Big Dreams, Big Projects, and a Big Thank You - Our 75th Anniversary Video

Creating a video can be as simple as asking a friend or grabbing a tripod and picking up your smartphone. 

Or it can involve a dedicated group of professionals, the generosity of participants, and support from your community.

We're thrilled with our 75th anniversary video, and we have many people to thank. 

Thank you to scholarship recipients and your families and students, for welcoming us into your homes and studios, and for working with us to create this video:


Fibre art by Sandra Brownlee as seen in our
75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

• Sandra Brownlee 
• Isaac Fresia 
• Maggie Oates-Johnson
• Michael Hirschbach
• Devin Huang
• Veronique MacKenzie
• Reeny Smith

We're grateful for the grant support:


• Support4Culture program

Thank you for video production locations and support:


• The Music Room
• Leica Hardy Studios
• Artistic Sole
• St. Thomas United Baptist Church
• Halifax Dance
• Dalhousie Arts Centre
• Lynn Stodola
• The Marquee Club
• Gregor Ash, ECMA
• Jeff Lawton, ECMA
• Drew Domokos, Bell Media
• Brian Fisher, Bell Media
• Isaac Fresia’s family for the use of your farm

Isaac Fresia in the field — literally. Looking over house plans on site.

Thank you for the overall support — Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage:


• Marcel McKeough
• Chris Shore
• Meredith Cowan
• Jessica Peddle


Thank you for your expertise:

• Anne Melanson, Bloom Non-Profit Consulting Group
• Carolyn Marshall, Bloom Non-Profit Consulting Group

Cathy Brown of Filet Production Services works on getting the perfect shot.

And a big thank you to the people who put these seven stories together and set them in motion and sound — the people behind the scenes, who have made magic:

• Jeff Fish (“Fish”) and Cathy Brown, Filet Production Services. Your skills and commitment show in every second of the video.

• Mark Cyr, CX Productions, who did a great job of re-scoring bits of the music track to our needs. From Fish: “Trust me, you haven’t even noticed the detail he put into the track overall. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Thank you all. And thank you to everyone who has supported the Talent Trust these past 75 years. We couldn't do it without you.

Jennifer Wang and her son, pianist and Talent Trust scholarship recipient Devin Huang.

Multitalented Artist Veronique MacKenzie in Talent Trust 75th Anniversary Video

Véronique MacKenzie is a multitalented artist. She and her students worked with us to help create our 75th anniversary scholarship video, and we’re grateful for their participation.

Véronique making dance magic in her studio.

Originally from Montréal, Quebec, Véronique moved to Nova Scotia and received two Talent Trust scholarships to assist with her dance training. 

She’s also a two-time recipient of Live Art’s Diane Moore Scholarship for choreography, and a recipient of a Nova Scotia Established Artist Recognition Award. 

She’s earned scholarship positions in the Interrarium Creative residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Centre for Art Tapes in Halifax.

Behind the scenes at our video shoot.
Photo: Filet Production Services.

Her background includes modern dance, jazz and ballet, visual art, clown and fool-work, creative movement, and theatre. 

Véronique has invested in her education. She attended York University and the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre, the National Ballet School / R.A.D. / Checcetti / Vagonova, NSCAD University, Laban International School, Virginia Tanner School/USA, University of New Brunswick, and Theatre New Brunswick. 

She holds degrees in science and social work.

Véronique working with her dance students.

Like a number of other Talent Trust scholarship recipients, Véronique has decided to share her skills and experience with emerging artists through teaching. She’s served on faculty at NSCAD University, Neptune Theatre School, and the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University.

She just wrapped her work as choreographer for the world premiere of KAMP, a co-production of Eastern Front Theatre and Neptune Theatre. KAMP is a darkly comedic new musical about a group of homosexual prisoners interned in a WWII Nazi concentration camp in 1943, who survive their ordeal by creating a cabaret. 

Adjusting a young dancer's costume during dance class.

Véronique is currently taking a year off from her faculty duties at Halifax Dance to work with Neptune Theatre’s Chrysalis Project, which offers emerging theatre artists practical, hands-on experience, where they not only work and create within the Neptune family, but also alongside the broader theatre community.

As part of the Chrysalis Project, she’s working with choreographer Stephanie Graham on Neptune Theatre’s production of Cinderella.

We’d like to thank Véronique and her students for working with us to help create our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. 



Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!

Meet Mike Hirschbach, Circus Artist, Teacher, and Mentor - Our 75th Anniversary Scholarship Campaign

Mike Hirschbach is introduced to us with an intriguing thump when he first appears on our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. He’s preparing his training space for circus arts students. 

Mike Hirschbach prepares for students at Halifax Circus.

