Skip to main content

Submitted by Fayiaz Chunara… on
English
Jah'kota photo by Gin Ouskun Photograph

fullwidth padding

Jah’kota is an Afro-Indigenous artist and entrepreneur. His father is from Kingston Jamaica and his mother is Nakota Assiniboine, signatories to Treaty 4. He was born and raised in Winnipeg and now lives full time on Ocean Man First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Jah'kota has had two songs reach number one on the Indigenous music countdown and has been nominated for multiple awards including the Indigenous Music Awards 2019, the Native American Music Awards 2024, and the SaskMusic Awards 2025.

Justin “Jahkota” Holness uses music as a way to amplify the message of self-determination and to empower the welfare of people and the planet. 

Description

Experience the inaugural Indigenous Fashion Runway, hosted by Jah’kota, a multi-award-winning Afro-Indigenous artist and entrepreneur.

This vibrant evening features completed and near-completed runway collections from four Indigenous designers and their teams — the culmination of their creative work developed during the Indigenous Fashion Runway Residency at Banff Centre.

Over three weeks, participants refined their collections and professional practice with the guidance of faculty and Banff Centre’s production team. Exploring every aspect of runway presentation, from working with models and photographers to preparing their collections for the stage, they now share their work in this dynamic public showcase of Indigenous artistry and design.

This is a free ticketed event with limited seating; we encourage guests to arrive early.



Indigenous arts is supported by the RBC Foundation.

RBC Logo
Indigenous Haute Couture Open Studio 2025
Page Summary
Celebrate new collections from four Indigenous designers in this dynamic runway showcase hosted by multi award-winning artist Jah’kota.
Exhibition
No
Free
Yes
Donation
Off
Banff Centre Artist/Practicum/Staff Only
Off
Licensed
On
Age Restrictions
18+
Performance Date
Date
Extra Description

Event is Sold Out

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

CLVB ’33 is located behind the Theatre Complex.

Location
Computed Sort Date
1764986400

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Alice Wordsworth

fullwidth padding

Alice Wordsworth is a mixed-race actor and producer based in Moh’kinsstis (Calgary), and a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting Program.

Though classically trained for the stage, Alice quickly transitioned to the screen, earning a Rosie Award nomination for their debut lead role in the feature film A Cowboy Against Thunder. Their performance as Clara in Avalon Fast’s CAMP marks one of their first international appearances, with the film set to screen at genre festivals including Fantastic Fest, Sitges, Brooklyn Horror and SXSW Sydney. Coming up, they star in the new TV series Eyes in the Woods, premiering on OUTtv in October 2025.

Select theatre credits: Charlotte’s Web (ATP) The Tempest, Love'sHeavy Burden (The Shakespeare Company), The Immaculate Perfection… (BodyCube Arts)

She would like to extend her gratitude to her friends, family, and Jude for their love and support.

@alice.words

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Laurel Oneil

fullwidth padding

Previously with ATP – King James & Liars at a Funeral

Elsewhere - BOOM (Theatre Calgary, Thousand Islands Playhouse & Off-Broadway,) BOOMX (Theatre Calgary & Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre,) BOOMYZ, The Importance of Being Earnest, Escape to Margaritaville, (Theatre Calgary,) Flora and Fawna Have Beaver Fever (Lunchbox,) Liars at a Funeral, Beauty and the Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wizard of Oz & Sound of Music (Western Canada Theatre,) The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Extractionist, Murder in the Studio, (Vertigo Theatre,) Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Roof, Pricilla: Queen of the Desert, A Few Good Men, Buying the Farm, Annie (Drayton Entertainment) and 60+ productions at Stage West Calgary, including: Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, Rock of Ages, Avenue Q, The Producers, Game Show, 39 Steps, Chicago, Spamalot, Young Frankenstein, Buddy: The Buddy Holly. Laurel has also taught Stage Management at the University of Lethbridge.

Laurel would like to dedicate her work to the loving memory of her mom, who helped her find her love of theatre at young age.  She would also like to thank her family, friends and RP for their unending love and support.

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Sonoyo Nishikawa

fullwidth padding

Sonoyo Nishikawa, winner of the 2024 Siminovitch Prize, is a Japanese lighting designer whose work spans theater, opera, musicals, and dance on international stages. She studied in London through the Cultural Affairs of Japan’s overseas exchange program, and in 1993 began collaborating with director Robert Lepage on The Seven Streams of the River Ota, The Damnation of Faust at the MET, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Dragon’s Trilogy.

Her major credits include Trojan Women, Yukio Mishima’s Black Lizard, Harold Prince’s Prince of Broadway, the musical Once Upon a One More Time, Broadway’s POTUS directed by Susan Stroman, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ Désir.

