VIEW OUR MONSTROUS TEAM BELOW!

Vikas

Executive & Artistic Director

Vikas is the mastermind behind all things MonstrARTity. He’s constantly pushing the envelope and his creative ideas keep us on our toes. As an award-winning film composer and music producer, he’s known for fusing together genres as varied as punk, hip-hop and Bollywood. Vikas sits on the Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for the City of Mississauga, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Board of Directors; And has been profiled on ET Canada, CBC The National, The Globe & Mail, The Hindustan Times and Zee News.

Lauren

HR & Marketing Manager

Lauren has a degree in Media Studies and a diploma in Public Relations. She has an excellent memory for birthdays and is the personal calendar for all her friends, so it’s only fitting that she’s our go-to for HR and marketing management. On top of keeping us organized, Lauren brightens up our meetings with her love of sparkly things and frequent “yay”-saying. Her appreciation for the arts includes a love of all things dance, including her former days as a competitive tap dancer.

Jessica

Project Manager

Jessica, who recently relocated from London, England, is an arts project manager who delivers a diverse portfolio of projects and events for not-for-profits. She specializes in cultural and educational opportunities working with creatives, high-level stakeholders, grassroots organizations and diverse communities. Since earning her Master’s degree in Art History, Jessica has been working in international cultural programming, arts administration and event coordination for the past 4 years, and has held previous roles within galleries, museums and festivals. In her spare time you can find Jess in the front row at a concert, writing poetry, or learning a craft (recent exploits include silversmithing and stained glass).

Vidhi

Media Collaborations

Vidhi is the queen behind all media collaborations at MonstrARTity. She holds a Master’s degree with a specialization in Marketing and has extensive experience as a Brand Management & Marketing Communications professional. She has been enabling brands for over a decade for various companies ranging from major media conglomerates, non-profits to startups and has delivered award-winning campaigns during her tenure. As a content marketer, she is passionate about engaging narratives and is a huge content junkle herself consuming a wide variety of content from movies, television, theatre to Broadway and stand-up comedy. In her spare time, if she’s not traveling and experiencing diverse cultures, she’s most certainly either working out, binge-watching her favourite TV shows or most recently, mimicking funny dialogues on TikTok!

Yash

Digital Marketing

Yash has a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and a diploma in Digital Marketing with Social Media Marketing specialization. In prior years, Yash has had a career as a news presenter, actor and model. Since his move from India, Yash has been looking to achieve new heights and make his mark in Canada. Art, however, remains his eternal love! He loves to sing and also enjoys watching movies and web series in his spare time.

Cindy

Programming

Coming from a traditional East Asian dance background, Cindy studied Communication and Culture at York University, specializing in politics and policy. She became an arts administrator in 2008 to provide a stronger voice for culturally specific arts organizations. Outside of the office and off stage, Cindy enjoys exploring new dance forms and their communities. Cindy loves travelling and going on adventures, some of which have included driving solo in the Middle East, almost losing her way in the middle of the Mauritian rainforest, and taking out someone’s side view mirror. She relaxes by doing aerial yoga and dangling upside down like a bat.

Sanjay

Stage Programming

Sanjay is the epitome of Bollywood lover. After graduating with an HBA in Performance Production from Ryerson University, Sanjay worked with the City of Mississauga Culture technical services for 7 years, working on every cultural festival with the city at Celebration Square. He loves music and is a positive personality that you definitely want on your side for any technical production; we’re lucky to have him!

Heine

Programming

Heine is a Danish native living in Toronto after completeting his MA in Musicology & Audio Branding from Aarhus University in Denmark. He was the Head of Event at Denmark’s largest TEDx-event, and worked on the European Capital of Culture in 2017. His portfolio includes various projects worldwide connecting music, people, and brands. Living in the most multicultural city in the world, Heine is excited to create great inspirational musical experiences for everybody. In his down time, he enjoys cooking, baking, hiking, and listening to music of all genres.

Ev

Music Engraver

Ev graduated from the University of Toronto where she received her Bachelor’s in Music. Since beginning her role at MonstrARTity, our resident musical genius spends her days walking around singing Bollywood songs despite not knowing what they mean. A little known fact about Ev is that she has sung in choirs her entire life, but made her conducting debut in 2019 with the #BollywoodMonster Orchestra Choir. During her spare time, Ev has a passion for making rainbow colour-coded spreadsheets and adding to her collection of bouncy balls.

