winter 2025
A Message from Dean Nate Horowitz
Just two months into 2025, I want to acknowledge our community’s challenges. These are turbulent and difficult times for the college system, with program suspensions, necessary budget constraints, and external political pressures affecting us all. However, amidst the uncertainty, I am inspired by the resilience, creativity, and commitment that define the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design students, faculty, and staff.
We have always focused on innovation and storytelling; this will not change. Despite the challenges, it is more important now than ever that we continue to find ways to adapt and innovate, ensuring our programs remain of high-quality and relevant and enable our students onto a path to success.
To our students, your ability to face these and many other challenges to bring your unique stories to life is inspiring. You bring our school to life daily; your voices are vital in shaping the future. To our faculty and staff, thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students and each other. Your ability to adapt in uncertain times shows the true strength of our community.
It may not be easy, but the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design will continue to thrive. We will navigate these challenges together with care, creativity and collaboration.
Bridging Traditions: Centennial College and POGO Support Indigenous Families Facing Cancer
The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) teamed up with Centennial College’s School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design to create a powerful video featuring a blend of traditional Indigenous values, traditions, and Western medicine. With the support of Centennial instructors and graduates, this video provides Indigenous families with accessible, culturally informed resources during a critical time.
Summer Camps Registration is Open!
Get ready for your child to ignite their creativity and dive into a world of imagination with our Creative Summer Camps!
Has your child ever wondered how their favourite TV shows come to life, how animated movies are crafted, or how stunning works of art are created? Now’s their chance to discover the magic behind it all! This summer, they can get hands-on experiences in musical theatre, art, film, television, digital animation and more.
Whether they dream of becoming a filmmaker, a stage performer, or a visual arts trailblazer, our camps are designed to inspire, empower, and unlock their creative potential.
The Well Connected Receives Public Relations Firm of the Year - Scarborough
Meet Jacquelene Clarke
Jacquelene "Jackie" Clarke, a 2016 Public Relations—Corporate Communications program graduate, is the Founder of The Well Connected, a sponsorship strategy and event management agency.
After immersing herself in the fast-paced world of event management and sponsorships after graduation, Jackie has successfully carved out a remarkable career where she specializes in creating unforgettable brand partnerships and experiences.
It was recently announced that her agency, The Well Connected, received Public Relations Firm of the Year - Scarborough presented by Canadian Choice Award. Reflecting on this achievement, Jackie shares:
"Winning Public Relations Firm of the Year - Scarborough is a truly humbling experience for me and the entire team at The Well Connected. It's a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion we invest in every client relationship and event we manage. This recognition not only affirms the impact we've made within the PR industry but also inspires us to continue elevating brands and fostering meaningful connections. I'm incredibly grateful for this honour and excited about what lies ahead!"
Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment!
From Classmates to Creative Entrepreneurs: How This Group of Grads Built Their Own Production Company
Meet ruudi productions
A talented group of alums, Hedy Läets, Ashley Marciano, Nick Morsillo, and Alejandro Ruiz Birke, formed their own production company after graduating from our Broadcasting—Film, Television, Digital Media and Radio program. Centennial caught up with this group; find out more here.
Three members of the ruudi productions team joined us to share their journey on our podcast, Storyteller In-Depth! Whether you're interested in starting your own company or want to learn more about taking on production projects, this episode is for you!
Game Development Graduates Launch Game Studio
Meet Digital Firewood
From creating games in the classroom to launching their own studio after graduating, this talented team of Game Development grads formed Digital Firewood!
Combining their passion for storytelling and innovation, they’ve turned their ideas into real, playable experiences and are proving that creativity and collaboration can lead to something extraordinary.
Follow our podcast, Storyteller In-Depth, as you might hear this name over there very soon!
Beyond the Classroom: How a Film Project Reached the Festival Scene
What started as a class project has grown into a festival hit! A talented group of students in Centennial’s Script to Screen program created DOSA as part of a project, but the short film has since been making waves on the festival circuit.
DOSA has been an official selection at festivals, including the International Film Festival of South Asia, Filmi - Toronto's South Asian film festival, Yellowstone International Film Festival, and more—winning Best Film of the Festival at the Couch Film Festival and Best Comedy at the Toronto Independent Film Festival of CIFT.
Our Popular Where Are They Now Series is Back!
Where Are They Now is a chance for us to spotlight graduates and catch up on where their journeys have taken them since leaving the halls of the School of Communication, Media, Arts and Design.
