Sylvine, better known as The Artiiist, of Central African origin, was born in France and has now been living in Canada for 12 years. From an early age, art has always played a central role in her life: singing, dancing and then painting. This passion has gradually turned into a real career: she is the founder of Smard Art.

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It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Sylvine launched her artistic enterprise: Smard Art. Her talent and vision quickly attracted attention, propelling her work onto the international scene. This dazzling success has enabled her to make a living from her art and develop her business internationally, although she still harbors even greater ambitions.

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Through her work, she celebrates the identity, culture and beauty of black people, themes that are close to her heart. Combining traditional and digital art, she draws her inspiration from realism, which she considers a form of expression of great intensity, while exploring mixed media techniques and abstraction.

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Despite this recognition, she remains driven by the desire to push her own boundaries and reach an even wider audience.

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Few people understand the importance of the arts and culture sector as well as Cameron Bailey. He is CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) - the world's largest public film festival and one of Canada's premier cultural brands. Under his strategic direction, the festival continues to grow in size and significance each year.

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Bailey began his career as a film critic. He also curated films for Cinematheque Ontario, The National Gallery of Canada, The National Film Board of Canada, and Australia’s Sydney International Film Festival before joining TIFF in 1990. He began as a programmer selecting Canadian films before moving on to African and South Asian cinema. He’s responsible for TIFF’s highly successful subscription series, Reel Talk, and also headed TIFF’s Perspective Canada series and founded its Planet Africa section.

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Bailey has taught film curation at the University of Toronto and holds an honorary doctorate from Western University. He is a Chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters, member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, and for 12 consecutive years been named one of “Toronto’s 50 Most Influential People” by Toronto Life.

Keithy Antoine is a host, visual artist, and social entrepreneur. She creates and hosts content for radio, television, and events. She first gained recognition as the co-host of the pioneering hip-hop radio show Nuit Blanche (1991–2001) before joining XM Satellite Radio and MAtv. She co-produced and hosted Les Entrevues Lounge Urbain on FibeTv1 and later hosted Le Spot on Natyf-TV. Since 2022, she has been part of the Radio-Canada series Pa t’mentir (Gémeaux and Numix awards) and contributes as a cultural reporter for PAN M 360.

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She produces and hosts Nouveaux Départs, a podcast on immigration launching in March 2025 on Canal M, and is the artistic director of an NFB documentary on Afro-ecology set for release in 2026.

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As a visual artist, she has exhibited internationally (Louisiana, Guadeloupe, Cameroon) and created permanent artworks for Howard Park in 2023. She is also a member of the Afro-descendant artists’ collective WECANERS. In 2019, driven by her social commitment, she founded Union Urbaine, a cultural and social inclusion organization based in Saint-Michel and now located at 6649 Plaza St-Hubert. It operates STYL'AFRIQUE, a workshop-boutique offering tailoring services, creative workshops, and Afro-urban fashion.