Author Archives: Aaron Brindle

New safety and digital wellbeing options for younger people on YouTube and YouTube Kids

Today, we're announcing additional protections for people under 18 on YouTube and YouTube Kids.

Younger people use YouTube every day to discover new interests, learn about the world, and connect with the world through online video. But it's essential that as they do, they have the options and safeguards to create the experience that's right for them. 

Over the years, we’ve made investments to protect kids and families, such as launching a dedicated kids app, introducing new data practices for children’s content, providing more age-appropriate experiences, and giving families more choice with supervised accounts. Today, we're announcing additional protections for people under 18 on YouTube and YouTube Kids. 

Updating default privacy settings for younger people 
In the coming weeks, we’ll gradually start adjusting the default upload setting to the most private option available for users ages 13-17 on YouTube. With private uploads,content can only be seen by the user and whomever they choose. We want to help younger users make informed decisions about their online footprint and digital privacy, including encouraging them to make an intentional choice if they’d like to make their content public. If the user would like to make their content public, they can change the default upload visibility setting and we’ll provide reminders indicating who can see their video. 
 Making digital wellbeing features more prominent 
We want to give younger users the tools they need to understand their use of technology. In addition to our suite of digital well-being tools, we’ll be turning take a break and bedtime reminders on by default for all users ages 13-17 on YouTube. 

We’ll also be turning autoplay off by default for these users. If a user decides these aren’t the right digital well-being features for them, they can change their default settings. We’ll also be adding an autoplay option on YouTube Kids and turning autoplay off by default in the app. Whether you’re driving on a roadtrip with your kids or listening to nursery rhymes together while cooking dinner, we want to empower parents to be able to choose an autoplay setting that’s right for their family. In the coming months, we’ll also be launching additional parental controls in the YouTube Kids app, including the ability for a parent to choose a “locked” default autoplay setting. 

Providing safeguards and education about commercial content 
We’re also making changes to how we treat commercial content for kids and families. We've never allowed paid product placements in YouTube Kids, our destination for younger kids. In the coming weeks, we’ll also begin to remove overly commercial content from YouTube Kids, such as a video that only focuses on product packaging or directly encourages children to spend money. 

On YouTube, we recently updated the disclosures that appear on “made for kids” content or supervised accounts on YouTube when a creator identifies that their video contains paid promotions. Developed in collaboration with child development experts, the disclosures appear in easy-to-understand text and link to a kid-friendly animated video, which provides additional information on paid product placements. We’ve also provided a parent guide which suggests ways for parents to help children understand content they may see on YouTube, including paid product promotions.
 

We’re introducing these new safety and digital wellbeing options as part of our ongoing efforts to create age-appropriate experiences for young people on YouTube and YouTube Kids. With young people watching online videos to broaden their horizons and expand their learning experiences, we're invested in being the best version of YouTube and YouTube Kids we can be. Young people are our future, and we want to empower them the best we can.

Posted by James Beser, Director of Product Management

Giving kids and teens a safer experience online

We're committed to building products that are secure by default, private by design, and that put people in control. And while our policies don’t allow kids under 13 to create a standard Google account, we’ve worked hard to design enriching product experiences specifically for them, teens, and families. Through Family Link, we allow parents to set up supervised accounts for their children, set screen time limits, and more. Our Be Internet Awesome digital literacy program helps kids learn how to be safe and engaged digital citizens; and our dedicated YouTube Kids app, Kids Space and teacher approved apps in Play offer experiences that are customized for younger audiences. 

Technology has helped kids and teens during the pandemic stay in school through lockdowns and maintain connections with family and friends. As kids and teens spend more time online, parents, educators, child safety and privacy experts, and policy makers are rightly concerned about how to keep them safe. We engage with these groups regularly, and share these concerns. 

Some countries are implementing regulations in this area, and as we comply with these regulations, we’re looking at ways to develop consistent product experiences and user controls for kids and teens globally. Today, we’re announcing a variety of new policies and updates: 

Giving minors more control over their digital footprint 
While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from Search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. 

