February's global theme is the Spanish word ‘camino’ which means “Way”, “Path”, or “Journey”, and our presenter will be the award-winning singer/songwriter and performer Krystle Dos Santos.

Krystle Dos Santos is a Vancouver-based, two-time Western Canadian Music Award–winning vocalist and songwriter whose sound moves between soul, jazz, and R&B. Known for a powerhouse voice and disarming stage presence, she’s sung onstage with Stevie Wonder and Michael Bublé and brings the same command to theatres and festivals across Canada. Dos Santos is also a musical storyteller: in her acclaimed co-creation Hey Viola! she brings to life the legacy of Canadian civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond, and in projects like BLAK: Canadian Women in Music she pairs iconic songs with the histories that shaped them. Whether leading a tight band, hosting her long-running Underneath the Harlem Moon cabaret series, or exploring new terrain with other collaborators, she invites audiences into music that’s equal parts heart, craft, and catharsis.

Speaker Interview

Each month we ask our presenters some probing questions to give us a deeper glimpse into their life and relationship with creativity:

1. How do you define creativity and apply it in your life and career?
   I believe creativity to be doing things outside of the box. Anything that’s not your “norm” or “safe” approach. It’s also an expression of your inner power—what you believe, dream, wish to see in the world. It’s a magical power of bringing something into existence on your own unique terms.
2. Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?
   I certainly find it from others! Watching what other people do and then filtering it through my own creative sieve and desires is a huge inspiration - because even if I were to copy what somebody did exactly, it would never be what they did, it will always have a part of me in the equation….and any small change you make make it’s uniquely yours. I also find a lot of creative energy and inspiration from representation or lack thereof. Many of my recent projects have been a blatant filling of a hole in the representation marketplace. I’m doing exactly what I “wish” I could see in the creative marketplace. And by creating it, for myself, and by myself, I’m not restricted to “what sells” or to other people’s tastes or beliefs.
3. What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?
   I wish I had known the power and control of self creation. That, and that the more vulnerable and personal you make your art, the more authentic, relatable and meaningful it will be for yourself and for others to receive.
4. Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?
   I would love to hear James Baldwin or Lin Manuel Miranda speak at Creative mornings. They both have incredible perspectives and creative minds. Or maybe Beyonce, I think she’s a creative genius who is able to bring her layered meaning visions to life in such brilliant ways.
5. What “caminos” in your life are you most grateful for?
   I’m grateful for the journey of parenthood—it really taught me what’s valuable and important to focus on. I’m grateful for the path of gratitude itself. Seeing every moment and element of life and a situation has allowed me such grounding and peace as I move through situations. And I’m grateful for the path of self acceptance—and what a journey that is and continues to be.
6. Who has been a helpful guide or companion on your journey?
   My mom has been, and is still, such a helpful guide on my journey. She's the one I can always call for advice, a venting session or just simply acceptance for exactly where I am at any given moment. My husband is also an amazing partner and guide on my creative path and journey. He’s an awesome ideas guy and has given me the “permission” to really level up my creative endeavours and professionalism by allowing me to realize I deserve the best and should strive for the best. He also has been a huge support for big ideas, like touring with my kids/family and saying yes and figuring out the “details” as we go.
7. What has been your biggest creative detour — and what did it teach you? If your current path had a signpost, what would it say?
   My biggest creative detour has been limiting my work for others and their projects and rather pouring my creativity and energy into my own creations and prioritizing myself and becoming my own boss. It takes the dependency out of the equation and allows for the limits of others to remain theirs. It also allows for me to create the exact shows, roles, parts etc that suit me best and not try to fit into someone else’s vision and standard of talent or style.
8. What did you learn from your most memorable creative failure?
   I would say I learn from every failure—creative or otherwise. But creative failures are especially useful! I think the biggest one that affected me and taught me the most was basically “wasting” a big creation grant on choosing the wrong collaborators. This spiraled me into a creative depression and affected me for years after. What I learned was:
   1) I can’t take ANYTHING that seriously
   2) there’s always a way out or an alternative solution - and that may end up being better than the original plan
   3) trusting my gut is one of the most valuable things I have
   4) be specific and don’t surrender on your idea or dream—it’s your vision and only you can fully see the big picture and orchestrate exactly what you’ve envisioned—be unapologetic in reaching that goal and vision (but always with humility, kindness and curiosity)
9. What keeps you awake at night?
   I’d say work, haha, or my kids waking up…but mostly ideas that I don’t want to forget for a project or a list of things I don’t want to forget to implement. I think it’s in the artists way book—that 3-4am is like a magic hour for creativity. So if I’m having creative sparks at that time, I don’t try to go back to sleep (I couldn’t if I tried) I just lean into it and do the thing or write down the idea I have swirling in my head.
10. When you get stuck creatively, what is the first thing you do to get unstuck?
    Nature is creativity’s best companion in my opinion. Taking a walk, sitting by the water, or something like gardening is such a creative launchpad. Making sure we are doing the creative work, but also giving ourselves a break and space to let our brain process is such a valuable element to creation. Rest and space is just as valuable as the active work itself.
11. What has been one of your biggest Aha! moments in life?
    1) Giving gets you WAY more than asking or just simply receiving ever could. If you’re stuck wondering “I need this or how do I get here”—you’ll get much further by sharing and offering and being of service and asking a mentor or person with experience “how can I help or be of service to you”.
    2) Also, The idea that there’s enough sun to shine on every flower is a huge philosophy for me - every person and their unique talent and creativity is a very individual experience. We all have room to exsist in a creative world and space in many varying facets and ways. Competition is truly with ourselves (past, present and future), and not with others. I think comparison to others should only be used as inspiration for how we can better ourselves.
    3) Sharing info (not gate keeping) and helping others/teaching and sharing knowledge has helped ME learn more than holding on to knowledge ever has. And it creates community, trust and levels up the whole environment rather than just my own narrow space.

