JayTheKidd is a name that’s rapidly rising in the Nova Scotian hip-hop scene. With a vision to inspire the new generation and make an impact as both an artist and a person through his music, he sets his sights high. He aspires to become the face of the new era in Nova Scotia Hip-Hop, recognizing the untapped talent within his vibrant community and aiming to lead the charge.

JayTheKidd’s talent has not gone unnoticed, with appearances on CTV Morning Live, where he’s been featured in multiple segments and interviewed. His music has found a home on Virgin Radio, and his story has graced the pages of prominent provincial and local press outlets, including dozens of articles on Saltwire, NG News, Pictou Advocate, 94.1 The Breeze, Elevator Magazine and Maritime EDIT; to name a few.

With over half a million streams on just five songs, JayTheKidd has solidified his position as an emerging artist within the hip-hop landscape. He’s had the privilege of sharing the stage with esteemed artists like NLE Choppa, Classified, JRDN and Quake Matthews, with exciting future collaborations in the pipeline, including the latter three. Beyond his artistry, JayTheKidd has taken on the roles of producer, promoter, and manager, achieving a remarkable feat by selling out the Glasgow Square Theatre for his very first headlining show in just five days.

In July, JayTheKidd made waves with the release of the lead single for his upcoming project, ‘Better Late Than Never,’ titled ‘Watch The Ride,’ complete with a captivating music video. While the project has faced unforeseen health-related delays, anticipation for its release remains high.

Yuhe Guo came to Halifax as a Chinese international student.

An office lady who makes friends with clients.

A model who never wears high-heels off the runway.

A bartender who hates drinking.

Find out more @yuhe_solimodels

Fantanesh Attomsa is the Founder of Blue Nile Massage & Wellness, which exists as a holistic health practice with a vision to create therapeutic and inclusive spaces within our communities.

Her practice is on a mission to elevate the health of our communities through holistic therapies and accessible self-care education. As a compassionate leader with over 15 years combined in the health and social service field, it is her passion to empower others along their wellness journey.

She aims to increase representation for black women well-preneurs by creating community wellness programming, facilitating community wellness workshops and providing mentorship to entrepreneurs.

Fantanesh has been nominated for RBC’s “Woman Of Influence”, as well as Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business Of The Year” – and is a proud mother of 3.

Amelia Cornick is a Canadian actor based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has recently played a lead role in Ron Foley MacDonald’s latest feature film ‘Love and Doom’ (winning Best Screenplay and nominated for Best Ensemble Cast at the MBTF Awards in the UK) as well as his previous feature film ‘Sleepwatching’ which aired last fall on Eastlink TV. She has previously played recurring characters on Bell TV show ‘Real Wrestling’ and Eastlink TV show ‘The Motherload’, as well as a police officer on the Bell TV true crime show ‘Halifax Homicide’, which became a number one show on their network.

She has had the joy of playing in twenty-three short films over the past few years, including ‘Blue Nude’, a Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design production which was featured in FIN (Atlantic International) & NFFTY film festivals; and ‘Flesh of my Flesh’, a Goblin Den Productions short film which was a semi-finalist in the 15 Second Horror Film Challenge. She also appeared in the 48 Hour Film Project with Goblin Den Productions ‘Alter Ego’, which won six awards.

Originally from Labrador, Amelia performed in a number of local theatre productions and attended the Royal Conservatory Music Speech Arts and Drama Youth Program. After moving to Nova Scotia to study at King’s-Edgehill School with a music & theatrical arts scholarship, she furthered her training in acting with various coaches, workshops, and classes; and studied acting at Dalhousie’s Fountain School of Performing Arts (earning a 4.3 GPA in both of her acting courses); alongside continuing to act and perform in local theatre productions, before choosing to pursue a career in film and television in 2020.

Find out more @amelia.cornick

Stephanie Folahan is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a rich history in the field of accounting and finance. As the CEO of Premier Accounting and Tax, Stephanie has made it her life’s work to provide essential financial services to both individuals and small businesses. With a true passion for helping clients manage their financial affairs, Stephanie’s expertise, experience, and unwavering commitment set her apart as a leader in her industry.

Stephanie brings to the table nearly two decades of professional accounting and financial experience, making her a seasoned expert in the field. Her journey in finance began with a diploma in Accounting and Payroll, obtained during her college years. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for her impressive career.

Early in her career, Stephanie spent five years as a Tax Preparation Specialist at H&R Block, honing her skills in the intricate world of tax preparation. This experience allowed her to develop an intimate understanding of tax regulations, which continues to serve as a valuable asset in her work today.