Tailoring product experiences for kids and teens 
Some of our most popular products help kids and teens explore their interests, learn more about the world, and connect with friends. We’re committed to constantly making these experiences safer for them. That’s why in the coming weeks and months we're going to make a number of changes to Google Accounts for people under 18: 
  • YouTube: We’re going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available for teens ages 13-17. In addition we’ll more prominently surface digital wellbeing features, and provide safeguards and education about commercial content. Learn more about these changes here. 
  • Search: We have a range of systems, tools, and policies that are designed to help people discover content from across the web while not surprising them with mature content they haven’t searched for. One of the protections we offer is SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled and is already on by default for all signed-in users under 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link. In the coming months, we’ll turn SafeSearch on for existing users under 18 and make this the default setting for teens setting up new accounts.
  • Assistant: We’re always working to prevent mature content from surfacing during a child’s experience with Google Assistant on shared devices, and in the coming months we’ll be introducing new default protections. For example, we will apply our SafeSearch technology to the web browser on smart displays. 
  • Location History: Location History is a Google account setting that helps make our products more useful. It's already off by default for all accounts, and children with supervised accounts don’t have the option of turning Location History on. Taking this a step further, we’ll soon extend this to users under the age of 18 globally, meaning that Location History will remain off (without the option to turn it on). 
  • Play: Building on efforts like content ratings, and our "Teacher-approved apps" for quality kids content, we're launching a new safety section that will let parents know which apps follow our Families policies. Apps will be required to disclose how they use the data they collect in greater detail, making it easier for parents to decide if the app is right for their child before they download it.
  • Google Workspace for Education: As we recently announced, we’re making it much easier for administrators to tailor experiences for their users based on age (such as restricting student activity on YouTube). And to make web browsing safer, K-12 institutions will have SafeSearch technology enabled by default, while switching to Guest Mode and Incognito Mode for web browsing will be turned off by default. 
New advertising changes 
We’ll be expanding safeguards to prevent age-sensitive ad categories from being shown to teens, and we will block ad targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of people under 18. We’ll start rolling out these updates across our products globally over the coming months. Our goal is to ensure we’re providing additional protections and delivering age-appropriate experiences for ads on Google. 

New digital wellbeing tools 
In Family Link, parents can set screen time limits and reminders for their kids’ supervised devices. And, on Assistant-enabled smart devices, we give parents control through Digital Wellbeing tools available in the Google Home app. In the coming months, we’ll roll out new Digital Wellbeing filters that allow people to block news, podcasts, and access to webpages on Assistant-enabled smart devices. On YouTube, we’ll turn on take a break and bedtime reminders and turn off autoplay for users under 18. And, on YouTube Kids we’ll add an autoplay option and turn it off by default to empower parents to make the right choice for their families. 

Improving how we communicate our data practices to kids and teens 
Data plays an important role in making our products functional and helpful. It’s our job to make it easy for kids and teens to understand what data is being collected, why, and how it is used. Based on research, we’re developing engaging, easy-to-understand materials for young people and their parents to help them better understand our data practices. These resources will begin to roll out globally in the coming months. 










Ongoing work and engagement 
We regularly engage with kids and teens, parents, governments, industry leaders, and experts in the fields of privacy, child safety, wellbeing and education to design better, safer products for kids and teens. Having an accurate age for a user can be an important element in providing experiences tailored to their needs. Yet, knowing the accurate age of our users across multiple products and surfaces, while at the same time respecting their privacy and ensuring that our services remain accessible, is a complex challenge. It will require input from regulators, lawmakers, industry bodies, technology providers, and others to address it – and to ensure that we all build a safer internet for kids.

Posted by Mindy Brooks, General Manager, Kids and Families

11 things to love about the new Nest Cam and Doorbell

Google Nest Cam (battery) and Google Nest Doorbell (battery) are the latest additions to the Nest family — and they’re Nest’s first battery-powered security devices, built for every home. Here are 11 things to know: 

1. Smarter alerts, right out of the box: Your new Nest Cam and Doorbell can do more right out of the box because we moved object detection on-device, allowing us to include features that are usually behind a subscription (like Activity Zones and smart alerts, including package, animal, vehicle and person detection) for no additional cost, plus three hours of event video history. Thanks to on-device processing, they can also record up to a week’s worth of events if power or Wi-Fi is out. 