Musical Guest

🎵Our live musical performance will feature Laura Roy, a Canadian artist and Grammy‑nominated songwriter whose expressive voice blends contemporary folk, R&B, and alternative pop.🎶

With songwriting credits on Doja Cat’s Planet Her, performances on some of the world’s biggest stages, and a sound shaped by both her East Coast roots and global touring life, Laura brings intimate storytelling and emotional depth to everything she creates.

This Month's Presenting Partner:

Starting with food security on a foundation of your support, A Better Life Foundation provides daily meals, training, education, practices inclusive hiring and takes climate change action to make a direct, meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most. Since 2013!

How to Register for this Event

Join us on February 6th from 8:15-10am at the Vancouver Art Gallery by registering here.

Meet the third feature in the Tyee's Creative Forces series: Sirish Rao, the co-CEO, of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Rao is a creative force making powerful waves in the art world, guided confidently by his belief in art's healing abilities. You may have recently heard that doctors can prescribe time in nature to patients... well, what about the Emily Carr forest inside the Vancouver Art Gallery?

Through the recently launched Art of Wellbeing Lab, the Vancouver Art Gallery is ensuring community members have access to resources and partners that support wellbeing and health through the arts. This includes the incredible PaRX program from the BC Parks Foundation, which now allows health care providers to prescribe time at the art gallery. 

Rao says, "The reason why we do this - make art - is to reach out from one human soul to another human soul, to express what we as a collective feel, to offer healing for oneself in making it or for others in seeing it. To me, that's the core of the offering. What we've been able to do is formalize that."

Rao has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to this country, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hari Sharma Foundation. We are lucky to have Rao - his passion, his clear vision, and his belief in the power of art. 

Don’t miss the full interview at: 
https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2026/01/09/Sirish-Rao-Creative-Force/ 

At each CMVan event, the 30-second pitch segment gives audience members a chance to step on stage and spotlight upcoming local creative events happening around the city.

We send out a more detailed newsletter with the below events to our mailing list once a month. Subscribe to receive the next one. 