Filip

Video

Filip has a diploma in Marketing from Georgian College and a degree in Communications from Laurentian University. He is known for the most enthusiastic high-fives around and his record is 350 in 26 days. As our main videographer, Filip creates and curates the image of MonstrARTity with amazing visuals. His favourite part about being a videographer is interviewing other passionate creators. He’s lucky enough to have interviewed prominent CEOs, famous musicians, mayors, and celebrities internationally.

Stephanie

Operations

Stephanie has come to MonstrARTity with over 10 years of experience in event planning and community relations. After graduating from Leisure and Recreations studies at the University of Ottawa, and Sports Management at Ithaca College, Stephanie worked on corporate and sports events across Canada. In her spare time, she enjoys ultimate frisbee, pub trivia, country music, the Blue Jays, and all things sports related.

Lindsay

Corporate Sponsorships Specialist

Lindsay is a culture and arts enthusiast with a strong reputation in corporate sponsorships and management. Rather it be traveling as a hobby or connecting brands to the GTA’s vibrant community, her mission is to cultivate interconnectedness through shared experiences. Lindsay joins MonstrARTity most recently from The Bentway as a Partnerships Coordinator, where she generated new business leads, and developed promotional ideas and activations of which several received national media coverage. Prior to this, Lindsay oversaw the The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s portfolio and contributed toward successful gala events (Evening Epic) to raise money for their music programs. She is strongly aligned with MontstrARTity’s values and plans to use her career experience and diploma in Journalism-Broadcasting to strengthen its portfolio.

Gabrielle

Event Production Support

After growing up in dance and theatre, Gabrielle realized she could join her love of the performing arts with her love of spreadsheets in the world of arts administration. She is currently studying Theatre, Literature and Philosophy at the University of King’s College. Gabrielle particularly enjoys helping festival-based organizations like MonstrARTity reach diverse communities, volunteering with various festivals for the past five years. She is excited about collaborating to create events that bring out the arts-lover in everyone involved. During her spare time, Gabrielle eats spicy foods, watches funny shows, and walks around Toronto or Halifax listening to a million podcasts.

Shanice

Event Production Support

Shanice combines community values with hard work ready to oversee event details ranging from venue coordination to time change scheduling. Her work is fueled by a passion for social activism and an education in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Toronto. She focuses on promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion which fit her in perfectly with the MonstrARTity team. She has also contributed to events across the GTA with non-profit organizations that encourage the respect of diverse cultures. Between events and activism, you can find Shanice at the gym, at the mall, or online. Her hobbies include weightlifting, buying overpriced clothing items, and playing The Sims.

Amanda

Web Developer Support

Amanda loves all things creative and coded! With her education at Humber College from the Web Development program, Amanda has acquired a new passion for coding and development. She understands the importance of diversity and having creative outlets, which is why she is part of the monstrARTity team. In her spare time, she likes playing on the Nintendo Switch, listening to music, playing guitar and cooking a new recipe!

Kane

Graphic Design Support

An artist with a passion for the small delights in life, Kane contributes his graphic mastery to ensuring consistency in MonstrARTity’s branding. You can find him working on design templates while indulging in his favourite sweets and cups of tea. Fun fact: Kane drinks more than 6 cups of tea a day. He joins the team after obtaining a Bachelor’s of Illustration from Sheridan College and working as a graphic designer for a local studio theatre. When he’s not creating projects, Kane embraces nature by hiking, fishing, and gardening. He also appreciates video games for their graphics, and takes notes in his free time while checking out the latest release.

Ravi

Offshore Marketing Support

Having a profound knowledge of Google Adwords tactics, Ravi is leading MonstrARTity in the creation of new campaigns that boost effectiveness and double leads using the same budget. For the past 5 years, he’s been creating wonders with his geeky mind in the virtual space, and while here at MonstrARTity, Ravi uses that same mindset to augment our love for the arts. An avid traveler and a foodie, you may find him munching on a thing or two for sure.

Alessandra

Community Outreach Support

Since receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2018, Alessandra has worked in community outreach and education at museums, art galleries, and in municipal public art. She has also facilitated and instructed arts workshops for youth and seniors across the GTA. Her goal is to help make contemporary art accessible and bring interdisciplinary artists into classrooms, community groups, and businesses. Alessandra’s inspiration to make art comes from spending time and sharing stories with family members, especially her grandmothers. In her spare time this summer you can find her making cyanotypes in the sun, reading in the shade or tending to her many plants.

