MiR Cohort 4
Mentors in Residence
July - December, 2024
Brett Lemay
Performing Arts Educator, Drama Instructor and Acting Coach
Areas of Support:
Theatre Production.
Acting (Theatre/Film/TV)
Career Guidance
Directing Basics
Acting Career in Canada
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Brett Lemay is a distinguished performing arts educator, drama instructor, and acting coach from Alberta, Canada. He holds a diploma in Theatre Studies from Red Deer College, a BA in Drama from the University of Alberta, and is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School's Acting for Film & Television Program. Brett has studied under notable acting coaches like Ben Ratner, Scott Swan, and Matthew Lillard.
He has held significant roles such as Chairperson for ‘Scripts at Work,’ Program Coordinator for artsparks, and President of Prime Stock Theatre Company. Brett's extensive experience spans working with various theatre groups and teaching at institutions like Red Deer College, Vancouver Film School, and the Shanghai Vancouver Film School (SHVFS), where he was awarded Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2021.
Brett has also appeared on TV shows like The Next Star (YTV) and Come Dine With Me Canada (W Network), and worked on productions such as So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Additionally, he has hosted numerous TV segments and adjudicated multiple film and theatre festivals.
Currently, Brett coaches and mentors actors globally through L Coaching & Consulting and offers English language learning support as a certified TEFL/TESOL teacher. His dedication to the performing arts and education has left a lasting impact on students and professionals worldwide.
Miriam Fabijan
Multidisciplinary Artist, Author and Independent Curator
Areas of Support:
Multidisciplinary Art
Curatorial Practice
Artistic Residencies
Literary Publications in Arts and Culture
Cross-Cultural Artistic Collaboration
Contemporary Art Installations
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Miriam Fabijan is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist, author, and independent curator. She currently lives and creates in Mohkinstsis, Calgary, Canada. Fabijan is a graduate of the University of Calgary (BFA) and NSCAD University (MFA). She was twice an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Her artwork has been exhibited extensively across Canada and in Europe and can be found in several public and private collections in Canada, the US, and Europe, including the Canada Council Art Bank and the Walter Phillips Gallery for Contemporary Art. She is the recipient of numerous grants from the Canada Council, Calgary Arts Development, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Ministère de la Culture du Québec, and Slovenska Izseljenska Matica.
As a first generation Canadian of Slovenian heritage, Fabijan’s artwork reflects upon the effects diaspora migration has on one’s complex sense of identity, cultural connections, and the need to establish a sense of belonging.
Fabijan recently had her short story “Your name was Janez. Your name was John” published in “Landed, transformative stories by immigrant women”Campfire Kinship Storytelling Inc. (2022) and curated the exhibition “In Full Bloom, a celebration of artwork by and about women” at the ATB Arts + Culture Gallery, Calgary (2023). Her much lauded exhibition “Translations, my hat has three holes”, had its founding exhibition at Galerija Equrna, Ljubljana, Slovenia (1992) which then toured Italy and Canada. Her “Nesting” photo series was published in the Milk Art Journal, Volume 2 "Body and Belonging" House of Oktober Independent arts publisher, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2023). She just completed a residency with Santa Rosa Arts and Healing and participated in its group exhibition “Blooming Earth”, Gallery 3, Christina Lake, BC (2024).
Nikki Loach
Creator, Director and Teacher
Areas of Support:
Theatre Production
Direction and Devising for young audiences.
Connections with the Calgary Theatre Community.
Theatre Arts Administration
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Nikki Loach is a Calgary-based creator, director, and teacher who has been the Artistic Director of Quest Theatre, a theatre for young audiences, since 2009. Her collaborative creation projects with Quest Theatre include "Hello Friend," "Flibbertigibbet’s Story Exhibit," and "Snow Angel." Some of her favorite directing projects include "Village Wooing" and "A Debt of Honor" at the Shaw Festival, "Shoes of Sand" and "We are All Treaty People" for Quest Theatre, "King Henry IV Part I," "The Edible Woman," and "Much Ado About Nothing" for Theatre Junction, "Billy Bishop Goes to War" at Alberta Theatre Projects, and "A Christmas Carol," "Crimes of the Heart," "Memoir," and "Miracle Worker" at Theatre Calgary.
Nikki has also performed extensively in Theatre for Young Audiences and enjoys sharing her passion for theatre-making with young people.
Upcoming projects include development on a devised project called "The Understandable Girl" with collaborators Lyudmila Honcharova and Snizhana Bora, and directing "Blithe Spirit" for Theatre Calgary in their 2024/2025 Season. Nikki is obsessed with creating stories through tinkering with music, objects, movement, and imaginative play, and loves to share her passion for theatre-making with others.
Sleman Aldib
Actor, Writer, Performer and Director
Areas of Support:
Community Engagement and Networking
Theatre Management
Theatre Production
Actor training and theatrical exercises
Photography
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Sleman Aldib is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Arab Canadian Theatre, Kawalease ACT. An accomplished actor, writer, performer, and director, he also serves as a board member of The Calgary Arab Arts & Cultural Society. He is a recipient of the Canadian Arab Institute's "30 Under 30" Initiative Award. Sleman's creative portfolio includes four original productions: "Jasmine," "Snatched from the Back," "Fight or Flight," and "The Opposite." His production "The Opposite" is a thought-provoking piece that explores the hypothetical scenario of Canadians experiencing war and seeking refuge. Recently, he directed and produced "Interrogation" at the Engineered Air Theatre. Beyond theatre, Sleman’s passion for storytelling extends to photography, where he captures moments that often speak louder than words. This passion has led him to become a professional photographer, dedicated to unfolding the untold through his lens.
Toyin Oladele
Award Winning Multi-Disciplinary Artist and Arts Manager
Areas of Support:
Arts Administration / Management
Non profit administration
Event management and Production
Resume writing and interview skills
Exhibition and Performances Opportunities and set up
Advocacy and EDIA
Theatre and Performance opportunities
Arts Entrepreneurship
Newcomer experience
Grant writing
Board Governance and development
Exhibition and curatorial practice
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Toyin Oladele is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist, curator, arts manager, and community builder from Nigeria. With nearly two decades of experience, she excels in organizational development, strategic planning, program implementation, and community engagement, with a strong focus on equity and diversity.
In 2019, Toyin founded the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI), where she serves as Executive Director. ICAI supports newcomers and immigrants in Alberta pursuing careers in the arts. Under her leadership, ICAI has created impactful programs and partnerships that enrich the cultural landscape.
Recognized by entities such as the Premier of Alberta, The City of Calgary, and Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40, Toyin has also been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch and received the Inclusive Leadership Award. She consults for cultural organizations like Calgary Arts Development and Rozsa Foundation and advocates for equity in the arts community, serving on the boards of Calgary Young People’s Theatre, Contemporary Calgary, Chromatic Theatre, and CARFAC Alberta.