Check out what’s coming up this January:

1. Support the next tour of Beauty and the Beast: My Life (email  joanmcneil17@gmail.com to learn more)
2. Creative Forces Feature: Sirish Rao (read it here)
3.  2026 Strategic Planning Workshop (Jan 12 or 13)
4. Bodwell High School Open House (Jan 15 or Feb 13)
5. Held in Common: Paintings of Place & Shared History (Jan 15-25)
6. Likemind Vancouver, Coffee and Conversation (Jan 16)
7. Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network: Staying Connected Call (Jan 21)
8. Self-Publishing Off the Amazon Path (Jan 22)
9. Painting Workshops: Acrylic and Pastels (Jan 24th)
10. Connect+Reflect: A CM Mixer on January’s Theme, Koorsoo (Jan 28)
11. An Intimate Evening with Laura Roy: Live at Gallery @ Artech (Feb 6)
12. That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature (Opening Feb 6th)
13. First Saturday: Visit artist's where they work  (Feb 6)
14. Recognize Remarkable: BC Achievement Foundation (nominate by Feb 15th)
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The next CMVan event is happening on February 6th
and will be featuring the award-winning singer/songwriter and performer Krystle Dos Santos. Get your ticket here.

Our theme for January is کورسو (pronounced Koor-Soo), a Farsi word meaning “a glimmer of hope.” It was chosen by our Tehran chapter in Iran and illustrated by Hoda Ramy.

Each month, a different CreativeMornings chapter chooses a theme for all global CM talks taking place in cities around the world. This year, many of our monthly themes will be in that chapter’s local language.

The hope is that this will give each theme a richer meaning and foster deeper connections to other communities and cultures.

Here's some resources to inspire your own reflections on this month's theme:

• DJ Jim Q's FINAL Playlist for CM:  کورسو (KOORSOO)
  Having created more than 150 CreativeMornings themed playlists over the last 12 years, this will be DJ Jim's last playlist for the CM Community. This month's 40+ song playlist is an auditory guide through the darkness, with a murmur of brightness and a whisper of encouragement. Listen.
  
  
• Connect + Reflect: A CM Mixer
  This free, online mixer is designed to bring the global CM community together around our monthly themes. RSVP for the event on Jan 28th from 11-12pm to discuss this month's theme.

The postcard of our January 2026 speaker Niall McNeil was illustrated by 4th year student from IDEA Program at Capilano University, Mia Antinori.

The text is from our interview with Niall, and reads: “I like to let the ideas flow, one by one and then go into structure."

All audience members will receive their own copy of this limited edition postcard, printed by Mitchell Press Ltd, at our January 9th event. Get your ticket.

Meet the second feature in the Creative Forces series: the award-winning Nêhiyaw (Cree) journalist from Sweetgrass First Nation in Treaty 6 territory, Eden Fineday! 

A bold voice as the publisher for InidigiNews, she had a vision and a plan to ensure that Indigenous media was fully led by Indigenous voices. She co-founded tâpwêwin media to acquire InidigiNews -- and this is only touching the surface of what she is doing for the future of Inidegnous-led media.

With her team of Indigenous women, they produce high quality journalism in a safe space that is guided forward by their culture and passion. 

“My concern was always with the Indigenous staff at Indiginews. Are they heard? Are they protected? Are they safe here?” she said. “That’s the only thing I cared about: are Indigenous people safe in this company? In this room right now? And if not, what can I do?”

Don’t miss the full interview at: https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2025/12/05/Eden-Fineday-Creative-Force/ 

To kick off the year with a bang, we are proud to present the playwright, actor, director, and filmmaker, Niall McNeil, who will share his story and insights on creativity through the lens of the global theme 'Koorsoo', a Persian word meaning faint glimmer of hope.

Niall McNeil is an artist living with Down Syndrome who has been involved with theatre from an early age through his lifelong association with the Caravan Farm Theatre in Armstrong BC. Niall was an ensemble member of Vancouver’s Leaky Heaven Performance Society from 1999-2006 under Director Steven Hill. In 2010 Niall performed in A Christmas Carol as a member of the English Acting Company of the National Arts Centre, Director Peter Hinton. Niall and Marcus Youssef have co-written two Jessie Richardson award winning plays, Peter Panties Leaky Heaven (Neworld Theatre, 2011) and King Arthur’s Night (Neworld Theatre, 2017). Niall acted in Marie Clements short film Pilgrims in 2012. Niall was a creative collaborator and subject of National Film Board of Canada feature length Documentary film Lay Down Your Heart. Directed by Marie Clements. Audience award winning at Vancouver International Film Festival 2022. The Originals (2024) is Niall’s debut Documentary film as Writer and Director. Commissioned by TELUS ORIGINALS The Originals premiered at Vancouver’s DOXA Film Festival in 2024. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: MY LIFE (2025) is Niall’s debut theatrical production as Writer and Director of a new play. Created in collaboration with choreographer Billy Marchenski, BBML had its world premiere at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Produced by Niall McNeil Productions.

