Storytellers Gallery
Biographical information found in the Storytellers Gallery is accurate as of its original publication, but is not updated.
2019
| Contestant details | Status | |
|---|---|---|
 Finalist | Adatia Shelina Adatia University of Ottawa | Finalist |
 Finalist | Bader Danielle Bader University of Guelph | Finalist |
 Finalist | Beni Stephanie Beni Brock University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Chew Suzanne Chew University of Calgary | Finalist |
 Finalist | Cooper Jodi Cooper Mount Saint Vincent University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Doucet Mélanie Doucet McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Durocher Véronique Durocher Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières | Finalist |
 Finalist | Gold Vanessa Gold McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Grace Anita Grace Carleton University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Jacob Tai Jacob McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Jarry François Jarry McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Labossière Sophie Labossière Université de Sherbrooke | Finalist |
 Final Five | McArthur Jane McArthur University of Windsor Jane McArthur is a SSHRC Doctoral Fellow in sociology and social justice at the University of Windsor. She combines sociology and communications scholarship with 25 years of work in environmental and occupational health, doing community-based research and advocacy with a view to prevention. Jane’s recent work focuses on breast cancer from a systems or ecological perspective, which she sees as pivotal for reclaiming a true public health framework oriented to populations, as opposed to the individual. Her dissertation research draws on the experience and knowledge of women working at the Ambassador Bridge, between Windsor and Detroit, who are at risk for breast cancer. She expects to defend her thesis this year. | Final five |
 Final Five | Miller Miriam Miller The University of British Columbia Miriam Miller is a PhD student at The University of British Columbia in the department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education. Her research is broadly located in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and specifically explores the ways in which learning activities provide students with opportunities for social and emotional development. For the past 10 years, Miriam has worked with educational institutions and organizations to support ongoing professional learning in the areas of SEL, emotional literacy, and student and educator well-being. Additionally, Miriam is a senior coach and trainer with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University. | Final five |
 Finalist | Payant Maude Payant Université Laval | Finalist |
 Finalist | Peirone Amy Peirone University of Windsor | Finalist |
 Finalist | Preston Kayla Preston Dalhousie University | Finalist |
 Final Five | Quilico Enrico Quilico University of Toronto Enrico Quilico is a doctoral student in rehabilitation sciences at the University of Toronto. He runs a community-based physical activity program through the YMCAs of Québec for adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. His doctoral studies revolve around that program, which stems from his graduate work in adapted physical activity at McGill University. Enrico’s undergraduate degree is from Concordia University and he teaches English, humanities and physical education at the CEGEP level. He also works in the fitness industry and is a competitive swimmer, marathoner and triathlete. He has competed in half and full Ironman triathlons. | Final five |
 Final Five | Steckley Joshua Steckley University of Toronto Josh Steckley is a doctoral candidate in geography with a collaborative specialization in environmental studies at the University of Toronto. One night in 2017, he was driving through Woodstock, Ontario, when he saw a dozen people with headlamps picking earthworms from the soil in a farmer’s field. This launched his interest into the multimillion-dollar worm-picking industry unique to southwestern Ontario. His research focuses on the socio-ecological relations necessary to turn common living organisms, like dew worms, into valuable commodities sold around the world. | Final five |
 Finalist | Strong Trevor Strong Queen's University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Sutherland Colin Sutherland York University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Tétreault Florence Tétreault Université du Québec à Montréal | Finalist |
 Finalist | Thériault Rémi Thériault McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Thiessen Dylan Thiessen Vancouver Island University | Finalist |
 Final Five | Xiao SIQI Xiao The University of British Columbia SIQI has completed her BA in sociology and is an incoming master’s student at The University of British Columbia (UBC). SIQI is interested in understanding how gender, race, ethnicity, and social policy intertwine in complex ways to shape relationships, affect individual life opportunities, and reproduce or ameliorate inequalities. She is the leading research assistant of Romantic Relationships in Canada, a SSHRC-funded research project led by Dr. Yue Qian, assistant professor of sociology at UBC. SIQI has been inspired to explore what humour means for individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, especially marginalized immigrants, as they navigate life in a Canadian context through online dating and beyond. | Final five |
2018
| Contestant details | Status | |
|---|---|---|
 Finalist | Champigny Claire Champigny York University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Enns Mackenzie (Mack) Enns Western University | Finalist |