2. Made with Machine Learning: Building a camera that uses ML to recognize objects requires showing the ML model millions of images first. Our new Nest Cameras and Doorbells have been trained on 40 million images to accommodate lots of different environments and lighting conditions. Thanks to a cutting edge TPU chip, our new cameras run an ML model up to 7.5 times per second, so reliability and accuracy are even better. 

3. Works in any home: Nest Cam and Doorbell’s wire-free designs, built-in rechargeable batteries and optional power connectors allow you to install where you want — not only where there’s a power outlet or pre-existing wiring. 

4. Set up your way: Make sure to check out Google Store’s accessories. In addition to weatherproof cables, a tabletop stand with a power cord allows you to place your Nest Cam on an indoor surface, like a mantle. There’s also an anti-theft mount that tethers your Nest Cam to the magnetic mount for extra security. For Nest Doorbell, there’s a horizontal wedge and an AC adapter. 

5. Works better, together: Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell seamlessly work with your Nest displays. Just say “Hey Google, show me the backyard” to see your Nest Cam feed. And you can set up your speakers and displays to chime when someone rings your Nest Doorbell, while using your display to see who’s at the door and take action from the screen. 

6. All on the Google Home app: It’s easy to see all of your events quickly, and your 24/7 live feed at any time in the Google Home app. If you have more than one Nest camera, you can view all of them in one place, alongside your other connected home devices. You can even filter by event type — for example, you can pull up every package delivery. 

7. See clearly in a variety of conditions: Both Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell have night vision and HDR so images are crisp in the dark or bright light. And we gave Nest Doorbell a taller field of view so you can see visitors from head to toe and packages as close as eight inches away from your door. 

8. Extra secure with a Google account: Your devices are only as secure as your account. That’s why the new Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell require a Google account, which comes with added protections like suspicious activity detection, 2-step verification and password checkup. Read more about our commitment to privacy and security in Nest’s dedicated Safety Center. 

9. Add a Nest Aware subscription: With a Nest Aware subscription (C$8 monthly), you’ll get familiar face detection and the ability to call 911 from the Google Home app (U.S. only) as well as 30 days of event video history. With a Nest Aware Plus subscription (C$16 monthly), you’ll get all of this with 60 days of event video history and the option for 10 days of continuous video recording when your Nest Cam is plugged in using weatherproof cables. 

10. Made with care: Nest Cam and Doorbell are made with recycled materials and rigorously tested through drops and extreme weather like heavy rain and hurricane-strength winds. 

11. Built for your life: Nest technology is designed to fit into your home, not distract from it. Nest Cam is sleek and white and fits in anywhere — indoors or outdoors. And Nest Doorbell’s design was inspired by clean, minimalist architecture. In the U.S., it comes in four different colors so your front door can make a great first impression. 

The new battery-powered Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell are available for pre-order today for $239.99 — you can visit the Google Store to find out more, and if the Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell will be available in your country.

New from Google Nest: The latest Cams and Doorbells are here

Google Nest’s mission is to build products that make a more helpful home. All of this starts with helping you understand what’s happening within the walls of your home and outside of it. 

One of Nest’s first goals was to simplify home security, and it helped millions of people do this. So when we started dreaming up what our next generation of cameras and doorbells would be like, we wanted to incorporate the way the connected home — and your expectations — were heading. That included smarter alerts, wire-free options for installation flexibility, greater value and beautiful designs, plus enhanced privacy and security. We wanted our new line to give you the most comprehensive set of intelligent alerts right out of the box, and easily work with your other Nest products, like displays. 