Speaker Interview

Each month we ask our presenters some probing questions to give us a deeper glimpse into their life and relationship with creativity:

1. How do you use your creativity in your life and work?
   Since I was little, I’ve made stories. As I got older I got better and better every day at drawing, month to month. I like to do carpentry and build things, painting over top of wood and canvas as well. But when I work too much I get tired and need a break. It’s about pacing. So I might go for a walk and then finish where I left off. And you can’t just jump to next drawing or painting, you gotta stick to it. So pacing but also staying focused on the work you’re working on is part of creativity. I like to find flow. Give myself permission to just let the ideas come and then work it out later. One by one. Then go into structure.
   
   
2. Where do your best creative ideas come from?
   When I was little, I played with my toys. I loved art. And books. And my imagination. I like to go to the beach to think. Sometimes I watch Bonanza—that show is my favourite, I write down the episodes, my favourite is called “Showdown.” Sometimes I get ideas from watching those or from my art books. I find ideas through sketches and paintings, and sometimes they become characters in shows like Beauty and the Beast: My Life. When we do shows, we might bring the art and make an installation or costumes, or artwork that becomes part of the show itself. And I like to work with other artists, through Disability Arts and with people like Barak Ade Soleil, Paul Power. Also Marie Clements, Steven Hill and Billy Marchenski. They have been right with me, helping me express my vision. I also love working with Marcus, Jamie Long, and others. Lois Anderson has been in my life for a long time. My mom and dad, they help with creativity too.
   
   
3. What is one creative tip you wish you knew when you were younger?
   When I was little, I played with my toys. I loved art. And books. And my imagination. I like to go to the beach to think. Sometimes I watch Bonanza—that show is my favourite; I write down the episodes, my favourite is called “Showdown.” Sometimes I get ideas from watching those or from my art books. I find ideas through sketches and paintings, and sometimes they become characters in shows like Beauty and the Beast: My Life. When we do shows, we might bring the art and make an installation or costumes, or artwork that becomes part of the show itself. And I like to work with other artists, through Disability Arts and with people like Barak Ade Soleil, Paul Power. Also Marie Clements, Steven Hill and Billy Marchenski. They have been right with me, helping me express my vision. I also love working with Marcus, Jamie Long, and others. Lois Anderson has been in my life for a long time. My mom and dad, they help with creativity too.
   
   
4. If you could choose any person to give a talk at CreativeMornings, who would you choose?
   A lot of my family are artists—my uncle, Ron Giii, who is my godfather, made his own masterpieces in painting. I get inspiration from him.
   
   
5. What are you reading or watching these days?
   I’ve started watching cartoons for the first time in my life. I love Franklin the Turtle. And I love to watch old episodes of Bonanza and mysteries like Poirot.
   
   
6. What is something about you that would surprise other people?
   Some people might be surprised that I was in Leaky Heaven Family Circus for years. We did wild shows. I have also worked at Freshmart for 18 years. And I like to make pottery.
   
   
7. If you could open a magic door and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
   Harrison Hot Springs. I love it there. Sometimes I get a massage, go in the hot tubs, or go for hikes.
   
   
8. Who is one person who has had a big effect on your life?
   My dad, Jim David Gillespie. He was a builder and made furniture, and he was a paramedic and helped a lot of people. He worked at the Caravan Farm Theatre building shows. My dad and mom had me with Down Syndrome, but they didn’t know what Down Syndrome was, so they went to the library and figured it out. They always supported me. My dad’s a really big inspiration. Also Nick Hutchinson. He was the first artistic director at the Caravan Farm Theatre. It was his vision to have kids in the shows—that’s how I got to be in them when I was little, like five.
   