Mike has been performing for 35 years. He received a Talent Trust scholarship in 1984 to assist his studies in circus arts.

He studied physical theatre and circus in California, New York, and Montreal, then traveled to Paris to spend two years at the École Internationale de Theatre with the legendary Jacques Lecoq. 

He then toured his solo theatrical-circus shows across Canada, the U.S., Europe, Asia, and India. He performed at the Calgary Olympic Games, the International Mime Festival in Montreal, and the International Clown Festival in Mumbai and Goa, India.

Mike Hirschbach at work as a circus arts teacher.

From 2001-05 Mike worked with Cirque du Soleil, first performing for two years in their touring show “Dralion”, from 2001-03. 

He then became a Master Trainer with the Cirque’s social outreach program, Cirque du Monde, which promotes circus arts as an intervention with at-risk youth. The approach is called social circus.

Mike traveled the world from 2003-05, training the trainers in the existing Cirque du Monde programs, upgrading their circus, social and teaching skills in Orlando, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, South Africa and Burkina Faso. 

While the Talent Trust doesn’t provide scholarships for teacher training in the arts, a number of our scholarship recipients have become teachers as well as mentors, often as they continue their careers as practicing artists.

Mike Hirschbach practicing juggling skills with a student.

Since 2005 Mike has served as Artistic Director and Head of Juggling/Circus at Halifax Circus, and director of the outreach programs of Circus Circle, which is based on the Cirque du Monde program. 

Circus Circle is the oldest social circus program in Canada outside of Quebec, where the movement started.

He takes his show Uncle Podger’s Hat, a grown-up view of a childhood mentor (Mike’s eccentric uncle), to venues that include Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, and the Halifax Fringe Festival. 

In 2017 he worked with the Nova Scotia Public Library system to bring “Secrets of the Circus”, an introduction to juggling, unicycling, balance work and more, to kids around Nova Scotia, performing 71 shows in public libraries across the province.

We’d like to thank Mike and his students for allowing Filet Production Services into their space, and for helping to make our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video possible.




Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!

Fibre Artist, Teacher, Mentor - Meet Sandra Brownlee and Watch our 75th Anniversary Video

Sandra Brownlee is a practicing fibre artist, teacher, and mentor. She’s one of the seven Talent Trust scholarship recipients who appear in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video, which was created to help us double our scholarship funds for emerging Nova Scotia artists.

Artist Sandra Brownlee at the loom.

She began weaving in 1971, and received a Talent Trust scholarship in 1980 to support her studies in textiles. She received her BFA from NSCAD University, and continued her education at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where she completed her MFA in Fibers.

A scholarship can be an important part of a budding career. "It was thrilling, and it made what I was doing seem more real, and viable", says Sandra about her Talent Trust scholarship. "It put me on a really good path."

Sandra has received numerous awards, including the 2014 Governor General Visual and Media Arts Saidye Bronfman Award, a Canada Council B Grant, and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts.

She’s one of the ten artists in our 75th anniversary visual arts exhibition, which opens at Mount Saint Vincent Art Gallery in Halifax in May of 2019, and travels to Cape Breton University Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth.

Believe in the creativity of Nova Scotians. Sandra Brownlee created this piece for our 75th anniversary video.

Sandra’s work began with weaving, and now includes working in notebooks and stitching words onto cloth. She created the “Believe in the creativity” piece for our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video, which is part of our “Believe in the creativity of Nova Scotians” Talent Trust tag line.

You can find Sandra’s work in the Nova Scotia Art Bank, Canada Council Art Bank, Massey Foundation Collection at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, and Cranbrook Art Museum.

Sandra is a highly respected teacher. She currently offers her Tactile Notebook Workshops internationally, and has taught at NSCAD University, University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Maryland Institute College of Art, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

We’d like to thank Sandra for allowing us into her studio and being so generous with her time to help us create our scholarship campaign video.




Be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds! Click here to donate. And thank you!

Devoted to Dance - Meet Ballet Dancer and Student Maggie Oates-Johnson

Maggie Oates-Johnson is one of the Talent Trust’s younger scholarship recipients. She's also one of the seven who appear in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

Maggie received her first scholarship and won the Talent Trust Robert George Jackson Award in 2017. 

That award was established in 2011 and, if merited, is awarded to a scholarship recipient who shows exceptional commitment and potential in dance.

Behind the scenes at the Talent Trust video
shoot. Photo: Filet Production Services.

Maggie received a second scholarship in 2018 to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Connecticut. In the summer of 2016 and 2017 she attended Canada’s National Ballet School. 

Maggie began her journey in dance at the age of three, under the watchful eye of teacher Leica Hardy. She’s danced with KiDanCo, the pre-professional company at the Leica Hardy School of Dance in Dartmouth, Halifax Dance, the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and has performed in Symphony Nova Scotia’s The Nutcracker since 2014. She recently performed as a Local Participant in Anastasia with Canada’s Ballet Jorgen.