 Final Five | Maruyama Michiko Maruyama University of Alberta Michiko Maruyama is a master of industrial design candidate at the University of Alberta. She is also training to be an open-heart surgeon, having completed medical school at The University of British Columbia in 2015. Her research involves combining her industrial design and medical studies to create educational toys that will teach children about health and wellness. Additionally, Michiko is a talented artist whose artwork has been showcased in galleries and exhibitions across Canada. | Final five |
 Finalist | Olson Jeremy (Jay) Olson McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Singh Harprit Kaur Singh McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Fang Mei Lan Fang Heriot-Watt University and Simon Fraser University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Golafshani Maryam Golafshani Western University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Kwon Eunjeong Eugena Kwon Western University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Labrie Christine Labrie University of Ottawa | Finalist |
 Finalist | Weima Yolanda Weima York University | Finalist |
 Final Five | Bérubé Patricia Bérubé Université de Montréal After studying video game development, and a first career as a 3D artist, Patricia Bérubé decided to continue her studies, registering in the art history master’s program at the Université de Montréal. She is deeply interested in digital museology. Her research focuses on the creation of a device to let users read the colours in portraits by touch. By adapting new technologies to the world of museums, she hopes to stimulate dialogue about accessibility policies, and ensure that people with visual impairments can access the world’s major artworks and the history of art. | Final five |
 Finalist | Black Meagan Black The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
 Finalist | Buckley Meaghen Buckley Concordia University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Chalas Agnieszka Chalas Queen’s University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Powell Eric Powell Concordia University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Bowness Evan Bowness The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
 Finalist | Ellis Adam Ellis University of Toronto | Finalist |
 Finalist | MacQueen Michelle MacQueen Carleton University | Finalist |
 Final Five | Ogrodnik Michelle Ogrodnik McMaster University
Michelle Ogrodnik is a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. She studies how physical activity can help improve attention and academic performance in students of all ages.
| Final five |
 Finalist | Oppen Svjetlana Oppen University of Windsor | Finalist |
 Finalist | Bailey Aly Bailey Brock University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Couse Candace Couse Brock University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Herrick Shannon Herrick McGill University | Finalist |
 Final Five | Marquis-Manicom John (Jay) Marquis-Manicom Concordia University Jay Marquis-Manicom is a musician and graduate student based in Montréal. He is currently in the second year of a master of arts program in anthropology at Concordia University, from which Jay also holds a bachelor's degree in the same field. Jay's work focuses on using ethnography to map the emergence of the alt-right in Montréal. He also challenges ideas of what anthropology represents, and how it can contribute to the fight for freedom and equality. Some of Jay's other fields of interest include emerging family structures, the cultural impacts of new communications technologies and alternative economics. | Final five |
 Final Five | Watts Galen Watts Queen’s University Galen Watts is a PhD candidate in the Cultural Studies graduate program at Queen’s University. His doctoral research investigates the beliefs, practices and values of Canadian millennials who identify as spiritual but not religious, and what this means for the future of Canadian society. He earned a bachelor of arts (honours) in philosophy and drama, and a master’s in cultural studies. He has won the Pall Ardal Moral Philosophy Prize and the Alfred Bader Graduate Fellowship in the Humanities at Queen’s University. He has also published in peer reviewed journals, and given presentations at conferences around the world. | Final five |
2017
| Contestant details | Status | |
|---|---|---|
 Finalist | Baird Natalie Baird University of Manitoba | Finalist |
 Finalist | Boulanger Elise Boulanger Vancouver Island University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Bryans John Bryans Concordia University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Chalupa Amanda Chalupa McGill University | Finalist |
 Finalist | Chan Cheryl Chan University of Waterloo | Finalist |
 Finalist | Dorland AnneMarie Dorland University of Calgary | Finalist |
 Finalist | DuBois Denise DuBois University of Toronto | Finalist |
 Finalist | Dutilly Audrey Dutilly Université Laval | Finalist |
 Finalist | Fallon Laura Fallon Memorial University of Newfoundland | Finalist |
 Finalist | Gagné Joseph Gagné Memorial University of Newfoundland | Finalist |
 Finalist | Gauthier Andrea Gauthier University of Toronto | Finalist |
 Finalist | Gilchrist Jenna Gilchrist University of Toronto | Finalist |
 Final Five | Gray Allison Gray University of Windsor Allison Gray is a doctoral candidate at the University of Windsor, and is working with the Animal and Interpersonal Abuse Research Group, directed by Amy Fitzgerald. In storytelling format, Allison’s video presents a glimpse of the group’s research on the intersection of violence against women and family pets, with the goal of working with community services to mitigate its effects for both humans and animals. Allison’s other academic interests include green criminology, social harm and food crime. When not reading, Allison can be found playing volleyball and soccer, making a mess in the kitchen and cuddling her rescue animals. | Final five |
