It’s always fun to catch up with old friends, isn’t it? Here’s the latest on some of the many rad local people and organizations we’ve featured in our pages.
Stephanie and Jakob Vogel
When we interviewed the folks at Fields of Gold last summer for Perch 6, they were opening the first local selfie-friendly sunflower field. After a very successful first year in business, Jakob and Stephanie have many exciting plans to expand their farm. In summer 2022, expect to see 40 acres of sunflowers as well as a cut-your-own flower field. In the fall, visitors will be able to navigate a new corn maze and pick from the pumpkin patch.
Wentanoron Ariana Roundpoint
In Perch 2, we featured Ariana and Sila and the Land, the children’s book she co-authored featuring Indigenous teachings. She continued to use her creative abilities to share stories about the environment and her culture. In 2019, she started working with the Upper Canada District School Board as an Indigenous Cultural Advisor, where she connects with students and teachers by sharing and learning about Kanien’kehá:ka culture.
Kiawenti:io Tarbell
When we featured Kiawenti:io in Perch 5, she had recently starred in Beans, a feature-length film about the 1990 Oka Crisis at Kanesatake. The film won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Picture in 2021, along with the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award, and was also featured at the 2021 New York International Children’s Film Festival, among others. Kiawenti:io released her first EP, In My Head, in March of 2021. The talented young actress is now set to play Katara in Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is expected to be released in late 2022 or sometime in 2023.
Jason McNamara of Framed Photography
Jason shot one of our favourite features in Perch 2, a collection of vibrant photographs featuring thrifted fashion finds, with the backdrop of a bowling alley. Since then, Jason has continued to grow his photography business and has now opened up a new studio named Spilt & Framed Photography on Pitt Street with his darling, Kendra Richard of Spilt Milk Photography.
Troy Thompson
When we wrote about Troy in the spring of 2018 in Perch 2, he was running marathons and raising money for Iakwa’shatste Youth Fitness and other groups that keep youth active in Akwesasne. Since then, he hasn’t stopped in his efforts to do good in the community. He recently took on the role of Business Support Officer for the MCA and is leading the process of developing a skatepark for residents of Akwesasne, Cornwall, and surrounding communities. The 9,600-square-foot park will feature a unique turtle obstacle, a nod to Turtle Island. The skatepark is due to open in September 2022.
Melissa Yuan-Innes
We featured Melissa in Perch 4 when she was working as a physician at Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria and also writing medical thriller fiction under her pen name Melissa Yi. Since then, she has continued working as both an emergency physician and a writer. Her play, I Am the Most Unfeeling Doctor in the World (And Other True Tales From the Emergency Room) was accepted to the 2022 Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work. On December 1st, 2021 she released White Lightning, the ninth installment in her popular series featuring Dr. Hope Sze. She is currently working on a new, upcoming series about Dr. Hope Sze and the seven deadly sins.
Seven Leaf
In Perch 2, we featured Seven Leaf, the first Indigenous-owned and -operated medical marijuana facility in Canada. Since then, they’ve launched SEV7N, their first recreational brand, into the Ontario market. They were also featured in High Times Magazine’s December 2021 issue and named one of High Time’s “Top Brands Best of the Best 2021”.
Ladouceur Photo and Atelier Delska
We were thrilled to ask photographer Lee Ladouceur to turn his camera lens on the brilliant work of dressmaker Caitlin Wright in Perch 7. The pair recently collaborated on a special project when Lee wanted to replicate an old painting. He turned to Caitlin to provide a linen & wool mid-16th century look. She also brought the model—her husband!
