A Canadian Photojournalism Mentorship for
Black, Indigenous,
and People of Colour
Photo by Christopher Katsarov Luna
“I’ve learned that people
will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
This new pilot program is founded by Canadian photojournalists from the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities who see the need for diversity in our news gathering. Our allies include Canadian Journalists of Colour, The Globe and Mail and The Narwhal.
The goal of this program is to offer mentorship opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) who are passionate about photojournalism and visual storytelling. BIPOC industry professionals along with allies will help guide those interested in pursuing their own goals and becoming established visual storytellers for their community and the Canadian media industry. People with diverse experiences and ways of seeing can only help strengthen our newsrooms and ensure the stories Canadians see are as diverse as the lives they lead.
What Past Mentees Are Saying
“Canada’s photojournalism industry is in a peculiar situation. On one hand we find an increasing need to tell stories from a range of communities which are experiencing immense hardship or successes. On the other hand we face a lack of pay and representation all of which is inside a field dominated by non-diverse newsrooms. Joining Room was like finding a needle in a haystack, it opened the doors that felt like they were welded shut. Room Up Front has lit the patch to understanding the business and technical side of photojournalism, to pitching stories, engaging community members and much more. Room has not only given myself the opportunities to work with other publications, it has brought success to other mentees across the country – opportunities that would be next to impossible to achieve without Room .”
— Spencer Colby, selected for a 2022 Globe and Mail apprenticeship.
“Room has helped me immensely this past year. Having a BIPOC-led support group that is able to understand and provide guidance to very specific photo industry challenges in Canada is invaluable. I didn't realize I needed this support when I first applied to be in the cohort as I was just hoping to learn from others, but as I progressed in my career and encountered difficult and delicate situations, I was very appreciative that I had this community of helpful mentors and other mentees in place to draw knowledge from.”
— Jessica Lee, hired as a staff photographer at the Winnipeg Free Press.
“Thanks to Room, I know that I can make a career out of photojournalism, one way or another. Having BIPOC photojournalists as mentors and seeing them excel in what they do was inspiring, validating and hopeful, because it assured me that I too can do what they do. Before Room, I felt alone in the industry and I had no idea how to navigate it. But now, I believe in myself because of Room, and I now know that I have an entire community of other BIPOC photojournalists behind me, which is a comforting and empowering presence that can go a long way for a racialized photojournalist. I enjoyed all the discussions we had, especially when we came together to talk about our experiences in the industry. I'll never forget that one session where we spoke about our hardships and the racism we have endured. It was a special moment and I'm glad I was able to be part of that”
— Aaron Hemens, freelance journalist in BC.
“Before Room and my other mentorship experiences, I was ready to give up on journalism. I thought that maybe I didn't have it, but all of your support made me realize I was wrong. Community is what makes us stronger. You helped facilitate a community for us, and I will never forget that.”
— Kayla MacInnis, awarded an Indigenous student journalism award from the Jack Webster Foundation
“Room offered a space for us to express our experiences and concerns as BIPOC journalists. There was some cold comfort in knowing that we weren't alone (our mentors included) in the way we experienced racism, burnout and so much more in this industry. There were meetings where we cried, but oh man were there meetings where we laughed and laughed.”
— Ramona Leitao, selected for a Narwhal photojournalism fellowship. And recently hired at NOW.
Published Work by Mentees
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Robby Dick, For The Narwhal Fellowship
Kaska Dena, caribou and the looming shadow of an open-pit mine.
At a caribou camp off a southern Yukon highway, wild meat is hung up, fish are fried and kids breathe in the traditional knowledge of Elders. But with a proposed mine that will contribute to the ‘likely decline’ of the already dwindling Finlayson herd, how long will this way of life continue on? -
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Alia Youssef, For The Narwhal Fellowship
‘Purpose and power’: meet 10 BIPOC adventurers challenging ideals of who belongs in the outdoors
From historic paintings to outdoor brand campaigns, it's easy to get the impression the great outdoors are mostly great for white men. These racialized female and non-binary trailblazers are transforming the sense of who belongs in the natural world — and opening up about why that matters
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Ramona Leitao, For The Narwhal Fellowship
Three Black farmers and the fight for diminishing land in southern Ontario
Black and Indigenous households are vastly more likely to experience food insecurity in Canada. But when it comes to bringing local food to Black communities in Toronto, farmers say access to land remains one of the biggest hurdles
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Gavin John, for The Globe and Mail
How the Blackfoot Siksika Nation community response system became a COVID-19 success story.