Below are some of the graduates we've shared so far. Click on their names to find out what they had to say.
- Enrique Miguel Baniqued, Lifestyle Media (2020) and Script to Screen – Advanced Television and Film (2021)
- Isabel Zaw-Tun, Fine Arts Studio (2015). Also click here to listen to Isabel on our podcast!
- Camille Lawrence, Children's Media (2016)
- Yazmeen Bisharat, Public Relations - Corporate Communications (2024)
- Monark Arora, Script to Screen - Advanced Television and Film (2023)
Follow us on Instagram, @StoryArtsCentre, where we will continue to post our Where Are They Now series, campus events, and more!
Meet Children's Media Graduate Mica Taiah
Mica Taiah's journey from Argentina to Centennial's Children's Media program proves that passion and perseverance can open doors. Experienced in the industry, she found new skills, connections, and opportunities that led her to a career in children's media.
"Once I discovered that there was a program fully dedicated to children's media here, I was really interested, and I wanted to study that," Mica says. "It's not everywhere you can find a program like this. It's unique to have the chance to focus only on kids' and children's media."
Now, she writes children’s books and shapes the content kids grow up with. She has already developed two books in collaboration with an Argentinian illustrator.
Centennial Journalism Grads Shine at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards
Two graduates have been recognized at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards! Maria Palacios, a Journalism graduate, earned a Silver award for Best Multicultural Story, while Paola Lisbert Garcés, a Contemporary Journalism graduate, was nominated for Best Feel-Good Story. Congratulations to both graduates on their remarkable achievements!
MEET THE CREATORS OF TOMORROW
We teamed up with our Industrial & Product Design (IPD) program to speak to a group of current students and highlight their design journey.
The IPD program offers a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t find anywhere else in Canada! It combines the strengths of the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design with the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science and prepares students to bring bold ideas to life.
Follow us on Instagram, @StoryArtsCentre, to hear their stories!
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.
Nesh Pillay, who was an instructor in our Communications - Professional Writing program, faced an unimaginable challenge: a traumatic brain injury. This life-altering experience has made her completely reimagine her personal life, career, and daily routines. Her journey is now featured on Amazon Prime in a brand-new docuseries, 50,000 First Dates
Don't Miss our Performing Arts Day on February 26!
Join us for Performing Arts Day, a hands-on experience designed for aspiring actors, dancers, musicians, and creatives!
Dive into interactive workshops, expert-led sessions, and live performance opportunities that will ignite your talent and give you a taste of life in the performing arts.
Whether you dream of centre stage or behind-the-scenes magic, this is your chance to learn, explore, and perform alongside industry professionals and future classmates.
📍2200 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto
⏰ 10:00 a.m. start
THE FACULTY SHELF
Check Out Some Instructor-Written Reads!
Discover the incredible talent within Centennial's faculty—right on our library shelves! Our collection features books authored by instructors past and present, covering a range of topics and themes. Explore the collection that includes these titles and more:
- Museums and the Past: Constructing Historical Consciousness - Phaedra Livingstone, Viviane Gosselin
- CICADA - Mike Countryman
- Ride Or Die - Wanda Lauren Taylor
- SPROG - Malcolm Kelly
- A Season in Haiti: Field Notes-Photos-Découpage - Jonny Silver
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hockey - Malcolm Kelly and Mark Askin
- Double Threat - Ellin Bessner
- It's Our Time: Honouring the African Nova Scotian Communities of East Preston, North Preston, Lake Loon/Cherry Brook - Wanda Lauren Taylor
- Birchtown and the Black Loyalists - Wanda Lauren Taylor
- The Great Escape: A Canadian Story - Ted Barris
- Victory at Vimy - Ted Barris
We spoke with Lisa Whittington-Hill, an instructor in our Publishing—Book, Magazine and Electronic program, on an episode of our podcast about her books Girls, Interrupted: How Pop Culture Is Failing Women and The Go-Go's Beauty and the Beat. Click here to listen to the full episode.
Storyteller In-Depth Nearing its 40th Episode!
Nearly 40 episodes in, our podcast has become a place for engaging conversations with students, graduates, and faculty. We've covered everything from artificial intelligence to pop culture to songwriting—plus so much more.
If you haven't already, check out our range of episodes, including our Program Profiles:
Credits:
Created with images by mozZz - "Ice texture, cracked and scratched frosted surface, abstract winter season background" • Daniel - "tack of newspapers"