Today we’re introducing our next-generation Nest Cams and Doorbell: Google Nest Cam (battery) is our first outdoor/indoor battery-powered camera (C$239.99); Google Nest Doorbell (battery) is our first battery-powered doorbell (C$239.99). Then there’s Google Nest Cam with floodlight, our first connected floodlight camera (C$379.99) and finally the second-generation Google Nest Cam (wired), a wired indoor camera and our most affordable Nest Cam ever (C$129.99). 

The new battery-powered Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell are available for preorder today and will go on sale on Aug. 24. Nest Cam with floodlight and the new wired indoor Nest Cam are coming soon. 

Security with smarts 
Because we’re all overloaded with notifications every day, our next-generation cameras and doorbell are made to send you the most helpful alerts. They detect important events that happen in and around the home, including alerts for people, animals and vehicles — and in Nest Doorbell’s case, also packages. Our new cameras and doorbell can do this because they process what they see on-device, which means more relevant notifications and added privacy and security. On-device processing means that all of this works right out of the box, no subscription required. 

More versatility for your home 
Nest’s new camera and doorbell line are truly made for every home. Battery technology allows you to install Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell nearly anywhere in your home — not just where there’s a power outlet or existing doorbell wires. The wire-free design makes installation even easier, too. And for those who prefer the option to wire their devices, we’ve added the ability to wire the battery-powered Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell. The Google Store is stocked with accessories for Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell so it’s easy to install them where you want. 

Nest devices that work together 
Customers have told us how much they appreciate that their Nest products all work well together. These new devices are no different. With the new Nest Cams and a display, you can keep an eye on the backyard from your kitchen and get alerts when the doorbell rings. Our new cameras are also fully integrated with the Google Home app, giving you access to all your compatible home devices in one place. With a Nest Aware subscription, you can unlock even more: Extend your event video history from three hours to 30 or 60 days, gain advanced features like familiar face detection (not available in Illinois) and get continuous 24/7 video history on wired Nest Cams with Nest Aware Plus. 

Reliability when you need it 
In case of a power or Wi-Fi outage, Nest Doorbell, both Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Cam with floodlight have local storage fallback, meaning they’ll record up to one hour of events on-device (about a week’s worth of events). Nest Cam (wired) also records on-device if your Wi-Fi is down. When service returns, the devices will upload your events to the cloud, so you can review what happened. 

Made with care 
We believe that technology for the home should be welcoming, and complement your decor rather than distract from it. When designing our new products, we drew design inspiration from lighting and architecture to create products that look great together and in lots of different settings. In the U.S., the new indoor wired Nest Cam and battery-powered Nest Doorbell come in several colors inspired by nature, and all of the new devices are designed sustainably with recycled materials. 

Learn more about the new battery-powered Nest Doorbell and Nest Cam, available for preorder today and on sale Aug. 24.

Supporting the news industry and next-generation journalists on YouTube

Canadian journalists Anushree Dave and Muhammad Lila admitted into the Creator Program for Independent Journalists

Brandon Gonez joins the Sustainability Lab for Digital-First Newsrooms

Over the past few years, we’ve seen more and more people turn to YouTube every day to get their news. We want to connect our community to authoritative, trustworthy content, and believe we have a responsibility to support innovation and a sustainable ecosystem. That’s why we work alongside news organizations from around the world--both through our products that help news partners reach audiences and monetize their video content, as well as through grants and training programs as part of the Google News Initiative. 

We’re committed to supporting the future of journalism, and that means continuing to create opportunities for the industry to harness the latest technology and techniques for growth on YouTube. In April, we opened applications for two new programs focused on supporting the next generation of reporters and newsrooms. We’re excited to announce today the selection of nearly 50 independent journalists from around the world and over 40 digital-first newsrooms across the programs. 

Our Creator Program for Independent Journalists aims to give the growing number of reporters publishing independently the tools needed to succeed on YouTube. This year, two Canadian journalists were admitted into the inaugural program. Anushree Dave, a science reporter aspiring to create PopSci for YouTube, focusing on the intersection of science, technology, and society. Muhammad Lila is a former warzone correspondent who now specializes in finding stories of hope, courage and reslilience in places you least expect. 