Despite suffering from nearly six times the national average of COVID-19 cases per capita last spring, there were just two active cases as of Friday at Blackfoot Siksika Nation
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Duane Cole, For Report On Business
Patricia Gauthier, General Manager of Moderna Canada operations.
Having a BIPOC-led support group that is able to understand and provide guidance to very specific photo industry challenges in Canada is invaluable. - Jessica Lee, Past Mentee
Chris leads his new horse Prince during a ride with the Sioux Valley Dakota Unity Riders. Photo by Jessica Lee for The Winnipeg Free Press
Let’s Make Room Up Front
Program
Working as a freelance photojournalist can be an isolating, challenging road to follow, especially for marginalized communities. Informal industry networks can be difficult to break into without help.
This grassroots program is based on the idea of many supportive hands working together to break down those barriers and build connections. Mentees will be matched with experienced photographers. And all the mentees will also meet for community meetings, critiques, and workshops.
Over the course of the term, the teams will meet online creating opportunity for real relationship and growth. The mentors will share their experiences and knowledge along with constructive critiques. Mentees will also be active participants, identifying learning goals, and contributing to group discussions.
Guest speakers will be invited to lead targeted programming focused on key skills required for photojournalists. These may include topics such as ethics in photojournalism, business skills, copy-right, pitching stories or long form stories. Mentees should be prepared to work on photography projects or stories important to them.
Quick Facts
The program is intended to aid early or mid-career photojournalists. But it will be up to the mentee to work on projects and take advantage of the guidance offered.
We hope to help with your story-telling not your photography. (If that makes sense). And to make sense of working in the industry.
Ten-month long program. There will be a mix of mentorship, programming and workshops. All sessions will be on-line.
Mentees will be matched with mentors by a selection committee.
Workshops, community meetings, critiques and guest speakers will be interspersed throughout the ten months.
Our mentors will be more of a guide to help answer questions and support.
There will be opportunity for some of the mentees to be published with pay in partnering publications.
Unfortunately there is no funding for gear or for your time. This is a volunteer grass-roots program.
No costs to the Mentees.
With the help of mentors all mentees will be expected to pitch stories. Get published. And work on a long term project.
Please do not apply this year if you do not have enough time to commit.
This is not an internship. There is no job or position after completion.
This program is not meant to replace formal education or self-learning.
Goals of Mentorship
This program aims to help advance BIPOC photojournalists in their careers. This may be to get them on the call lists of Canadian news outlets and magazines, or to develop the skills, experience and confidence to pitch and sell their own stories covering their local communities, to be a dependable contributor to NGO’s, start-up news groups, social justice groups, and other agencies needing trusted photojournalists. Mentees will also have new professional networks after completion of the program.
Qualifications
This mentorship is best suited for those photographers who already have a strong grasp of the practice. (Those who are already working on a long term project might benefit with some guidance for next steps.) Early career photojournalists and documentary photographers with a passion for photography. Mid-career photojournalists may also find the community and programming useful.
Must have a strong working knowledge of photography and camera techniques.
Participants must identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour.
Participants must reside in Canada.
Desire to learn photojournalism, documentary photography or editorial photography. And yes they overlap. :)
Photo by Patrick Kane.
Application Period is Closed
Deadline for applications to the 2023-2024 program was June 9, 2023 at 6pm EST. No further applications will be processed for this year’s program.
*** SEND us a portfolio of 20 images. Please only include your best work and a variety of work. Photo stories should be sent in a separate folder and can be counted as one submission. (You may also include photos from your photo story in your portfolio.) Resize to 2500px on the long side (do not upsize). Label the folder with your name. All photos must have complete captions. Send us a WeTransfer link to RoomUpFront@Gmail.com ***
If you have any questions please reach out to us at RoomUpFront@Gmail.com
Use this form so we can see how best to help. The form is just to get to know you and find out where you are in your photography. The following will be requested:
Some info about you so we can help.
Important: A short written statement stating how you think this program will benefit you. And what your goals are in regards to photojournalism.
We really try to select applicants that we think can benefit from this program at this stage in your career. If you are not matched with a mentor please do not be discouraged. We are a volunteer based program and so we can only accept a small number of applicants. We are also open to offer a zoom chat and maybe we can help guide you in some other way.
Our Team
SOLANA CAIN, Director of Programming
After completing a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University, Solana Cain earned a diploma in photojournalism from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. Solana interned at Toronto Life magazine and the Sudbury Star newspaper before she began freelancing. Solana has worked as a photo editor for The Globe and Mail, Getty Images, HELLO! Canada and Maclean's. Recently, she was selected as one of the first artists in residence at Nia Centre for the Arts in Toronto. Solana is passionate about photographing authentic and empowering images of Black women and girls.
