Author: Kevin Bourne

If you ask the average adult whether they’re concerned about the next generation they’ll probably say yes. As soon as you cross that threshold into your 30’s you instinctively start shaking your head when you see young people doing anything questionable. You also start asking, “Were we like that when we were teenagers?” To which the answer is, “Yes.” But not all teenagers fit the stereotype. There are teens all over the world “creating their world” and doing amazing things. Time Magazine’s Most Influential Teens list provides optimism that the world will be in good hands in the next ten…

Our Joe Mebrahtu and Kevin Bourne sat down with former rock musician turned church leader, Shawn Gabie, to talk about influencing culture, building a personal brand and leadership. Joe Mebrahtu: Your background is music; you’ve been a drummer for a few rock bands and you’re used to being in the background. As a church leader you’re a professional communicator how was it transitioning from being in the background to being a public figure? Has the transition been easy? Difficult? What was the process? Shawn Gabie: Because of my type of communication, the transition from being in the background to being…

Tonight members of the SHIFTER Magazine team attended A Voice for the Voiceless; an exhibition by Canadian artist Delphine Saint-Fort. The collection was a celebration of a few firsts for the artist- her first exhibition, as well as her first time experimenting with photography. Her creativity and use of different textures was in full display as she blended different mediums, including photography, paint and applying materials like newspaper and cardboard boxes. Saint-Fort explains the concept stating: How often do we miss things that are right in front of us? This concept of being “Overlooked” is what inspired me for my…

Can art be fashion? Can fashion be art? The answer is yes. As artisans gathered for an event like no other and first of its kind in Ottawa. The evening consisted of thought-provoking and visual spectacles of fashion presented by local designers. Music provided by Blast the Radio enhanced the night market as well as a delectable selection of appetizers provided by Savour Italy. Attendees were treated to a showcase hosted by the lovely Miss Barbara Laurenstin. The show featured nine different designers, all presenting their own eclectic brands of clothing and accessories. As models strutted their stuff on the…

Our editor, Kevin Bourne, had the opportunity to catch up with Toronto fashion designer, Dean Ellis, to talk about his style icons and favourite designers, trends for fall and advice for people wanting to get into the fashion business. Kevin Bourne: How did you get your start in fashion? Dean Ellis: The start of Ellis Esq., was birthed out of need as I had just been laid off after eight years with Royal Bank. I simply didn’t want to waste any more time building someone else dreams. I had been giving it thought for some time and after years of…

Name: Matt Dyck Home Base: Whitby, ON Past and present creative icons: Most of the artists that I look up to are the ones that have built themselves up to the point where they can illustrate/design/paint what they are personally interested in. Not confined to taking jobs simply because it means getting paid. Jeff Norwell is a great example of that. He loves hot-rods and the culture that goes along with it, and primarily works with companies and individuals that are in need of that type of work. It’s probably safer for me to say that I’m more influenced by…

Columnist John Lincoln recently wrote a rather thorough article for Marketing Land about how to become an influencer in your industry. “Influencers are the people others come to for advice. They have a genuine, loyal following because they add real value to their industries. Influencers have insight and actionable information, and because of that they attract the eye of even major brands. In short: Influencers have power. It’s possible that someday soon you will have an amazing service, product or idea that will change your industry forever — or maybe you already do. Perhaps you already have a startup for…

A series of short films stood out among the numerous masterpieces presented during the Ottawa International Animation Festival (or OIAF). A tremendous amount of directors and film students proved that they understood the potential of animated films and succeeded at giving us some of the most amazing work our team has seen this year. It would be impossible for us to cover every single one of the short films that deserve a mention but we believe it is our duty to give credit where it is due regardless. In order to honor the short film competitions, we put together a…

Directed by Scott Cooper, written by Jez Butterworth, starring Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton “Black Mass follows the adult life of notorious South Boston gangster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, his incredible rise to power in the criminal underworld of Boston and his eventual fall from grace.” Black Mass sees a return to form for the Academy Award winning actor, Johnny Depp. After years of mediocre to absolutely abysmal performances, Depp shines as the ruthless and notorious gangster, physically transforming and embodying the character. Supported by an outstanding cast and a chilling soundtrack, Depp carries the lacklustre story of Black Mass and…

North America’s largest animation festival took over Canada’s capital last week in what turned out to be a fantastic gathering of fans and industry professionals. Whether you’re into action, drama, romance or comedy, we can guarantee you that the Ottawa International Animation Festival had something for you. From September 16th to September 20th, the audience was pleased and charmed by the multitude and variety of short films, presentations and feature length films. SHIFT Magazine was lucky to attend a few screenings and talk to a few fans. As expected, the festival delivered. From the short film competitions to the conferences,…

We recently had the opportunity to attend the 20th installment of the Honey Jam concert, a program and annual concert for young Canadian female artists, produced annually by PhemPhat Entertainment Group. In its first 20 years, Honey Jam has gone on to help musicians like Nelly Furtado, Jully Black, Anjulie and Melanie Fiona get their start. The concert, featuring live performances from featured artists from 14 to 24 years old from across Canada, took place at The Mod Club in Toronto. All participants will receive a free music workshop, vocal training, and an A&R consultation from Universal Music Canada. The…

Koliah Bourne recently had the opportunity to chat with actor, rapper, poet, and playwright Anthony McLean about his recent documentary Colour Me, finding his voice, and his non-profit iEngage, a bullying awareness education program. Anthony has appeared as a guest speaker on CityTV’s Breakfast Television, Global Toronto’s Morning Show, 680 News, CTV News and CBC’s Here and Now. He is currently writing a book about bullying entitled Before You Send Your Kids To School. Koliah Bourne: So tell me a bit about iEngage? What is your organization? What is that about? How did that come about? Anthony McLean: So I…