Surviving Hate

Danielle Orr

Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

Danielle is a freelance journalist and private investigator (OSINT) based in Ontario. Prior to joining Humber College’s StoryLab, she worked on investigations for the Investigative Journalism Bureau and the Toronto Star, and produced audio projects with Fixt Point Arts and Media and Sheridanlife Radio. When she’s not working with audio, she can be found hiking the Bruce Trail.

Keith Grosbeck

Community Outreach Liason, Humber College StoryLab

Keith Grosbeck is a Creative Director that works in film, photography, motion graphics, graphic design for print and web, consultation, web and media management, sound design and many other creative areas. He has been an independent contractor for over fifteen years with his personal studio, Oddest Age (oddestage.com). He is also a lifelong music lover, having spent the majority of his life sharing or experiencing music in many capacities.

Keith has Plains Cree, Chippewa, Munsee-Delaware, Oneida, Mohawk, Blackfoot and European heritage. He was born and raised in Canada, primarily in the Chippewas Of The Thames First Nation community where he is a Registered Indian under the Indian Act Of Canada. With his unique heritage and cultural background, he has traveled and lived across North America in his lifetime. He currently calls North America (Turtle Island) his home.

Maggie Rahr

Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

Maggie Rahr is an award-winning investigative journalist whose work often focuses on violation and institutional failure. Most recently Rahr wrote and hosted the CBC podcast Carrie Low VS. which chronicles a sexual assault survivor's battle against police as Carrie attempts to solve the crime she endured. Rahr has developed a system of reporting which is built on a foundation of consent, humane investigative practices, and the rigorous pursuit of information. This work spans print journalism across the country. Rahr also wrote and hosted the podcast What Happened to Holly Bartlett, a series examining the suspicious death of a blind woman who was found in a locked compound below a bridge, and whose death police considered accidental. Rahr lives in Nova Scotia with their two children and is passionate about music, delicious snacks, and documenting seaside life in writing and photography.

Kerry Potts

Faculty Research Lead, Humber College

Kerry Potts is a Faculty Research Lead for Surviving Hate who has Teme-Augama Anishnabai/British/Scottish heritage with familial roots in Temagami and Prince Edward Island. As a professor of Liberal Studies at Humber College, and a member of the Indigenous Education Council, her focus has been on developing Indigenous-focused training, content and courses, and created the general elective “Indigenous Perspectives on Music, Film and Media”. Kerry began her academic career at Trent University (Bachelor Arts, Honours, joint major Indigenous Studies and Anthropology) and OISE/University of Toronto (Masters, Sociology and Equity Studies) and has taught at George Brown College, Seneca College, and OISE/University of Toronto. She has participated, worked and volunteered in the Indigenous community in Toronto for over 20 years at social service, performing and media arts organizations, including Native Women’s Resource Centre, Native Women in the Arts, National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, and currently volunteers with Susan Aglukark’s Arctic Rose Foundation.

Amber Bernard

Journalist

Amber Bernard (she/her) is Mi'kmaq (We'koqma'q First Nation) from the unceded territory of Mi'kma'ki or more commonly known as Nova Scotia. She is a journalist and communications professional who has worked with various outlets in Canada. Her most notable work was with APTN National News as a television reporter. She was a part of the award-winning project 'Tracking Transmountain,' which received an RTDNA data storytelling award in 2019. Her career continues to focus on Indigenous priorities, whether it's through her work as a journalist or communications professional. Amber's stories have explored many areas of Indigenous rights, climate change, and social justice.

Amy Jackson

Centre for Human Rights Researcher

Amy Jackson comes from a Cree and Metis background who spent a number of years in politics before deciding to go work toward a degree. She is currently a full time student at the University of Manitoba where she is doing a masters degree in Native Studies. Amy obtained her Bachelor of Arts at UCN with a major in History and minors in Social Science and Native Studies. When she’s not multitasking, she is playing fiddle or designing digital artwork.

Dani Monterroso

StoryLab Intern

Dani is a graduate of Humber Polytechnic. She previously worked as a research assistant intern on two StoryLab projects, Surviving Hate and Decoding Two Decades of Federal-Provincial Health Transfer Payments. Passionate about photography and research has driven her to focus on work that encompasses human relations and lifestyle. When she’s not focusing on work, her favourite pastimes include reading, hiking, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Hansil Mehta

StoryLab Intern

Hansil Mehta is a student journalist based in Toronto. He is passionate about storytelling and has worked at a South Asian radio station in the GTA for the past five years. He has a deep interest in telling stories about politics, human rights, climate change and sports.

Jamie Monastyrski

Faculty Lead, Humber College

Jamie is a communications and media professional within the Indigenous political, media and arts sectors in Canada. He is a citizen of Couchiching First Nation, Treaty #3 and creates communications and media strategies for Indigenous organizations and political offices. He has held senior communication roles at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Chiefs of Ontario and Indspire. As an editor and reporter, he has worked for Wawatay News, AboriginalVoices Magazine, Spirit Magazine, APTN, the Globe and Mail, the National Observer and Indian Country Today and continues to write for and support various media outlets and Indigenous organizations. He is a part-time instructor at Humber College’s school of journalism teaching the ‘Reporting in Indigenous Communities’ course.

