From the stage of The Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa, Jacqui Du Toit asked us to conjure and connect to new worlds—ones she created through her storytelling and those that are inside of ourselves. 

Jacqui is a professional actress, storyteller, and dancer. She’s also a co-founder of The Origin Arts & Community Centre in Mechanicsville, a space where creators from all backgrounds and places can come together and feel at home. To find a sense of sanctuary. 

The search for sanctuary has been a thread throughout Jacqui’s life. Growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, Jacqui faced racism and bullying in school because of the colour of her skin and her accent. 

After one particularly difficult day, her father shared the story of Jabu, a young boy who lived by the motto “it is good.” Eventually, that story struck a chord. Jacqui realized that while she couldn’t control how people acted towards her, she could choose how she reacted. She took that lesson on a walk, wandering her school campus and talking to the trees. Soon, Jacqui started to create a safe haven of sanctuary within herself and with the earth around her. 

When she immigrated from South Africa to Ottawa 12 years ago, her personal resilience and sense of self and belonging were again challenged. Experiencing rejection after rejection from theatre companies, Jacqui recalled the story of Jabu and his positive mindset. 

She channelled those rejections into redirection, tapping into her own source of sanctuary and internal strength. She created an award-winning one-woman show and, through The Origin Arts & Community Centre, co-created a space for other Ottawa artists and creatives to express themselves freely and joyfully.

As Jacqui put it: “In the flow of creation is when you find your sanctuary.” You don’t want to miss Jacqui’s full talk! Watch it here.

A huge CreativeMornings thanks to Jacqui for her inspiring words in January 2023. Learn more about Jacqui’s storytelling and community work online: 8thGeneration Storytelling or The Origin Arts & Community Centre.