Welcome

We invite you to explore the creative works produced by a cohort of 14 postgraduate students from across Canada.

Launched in May 2023, WhereWeStand is the third iteration of multimedia storytelling cohorts produced by Toronto Metropolitan University’s CERC Migration (now the Global Migration Institute). Following in the footsteps of the i am… and Under the Tent projects, WhereWeStand continues to explore belonging in Canada through creative projects.

What takes WhereWeStand in a new direction is the pairing together of newcomers and Indigenous people to foster connection and expand perspectives. Applicants from across Canada vied to participate in the cohort, where pairs would be mentored to produce creative works that explore identity in the colonial construct of Canada, situated on Turtle Island.

The cohort of 14 participants could use any form of expression - such as dance, music, film, theatre, or installation - to express their thoughts. The pairs were mentored by creative industry professionals to develop stories that could be widely shared with a public audience. The resulting creative works delve into themes such as the connection to home, the relationship to the Land, the experience of truth and reconciliation for newcomers, resiliency through grief, and the unseen struggles faced by minority groups in Canada.

Following the creative process, the WhereWeStand cohort travelled across Canada to premiere their works in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia. This fostered further connection with newcomer and Indigenous communities all over the country, and was a true highlight of the journey for all participants.

Keep scrolling to view the creative projects and hear what the artists have to say about the collaboration process.