JUSTIN TANG, Mentor
Justin Tang is a news photographer based in Ottawa. He covers federal politics, breaking news and sports as a regular contributor to The Canadian Press. His clients include the Globe and Mail, Bloomberg, the Winnipeg Free Press and the Toronto Star. His image of Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau being embraced by his mother Margaret on election night in 2015 received a National Newspaper Award that year. He loves cycling, hiking and camping, and is happiest when merging his outdoor pursuits with making beautiful pictures.
JustinTang.ca
JOSH SU, Director
Born and raised in Toronto, Josh Su is a Korean-Canadian communications professional who specializes in public and media relations for national brands in high-performance environments. His experience includes overseeing photography for the Canadian Olympic Committee and leading teams of photographers at multiple international sporting events. He has a passion for leveraging photography as an important storytelling tool and has a strong interest in supporting projects that address issues in our communities.
JIMMY JEONG, Executive Director, Mentor
Jimmy Jeong is an editorial photographer specializing in magazine portraits, and editorial stories. His experience with lighting a portrait will benefit photographers looking to learn more about lighting for mood and story. He prefers to work collaboratively with the people he photographs and helps them reveal their own stories. His favourite sessions are with writers and artists.
Born in Korea and transplanting to Canada at a young age, Jimmy's curiosity has always lead him to challenge how social networks interact. How people try to define themselves in relation to others. His portrait work deals with the second identity people sometimes take on and sometimes reveal.
Select clients include Maclean's, The Globe and Mail, Der Spiegel, The United Nations, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg and Getty. Select recognition includes American Photographic Artists, Communication Arts, Online Journalism Awards and Prix de la Photographie Paris.
Jimmy is a founding member of Rogue Collective and a member of DiversifyPhoto.
JimmyShoots.com
NORMA IBARRA, Social Media Coordinator
Norma Ibarra is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist, content creator, community organizer, marketer and adventure seeker maneuvering boundlessly through photography, videography, and adventure sports. Of these, photography is an endless playground for her unique expression.
Through her work, Norma shares the stories of change-makers around the globe. Her photos tell stories of diverse, proud community builders, simultaneously challenging and independently broadening the definition of “traditional media,” documenting a profound youth-driven lens around inclusion, representation, equity, resilience and belonging.
Combining her love for adventure, her education and her photography skills, Ibarra has also carved out a niche role specializing in social media marketing, implementing and fostering spaces for the stories of her communities.
KAYLA MACINNIS, Social Media
Kayla MacInnis is a Métis storyteller who, in her work, mixes the visual and written worlds. She is currently in the fourth year of her bachelor of journalism/minor in creative writing program and plans to go to grad school. She is interested in an ethos of community care and the phenomenology of seeing, which approaches how an experience can affect how we experience the world around us. Her work focuses on music, arts, culture, and environmental reporting. She is a member of Indigenous Photograph and the director of community outreach for Special Bird Service, an outdoor advocacy & community-building group for and by BIPOC.
Her work has been published in The Globe and Mail, The Narwhal, Chatelaine Magazine, Range Magazine, Room Magazine, SAD Magazine, Fraser Valley Current, and the New West Record.
MERLE ROBILLARD, Mentor
Merle Robillard is a photographer, filmmaker and photo editor at The Globe and Mail. He is an Indigenous Cree member of the Mistawasis Nehiyawak of Saskatchewan. He began his career as a camera operator/editor for Native Communication Society Television in Yellowknife, producing cultural programs for the Indigenous of the Northwest Territories. From there, he began working as the photo editor for Northern News Services, a community newspaper chain publishing several weekly newspapers across Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
JESSICA LEE, Mentor
Jessica is a Chinese-Canadian photojournalist and writer from Toronto, Canada, currently based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as a staff photographer for the Winnipeg Free Press. She is primarily interested in stories about culture, representation, social justice, identity and migration. She aims to highlight current social issues in her work, often from fresh perspectives. Recent projects include documenting van life culture, racism in Canada and the housing crisis in Toronto. Her work has appeared in the National Geographic, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Maclean’s Magazine, Toronto Life Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek and The Local Magazine.
TAEHOON KIM, Mentor
Taehoon Kim is a producer, editor and photographer in Vancouver, Canada. He is currently the Producer, Owned Media of Destination Canada.