We are also thrilled to announce that The Brandon Gonez Show has joined the Sustainability Lab for Digital-First Newsrooms, which provides support for digital native newsrooms to start and expand their video operations.The Brandon Gonez Show is a weekly online platform that provides local and national news, and shares important untold stories with audiences of all backgrounds. 

“Being an independent journalist allows me to set the editorial direction of our platform and focus on people who are left out of the conversation”, Brandon Gonez explained. “Starting The Brandon Gonez Show has allowed my team and me to fill that gap and ensure that more voices have a microphone to amplify their stories. Joining the Youtube program can really help to create a strong foundation and lead to massive growth. That growth can easily translate to more impact and greater results for the stories and people we cover.” 

Altogether, the participants represent 25 countries, speak nearly 20 different languages, and report on a wide range of topics, spanning local news and national politics, to undertold stories about marginalized communities. You can read more about the selected participants for the Creator Program here and for the Sustainability Lab here. 

Over the course of the next year, we’ll offer journalists in the Creator Program training in industry best practices, including comprehensive sessions on video production and editing, audience development, entrepreneurship, and achieving financial sustainability on the platform. 

Participants will receive grants to help fuel their new video operations. They’ll also be connected with experts at YouTube to answer questions, and join groups of their peers to share insights and experiences. The digital newsrooms selected for our Sustainability Labs will receive grants, one-on-one support from YouTube, and have rich opportunities to learn from each other as they develop video news capabilities and business plans. 

We also hope to learn from our first set of participants how we can further improve and iterate on these programs for future classes. Our goal is to work together with the industry and help journalists and newsrooms thrive on YouTube. 

It remains an ongoing priority to build a more sustainable video news ecosystem as we continue to raise up authoritative content on our platform. There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re eager to increase access to credible, trustworthy information from a diversity of sources to everyone who comes to YouTube to learn more about what’s happening in the world.

Return to travel: Where Canadians are planning their next trip

As vaccine uptake continues to rise across the country, and government travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated Canadians start to loosen, many people are taking all of their stored-up holiday dreams and are starting to plan vacations again. 


We’re seeing more searches in Canada for travel-related destination information — like travel restrictions by country and where to travel, which both recently hit all-time highs. As Canadians start to re-engage with the travel industry, we were curious to see how their plans are coming along. Do Canadians want to plan a trip within the country, or are they ready to travel abroad? What are some of the top spots they want to visit? We took a look at what Canadians are searching for as they get back to planning their next trip.


Where Canadians are looking to travel 

When it comes to travelling locally or abroad, search interest for both international and domestic travel is starting to climb, with a steady uptick starting in June. In fact, Canadian search interest for both international and domestic travel are reaching all-time highs. 


And as many workplaces across the country switch to remote models, we’re also seeing a rise in a new type of travel - staycations and workcations. Over the last few months, searches in Canada for staycations and workcations have both hit all-time highs. 


When it comes to vacation planning, we took a look at some of the top destinations Canadians are searching for. 


Top searched domestic destinations Canadians are searching for in Travel, past month: 

  1. Toronto 
  2. Vancouver 
  3. Calgary 
  4. Montreal 
  5. Niagara Falls 
  6. Edmonton 
  7. Quebec City 
  8. Whistler 
  9. Banff 
  10. Ottawa 


“One of the benefits of this pandemic is that Canadians have an increased appreciation for what their own communities and regions have to offer travellers,” says Gloria Loree, CMO, Destinations Canada. “With the recent news of the border reopening plan, our industry is not only excited to welcome back visitors, but we believe Canadians and their passion for what this country has to offer will have a positive impact in influencing decisions to travel to and within Canada. And our research shows that the diversity of our people, landscapes and experiences are just what curious travellers are seeking.” 