 Finalist | Kantamneni Abhilash Kantamneni University of Guelph | Finalist |
 Finalist | Lapointe-Gagnon Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières | Finalist |
 Final Five | Masson Mimi Masson University of Toronto Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon is a PhD candidate studying psychology, research and intervention component, at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. She has worked as a youth worker in one of Montréal’s most ethnically diverse boroughs. Through engaging, at the grassroots level, with youth who had recently immigrated to Canada, she learned about the fascinating resilience of certain young people to the challenges of immigration. Driven by a genuine desire to understand the resilience of these youth, she invited them to tell their story. Her goal: to develop interventions aimed at guiding and supporting this resilience. | Final five |
 Finalist | Mazurik Kathrina Mazurik University of Saskatchewan | Finalist |
 Finalist | McCardle Meagan McCardle Memorial University of Newfoundland | Finalist |
 Final Five | Mian Akram Ayesha Mian Akram University of Windsor Ayesha Mian Akram is a doctoral student in sociology at the University of Windsor, where she is conducting research into the sociology of religion. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta, with undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. Her master’s thesis explored the identity experiences of Canadian Muslim women who practice hijab. In 2013, Ayesha was hired as a consultant with the Edmonton Police Service on a project to incorporate the hijab headscarf into the official police uniform. Ayesha has been working as a student researcher with the Closing the Employment Standards Enforcement Gap project since 2015. | Final five |
 Final Five | Naffi Nadia Naffi Concordia University Nadia Naffi is a PhD candidate in education at Concordia University in Montréal. As part of her work, she studies the role that social media plays in the inclusion and integration of Syrian refugees into host societies. Her research is a first step toward developing recommendations to help representatives of government and non-governmental agencies, social workers and professionals in the education field create learning and training programs focused on the inclusion and integration of newcomers, in a context where the presence of these newcomers is construed through content shared on social media. | Final five |
 Finalist | Peirone Amy Peirone University of Windsor | Finalist |
 Finalist | Sharifkhani Ali Sharifkhani University of Toronto | Finalist |
 Final Five | Soma Tammara Soma University of Toronto Tammara Soma received a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship in 2014, and is also a 2014 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation doctoral scholar. As a doctoral candidate in urban planning in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto, she is the principal investigator and project manager of its Food Systems Lab. Tammara’s research investigates the factors that influence overconsumption and food waste in Bogor, Indonesia. She also blogs for the Huffington Post, and is the co-founder of the International Food Loss and Food Waste Studies Group. | Final five |
 Finalist | Szto Courtney Szto University of Toronto | Finalist |
 Finalist | Wilson Megan Wilson University of Guelph | Finalist |
Archive
| Year | Contestant Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bahrami-Rad Duman Bahrami-Rad Simon Fraser University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Bouchard Élodie Bouchard University of Montreal | Final Five |
| 2016 | Cheeseman Adam Cheeseman Dalhousie University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Cochrane Logan Cochrane The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2016 | Darvin Ron Darvin The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2016 | Dufour Emanuelle Dufour Concordia University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Farnan Michael Farnan Western University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Fortie Ryland Fortie Thompson Rivers University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Gauthier Rachelle Gauthier Université de Moncton | Finalist |
| 2016 | Gurman Elissa Gurman University of Toronto | Final Five |
| 2016 | Hobson Nicholas Hobson University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2016 | Jacques Olivier Jacques McGill University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Khan Fatima (Noori) Khan University of Waterloo | Finalist |
| 2016 | MacKinnon Kinnon MacKinnon University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2016 | Mills Kelly Mills University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2016 | Mobley Erin Mobley Memorial University of Newfoundland | Finalist |
| 2016 | Moore Shelley Moore The University of British Columbia | Final Five |
| 2016 | Rodas Tara Rodas The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2016 | Sanger William Sanger Polytechnique Montréal | Finalist |
| 2016 | Tan Tanya Tan Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2016 | Tremblay Karl-Philippe Tremblay Université du Québec à Montréal | Finalist |
| 2016 | Vossen Emma Vossen The University of Waterloo | Final Five |
| 2016 | Weller Jon Weller University of Victoria | Finalist |
| 2016 | Wereley Ian Wereley Carleton University | Final Five |
| 2016 | Woolner Leah Woolner McGill University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Boschmann Kathryn Boschmann Carleton University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Bushey Jessica Bushey The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2015 | Crucil Courtenay Crucil The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2015 | Desbiens Viviane Desbiens Université Laval | Finalist |