He started my career in photojournalism: his work has been published by Bloomberg News, CBC, Nature, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He also has experience working as a photo editor, most notably with Canada's largest newspaper, The Globe and Mail. He is a member of Diversify Photo.
Whether he's working on editorial or creative projects, what he loves most is sharing non-fiction visual stories. He thrives under the challenge of discovering and leveraging stories to demonstrate mission, values and ideas in action. His experience includes creating and leading editorial strategies, consulting on visual projects, and producing everything between omni-channel campaigns to short, heartfelt video stories.
Photo by Kristine Nyborg.
PAT KANE, Mentor
Pat is a photographer in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He takes a documentary approach to stories about people and life in Northern Canada with a special focus on issues important to Indigenous people, including the relationship between land and identity.
Pat is a National Geographic Society grantee, a Royal Canadian Geographical Society grantee, and an alumni of the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. Pat is the co-founder and president of the Far North Photo Festival — a platform to help elevate the work of visual storytellers across the Arctic.
Pat is of Irish-Canadian and Algonquin Anishinaabe ancestry, and is a member of the Timiskaming First Nation (Quebec). He’s part of the photo collectives Indigenous Photograph and Boreal Collective.
LUCY LU, Mentor
I am a Chinese-Canadian artist and photographer based in Toronto, Canada. I studied photography at Toronto Metropolitan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
With my projects, I’m interested in exploring cultural identity, personal histories, and how real and imaginary narratives make up our lives. I use photography as a storytelling tool, to communicate a tone, an atmosphere, or a feeling through visual language.
Clients include: The Globe and Mail, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, INSIDER, Maclean's Magazine, Reader’s Digest, The Walrus, University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, and more.
CARLOS OSORIO, Mentor
Carlos Osorio is an award-winning Salvadoran Canadian photographer with more than 13 years of professional experience with the Toronto Star, the largest circulation newspaper in Canada.
His work has taken him from Mexico and then to Vancouver, reporting on the journey of illicit drugs up the west coast, and then later to Massachusetts, where he documented the devastating impact the opioid crisis is having on the middle class.
Carlos was a finalist in the portrait category for the 2017 National Photos of the Year and is a two time nominee for the National Newspaper Awards, for his feature work and news photography.
COsorio.com
GAVIN JOHN, Mentor
Gavin John is a Canadian documentary photojournalist with a focus on conflict, unrest, and humanitarian issues. His work has focused on understanding complex large scale traumatic experiences and getting to know the people who face those experiences. Since 2012, John has worked on pieces for international publications on these topics. He graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with a Diploma in Journalism in 2013, and from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of International Relations in 2020. John currently lives in Calgary, Alberta.
AZIN GHAFFARI, Mentor
Azin Ghaffari is an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist based in Calgary. She is currently a staff photographer with Calgary Herald and Sun (Postmedia). She is interested in documenting and creating visuals out of the everyday life around her. A recent project she is working on involves documenting the arrival and settlement of the Afghan refugees arriving in Calgary. Azin is also a graduate of the SAIT photojournalism program. Early career photojournalists or those looking to getting into the industry would do well under her guidance.
AMBER BRACKEN, Mentor
A lifelong Albertan, Amber Bracken photographs primarily across western North America. After getting her start as a staffer in daily newspapers, she has founded a successful freelance career.
Select clients include National Geographic, The Globe and Mail, The Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed, Maclean's, ESPN, The Canadian Press, and The New York Times. Select recognition includes The World Press, The Marty Forscher Fellowship and an ICP Infinity Award.
In her personal work, Amber's interest is in the intersection of photography, journalism and public service with a special focus on stories about de-colonization. With the rise of movements like Idle No More, Indigenous communities are increasingly empowered to fight for a more just relationship with the government and non-native people. Amber has built relationships in Indigenous communities and documents important issues around culture, environment and the effects of inter generational trauma from residential schools.
AmberBracken.com
LEAH HENNEL, Mentor
Leah Hennel is an award-winning photojournalist. Always in search of stunning visuals, the Calgarian has travelled the globe — yet she's managed to uncover some of her most arresting shots in her backyard. In particular, Leah's work documenting rural life is captivating.
A graduate of SAIT, she worked more than 20 years for daily newspapers in Calgary. Leah covered two Paralympic Games, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016. Additionally for Postmedia, she worked the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Leah shot Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 for the Canadian Olympic Committee.
As well as being staff photographer for Alberta Health Services, which includes documenting the front lines of COVID-19, she owns a successful freelance career. Her work appears around the world in publications such as the Globe and Mail, The Guardian, Maclean's, The Narwhal and the CBC. Too, Leah has published two photography books — Along The Western Front and Alone Together: A Pandemic Photo Essay.
