Fall 2024
As we settle into the rhythm of another exciting academic year, I am sharing some recent achievements and initiatives from our vibrant community here at the School of Communications, Media, Arts, and Design. It’s truly a dynamic time to be part of our school, where creativity and innovation continue to thrive.
This year’s Nuit Blanche celebration was another huge success. Our students, alumn, faculty, and staff contributed to art installations and performances that captivated audiences.
A special congratulations to Enrique, a Script to Screen graduate whose film, Village Keeper, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)—a remarkable milestone that showcases the talent of our graduates. Our Toronto Observer website also sports a fresh new look, enhancing the user experience while continuing to deliver the award-winning journalism that sets it apart.
In an exciting collaboration, Centennial College and the University of Toronto have teamed up to create a new series of games, providing them a chance to gain hands-on experience in this rapidly growing industry. Our Sports Journalism students once again delivered outstanding, in-depth coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, demonstrating dedication and professionalism in their coverage of the games.
We’re also excited to see companies taking notice of our performing arts students, with several dancers being recently recruited by Disney Cruise Lines and the Toronto Rock.
Lastly, we’re excited to launch a new program, Storytelling with Data. It is designed to give students the tools to interpret and communicate data compellingly, a critical skill in today’s digital world.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on innovation and collaboration and building on the momentum of our successes. I look forward to the incredible achievements yet to come. Thank you to our students, faculty, and partners for your passion and dedication.
- Nate Horowitz
Script to Screen Grad's Film Village Keeper Premieres at TIFF
Enrique Miguel Baniqued, a graduate of our Script to Screen – Advanced Television and Film program, celebrated a major win on the international stage at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year. As one of the lead producers of The Village Keeper, Enrique and the incredible team behind the film had the opportunity to be one of two Canadian features premiering in TIFF's Discovery programme.
"I'm thrilled to announce that our film had its world premiere at TIFF this September," Enrique shares. "After putting in a lot of hours, it's incredibly rewarding to see it come to fruition."
Enrique explains that the entire process has been both deeply fulfilling and educating, and was most excited for viewers to see the powerful story behind the film, hoping it would resonate with audiences and spark meaningful conversations about the themes explored.
"As a new immigrant, I wouldn't have anticipated things to come together this quickly; it is great to see what true dedication and discipline can bear fruit," he adds.
The film is achieving incredible attention. It was recently screened at the Vancouver and Edmonton International Film Festivals. Enrique was also nominated for the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award at this year's Indiescreen Awards. You can stay updated on the film by following their Instagram: @VillageKeeperFilm.
Several Script-to-Screen graduates worked on the film, which is important to Enrique. "I wanted to keep my relationship with Centennial, as I was looking for students who had the same drive as I did, which I knew was going to be there as I came from the program myself," he shares.
Award-Winning Toronto Observer Website Gets New Look
With a sleek, updated design, the award-winning Toronto Observer multiplatform news organization has made navigating the latest news from across Toronto easier than ever. From news and sports to arts, life, and much more, our journalism students provide outstanding coverage of current events and important topics.
This Year’s Nuit Blanche Celebration Was a Night to Remember!
Nuit Blanche once again transformed the Story Arts Centre into a vibrant hub of art, creativity, and inspiration. This year’s theme, Peace Building, captivated attendees with powerful expressions of unity across various mediums, creating a deeply immersive and thought-provoking experience.
The magic of this unforgettable night was made possible by the passion and dedication of our talented faculty, students, and volunteers. Highlights included 90-second AI-generated ‘Good News/Infotainment’ stories, courtesy of our Broadcasting program, and a speaker’s corner led by Journalism and Production Design students, where visitors shared their reflections on “What does peace mean to you?”
With musical performances filling the foyer, theatre acts energizing the courtyard, and artists crafting a stunning mural in the “Collaboratorium,” the campus buzzed with creativity and connection. Nuit Blanche 2024 truly celebrated the spirit of peace through art—and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved!
Experience the Magic of the Performing Arts at Centennial!
The School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design’s Performing Arts Centre is where talent thrives and creativity comes to life! Home to our Dance Performance, Music Industry Arts and Performance, Performing Arts Fundamentals, and Theatre Arts and Performance programs the energy and passion of our students and faculty are truly unmatched.
