodeon. Pooja reported to the supervising producer at Nickelodeon and they produced five animation short form content videos.
Pooja was involved in the project from scripting and saw it through post production. Of the lot were three videos of Imagination Trips.
Daytime Emmy Nomination #2: Outstanding Young Adult Series
Lambur Productions, which Suzanne Wilson is the COO of, is the company behind The Hardy Boys that airs on Hulu in the US. The show was nominated for a Daytime Emmy as well.
Congratulations Pooja & Suzanne!
Two-Time Centennial Graduate Writes Defining Book About Toronto Graffiti
Graffiti has the power to tell stories, inform, and liven up a once bare space, but behind the work is a culture full of artists that can often go unnoticed. Yvette Farkas, a two-time Centennial College graduate, republished her book Toronto Graffiti: The human behind the wall to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Within the 520-pages are a compilation of 20 interviews with artists and over 1,000 full-colour photos, maps, definitions, timelines, and opinion pieces.
GRAD PROFILE
Gabby Marcuzzi
Gabby Marcuzzi is a 2021 graduate of the Museum and Cultural Management program, and has already taken off in her career at a Toronto gallery.
The 2021 Premier's Awards Includes 6 Nominees from Centennial!
The Premier's Awards honour the important social and economic contributions that college graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world. Each year, the Premier's Awards recognize graduates in seven categories: Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate.
We are excited to announce that among the six nominees from Centennial is award-winning marketing and advertising executive, Ishma Alexander-Huet, who is a 2002 graduate of our Advertising program! Ishma is the VP of Client Advice and Management, Head of Learning and Culture, Initiative, and leads a team of over 40 media professionals that supports major brands such as RBC and Lego Canada.
Program Profile
Film and Television - Business
The Film and Television - Business program helps prepare students for multiple aspects within the television and film production industry.
Recently spotlighted by Playback Magazine in a story on production accountants, this program offers a great deal of practical, "real world" skills that students need to excel as professionals in this industry.
Live Performance Documentary Enlists Help of Centennial Broadcasting Students and Grads
At the beginning of 2021, Broadcasting Professor and Peterborough Folk Festival Chair, Malcolm Byard, applied for funding to produce a performance documentary and corresponding album entitled, We Can Do This. Broadcasting Professor Jim Lambie joined the project as the Producer, and around mid-June, the prep work began with filming planned for mid-August.
When assembling the film crew, the process of bringing on current Broadcasting students and alumni happened naturally, and it ended up providing a great deal of on-set experience.
Check out the trailer to the performance documentary below.
GRAD profile
Cathryn Naiker
Cathryn Naiker graduated from our Broadcasting program in 2006 and has since gone on to immerse herself in the world of writing, comedy, and podcasting. Fascinated by film and television all of her life, Cathryn shares, “I always loved those how did it get made specials on TV. My whole life, I always just knew.”
Cathryn has been a writer for a new show that will air on CBC in January 2022 called Son of a Critch, and is the co-host of her podcast called The Pick Up – A WNBA Podcast.
Interactive Media Management Program Holds Virtual Trade Show: Nexus
Nexus is a virtual exhibition hosted by our Interactive Media Management graduating class. The trade show is a yearly project where students come together and present original designs to attendees, and the work is consistently outstanding.
Memorial Bench for Degrassi Co-Creator, Kit Hood, Presented on Story Arts Centre Campus
Kit Hood was one of the Co-creators and Producers of The Kids of Degrassi St, which is the first incarnation of the Degrassi franchise in the early 80s.
In the early 90s the Story Arts Centre became the set for Degrassi High, and the campus became a second home for the actors and crew. As a way to honour Kit after his passing in 2020, a memorial bench was presented in our courtyard.
Broadcasting Students Come Together to Work on Classmate Isaac Henry’s Project After His Passing
A group of Broadcasting students and grads came together this year to complete a film project that has been on hold since the pandemic began.
Finishing the project carried significant importance for them, as it was a film written by Broadcasting student Isaac Henry, who passed away in October of 2020.
Storyworks Client, The GenWell Project, Partners with the College Student Alliance on Heads Up!
To help raise awareness among the student population about the importance of social connection to their health, The GenWell Project has teamed up with the College Student Alliance for their new campaign: Heads Up!
On November 10th at 7:00 PM, join the Heads Up! expert panel to discuss the importance of social connection to our health, happiness, and longevity.
Transformation on Campus 🌱
The north and northwest portions of our campus have been transformed with over 150 native species perennials, shrubs and trees! On October 15th, several green thumbs united to pull off this impressive feat.
Sending a big thank you to the Sustainability at Centennial College team, Toronto Forestry, and everyone who came out to help. Great work!
Image courtesy of Rain Gardens United via Twitter
Credits:
Created with an image by PublicDomainPictures - "autumn leaves foliage"