Known for her artistry and versatility, she has designed productions across North America, Europe, and Asia, bringing a distinctive visual voice to every project. Nishikawa has been honored with numerous awards in Canada and Japan, including the Japan Lighting Association Award, the Toronto Dora Award for Outstanding Lighting Design, the Montreal Theatre Academy Award, and the Quebec Arts and Culture Award.

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Matthew Mooney

fullwidth padding

Matthew Mooney (He/Him) Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Matthew moved to Canada in January 2023. For Alberta Theatre Projects (Debut). Other Credits: Theatre Calgary; The Lehman Trilogy, The Mousetrap, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare On the Go). Deadly Murder (Vertigo Theatre), Chariots of Fire (Rosebud Theatre), The Mad Hatter’s Circus (Tag Live), Aladdin (Tram Direct), Harvey (New Celts Productions), Three Sisters (NCP). For Film/TV: Still Game (BBC), Witches X (Voice Pictures) Talk (QMU), Half Moon Investigations (CBBC), Finky (Abu Media). Matthew graduated in 2020 with an “Acting for Stage and Screen” BA (Hons) from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. As always, he sends love home to Glasgow, to his Maw, Paw and Saso. He also sends thanks to Josh Baker and his new family, who five years ago, first showed Matthew the Banff Centre for Arts from a wee flat in Edinburgh.

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Doug McKeag

fullwidth padding

Doug has appeared in over 150 live dramas and musicals in Canada and the US, and has toured with his company Dandi Productions to concert halls around the globe. He has assumed the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Theatre Calgary’s annual A Christmas Carol. Favorite past roles include: Escape to Margaritaville, The Secret Garden, God of Carnage, Enron, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Twelfth Night (TC); Follies, A Man of No Importance (Dry Cold); Arcadia; Glengarry Glen Ross (Theatre Junction); The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Little Mercy’s First Murder (Vertigo); Chimerica (CanStage); The Cottage, New Canadian Curling Club, Late Company (RMTC); Toad of Toad Hall, Amadeus (ATP)He directed the chamber opera Requiem for a Lost Girl in New York City with a 40-member cast and orchestra for the New York Music Theatre Festival. He won a Betty award for his portrayal of an early-onset Parkinson’s patient in The Alan Parkinson’s Project. His one-man show DOOM 2012 was nominated for Best New Play. He has written and performed original narration for Peer Gynt and The Winter’s Tale with the Calgary Philharmonic.  His latest creation, the comedy-mystery To the Manor Dead is looking for its premiere production.

Doug is deeply involved in supporting the Canadian theatre community, serving on several boards, and leading campaigns to strengthen Business-Arts collaboration. He recently purchased an old industrial building in Calgary and has converted it into BonnyBoom, a multi-disciplinary arts center.

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Jamie Konchak

fullwidth padding

Jamie Konchak is an award winning actor, singer, puppeteer, educator and deviser based in Calgary, Alberta. Her creative curiosity and diverse skill set has nourished a twenty-plus year career of performing everything from classics to contemporary fireside shows in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. She has performed in countless premier productions of new works, devised theatre productions and recently as a puppeteer on two seasons of Apple TV+ and The Jim Henson Company’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. Past appearances with ATP include; Charlotte’s Web, 1979, Constellations, The Penelopiad, The Virgin Trial, several PlayRites Festivals, The Red Priest and more. Special love to Hattie for the reasons and to Burgy for answering the call.

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Emily Howard

fullwidth padding

Emily Howard (she/her) is a Calgary based performer and is thrilled to be back at ATP in collaboration with Banff Centre and The Old Trout's. Select theatre credits: The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon, Teenage Dick (ATP), Blithe Spirit, The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Calgary), A Streetcar Named Desire (Theatre Calgary/Citadel), Chariots of Fire (Rosebud Theatre), The Extractionist (Vertigo Theatre). Select film credits: Billy the Kid (MGM+), Heartland (CBC), Joe Pickett (Paramount+), My Life with the Walter Boys (Netflix). Emily is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting Program and is the recipient of a Betty Mitchell and AMPIA award. She would like to thank her friends and family for their unending support. A big thank you to the entire cast and crew of Sleepy Hollow, it truly takes a village. For Penny and Sam.

@emilyjaynehoward

Submitted by Jason Hamilton… on
English
Anna Cummer

fullwidth padding

Anna Cummer is an actor and playwright. She has performed across Canada at The Vancouver Playhouse, The Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, Vertigo Theatre, Persephone Theatre, and the National Arts Centre. She has received numerous theatrical award nominations with a few trophies making their way to her mantle. On a dare from her husband, Anna began writing 8 years ago; discovering a real love for adapting literary classics into plays. Her adaptations have been produced by The Shakespeare Company, Vertigo Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects and the Richmond Gateway. Anna also works in voice-over as well as in film & television as an actor and puppeteer. A huge thank you to the Trouts for collaborating on this passion project.

Subscribe to