Top searched international destinations Canadians are searching for in travel, past month: 

  1. Italy 
  2. United States 
  3. Mexico 
  4. India 
  5. France 
  6. Dubai 
  7. Greece 
  8. Japan 
  9. United Kingdom 
  10. Cuba 


"As we transition into a period of significant recovery many of our assumptions on the rebuild are coming to fruition. Domestic flight demand has seen steady increases over the past few months and we're seeing strong demand for international travel, such as Europe and sun destinations, as travel restrictions are expected to decrease. We're excited to welcome back travellers in greater numbers" says Mark Nasr, SVP, Products, Marketing and eCommerce at Air Canada 


As Canadians begin to plan, here are the top questions they’re searching for: 

  1. Who can travel to Canada? 
  2. When can Canadians travel to the US? 
  3. Where can Canadians travel? 
  4. Where to get a PCR test for travel? 
  5. What is considered essential travel? 


International interest in travelling to Canada is on the rise 

When you look at search interest to Canadian destinations, more and more international tourists are starting to consider travelling to Canada. 


Top 10 Canadian destinations most searched by the world (excluding Canada) in Travel, past month:

  1. Toronto 
  2. Vancouver 
  3. Banff 
  4. Niagara Falls 
  5. Montreal 
  6. Calgary 
  7. Ottawa 
  8. Victoria 
  9. Jasper 
  10. Edmonton 


If you're ready to plan a trip, here are a few updates to keep you informed on the latest travel guidance and explore potential destinations. 


Stay up to date on travel guidance 

When you look for travel information like flights, hotels or things to do, Search will let you know if there are COVID-19 related travel advisories or restrictions for your destination. Now, we’re adding more travel restriction details, like whether you’ll need to quarantine upon arrival or provide proof of test results or immunization records. 


You can now also track travel advisories or restrictions for your destination and get email updates. If you are signed into your Google account, you can toggle, “Receive an email if this guidance changes.” You'll be notified when restrictions are added, lifted or reduced. 





If you use Maps to plan travel, you can use the COVID layer within the app to see how cases are trending in an area. You can also access quick links to trusted local resources so you’ll know at a glance if there are specific guidelines or restrictions you need to follow. 


Get destination ideas for when you’re ready to travel 

Where will you go on your first trip when you're ready to travel again? It's exciting to think about, and we've made some updates to Explore to help you get started. Google Flights fans may already be familiar with the Explore map, which shows flight prices for different destinations if you’re flexible on where and when you’re traveling. 


Now, Explore has its own tab on Google.com/travel and has been redesigned so you can browse more than just flights. You’ll see more destinations on the map — including smaller cities and national parks — and if you have a certain type of trip in mind, you can filter destinations for interests like outdoors, beaches or skiing. If you only want to see cities with an airport, select flights only in "Travel Mode." When you pick a destination, we'll show you if there's a travel advisory or restriction and, in addition to the best flights, you’ll see other helpful information for planning your trip, like hotels, things to do, the best time to visit and more. 




More choice for travellers with free hotel booking links 

For many years, we’ve helped travellers choose the right hotel by providing a list of relevant properties, along with information like reviews, photos and hotel amenities. Hotel booking links have been offered via Hotel Ads, which display real-time pricing and availability for specific dates of travel. We've seen that users find these hotel booking links to be highly useful and partners find them to be a valuable source of potential customers. 


We’ve now improved this experience by making it free for hotels and travel companies around the world to appear in hotel booking links, on google.com/travel. With full access to a wider range of hotel prices, users will have a more comprehensive set of options as they research their trip and ultimately decide where to book. 


For all hotels and travel companies, this change brings a new, free way to reach potential customers. And our testing of this new feature shows that all partner types — from individual hotels to online travel agents — benefit from free booking links through increased booking traffic and user engagement. 


Whatever type of trip you’re planning (or just starting to think about), we hope these tools will help you make travel decisions with confidence. 


Helping you navigate crowds 

Before you go, search for your destination on Google Maps, then scroll down on the Business Profile to see how busy a place typically is or how busy it is right now. With busyness information, you’ll know instantly you’re about to face a long line or a big crowd and can adjust your plans accordingly. 