Jeremy Honess

StoryLab Intern

Jeremy Honess is a student journalist based in Toronto, Ontario and is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Journalism degree program at Humber College. In his off-hours, Honess follows the automotive industry and keeps tabs on the latest automotive trends but ultimately hopes to become a multi-faceted journalist.

Ryan Running Rabbit

Journalist

Ryan Running Rabbit is Blackfoot, from the Siksika Nation in Alberta. He is currently a radio anchor/reporter at 660 News in Calgary, where he has been for the last three years covering various roles in the newsroom. Before 660 News, Ryan went to SAIT where he graduated from the RTBN program in 2017. Aside from news, Ryan has a deep passion for encouraging First Nations youth to seek higher education.

Prabhy Rehal

StoryLab Intern

Prabhy Rehal (She/Her) is a Humber journalism graduate who is passionate about accessible journalism and storytelling. She is a member of the Sikh community, and a daughter of Punjabi immigrants. These identifiers also inform her advocacy for social justice as it allows for an empathetic approach to her work and the need for precision in storytelling. As a BIPOC journalist she understands the importance of hearing every voice and hopes to highlight stories and share the experiences of those outside the mainstream. Prabhy has worked on two StoryLab projects, Surviving Hate and Decoding Two Decades of Federal-Provincial Health Transfer Payments.

Stephanie Roberts

Intern, University of King's College

Stephanie Roberts is completing a master of journalism at the University of King’s College, with a focus on investigative and data journalism. She has a background in health and research communication and policy, and a science degree from the University of Toronto. She has a keen interest in health, science, social justice and people.

Emma Posca

Student Journalist, StoryLab

Emma Posca is a journalism advanced diploma student at Humber College. She is passionate about investigative journalism and covering crime. Long-form storytelling is in her area of interest and she enjoys collaborating as a team to shed light on injustices happening anywhere in the world. In her spare time, you can find her exploring new places, hiking in forests and keeping her three-year-old entertained.

Ishmeet Singh

Student Journalist, StoryLab

Ishmeet Singh is a journalism student at Humber College. His coverage at Skedline.com has included political, entertainment, and sports news. He is a passionate photographer and documentary filmmaker. He was born in New Delhi and calls Toronto home. He has covered various cities in India documenting the cultural and religious events as a part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India) project. His interests include reporting for marginalized communities, locally and internationally. You can reach him at ishimeetsingh@gmail.com.

Nitika Mishra

Student Journalist, StoryLab

Nitika Mishra a journalist passionate about making the world a better place. She is a feminist and has always stood up for human rights and openly condemns any form of action that threatens the rights of the 2SLGBTQI+ and POC community. She has worked with Karwan-e-Mohabbat or Peace Yatra, which is a countrywide civilian campaign in India that was launched to show solidarity with the victims of mob lynching or those victimized during the communal or religiously motivated violence. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she understands their fight for equality and has always taken part in parades and marches. Nitika has previously worked for ABP Networks, NDTV and Election Tamasha.

Ramona Leitao

Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

Ramona Leitao (she/her) is an Ontario-based multimedia journalist. She’s reported for The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, The Narwhal, HuffPost Canada, NOW Magazine and The Local. Through her photo essays and written features, she documents how marginalized communities are impacted by politics, the ongoing climate crisis, agriculture and human rights issues. When she’s not working she’s most likely taking photos for fun, baking bread while listening to Studio Ghibli soundtracks or discovering hidden food spots in Toronto.

Shannon Bear

Research Assistant

Shannon Bear is from Peguis First Nation. She the daughter of Florence Bear and the late Brian Bear. For the past two years she has had the privilege to teach in her own community of Peguis First Nation. Shannon is currently in her second year of the Master’s in Development Practice Program at the University of Winnipeg. She is interested in learning strategic, innovative and holistic ways to improve social determinants of health for Indigenous people. She is particularly focused on Indigenous people’s access to and quality of education.

Rebecca Lyon

Indigenous Research Fellow

Rebecca Lyon is Anishinaabekwe of mixed descent from North Bay, Ontario. She is a Ph.D student at Trent University looking at Indigenous Identity and Fashion. Some of Rebeccca's work includes being owner and creator of www.powwowjackets.com and writing the research report, "Emerging Voices: A dual examination into access to post-secondary education for Indigenous youth in Ontario, and what journalism schools in Ontario are doing to implement Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Call To Action #86" for Journalists for Human Rights. She is the Indigenous Research Fellow for Surviving Hate.

Stephane Gunner

Intern, Algonquin College

Stephane Gunner is James Bay Cree from Mistissini, Quebec. Stephane plays a role in preserving and archiving the Cree language and culture through media. His educational and employment background is in the tourism industry, and he moved into journalism in 2018 to join CBC's Cree unit based in Montreal. A recent journalism graduate of Algonquin College, he joined Humber College's StoryLab team with an open mindset to collaborate in reporting and research. He is a lifelong learner committed to serving the community he engages in by contributing to the responsibility of transferring people's stories through journalism.