Following her tenure at H&R Block, Stephanie transitioned to a role as a Senior Accountant at ABK Biomedical, where she spent another five years. This role broadened her expertise and proficiency, offering exposure to advanced financial principles and practices. Her work at ABK Biomedical further solidified her understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and enabled her to master essential financial software tools like MS Excel, QuickBooks, and Sage50.

Stephanie’s professional journey is underpinned by her unyielding dedication to assisting individuals and small businesses with their financial needs. Whether it involves taxes, accounting, or bookkeeping, Stephanie is devoted to providing timely, efficient, and supportive solutions to her clients. Her friendly, understanding demeanor and professional approach reassure clients that Premier Accounting & Tax Inc. is the ideal place to address their financial and accounting requirements.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Stephanie is a loving mother of three and a devoted wife. Her ability to balance the demands of her career with her family responsibilities demonstrates her remarkable commitment to both her loved ones and her clients. Stephanie’s passion for helping individuals and small companies with their financial affairs, combined with her extensive experience, makes her a respected and trusted figure in the world of accounting and taxation.

Find out more @mrs.folahan

Krista Collier-Jarvis (nek’m/she/her) is a PhD Candidate at Dalhousie University and an Assistant Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University, both of which are in the Departments of English. She graduated with a BA (honours) from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2013 and a Master of Arts from Dalhousie University in 2016.

She describes her work as a process of watching zombie films and trying to say smart things about them. She’s a member of the Mi’kmaq Nation, and her culture influences much of her research. In addition to studying and teaching Indigenous literature and film, she incorporates Indigenous knowledge approaches in much of her research and seeks to elevate Indigenous voices.

In late 2014, she joined inesS, a pole and circus studio located in downtown Halifax. She started with aerial silks but fell in love with pole dancing. She started competing in pole art and pole doubles beginning in 2017 and holds three gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals in competition.

After winning a bronze medal in pole doubles at nationals, she and her pole partner, Jill, were offered positions on Team Canada to compete at Worlds. However, between the pandemic and the kind of time and energy required to compete on the world stage, they never did compete at that level. She now teaches and performs at inesS. You can find her performing annually at such events as Fringe and Nocturne or you can sign up to take one of her classes.

When she’s not studying or hanging out at inesS, she can be found paddleboarding, photographing, or hanging out with her husband, her dog, and her three cats at her home near Peggy’s Cove.

Find out more @mikmawmutiny

Chiedza (Shona for light/dawn) was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to Halifax 12 years ago. She has been working in the non-profit sector for several years, supporting communities and organizations through project management, research, data management, evaluation, communications, grant administration and advocacy.

She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Strategy Implementation Professional (SIP) with a master’s degree in international development studies from St. Mary’s University and is passionate about addressing complex socioeconomic challenges through sustainable development and innovation, as well as using her experience and expertise to support organizational growth and sustainability.

Chiedza is also passionate about the Arts, from music to film and drama, and has been a Spoken Word Artist for several years, using her pieces, some deeply personal, to inspire, challenge, and heal.

Outside of work, Chiedza is a wife and mother to two beautiful children. She finds great joy in motherhood and purpose in raising her children. She is a Christian and credits God with enabling her to be a “professional juggler” of work, marriage, motherhood, community, family, and everything else in between.

Find out more @ririasjones

Former lawyer Sarah Birch is a Halifax-based content creator who is best known for her loud laugh and her many adventures.

She talks openly about seeking therapy to help her parent, and about living with ADHD. She runs her own English/French translation business and loves to be outdoors in her free time.

Find out more @littlesarahbirch

BASYL is a Palestinian artist, based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Achieving breakthrough success with his debut release “No Pants Till February” in February of 2022. Since then, BASYL has accumulated over 700,000 streams, primarily through major Spotify playlists such as Mellow Bars, Northern Bars, and Hip Hop Central.

In his first year, BASYL has performed on multiple stages in Nova Scotia. Showcasing in the Hopscotch 2022 Festival, alongside headliners such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, Scratch Bastid, and TOBi, and opening up for Alchemist in 2023.

His song Conversations was also featured on Virgin Radio Halifax’s Top 40 slot in November 2022.

Check him out @baselsabri

Nailah Moon (She/They/We) is a MAD writer, community worker and artist active in Mi’ma’ki.

They are a Black futurist who uses mixed mediums to explore themes of immigration, alienation and Afrofuturism focusing on the beauty and power found within the African diaspora.

They are often seen running through cities armed with a book and headphones.

Keep up with their eccentric life @nailahmoonkipuktuk