Welcome to Futures, Canon Canada’s first-ever creative incubator. Futures is a 12-month mentorship journey designed to equip passionate and emerging storytellers, aged between 18 and 24, with the opportunity to expand your knowledge of the craft, broaden your creative spectrum, and develop your skills. This will be a hybrid program with a series of virtual workshops and an exclusive all-expenses-paid, in-person retreat to one of the most beautiful places in the world, Banff, Alberta, co-hosted with our partners Socality.
The workshops are filled with industry insights, portfolio and skill-building assignments, and exclusive access to professional mentors. Plus Canon will also be equipping our 20 hand-selected creators with their very own EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera kit. By the end of the program year, you will have the tools and knowledge to grow your personal brand and business as a young creator.
This program is free to apply to, and it is free to those who are accepted.
Application Deadline: Monday, August 16, 2021
Welcome to Futures, Canon Canada’s first-ever creative incubator. Futures is a 12-month mentorship journey designed to equip young, passionate, and emerging storytellers with the opportunity to expand your knowledge of the craft, broaden your creative spectrum, and develop your skills. This will be a hybrid program with a series of virtual workshops throughout the 12-months, and an exclusive all-expenses-paid in-person retreat in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Banff, Alberta, co-hosted with our partners Socality.
The workshops are filled with industry insights, portfolio and skill-building assignments, exclusive access to professional mentors, and Canon will also be equipping our hand-selected 20 creators with their very own EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera kit. By the end of the program year, you will have the tools and knowledge to grow your personal brand and business as a young creator.
This program is free to apply to, and it is free to those who are accepted.
Take the first step into your Future.
Application Deadline: Monday, August 16, 2021
We will be selecting the top 20 creators and storytellers from our pool of applicants to be a part of our inaugural Futures program. If you believe the program is the right fit for you, complete the application below!
This is a 4-part application to help us get to know who you are and what dreams you’re working towards.
We have gathered a diverse panel of the industry’s frontrunners to hand-select the 20 young creators to take part in the Futures program. Our expert panel will be looking for dedicated storytellers from every facet of the creative industry: an assortment of self-starters who are committed to growing their personal brands and expanding their businesses. Our panel will be inspired by:
Your creativity and passion for storytelling
Your authenticity as a creator
Your sincere enthusiasm for applying to join the Futures program
Your drive and dedication to developing your new brand or business
The successful applicants will be contacted on September 2, 2021.
Our diverse group of industry gurus, who have all trail blazed their own unique path in the creative world, have the exciting assignment of selecting the
20 program participants from the pool of applicants. They will then use their invaluable, expert insight to mentor and support the creators throughout the 12-month journey.
Natalia Seth is a self-taught photographer and multimedia artist on a mission to transform the everyday into a visual playground through her colourful photoshop composites. She produces, shoots and stars in her own images, and has a unique style that has garnered a strong following on TikTok and Instagram.
Atiba Jefferson is a prolific sports photographer with deep roots in skateboarding and basketball. His work has been featured in major skateboarding publications like Thrasher Magazine. Atiba has a long history in basketball photography as well as the staff photographer for the LA Lakers during the Shaq and Kobe years. He is also known as the record holder for shooting more SLAM magazine covers than any other photographer.
Irene is a Canadian portrait photographer who is inspired by the allure of feminine beauty and loves to illustrate her subjects in a romantic and original way. She is best known for her YouTube channel that teaches her 760K plus subscribers how to develop their own photography skills.
Justin Wu is a Toronto-based Director and Photographer. Throughout his photography career, he has worked with top publications and brands including Vogue, Elle, GQ, Dior, L’Oreal, Coach, and world class talents like Joaquin Phoenix, Susan Sarandon, Selena Gomez, and many more. Justin made his television directorial debut on the award-winning hit sitcom, Kim’s Convenience. As a proud member of the LGBTI community, Justin continues to stand for inclusion, representation, and equity and is passionate about education. He frequently collaborates with organizations like the United Nations and other goodwill organizations to help advance their humanitarian missions.