Lisa

Community Outreach Support

Currently attending Brock University, Lisa is completing a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education in the Concurrent Education program. She strives to build up communities and is passionate about helping youth whom she hopes to educate in the near future as a chemistry or math teacher. Her past volunteer experience working with various organizations contributes to a smooth execution of tasks ranging from coordinating with artists to liaising with businesses. Lisa knows the volunteer experience inside-out and ensures clear communication and timely delivery are always upheld. When she’s not absorbed in helping communities, Lisa can be found playing the guitar and piano or watching animated kid shows and playing video games.

Juie

Community Outreach Support

Juie has a degree in Communication Studies and a diploma in Broadcasting and Film. From a young age, she always knew she would lead a very creative and eventful life (pun intended). She started her career as a Production Assistant in various television shows and films. However recently, she randomly fell into event planning and absolutely loves it! She loves learning all the steps it takes to execute successful events. During her spare time, Juie is a passionate photographer and she photographs everything, such as: travel, engagements, weddings, wildlife, birthdays, and more. She also has her own travel Instagram and she has been featured numerous times on other travel accounts.

Veranika

Community Outreach Support

Veranika is an Ardent art lover, a quality backed up by her Honours degree in Art History from McGill University that focused on contemporary visual and performance art. She is particularly interested in investigating the visual, linguistic, and psychological tools that build a relationship between the artist and their audience. She believes that art has the power to emotionally unite people regardless of their age or background. Passionate about preserving artistic and cultural practices within Diasporic communities, Veranika has previously worked with organizations such as the Craft Council of BC and the Mechta Children’s Centre to encourage cultural exchanges through art and language. In her free time, Veranika loves to keep her hands busy with embroidering pieces that feature both traditional Belarusian vyshyvanka patterns, as well as more modern designs inspired by nature.

Ziyad

Social Media Support

Ziyad is a digital marketer who enjoys creating artworks in visual and written mediums. He believes in the power art and media have to positively influence people’s perception of themselves and each other. Due to this belief, Ziyad found himself here at MonstrARTity as he wants to use his marketing skills to promote artistic resources to communities. He hopes people use these resources to find their voice and have their voices heard by others.

Elmah

Social Media Support

With a degree in Media Communications and a diploma in Public Relations, Elmah has managed social media for small local businesses. Her goal at monstARTity is to connect and engage with our audience as well as attending our amazing events! In her free time, Elmah loves to dance, watch movies, and browse TikTok.

Antonia

Music Engraver Support

Antonia has a passion for sharing music with the world and composed her first song at the age of four! She is an accomplished high school student with a high attention to detail, creative attitude and advanced understanding of music theory. Her portfolio thus far includes performing on CTV, CBC and Global television as well as the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra as a guest member and a soloist with the Raise Her Voice Chamber Choir. In her free time, she can be found baking recipes from scratch, biking around the neighborhood, playing with her dog and gecko, and identifying the pitches of random noises!

Arun

Lighting Designer

Arun has been a lighting designer for 27 years. His repertoire is impressive ranging from theatre, dance, music as well as training and teaching others. His portfolio includes The Canadian Stage Company, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Cahoots Theatre Projects, Factory Theatre, The Globe Theatre and Expect Theatre, Desrosiers Dance Theatre, The Danny Grossman Dance Co., ProArteDanza, Tiger Princess Dance Projects, Tribal Crackling Wind, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Canada’s National Ballet School, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Art of Time Ensemble, Nagata Shachu, York University Theatre Program, York University, Ryerson University, University of Waterloo and The National Theatre School. Arun has been nominated for multiple awards as a lighting designer including 7 Dora Mavor Moore nominations for Outstanding Lighting Design in the dance and theatre categories.

Kamdar

Vendors & Sponsorships

Kamdar is the powerful force behind all the food, clothing and jewelry at our festivals! He is responsible for the overall management and coordination of all vending operations at our larger-than-life productions. Be sure to say hello and tell him who your favourite vendor is if you see him at our events!

*Individuals pictured above may not necessarily be representatives of the organization.

Programs