Also check to see how crowded your bus, train, or subway car is likely to be — so you’ll know if you’re likely to grab a seat or if you should wait for another train. You’ll be able to see transit crowdedness predictions for over 10,000 transit agencies in 100 countries around the world. 


Posted by Marshall Self, Director of Travel and Natasha Walji, Director of Tourism, at Google Canada

Emancipation Day: Ushering in Another Year of a Long Black Tradition in Canada

Editor's note: This blog was guest written by Natasha Henry, a historian and educator. She is the author of Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada and Talking about Freedom: Celebrating Emancipation Day in Canada. Natasha is also the president of the Ontario Black History Society. 
"Freedom is the most precious of our treasures, and it will not be allowed to vanish so long as men survived who offered their lives for it." ~ Paul Robeson 

August 1st, 2021 marks the 187th Emancipation Day, which is also known as August First and West India Day. The occasion recognizes the legal abolition of slavery in the British empire on August 1st, 1834. The legislation, the Slavery Abolition Act, applied to most British colonies, including Canada, where the last vestiges of enslavement were nearing the end after gradual abolition in Ontario. For some who remained in a state of forced servitude through apprenticeships in the Caribbean, freedom was delayed for four more years until August 1st, 1838. 

The day became an instant occasion of celebration for the formerly enslaved and later by their descendants. Emancipation Day is a longstanding Black tradition for Black peoples. Some white Canadians and First Nations people observed and participated in solidarity. It has been commemorated across Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia at different points in time, through to today. August First was marked with church services, speakers, parades with marching bands and floats, performances, banquets, toasts and resolutions, outings, leisure activities, and protest. The commemoration was filled with symbols and imagery, messages of uplift and Black collective self-determination, and demands of racial justice. 

The street parades, like today’s public demonstrations, were an important site for Black Canadians. They celebrated, gathered in camaraderie, and exercised resistance in the main streets of towns and cities. Black people dressed in costumes and regalia and carried signs and banners. Dignitaries, community leaders, war veterans, and performers led the processions. 

In 1967, the roots of Emancipation Day celebrations influenced the creation of Caribana in Toronto. Introduced as part of the programming for Canada’s centennial celebration, Caribbean immigrants shared the forms of observing Emancipation Day and freedom through carnival to the establishment of this popular African Canadian festival. The floats and costumes created a spectacle of colour heavily influenced by African motifs and Black cultural symbols. They played music, sang songs, and danced.
Black men and women planned and organized Emancipation Day events for small and large crowds, welcoming people who travelled by all means to come together. The Big Picnic at Port Dalhousie and the Greatest Freedom Show on Earth in Windsor were the two largest Emancipation Day events in the 20th century. The day was observed with both formal programming and in more relaxed settings with family reunions or homecomings. Emancipation Day commemorations were an interweaving of faith, thanksgiving, education, family, remembrance, resistance, community, hope, and promise.

 

The Greatest Freedom Show on Earth - The Story of Walter Perry from RJ Huggins on Vimeo.

A consistent element of Emancipation Day was protest and the persistent pursuit of freedom and citizenship. Black communities raised the issues of segregated schools, limited employment opportunities, housing restrictions, their ability to exercise their right to vote, the denial of business services and access to public facilities, and racial discrimination in other areas of Canadian society. They identified demands, set agendas to make their concerns known, and pursued redress. 

Freedom is the core theme and over time, it has been defined in different ways. Freedom is a process. Those who secured their freedom from enslavement through various avenues actively constructed and practiced freedom. Descendants of the enslaved have continued to define and demand freedom. Along with the underlying theme of freedom, there were other themes and messages of culture, community, resistance and pride, creatively woven into the occasion. 

We continue to be on the way to freedom as we face racial inequities entrenched in the legacies of racial slavery. Full freedom remains elusive for the descendants of the Transatlantic slave trade because the racial hierarchies and ideologies formed out of slavery persists to this day. This reality was brought to the world stage last year with the social unrest that spread globally. Emancipation Day signifies an integral component of the historical and ongoing movement for Black lives. 

