Amaka.
To be mother is to be needed—to be 100 things to 100 people.To be the thread tying lives together. To pass down recipes, pass down stories, to carry generations, and carry yourself. But I often look at my mother and wonder — who were you before you were so needed, and how can I help you remember? It was my mom’s birthday recently and she had been saying she wanted to do a photoshoot, so I capture her in a photoshoot as I see her while I tell you a bit about who she is to me. My mom
Abby Albino
I was the “probably never going to get married” girl, the “career first” girl, the “it’s okay, I’m happy by myself” girl. I was the “I don’t know what I want to do I guess I’ll go back to school at 30” girl, the “stay out all night and not think about tomorrow” girl, the “shoot, that’s a bad credit score” girl. Well, my name is Abby Albino, it’s nice to meet you and here’s who that girl became: If you had told my younger self that one day I’d be standing in front of a camera
BCWM
What moment changed our life? To start, two moments changed our lives: The first moment that changed our lives? Where it all started…attending Latto’s Toronto concert on November 7, 2024 together. The three of us, Jahlyssa, Jennifer and Shaneka, were able to enjoy the show and rap along to our favourite anthems. We knew the moment we shared was special, because the very next day several women from the Canadian music industry inquired about our next outing and wanted to be involved. We knew from then we had something special going on, that would change our lives. After
CTRL+ALT+BEAT
We are turning into goldfish. Everyone reading this, even us writing this, we are all guilty of it. It’s scary how quickly our priorities have shifted during this new age of digital media and engagement. Conversations are something that are chronically avoided, everything is turned into an email or a text message, eye contact is frightening more than it is desired and we pride ourselves in being homebodies, not realizing that we are missing out on moments in the world that can never be replicated. In the age of DIY, we took it upon ourselves to create
Serena Nguyen
I was always a creative kid. I used art to cope with feelings I had trouble putting into words. Art and creation housed the emotions I had trouble understanding. I often turned inwards as a means to self-soothe. Feelings and emotions are often dismissed in immigrant households, and so, I learned emotional regulation from an early age. My parents fled their war-torn country on a crammed jaggedy boat in hopes to seek refuge and a fresh start. They only knew a life of insecurity, and hoped their children didn’t have to face the same hardships. It was
ACHÉ
What started as a personal outlet— a space where I could ventand process my emotions— became something so much bigger. It turned into a safe space, not just for me but for others who needed to feel less alone. When I was 24, I lived through the hardest year of my life. My grandmother became ill and passed away, and for the first time, I felt the deep, aching loss of someone I loved. Even though I was surrounded by people, I still felt incredibly alone. I kept thinking, No one understands what I’m going through. When I
BRANDON MARSH
Boy Wonder Hiraeth—"A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return,a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grieffor the lost spaces of your past." Growing up as a military child, goodbyes became all too familiar. Moving across the country every few years became the “norm,” I naturally learned how to cope by forming new friendships wherever I went. Every destination played a role in shaping who I am today and might explain my natural ability to connect with others. My love for modelling began on a random weekday when I decided to go
Shannon
What Changed Me? There were two moments that changed my life: When I was fired from my job (it was unfair and messy and a story for another day) When I opened my own shop two years later. I don’t take experiences or interactions for granted. They always shape how I navigate my life, work, and who I choose to align with. As painful as that first moment was, it turned out to be the greatest gift the universe could have given me. It revealed who truly understood me, what I value, how I identify as a person of colour,
Katsuhiro Kojima
Which moment changed your life? The moment I bought my first DSLR camera completely changed my life. I started taking it with me whenever I went out and found myself exploring new places more often. Even when I’m just walking through the same streets I usually do, I pay attention to how the light hits everything around me. It makes my daily life feel like I’m always on a little adventure. Since I got into photography, life has become so much more enjoyable. Since I took that shot "After Work", I’ve been obsessed with chasing light and shadows around Toronto. These days,
Jaehee Cho
What Changed Me? I can think of many moments that have had a great impact on my life—some happy, some sad—but I believe the moment that truly changed me as a person was when I picked up a tattoo needle for the first time. I remember telling myself: This is it. No more giving up.No more bargaining, negotiating, or procrastinating I wasn’t a strong person, nor was I someone who usually finished what I started. But somehow, when I grabbed that tattoo needle, I felt no anxiety. I was so determined, and I knew I wouldn’t break the