Tina Oates-Johnson watches daughter Maggie rehearse.

Dance is a big part of the Oates-Johnson household. Maggie’s elder sister Mollie is also a Talent Trust scholarship recipient. She began her studies with Leica Hardy, and in addition to being part of the KiDanCo company, Mollie has attended summer sessions at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, and The School of Alberta Ballet.

In addition to great teachers and mentors, family often plays a significant role in a young artist’s development. Dancers need clothing, footwear and lessons, and there’s the time and travel to rehearsals and performances. It takes a lot to get a performer to the stage.

Maggie’s parents, Tina and Trevor, appear with her in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. We’d like to thank them, along with Maggie, for being so generous with their time to work with us to make our video project truly special.




Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!

From Visual Arts to Architecture - Talent Trust Scholarship and Award Winner Isaac Fresia

Isaac Fresia understands the impact of the arts on our lives and communities. He’s one of seven scholarship recipients who appear in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

Isaac first received a Talent Trust scholarship in 2011 to support his studies in visual arts at NSCAD University. He won the Talent Trust Charlotte Wilson-Hammond/Visual Arts Nova Scotia Award that same year.

Isaac Fresia at work developing plans for small homes.

While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he received the NSCAD University Margo and Rowland Marshall Award, and the Talent Trust RBC Emerging Artist Award in 2013. He graduated with his BFA in 2014.

Isaac’s skills and interests led him to pursue studies in architecture at Dalhousie University. He received Talent Trust scholarships to support his education in 2016 and 2018. He received the Talent Trust 2011 Canada Games Award in 2015.

Isaac is currently working toward a Master of Architecture.

Isaac Fresia on site with his building plans.

Isaac’s awareness of the connection between his studies in visual art and architecture will serve him well in his profession. He also knows, firsthand, what scholarships mean to emerging artists. 

“We work not in isolation but together as advocates, social workers, and cultural intermediaries. We are privileged in our professions to build good cities and foster better communities. Your investment in my education has been an investment in these values, an investment that I intend to pay forward to the generations that follow me.”

We’d like to thank Isaac for being part of our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. We’d also like to thank his family for generously allowing us to use their farm for the shoot.

Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!

Reeny Smith in Nova Scotia Talent Trust Scholarship Campaign Video

Reeny Smith took time out of her busy performance schedule to help us with our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. 

Filet Production Services, who produced our video, were able to catch Reeny in performance at the 2018 East Coast Music Awards in May, where she was nominated for the for the ECMA Bucky Adams Memorial Award. That footage became part of our video, along with some lovely shots in a more relaxed setting.

A scene from the Talent Trust video. Thanks to Reeny Smith and
family for being part of our scholarship campaign promotion.

Reeny is part of a big, musical family. Her father and grandfather, Wallace Smith Sr. and Wally Smith Jr. are both former members of the iconic Nova Scotia gospel group the Gospel Heirs, and her uncles Carson and Murray Downey are members of the "three-piece blues band, with a hint of funk" Carson Downey Band. 

Reeny began singing and playing piano at the age of five. She received a Talent Trust scholarship to support her studies in voice, and won the Talent Trust Portia White Award in 2010.

She studied piano at the Conservatory Of Music, and worked with Halifax based pianist and teacher Paul Simons before enrolling in the music program at St. Francis Xavier University, where she was a jazz major.

Behind the scenes at the ECMAs. Photo by Filet Production Services.

Since completing her studies, Reeny has worked tirelessly to build her career. 

Her talent and dedication has been recognized along the way, with African Nova Scotia and Music Nova Scotia awards, and a Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Halifax Jazz Festival.

She’s performed at the Halifax Jazz festival, at Nova Scotia’s iconic Stanfest in Canso, and was Casino Nova Scotia’s Artist in Residence in 2015. She appeared with Symphony Nova Scotia in a community concert series in 2017. 

In 2018 Reeny released her first single, Good Girl Swag, and her album W W I I I: Strength Courage Love. 

You can catch Reeny in multiple showcases at this year’s Nova Scotia Music Week in Truro (November 1 - 4), where she’s nominated for four awards.

Update: Congratulations to Reeny on her win of Music Nova Scotia African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year!

Not to be outdone by Reeny’s more official accolades, her fans just voted to give her Gold for Best R&B Artist/Band, and Bronze for Best Solo Artist as part of The Coast magazine’s Best of Halifax Reader’s Choice Awards.

We’d like to thank Reeny and her family for being so generous with their time, and welcoming our crew into their home to help create our scholarship campaign video. 



Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!