We’re beyond excited to showcase the artistry and spirit that make our campus so special in our brand-new Performing Arts video. Get ready to be inspired! 🎬
Centennial College and U of T Team Up to Create Indie Games
Exciting things are happening in the world of video games! Once again, our Game—Art and Animation—3D programs have joined forces with the University of Toronto’s fourth-year programming and graduate Music students to create incredible indie games. These collaborations offer a unique opportunity for students from different disciplines and schools to collaborate and bring their creative visions to life.
One of the games created as part of the collaboration last year won first place in the Best Overall Game category at the prestigious LEVEL UP Showcase 2024. This year’s projects are bigger than ever, with a record-breaking 120+ participants! These talented students are divided into ten groups based on their roles and areas of expertise. They’ll work together throughout the semester on everything from ideation and 3D production to programming and publishing.
Supporting them is an expert team of faculty and TAs, including Elias Adum (Computer Science, U of T), Mason Victoria (Music, U of T), Michael Wong and Jason Colthrust (Game Art, Centennial), and John Lee (Animation 3D, Centennial).
Despite the physical distance between U of T and Centennial, Discord has been the go-to platform for communication. However, recognizing the need for face-to-face interaction, the Story Arts Centre has also hosted two in-person game jam events—both of which were huge successes! The first game jam had over 80 attendees, and the second saw a whopping 117 participants.
This collaboration allows students to apply their skills in a dynamic, real-world setting while building critical transferable skills. It’s a chance to create something unique—and perhaps bring home another win!
Check out these Game Jam photo galleries:
Stay tuned for updates as these students continue to push the boundaries of indie game development!
A huge thank you to the CCSAI for providing the catering for this event.
Tell Your Story! Join Us for an Episode of our Podcast
Are you a School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design graduate with a story to tell? Do you know a student or graduate whose story we should tell? Do you want to share stories, news or accomplishments from a program at our school? Have you hired our graduates and want to share how awesome they are?
Storyteller In-Depth is about the people, places, and things at the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design. So, graduates, students, faculty, staff and industry friends, let us know your thoughts and ideas using the submission form linked below.
PROGRAM PROFILE
Bachelor of Public Relations Management, Honours
Take a deep dive into our Bachelor of Public Relations Management, Honours program with our virtual roundtable discussion! This unique episode of our podcast explores the public relations industry, advises current and prospective students, provides in-depth details about the program, and more.
Centennial Sports Journalism Students Deliver In-Depth Coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Centennial College’s Sports Journalism students took experiential learning to new heights with their extensive coverage of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Over the course of 10 intense and exhilarating days, the students produced an impressive 80 stories and five TV shows from their newsroom in Toronto that captured the excitement, emotion, and triumphs of the athletes.
Their digital coverage, published in the Toronto Observer, has already garnered more than 40,000 views—a testament to the quality and depth of their reporting. This real-world experience exemplifies the hands-on approach Centennial’s Sports Journalism program is known for. With live reports, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features, Centennial’s students ensured that the stories of Paralympic athletes reached a broad and engaged audience. It’s a prime example of how experiential learning helps shape the next generation of sports journalists.
"This Magazine" Wins Gold
Lisa Whittington-Hill, a professor in our Publishing—Book, Magazine and Electronic program, is the publisher of This Magazine, one of Canada's oldest alternative journals, which won Gold in the Feature Writing category at the 2024 National Magazine Awards for Leslie Sinclair's story "Books Behind Bars" in the July/August 2023 issue.
The magazine also received an Honourable Mention in the Personal Journalism category for "Talking with the Dead" by S. Lesley Buxton, which appeared in their March/April 2023 issue, and an Honourable Mention in the Illustration category for Paterson Hodgson's cover of the magazine's Queer Issue (May/June 2023).
"We are so proud of This Magazine's wins at the National Magazine Awards. Congratulations to Leslie, Paterson, Lesley and the entire This Magazine team, as well as all of the night's nominees and winners. It's always a pleasure to celebrate the talented people who work in the Canadian magazine industry and the great magazines and work they publish," said Lisa.
Are you interested in learning more about Lisa's journey in this industry? Check out our podcast episode on how pop culture is failing women, which also explores Lisa's book on the topic.
