Salima (she/her) was born in Australia and immigrated to Canada when she was 17. She has a communications degree and a law degree. Before co-founding Humainologie, Salima marketed light fixtures, practiced litigation at a law firm, ran a yoga studio, recorded a meditation CD, and worked as the Executive Director for Vibrant Communities Calgary and the General Counsel of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

Salima is skilled at turning a creative idea into something tangible. Since 2015, she has produced and directed many short films for Humainologie receiving over 50 international awards and film festival selections. Salima finds fulfilment in witnessing people share their stories and believes in the opportunity for healing and empowerment through storytelling.

Running several half marathons barefoot, walking solo from Geneva to Pamplona with a backpack, and uniquely co-parenting a little human, Salima resonates with taking the unexpected or unconventional path.

Loves
The feeling of summer, whether in the form of a hot bath, warm fireplace, a sauna session, or a sunny day.
The cinema experience, from the popcorn to the credits.
A cappuccino in a to-stay cup, extra hot.
Pink (the colour).

Qualities you value in people.
I value great listeners who are warm, emotionally mature, diplomatic, real.

A childhood experience that influenced your life.
My early years were spent stealing papadams from the kitchen of my dad’s Indian restaurant in Surfers’ Paradise, Australia. The 1980s in Australia was not a time of much racial diversity or understanding and I spent my childhood feeling uncomfortably different to everyone else. However, the differences I wanted to bury and deny as a kid morphed into something else as an adult. Coupled with the late discovery of my maternal side’s hidden Japanese ancestry and the birth of my daughter whose heritage spans 5 continents, the illumination and celebration of diverse human experiences is something that feels redeeming, necessary and so beautiful to me.

Something you are working on.
Preserving moments in my week where nothing has to happen or is scheduled. And in that space, connecting back with my own receptivity and the magic and creativity that is available when there’s room for it.

Rae (she/her) is a Business Administration student at SAIT, specializing in Supply Chain Management. With nearly a decade of experience in sales, merchandising, and supervisory and management roles, she developed a passion for optimizing systems through hands-on operations experience and inventory management. She thrives in collaborative environments, leveraging her intuition and interpersonal skills to lead and inspire teams.

Outside of work, Rae channels her creativity into music, writing songs that tell powerful and heartfelt stories. She is also a studio manager and a mixing and mastering engineer. Rae believes in the unique power of music to connect people and foster understanding. She is deeply committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to share their story and be heard in whatever form they choose.

Loves
Learning.
Spending time with friends and family.
Anything related to music or the arts.
Practicing mindfulness and gratitude.

Qualities you value in people.
I value authenticity and kindness above all else. It costs nothing to be kind, yet it has the power to create genuine connections and foster supportive communities.

Something you are working on.
This is my 'year of becoming.' I am fully dedicating myself to staying consistent and diving deeper into both my music career and my professional working life with no unnecessary distractions.

An unusual achievement.
I had the opportunity to play clarinet with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in middle school which gave me a vast appreciation for live music.

Ciermae (she/her), pronounced sher-may, is a Filipino-Canadian creative. Since joining Humainologie in 2020, she has worn many hats including overseeing the former Gallery + Store in the Calgary Beltline, creating social media content, and executing multiple events and projects such as Empathy Week, the Short Story Festival, and The Period Project.

Ciermae works her casting and organizational magic behind the scenes for Humainologie's short film series, SHADES: Amplify Her, which she co-founded, as Casting Manager, Associate Producer, and, most recently, Assistant Director on SHADES Season Three. She received a producer credit for the music video Ric Flair Flo by Calgary funk/hip hop artist Sinzere which was released in July 2023.

Her empathy towards nonhuman animals and passion to dismantle systems of oppression led her to a vegan lifestyle in 2016 and she hopes to inspire others to do the same. An action-oriented optimist fueled by collaborative energy, Ciermae is excited about designing equitable and joyful processes, spaces, and experiences.

Loves
Bubble tea.
My cats, Luna and Artemis, and my family dog, Koreo.
Shopping at markets of any kind.
Boxing.
Daydreaming.

Qualities you value in people.
I value people who are consistent with their words and actions, comfortable in their individuality, and curious about the world and those around them.

Something you are working on.
Growing up, I wrote a lot of poetry and was even published a few times. I wanted to become a journalist and write a novel. While I write a lot for work, I am making an effort to start writing as a creative outlet again.

Favourite self-care rituals.
Taking a few quiet minutes in the morning and at night to meditate and journal has been a game changer. And my ultimate go-to: getting ice cream and going on a walk, no matter what the weather is.

Winner (she/her) is a Nigerian-Canadian artist, photographer, and social media creator based in Calgary, Alberta. With a Bachelor of Design in Photography from Alberta University of the Arts and a diploma in Hospitality Management, she brings a unique blend of creativity and practical self-awareness expertise to her work.

Her passion lies in helping people develop their authentic, creative selves and embrace them unapologetically. Her love for community and building connections has always been at the heart of her creative pursuits, from photography to dance, as she strives to inspire and empower others through the arts.

La Güita (she/her), pronounced la gwee-ta, is a Nicaraguan-Canadian creative, born in the Northern Prairies, who holds a BFA in Visual Studies from the University of Calgary. Prior to joining Humainologie in May 2024, La Güita developed cultural arts programming rooted in reconnection and reclamation of Latinidad and indigeneity during a month-long artist residency. She also facilitates safe skate spaces for underrepresented youth with 100% Skate Club and has done so for over 4 years.

Within the last year, she has ventured into mural making, an expansion inspired by a beautiful mural located in her art school’s stairwell. The visual weight of this mural instilled in her the importance of public art and storytelling, which has become a central theme in her artistic journey and forever present in all her work. This led her to represent Calgary as a first-time muralist in the 2023 BUMP YYC Mural festival.

In her role at Humainologie, Josee bridges her passion for visual arts, self-expression, and healing to support the diverse creators and storytellers in her community.

Ximena (she/her), pronounced he-men-ah, is a Bachelor of Film Studies and Radio, Television, and Broadcast News graduate from the University of Calgary and SAIT. She is an indie filmmaker from Acapulco, Mexico, whose life-long mission is to tell inspiring and heartfelt stories that are thought-provoking and encourage social commentary.

Ximena first started working with Humainologie in 2021 as a Director of Photography for SHADES: Amplify Her Voice. Her honed cinematographic skills allow her to achieve stunning imagery that truly portrays the essence of a story. Ximena believes in the importance of diversifying and amplifying underrepresented voices in film.