Ajani Charles is a Toronto-based professional photographer, director, producer, mental health advocate, and Canon Canada ambassador with a background in fine arts who specializes in creating impactful stories about the human condition, self-actualization, and mental health. A graduate of the Claude Watson Arts Program, Ajani also apprenticed at the Toronto School of Art, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and at 235 Films. He is also the founder of The Visionaries — a Toronto-based photography and cinematography non-profit and educational program, providing mentoring to youth from the city’s priority neighborhoods.
Kate Whyte is an award-winning commercial beauty, fashion and portrait photographer and Canon Ambassador living in Vancouver, Canada. Coming to photography from a graphic design background, her photographs feature strong compositional elements and refined post-production work. Capturing the unique qualities of different skin tones and textures is a priority and she enjoys reflecting diversity in her subjects.
Natasha Gerschon is a Argentinian-born photographer, producer and director based in Toronto. She's infused her creative vision into the worlds of fashion, beauty and hair. Garnering a reputation for being anything but ordinary, she has a permanent exploration with different methods of lighting, editing, composites and concepts keeping her evolving with her precision and immaculate executions. Natasha explains that she tends to "analyze and explore freedom as a synchronized dream, A place where one can break free from the constraints of society." She tries to identify hidden qualities in her own character, to better understand her own reality, and express her interpretation of the world around her.
Working as a Senior Director of Customer Experience for Canon Canada, Brett leads a team that has helped deliver #1 market share across multiple product categories and developed the Canon Creator Lab. Throughout his years of experience in marketing, e-commerce, and new business, he offers a wealth of expertise from the important client/brand perspective.
Scott Bakken is passionate about creating spaces where people can connect and build authentic relationships. Scott founded Socality in 2014, a creative community that exists to inspire people from all walks of life to create things that make a difference. Socality began with the simple goal of connecting creatives online and in person using social media and live events. Scott is a father, husband, speaker, entrepreneur, and photographer committed to helping others step into their own opportunities. Some of his clients include Canon, American Express, Rogers, CIBC, Google, Eddie Bauer, GMC and more. Scott lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his wife Jessica and their two kids Sydney and Cruz.
Nicole is an international portrait and wedding photographer based out of Alberta, Canada. Her influence has branched out far beyond the boundaries of her city, bringing her throughout much of Canada, and on to international destinations such as Iceland, Italy, Switzerland, and Australia. Nicole built an impressive resume, photographing magazine features, best selling novel covers, and internationally acclaimed musicians. Her main areas of focus are now intimate weddings and couples portraiture.
A professional needs cutting-edge equipment. The successful creators will receive an Acceptance Package that is stocked with professional Canon gear that has been specifically tailored to suit you and your brand.
It is yours to keep and will be a valuable tool in our workshops, assignments, and beyond. What’s inside? An EOS R 24-105 STM kit w/EF to RF control ring adaptor, plus an RF35/1.8 Macro IS STM lens.
Yes! Futures is completely free for our 20 program participants. It is also free to apply!
Only one submission is required per applicant. If you apply more than once, our panellists will review your first submission only.
Applications for year 2 of our Futures program will open in early 2022.
Futures is open to both English and French participants. However, the majority of our workshops and content will be delivered in English.
We’re looking for young Canadian creators aged between 18 and 24 who are in the early stages of their professional careers. Futures is designed to support and foster the next generation of young storytellers in developing their personal brands and businesses.
We are accepting 20 creators for this program.
The 20 creators selected for the program will be contacted on September 2, 2021. All program applicants, whether accepted or not, will hear from us by the end of September.
There will be one workshop subject and assignments each month. Creators should allocate roughly 10-15 hours per month to the Futures program, with the exception of the 3-day in-person retreat.
We ask that you only apply if you are willing and able to dedicate the full 12 months to the program. We want our creators to get every last ounce of knowledge, and this can only be achieved if the full 12-month program is completed.
To graduate from the program we need to see you grow! To do that, you must work closely with the program mentors and complete all of the workshops and assignments.
Yes! All creators get to keep their welcome kit after the program concludes.
Futures Giveaways is another standout project that gives more emerging creators and storytellers the opportunity to win further access to professional industry gurus and event workshops through the Canon Creator Lab.
You do not need to apply for The Canon Futures 12-month program to be part of the exciting Futures Giveaways.
Our program liaison is happy to answer any questions along the way. Please contact us at: community@canonfutures.ca
Social Channels: @canoncanada
Program Hashtags: #canonfutures