Story Crew

Aaron is a writer and long-time sci-fi enthusiast. A contributor and eventual co-editor of the Toronto Comics Anthology, his work can be found in various books and anthologies, including Strange Romance and Hogtown Horror. More recently, Aaron has written the superhero series Northguard for Chapterhouse Comics and is finishing his first novel.

Alexandra is a writer and quiet disruptor whose personal essays and poetry explore identity, self-acceptance, growth, and playful discovery. Alexandra’s print project, Breaking Barriers, was published by the Mayworks Festival in 2021. Alexandra is a devoted fan of children’s lit, long text messages, goofy humour, Columbo-style mysteries, cats, and sweet treats. In the summer months, you might catch her writing in a notebook somewhere under a tree.

Carina joined Story Planet in 2017 as a two-time placement student and has since then earned a Social Service Work diploma from Sheridan College and a Bachelor of Social Work from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is a hobbyist artist, writer, and podcaster and loves taking care of her many plants.

Cedric holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and education and is passionate about providing academic resources for students in underserved communities. Cedric performs data analysis of Story Planet’s student and teacher evaluations and helps improve our assessment processes to ensure our mission and outcomes always align.

Christopher, also known as MUMBLETHIEF, is a cartoonist and fictional character who comes from the Alaskan wilderness. His professional work includes comics, illustration, animation, and children’s books for clients such as Carousel Magazine, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Take Action Films, and the band Black Kids. He also serves as resident cartoonist aboard the Turtle Library, where he chronicles the adventures of everyone’s favorite gigantic turtle with a library in its belly and the group of young librarians who live in its shell.

Sam is a multimedia artist working with zines, illustration, fabric, and much more, who loves to play with colours and characters and stories. They are Brown, disabled, queer, and trying their best!

Furqan is interested in all things popular culture, diaspora, kinship, and anti-oppression. Her work has been featured in award-winning publications such as The Local, where she was an inaugural Journalism Fellow, as well as Toronto Life, Mimp, Maisonneuve, and Room. Her latest artistic work includes creating the reading series “Who's Afraid?” and an episode of Dreams in Vantablack, streaming on CBC Gem. Her digital chapbook, a small homecoming, was published by Party Trick Press in 2021.

Gabrielle joined Story Planet as a placement student in 2020. After graduating with her Bachelor of Science, she continued her work here. An avid believer that education plays an important role in health, she sees her work here as a way to combine three of her favourite topics: health sciences, art, and community-building. *The drawing here is the first she created as a volunteer in a Story Planet workshop.

Hilary is an award-winning author and illustrator of a dozen picture books and an early concept board books series that includes Will Bear Share? which Kirkus called “a clear and winning guide to a key social grace” in a starred review and Will Ladybug Hug? which Kirkus called “clear, endearing, and important.”

KayGeni is a Bahamian-born creator and storyteller who aims to continue building genuine connections with her community through her work. She shares her personal experiences through an honest and vulnerable approach to performance, writing, and visual arts.

A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Lisa is a writer and freelance manuscript editor. Her short fiction has appeared in the Colorado Review and Miracle Monocle, and she is forever working on a novel. She loves being involved with Story Planet, which reminds her daily of all the wonder and excitement of creating stories.

Liz is a children’s media producer who’s developed a variety of award-winning series for TVO, CBC, and Sinking Ship Entertainment. She founded Story Planet in 2009 to help kids get their stories heard and continues to learn and grow through all the work it does.

Micah Chu is a hopeless romantic and artist of many disciplines. Professionally, Micah has worked with TIFF, JAYU, Toronto Fringe Festival, and Intermission Magazine. While they have a particular interest in storytelling and multimedia work, his first loves were acrylic painting and collaging.

Nathalie Cortes is a Colombian born social service work graduate and multidisciplinary artist based out of Tkaronto. Through her different forms of work such as poetry, theatre, visual arts, journalism, and photography Nathalie expresses curiosity for the strength found in human vulnerability and acceptance of oneself.

Patrick Pfeiffer (he/him) is a Brazilian-born screenwriter and producer in Tkaronto. As a TV Broadcasting graduate, during his college years, he worked on several TV productions, producing and writing for news stories, PSAs, talk shows, podcasts, and short films. His love for writing flourished at a young age when he understood there were no boundaries to your creativity when crafting a fascinating story.

Rhael Mcgregor is a comic artist, animator, and storyteller from Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are Métis, Queer/2-Spirit, Autistic, and excited about the power of storytelling. Their work centers around fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and autobio stories that make people smile!

Sheena is an indigenous multimedia artist and former Registered Nurse with years of experience with Palliative Care. She has dabbled as a freelance graphic designer/illustrator/videographer/editor, for several social media videos and art projects. She specializes in character illustration, with experience writing and drawing for several online comics.

Currently, she is exploring more traditional indigenous mediums, such as beading jewelry and accessories. As a chronically creative person, sharing the art of drawing and story creation (through any medium) with the children through Story Planet is an honour.

Tee is Story Planet’s social media wizard. A musician with a love for Gospel music, Tee formed the group Keys and performed with them at the Honey Jam showcase, which led to Manifesto Community Projects picking them to perform in Dundas Square. Tee’s music is relatable, fun, and timeless.

Tracy is a graduate of Western University’s Master of Library and Information Science program and has studied community work at George Brown College. Through her work at Story Planet, she brings together two passions — storytelling and community-building. Her writing has appeared in the Toronto Star.

Vincy Lim is a Chinese-Canadian non-binary sapphic illustrator and cartoonist whose work revolves around the themes of self-love, queerness, disability, and abuse. Through graphic memoirs and fictional stories grounded in the realities of today’s marginalized groups, Vincy produces works that emphasize on loving yourself, healing, and the recovery process. Vincy is the creator of My Monsters Hold Me Soft.