| 2015 | Devasagayam Naveen Devasagayam University of Toronto | Final Five |
| 2015 | Dufour Emilie Dufour HEC Montréal | Finalist |
| 2015 | Elchuk Tanya Elchuk York University | Final Five |
| 2015 | Franks Kristine Franks Concordia University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Funk Carla Funk Royal Roads University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Gallagher Bryan Gallagher Simon Fraser University | Final Five |
| 2015 | Harvey Alexandre Harvey Université de Montréal | Finalist |
| 2015 | Howe Holly Howe University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2015 | King JP King OCAD University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Lisaingo Simon Lisaingo The University of British Columbia | Final Five |
| 2015 | Liu Lingfei Liu McGill University | Finalist |
| 2015 | McCullough Glenn McCullough University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2015 | Payton Jonathan Payton University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2015 | Pekic Alexander Pekic Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Prime Heather Prime University of Toronto | Final Five |
| 2015 | Raber Caylee Raber Emily Carr University of Art and Design | Finalist |
| 2015 | Rocchi Meredith Rocchi University of Ottawa | Finalist |
| 2015 | Ruiz-Serna Daniel Ruiz-Serna McGill University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Siddall Erica Siddall Ottawa University | Finalist |
| 2015 | Smee Joshua Smee Memorial University of Newfoundland | Finalist |
| 2015 | Zyfi Jona Zyfi Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Abdi Klara Abdi The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2014 | Barbeau Audrey-Kristel Barbeau McGill University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Hollingdale Hazel Hollingdale The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2014 | Jacobson-Konefall Jessica Jacobson-Konefall Queen's University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Katz-Rosene Ryan Katz-Rosene Carleton University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Stork Matthew Stork McMaster University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Vesely Ashley Vesely Western University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Petzinger Genevieve von Petzinger University of Victoria | Finalist |
| 2014 | Westlake Bryce Westlake Simon Fraser University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Zakharova Maria Zakharova Simon Fraser University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Kuruc Katarina Kuruc Carleton University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Mager Alanna Mager Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Manson Daniel Manson The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2014 | Mathews Justin Mathews Queen’s University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Perry Bernadette Perry University of Victoria | Finalist |
| 2014 | McEwen Annie McEwen Carleton University | Finalist |
| 2014 | McKerracher Luseadra McKerracher Simon Fraser University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Nafte Myriam Nafte McMaster University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Pickerill Kelly Pickerill Dalhousie University | Finalist |
| 2014 | Smith Alison Smith Université de Montréal | Finalist |
| 2014 | MacEwan Robin MacEwan Carleton University | Final Five |
| 2014 | Muthukrishna Michael Muthukrishna The University of British Columbia | Final Five |
| 2014 | O'Callaghan James O'Callaghan McGill University | Final Five |
| 2014 | Sekharan Vineeth Sekharan York University | Final Five |
| 2014 | Steckley Marylynn Steckley Western University | Final Five |
| 2013 | Luther Kirk Luther Memorial University of Newfoundland | Final Five |
| 2013 | Maddison-MacFadyen Margot Maddison-MacFadyen Memorial University of Newfoundland | Finalist |
| 2013 | McGoveran Catherine McGoveran Dalhousie University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Jolicœur Manon Jolicœur Université de Moncton | Final Five |
| 2013 | Kurguzova Xenia Kurguzova McGill University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Besanger Kendra Besanger Concordia University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Alam Johnny (El‑) Alam Carleton University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Battersby Sarah-Joyce Battersby Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Browne Daniel Browne Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Donato Alfea Donato Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Herry-Saint-Onge Véronique Herry-Saint-Onge Ryerson University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Gordon Dylan Gordon University of Toronto | Finalist |
| 2013 | Wilcox Steve Wilcox University of Waterloo | Final Five |
| 2013 | Wood Owen Wood University of Windsor | Finalist |
| 2013 | Stockford Janine Stockford University of Alberta | Final Five |
| 2013 | Briard Annie Briard Emily Carr University of Art + Design | Finalist |
| 2013 | Erfan Aftab Erfan The University of British Columbia | Finalist |
| 2013 | Blair Brett Blair Royal Roads University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Heykoop Cheryl Heykoop Royal Roads University | Final Five |
| 2013 | Laurie Roberta Laurie Royal Roads University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Bence Shannon Bence Vancouver Island University | Finalist |
| 2013 | Girvan Anita Girvan University of Victoria | Finalist |
| 2013 | James-Lomax Alison James-Lomax University of Victoria | Finalist |
| 2013 | McAlister Stuart McAlister University of Victoria | Finalist |
| 2013 | Millar-Usiskin Jana Millar-Usiskin University of Victoria | Finalist |
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