Leah is a three-time winner at the National Newspaper Awards. She also earned first place for Feature Photo in National Press Photographers Association and third place twice in Pictures of the Year International. Leah has also claimed the Sports Media Canada’s Outstanding Photography award. As well, she's a four-time finalist for Photojournalist of the Year for the News Photographers of Canada.
LeahHennelPhotography.com
SHELBY LISK, Mentor
Shelby Lisk is an Ottawa-based photographer and filmmaker with roots in Kenhté:ke (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory). After completing a degree in studio art and gender studies, she earned both a diploma in photojournalism from Loyalist College and a certificate in Mohawk language and culture through Queen's University and Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na. In 2019, she worked with Anne-Marie Jackson’s production house, AMJVisuals, followed by internships with the Globe and Mail and APTN, before taking a position as the Indigenous hub reporter for TVOntario. Most recently, Shelby was selected as a participant in the Reelworld Film Festival’s Emerging 20, a script and pitch development program for BIPOC filmmakers, to work on an experimental feature length film following the lives of Haudenosaunee women. Through photography, filmmaking, writing and podcasting, Shelby aims to contribute positive representations of Indigenous people and communities to news and media.
FRED LUM, Mentor
Fred Lum is a photographer with the Globe and Mail Newspaper, based in Toronto,Ontario. His formal education, as truncated as it was, was two semesters at what was formerly Ryerson Polytechnic, but he was fortunate to learn his craft in the shadows of the incredible photographers working in Toronto.
In his 30+ year career for with the Globe, he applied the knowledge he was gifted, into being a photographer who was comfortable by the runways in Milan and Paris, to the intense crucible of covering the Olympics, and everything in between. It was instilled in him early on that a photographer who could cover a wide breadth of assignments was as valuable as the photographer that had a special niche.
While Fred is often called upon to create strong and evocative portraiture, he also appreciates the assignments that delve into topics such as Indigenous issues, and healthcare in a growing and aging population. Being allowed to spend more than an hour or so on assignment allows Fred to go beyond the single photograph, and to weave together work that goes below the surface and reveals something new to readers.
While digital cameras are his bread and butter, Fred’s assigning editors also understand and come to expect the visual signature he can incorporate when he produces work with black and white film. Medium format may be his preferred format but he’ll use his large format cameras if it adds something extra to his work.
CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV LUNA, Mentor
Christopher is a Latino-Canadian news, documentary and set photographer based in Toronto, Canada and sometimes Lima, Peru. The focus of his self driven projects have often focused on labour and society, drawing from his past work experience and academic training. , His editorial work has been published widely and aside from taking daily assignments and shooting on film sets, he is deeply interested in creating immersive digital narrative experiences.
Christopher believes that all our past experiences contribute to how we frame the stories we tell.
ChristopherLuna.ca
JALANI MORGAN, Mentor
Jalani Morgan is an established Toronto based photographer, visual historian and current photo director of West End Phoenix. Morgan who is known for his editorial, documentary and gallery collected work both nationally and internationally.
Jalani’s creative work explores visual representation within a Black Canadian context and focuses on documenting and portraying images of Black life both in Canada and internationally. As a commissioned photographer, Jalani covers the spectrum of portraiture and current events documenting the architectural, racial, musical and cultural landscapes of Toronto.
ALICIA WYNTER, Mentor
Alicia is a Waterloo Region based photographer specializing in Sports & Fitness, Portrait and Editorial photography.
She enjoys taking time to get to know her subjects to get to know who they are.
Her love for the camera developed high school when she borrowed her dad’s film camera when she took a photography class. Her teacher made a huge impact on her life, and her encouragement propelled her to a career in photography.
She has studied Creative Photography at Humber College; holds a Certificate in Digital Imaging from Conestoga College, and a Diploma from Loyalist College in Photojournalism.
Her work has been published in Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Reader’s Digest, National Post, Toronto Star.
AliciaWynter.ca
Special Thanks To our Allies
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Previous Mentors
Pat Kane, Brianna Roye, Solana Cain.
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Previous Guest Speakers
Marcus Yam, LA Times Photographer
James Estrin, Senior Staff Photographer NYTimes
Ed Kashi, VII Photo
Melissa Tait, Staff Visual Journalist, The Globe and Mail
Natalie Vineberg, The Walrus
Meredith Holigroski, The Walrus
Heather Morton, Art Producer and Instructor
Ming Wong, Art Director at The Globe and Mail