Unreal Work from Game Art Student
We are thrilled to say that Allen Tseng, a student from the Game - Art program, has had his project, Oath to the Stars, featured in Epic Games' 2024 Student Showcase video. This prestigious showcase highlights the best student projects from Unreal Academic Partner institutions worldwide.
All academic partners must submit work to the education team at Epic Games every year. However, as a new Unreal Engine Academic Partner, Centennial College wasn't required to submit any work until 2025. The program seized the opportunity early and was excited to discover Allen's project in the showcase video.
Centennial Dancers Making Moves!
Students and graduates from our Dance Performance program are taking their talents to new heights!
➡️ Logan Denning and Daisy Melbourne | Class of 2023 | Logan and Daisy recently auditioned for and made the final cut for the National Lacrosse Leagues Toronto Rock City Dancers and will perform as part of the Rock City Dancer team during the upcoming season.
➡️ Mason Smitheram | Class of 2023 | Mason recently auditioned for Disney Cruise Line and made the final cut. He has been placed on the hire list and eagerly awaits a performing contract.
➡️ Reine Huynh | 2nd-Year Student | Reine also auditioned for Disney Cruise Line and made the final cut was also placed on the hire list and awaits a potential contract.
Additionally, 2024 graduates Miranda Pereyra-Martinez and Aaliyah Nelson are cruising the world while performing for Carnival Cruise Lines and Disney Cruise Lines, respectively. 2022 graduate Manpreet Singh is entering his third season with the NBA's Toronto Raptors North Side Crew and has recently become an assistant captain.
These talented performers have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, making this achievement a reflection of their hard work and a spotlight on the vibrant dance community at the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design. We couldn't be more proud!
📸 Images from @centennialdance
Sports Journalism Students Cover Toronto Blue Jays Futures Tournament for the Toronto Observer and MLB.com
Hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy at the Rogers Centre, this three-day tournament sees more than 160 players from across Canada gather in Toronto to show off their skills. 2024 marks the tenth year for the showcase, which has become a top-tier amateur baseball talent showcase. Major League Baseball scouts and U.S. college recruiters all evaluate Canada's best baseball talent.
In partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, our Sports Journalism students were again invited to cover the event for MLB.com and tell the stories of these future stars.
New Program
Storytelling with Data
Starting in September 2025, the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design will launch a unique, first-of-its-kind Ontario College Graduate Certificate program designed to prepare students to become a new breed of storytellers who seamlessly integrate human-centred data analysis into their narratives.
For those eager to start sooner, select courses will be available in January 2025 through part-time learning.
In the program, students will explore project management, design, and analytics while gaining hands-on experience through Storyworks, field placement, and capstone courses. The program will also be offered in a HyFlex format on evenings and weekends. This two-semester program will empower students to build future-proof careers in this exciting field.
Level Up! The Game Development Arcade Has Landed at the Story Arts Centre
Get ready to press start—the Game Development Arcade has arrived at the Story Arts Centre, bringing an arcade box packed with student-created games to our foyer! This interactive installation not only highlights the creativity and talent of our students but also invites you to jump in and play. 🎮
The arcade box will also travel throughout the year, appearing at college events to allow more people to enjoy these incredible games.
Do you have what it takes to set a new high-score? Stop by, play a game, and test your skills! Don’t forget to snap a pic and tag us—we want to see those high-score moments.
2018 Script-to-Screen Graduate, Premieres First Film
Yonas Kidane, a 2018 graduate of our Script to Screen – Advanced Television and Film program, completed his first feature film, Qalat. Completing this film is an incredible feat, especially since it was produced independently; we couldn't be more proud!
The Ethiopian-Canadian feature film, produced in both Amharic and English, explores the intricate journey of immigration, focusing on the personal and systemic challenges faced by two Ethiopian friends as they start a new life in Canada.
"Qalat is my first feature film, which I independently wrote, produced, and directed," Yonas explains. "After graduating from Centennial College in 2018, my progress was impacted by several challenges, including COVID-19. Once I completed the script, my biggest obstacle—aside from financial limitations—was finding actors of Ethiopian background in the GTA. Since I couldn’t afford to bring professional actors from Ethiopia, I gathered 40 young prospects from the GTA, provided them with six months of screen acting training, and recruited the cast from this group."
