EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and FACILITATOR

Rani has a background in film and spent over a decade working as a video artist and VJ, based out of the UK. In 2007, she pursued her Master’s in Environmental Studies, where she focused on community-engaged arts and environmental education. As part of her research at York U, she made her first Digital Story with StoryCentre in Berkeley, California, where she then trained as a facilitator. With nearly 20 years of experience facilitating community-based arts workshops, particularly digital storytelling, Rani was invited to found StoryCentre Canada in 2015. Rani has also been a programmer for the TJFF since 2001.

In her spare time, Rani travels, spends time with her family and bakes cakes between episodes of Drag Race and Real Housewives.

rani@storycentre.org

ADMINISTRATOR and FACILITATOR

Rebecca has worked in the community arts in Toronto and as a working artist for 25 years. She started her career in literacy and as an arts worker and Program Manager at SKETCH Working Arts for street-involved youth. She has been teaching elementary school art for the past 7 years, following a hiatus get her BFA and MFA degrees at York U. She has created public sculpture installations, and has shown work at the AGO, Ripley’s Aquarium and other small galleries in Ontario and Quebec. She joined SCC as the Administrator in November of 2024 and has enjoyed creating this website, the new logo and team portraits.

Rebecca has been painstakingly building a small cabin in the woods for several years, and is excited to finally add walls and a floor this summer!

rebecca@storycentre.org

SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN

Norah is a student at the university of Leeds studying Media and Communications. She is building StoryCentre’s social media presence, and in a not so distant future, she would like to work in advertising. Fun fact: Norah speaks four languages fluently; English, French, Spanish, and Catalan!

norah@storycentre.org

FACILITATOR

Hisayo is a Japanese non-binary trans-masculine person residing in Tkaronto/Toronto for the past 15 years. They have worked as an arts-based educator and facilitator for over a decade, primarily working with immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ, people of colour, and survivors of violence, and believes in the power of art to facilitate dialogue, healing and critical connections. Hisayo is also a registered acupuncturist and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

FACILITATOR

Denise Kumani Gantt is currently the director of education at Lyric Baltimore. Her plays and performance pieces include meditations/from the ash, winner of the Artscape Best Play Contest and voted Best New Play by The Baltimore Alternative and CityPaper; Three Stories to the Ground, written with Gabriel Shanks and winner of the Theatre Project Outstanding Vision in Theatre award and anatomy/lessons selected as part of Penumbra Theater’s Cornerstone Project (MN). She has served as an adjunct professor in theater at Coppin State University.

An avid gardener, she loves growing cosmos flowers, staring at ants in her compost, and growing far too many varieties of tomatoes. 

FACILITATOR

Holly is a story facilitator, graphic designer, film maker, exhibiting fine artist, and and expert rock skipper from Denver, CO. When not creating beautiful things, she can be found wandering the woods for mushrooms. BFA Colorado State Univ.

FACILITATOR

Originally from Japan, Saori has also lived in the US and Switzerland. She has fallen in love with the power and beauty of digital storytelling and is always excited to meet new storytellers and witness their journeys!

Saori is our point person in Japan.

FACILITATOR

Julia is a Canadian who has made the UK her home for the last 25 years.  She brings experience in the social sciences, education and interactive media. Julia founded and runs a community kitchen for migrant women who have recently made the UK their home. Julia’s World Kitchen celebrates talented women and traditional recipes from around the world.

Julia is our point person in the UK.

FACILITATOR

Carlea Blight (she/her) is a writer, artist, and editor based in Greater Toronto, Canada. When she’s not working with StoryCentre, she finds joy in poetry, travel, and cooking. Carlea aspires to continue her journey as an author and artist, writing her way around the world.

CHAIR, Board of Directors

Raised on a dairy farm in rural Quebec, Simon discovered the Tuba in High School which led him to study music in Montreal and Chicago. He has now worked in leadership in many orchestras including the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal. After two years as Directeur général of the Orchestre symphonique de Laval, he has now become the Manager of Orchestra Projects for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.

Simon first made a Digital Story in 2015 with Rani, and she soon asked him to join the Board of Directors for SCC. He has been the chair of the board since October of 2024.

TREASURER, Board of Directors

Nathalie has served on many community boards including Math Grad Committee, University of Waterloo, Heartwood Place Affordable Housing Charity and Women in Communication and Technology in Kitchener/Waterloo where she also was a mentor.

Nathalie was given a Digital Story workshop with Rani as a gift from a friend, and soon after was asked to join the board of SCC.

After 20 years as a successful sales and accounts executive, Nathalie has decided to pursue her passion in wood working and has studied to become a carpenter.

DIRECTOR

Dr. Chelsea Gabel is Métis, originally from Rivers, Manitoba and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation. She is the current Scientific Director of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is an Associate Professor in the Indigenous Studies Department and the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University. Dr. Gabel holds a Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Indigenous Well-Being, Community Engagement, and Innovation. Her current research focuses on Indigenous policy, Métis health and well-being, data governance, arts-based research, ethics, digital technology and the importance of intergenerational relationships.

After making her own story in a public workshop, Chelsea collaborated with Rani on a research project on Métis identity in 2021. She joined the SCC board in 2023.

Chelsea loves her rescued Great Dane Brutus!

SECRETARY, Board of Directors

Francisco was born in El Salvador and came to Canada as a refugee youth in 1991. He studied at Queen’s University and started his non-profit career in Vanvouver's downtown East Side, supporting separated Central American refugee youth. With over 25 years experience both at the frontlines and in management, he has served as the Executive Director of Sojourn House, a City of Toronto-funded emergency shelter and transitional housing for refugee claimants in Moss Park, since 2023. Francisco spends his free time cycling, playing music with his daughter and learning and practicing Goju-Ryu Karate. 

Francisco made his first Digital Story when he was part of a project with Volunteer Toronto, and has been a key advisor on the Board of SCC since 2016.

DIRECTOR

Robin is a licensed acupuncturist, a writer, educator and mindfulness coach in Toronto, Ontario. Robin came to StoryCentre Canada through her connection with StoryCentre in Berkeley, California where she learned Digital Storytelling as part of a larger wellness and community arts-based practice.