ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

photo of charles wearing red glasses and black shirt

CHARLES C. SMITH

charles c. smith is a poet, playwright and performer. He studied poetry and drama at New York City University and Herbert Berghof Studios, and drama at the Frank Silvera’s Writers’ Workshop in Harlem. His play Last Days for the Desperate won an award from Black Theatre Canada. He has received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council’s Writers Reserve Grants Program and the Toronto Arts Council Writers Grants Program, has published four books of poetry (the latest one being released on 10 May 2018!), has edited several collections of poetry (including the works of Dionne Brand, Marlene Nourbese Phillips, Claire Harris, Cyril Dabydeen, Lillian Allen, George Elliott Clarke, Clifton Joseph), and his writings have appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including Poetry Canada Review, the Quill and Quire, Descant, Dandelion, Fiddlehead, Anti-Racism in Education: Missing in Action (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), the Amethyst Review, Bywords, Canadian Ethnic Studies and others.

Charles was also the founder of the Black Perspectives Cultural Program in Regent Park and has over the years continued to develop and convene community arts workshops in high-needs areas throughout the GTA, funded provided by the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.


Black and white headshot photo of a women with her hands raised touching her headJENNY McCOWN – PRODUCER
Jenny-Anne McCowan, independent artist, producer, choreographer, and educator, brings a wealth of experience to her collaborations. With her background in choreography, education, and participatory practices, she has contributed significantly to various projects. Notable work includes her large-scale artworks with Thom Sokoloski in New York, Australia, and Canada including work with Nuit Blanche, Luminato and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, as the National Educator Coordinator for the Magenta Foundation’s Incubator Program, and her work as a producer with Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Sara Porter Productions, and most recently with wind in the leaves collective.


A headshot of a men wearing a blue suite and a colorful shirtKEVIN A. ORMSBY – DRAMATURG
Kevin has had a vital role in the collective since its inception, as a dancer and choreographer (see artist bio) and now as a dramaturg. Kevin is the Artistic Director of KasheDance Nominee for the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize 2023 and finalist in 2021, he is a recipient of Canada Council for the Arts’ Victor Martyn Lynch – Staunton Award, and Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Fellow. He is on the Boards of Dance Collection Danse, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, and previously Canadian Dance Assembly, Prologue to the Performing Arts, and Nia Centre for the Arts, where he was Chair of Canada’s first professional multi-disciplinary centre for African-Canadian Art.


a headshot of a women smilingJILLIA CATO – PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Jillia Cato is not only a beautiful “triple threat” performer (see artist bio) she is also an exceptionally organized stage- and digital production manager and event planner with her positive, solution-oriented personality. In addition to her work as a dancer, she is the assistant artistic director at KasheDance, program associate at the Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO), production stage manager with the wind in the leaves collective, and an educator at Centennial College and the Etobicoke School of Arts. Combining her skills from her performing arts degree (Suma Cum Laude, Valedictorian) and project management from her Engineering degree, she works as a Production Stage Manager for a variety of event types within the creative sector.

a headshot of a men with a long braided hair and black glassesS-QUIRE JOHNSON – VIDEOGRAPHER AND DESIGNER
S-Quire Johnson (he/they) is a multi-hyphenate creator who brings thoughtfulness and passion for cultural identity awareness and inclusion to his work. S-Quire has captured and worked with some of the brightest contemporary artists and produced content for film festivals and broadcast television. Highlights include Jessie Reyez, Ms. Lauryn Hill, CaribbeanTales Film Festival, and Caribbean Vibrations TV.He is a frequent creative collaborator with wind in the leaves, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO), Coco Collective, and Esie Mensah Creations.

a headshot of a women with a long hair in an orange shirtCLAIRE WHITAKER – SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Claire Whitaker has been a very active member of the collective since 2019. In addition to being a creator and performer, she has taken on an additional role as the collective’s social media coordinator. Claire is busy maintaining the collective’s social media presence and keeping followers up to date on events and news.

a headshot of a women smiling with black glassesBIA ROHDE – ADMINISTRATOR
Bia supports the WITL collective with all that calls for administrative, grant writing, communications and marketing skills, putting her 15+ year experience in Toronto advertising and communications agencies to good use.

A photo of a woman smilingVICTORIA GLIZER – WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR
Victoria is the administrator for the collective’s ever-expanding website. She holds a BA in Arts Management and Visual Arts from the University of Toronto as well as an MA in Public Policy and Administration from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), and she is also a practicing visual artist, exploring line, texture, and storytelling with painting, drawing and mixed media. She has worked in the not-for-profit cultural sector for more than a decade – in design but also project and digital communications management roles.