After production wrapped, Yonas says he reached out to Ethiopian businesses in the GTA who generously supported his premiere on September 8, 2024, at the Armenian Youth Centre. "Nearly 500 people attended, and the reception exceeded my expectations," he shares. "This premiere has opened doors for future projects, with many attendees appreciating my work and offering support for what comes next. Qalat is the first step in what I hope will be a long and fulfilling career in filmmaking."
We cannot wait to see what's ahead for this film! Check out the trailer below:
ARTIST Q&A
Funmilola Adeseun
Funmilola Adeseun, a graduate of our Art and Design Fundamentals program, was awarded a position at Lakeshore Arts for the Emerging Black Artist Residency Program. With only three positions available, this was an incredible accomplishment.
When asked how she felt about being selected for the residency, Funmilola shared, "I was ecstatic because I felt that since I was a new entrant into the professional world of artists, I was unprepared to go public. So, I felt truly blessed and honoured to have been considered by Lakeshore Arts and resolved to give it my best."
Part of the residency included an exhibition, which she explained was a thrilling experience. "Presenting my creations to the public was exhilarating, and I gave it my best."
Graphic Design Students Receive Honourable Mentions RGD Awards
We are thrilled to announce that students and graduates from our Graphic Design (Online) program have received Honourable Mentions from the renowned Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) in the 2024 Student Awards competition.
➡️ Leah Dunn (2024 Graduate): Honourable Mention x2 for the Award for Colour and Award for Retail Design categories
➡️ Justin Godwin: Honourable Mention for the Award for Packaging Design (single) category
➡️ Obaida Zeino (2024 Graduate): Honourable Mention for the Award for Web Design category
Congratulations!
IMMerse 2024: Another Successful Interactive Media Showcase!
Our Interactive Media Management students have done it again! This year’s project showcase, IMMerse, was an outstanding display of talent, innovation and creativity. Graduating students wowed us with prototypes that brought their bold ideas to life.
The showcase highlighted the dedication, skill, and hard work our students poured into their senior projects. The results were nothing short of extraordinary. We couldn’t be prouder of these future industry leaders!
Art for a Cause
Professor Bev Ransom and a team of students in our Art and Design Fundamentals program - Funmilola Adeseun, Luigi Morra, Victoria Armstrong and Xavier Langley - created a spectacular mural for the Fort York Food Bank.
The acrylic painting, "The Harmony Mural," measures 4 metres wide by 1 metre tall and is proudly displayed in the Toronto food bank. Its vibrant colours help showcase love and unity.
Artist Statement | The inpouring of zesty colours of the rainbow projects an unending radiation of love and through this colourful mural, the artists hope to elicit pleasant memories, love and unity, vibrancy in relationships and hopes of good harvests.
Children’s Media Grad Narmeen Lakhani Joins Board of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Narmeen Lakhani, a 2018 Children's Media program graduate, continues to break new ground in storytelling! Founder of Birdwings Media, a startup promoting diverse content on Muslim contributions and offering consultation on equitable narrative representation, Narmeen is now bringing her passion for inclusive storytelling to the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) as a Board member.
The CCBC has been connecting young readers with quality Canadian books for over 40 years—and Narmeen's journey with them is truly inspiring. "I first connected with the CCBC a decade ago while searching for my next step after hitting a career ceiling," she reflects. That search led her to Centennial's Children's Media program and the creation of Birdwings Media.
"When I saw an opening on the CCBC's Board earlier this year, I knew it was the perfect fit. It's surreal to go from a cold call for career guidance to now supporting the Centre's mission as a Board member."
Dive deeper into Narmeen’s incredible story in our Grad Profile, or tune into our podcast episode featuring her inspiring startup journey!
Storyteller In-Depth Nearing 40 Episodes!
When we launched the first episode of the podcast, we knew there were stories to tell from amazing students, graduates, and faculty members. However, we couldn't imagine that we would fast-forward to today, when we're making our way to 40 episodes.
Our topics range from artificial intelligence to pop culture to songwriting and SO MUCH in between. We also launched a mini-series about the film and television industry, which included:
Credits:
Created with images by • Lyalya Go - Brown and orange fallen autumn maple leaves lie on ground background • undefined - Many charts and graphs. Reflection light and flare. Concept image of data gathering and statistical working.