   
9. What is the best advice someone has given you?
   Peter Hinton once taught me about acting in a play, to "enjoy the moment, slow down, then put that in slowly." I remember that.
   
   
10. When you feel stuck and cannot get new ideas, what is the first thing you do to feel creative again?
    Sometimes I ask my mom, or a collaborator—what the story means to them. I talk to with my friends to help me find the story or what it means, and that helps me find ideas again. Other times if I am stuck, I go to bed and get my thinking cap on.
    
    
11. What is one thing you would put into a box someone opens many years from now to show who you are today
    I recently made a time capsule filled with family photos, Special Olympics ribbon, personal artifacts, and drawings. We did one before, during COVID with New World Theatre Company, and it was fun.

Musical Guest

🎵 Our first live musical performance of the year will feature Vancouerver-based singer, songwriter, and music educator Jennifer Hershman.🎶

Hershman's soulful voice and cinematic songwriting have earned international attention, including syncs on HBO, major label recordings, and over a million Spotify streams. Blending heartache, healing, and joy, she performs solo and in collaboration, and is also the curator behind Mount Pleasant’s beloved Sonic Summer Nights concert series.

This Month's Presenting Partner:

Based in Vancouver, and with offices in Victoria and Edmonton, hcma designs buildings, brands and shared experiences that connect people and build community.

How to Register for this Event

Join us on January 9th from 8:15-10am at the Vancouver Art Gallery by registering here.

Meet the very first feature in the Creative Forces series: Anthonia Ogundele.

While looking for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programs for her daughter, she discovered something that did not sit right with her. Accessibility was limited, pathways forward were far from clear, and it seems as though the programs were not designed with racialized youth in mind.

Instead of just complaining about the problem, she quit her full-time job and took matters into her own hands. And the Ethọ́s Lab was born:

“A Black-centred, Black-led innovation hub, open to everyone but devoted to empowering racialized youth, and increasing Black representation in STEAM.”

Ogundele is going beyond just responding to a problem; she is building something courageous and different shaped by the voices it serves.

What does a courageous space look like? What does it feel like?

Check out the full interview with Ogundele on the Tyee here: https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2025/11/07/Anthonia-Ogundele-Creative-Force/

For the last several years, our speaker appreciation volunteer, David Ives, has lovingly created thank you plaques out of reclaimed wood, featuring that month's theme. At the end of each talk, these plaques are given to our speakers as a gift.

Well for the last several months (since October 2025), David has not been making these plaques. His apprentice has been.

Meet Rueben. 

David met Reuben during some summer workshops and when they ended, they both agreed, "we're not ready to stop!"

Having concocted a plan, David reached out to Mark at CMVan (our lead Chapter Host), who was able to secure some funding for Reuben to take over the privileged responsibility of making the CMVan Thank You plaques; he’s really good at it too!

There's more: thanks to some recently acquired funding Reuben is eligible for as someone with autism, Rueben will start working with David at Made to Fly Designs two days a week starting in January. 

Thank you Rueben for your beautiful work! We're excited to see how your skills develop and where you go next.

Thank you for being part of our CMVan Community.

At each CMVan event, the 30-second pitch segment gives audience members a chance to step on stage and spotlight upcoming local creative events happening around the city.

We send out a more detailed newsletter with the below events to our mailing list, which you can read here. 

Check out what’s coming up this December

1. Creative Forces: Featuring Eden Fineday (new feature)
2. Adobe Firefly: New AI Powered Creative Space (check it out)
3. Descan Holiday Social: Meetup for Commercial Creatives, PMs, and Marketers (Dec 10)
4. Abstract Painting Workshop: Acrylic Pouring (Dec 12th or 13th)
5. Likemind Vancouver: Coffee and Conversation (Dec 19th)
6. Connect+Reflect: A CM Mixer on December’s Theme, Innovation (Dec 17th)
7. First Saturday: Visit artist's where they work (Jan 3rd)
8. Wilson School of Design: Info Session Night (Feb 3rd)
9. Abstract Art Experience: Paint-Pour & Print (Next session in 2025-2026)

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The next CMVan event is happening on January 7th
and will be featuring the playwright, actor, director, and filmmaker, Niall McNeil. Get your ticket here.