Earlier this year, Bill M-36 passed in the House of Parliament by unanimous consent, declaring that August 1st will be nationally recognized as Emancipation Day. It is an opportunity to strengthen the ties between Black Canadians across the country and to celebrate together, to carry on the long held, rich, cultural tradition of our ancestors. 

The national stage should raise awareness among all Canadians about our country’s own history of slavery and systemic anti-Black racism. An integral part of increasing public education must include the integration of mandated learning expectations in curriculum in every province and territory that acknowledges the 400-year presence of people of African descent in Canada. It should also be utilized as a platform to hold governments to account. I applaud this step and the efforts to make it happen. I don’t want this national acknowledgement to receive just symbolic recognition and performative platitudes. It should be seen as another platform to agitate for real, impactful policy changes for Black Canadians.

   

In researching and writing about Emancipation Day, I have learned even more about the lives, experiences, struggles, and contributions of Black people across this country. It is a history to celebrate and to honour year-round. My experience has also inspired me to keep the flames of freedom alive for younger generations. 

Join the Ontario Black History Society for our annual Emancipation Day Event on Sunday, August 1st at 6pm: https://goo.gle/3BXGcok. 

The National Film Board of Canada offers a selection of films exploring Canada's history of slavery and racism to watch this Emancipation Day.

MEET FOUNDRY’S NEW CLASS OF 2021

YouTube Music announces the largest global class to date with 27 independent artists joining the program - 2 from Canada
Today, YouTube Music is excited to welcome the 2021 class of Foundry, our global artist development program. Foundry is focused on serving independent music because we believe that the creative potential of independent artists is unmatched. 

Receiving our most applications ever, the 2021 Foundry Class is the largest to date with 27 artists representing 14 countries and a broad spectrum of musical heritage. Toronto-based R&B artist Ebhoni and from Weyburn Saskatchewan, country singer Tenille Arts, are joining the Foundry class of 2021.

As part of the program, artists will receive dedicated partner support from YouTube and seed funding invested into the development of their content. The combination of access to resources and great teams enables artists to create and launch their music with greater impact and global reach. Since its beginnings in 2015 as a workshop series, Foundry has supported more than 150 developing artists across 15 countries, including breakout alumni like Arlo Parks, Dave, Dua Lipa, Lime Cordiale, Gunna, HARDY, Natanael Cano, Novelbright, Omar Apollo, Rosalía, and Tems. 

You can’t really go anywhere in New York City right now without hearing WizKid and Tems’ “Essence,” the slow-burning collaboration that just made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100. 

“Being a part of Foundry was an amazing experience,” said Tems. “You get to connect with so many incredible artists and build relationships with wonderful people. It’s an opportunity to grow, and connect more with the world.” 

Foundry is designed for artists who have a vision for their own success. Tems is a star and she’s still independent, building her career in an industry where artists have more options than ever before. Foundry celebrates artists, their courage, and reduces barriers to entry. This group of artists are driving their careers forward as independents, building communities that allow them freedom to grow on their own terms. We are so proud to spotlight and play a part in developing indie talent, and will continue supporting these artists every step of the way.

Welcome and congrats to the Foundry Class of 2021! 
 
Ambar Lucid Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Ambar Lucid: “I have always known that I wanted to be an artist. I just knew it was what to do, even if I didn’t completely understand it at times. I would describe my music as magical, healing, and inspiring. To me, being independent means having creative control and power over myself and my art. Success means being able to do things my way while having a loyal group of supporters with me throughout my journey.” 


Bad Milk Medellín, Colombia
Bad Milk: “I think success is inspiring other people, and that’s my main goal. My music is chameleonic; I love to experiment with different sounds and portray different emotions. I don’t enjoy putting my creativity in a box. I see music as a mission. It’s definitely what I came here to do. I’m blessed to have the most caring and hard working team by my side. Working with a humongous platform like YouTube is crazy and overwhelming in the best way possible. It creates a space for artists like me to find new fans around the world.” 

Bella Shmurda Lagos, Nigeria Video
Bella Shmurda: “The music I do connects with everybody and has a message to pass. It goes beyond just music: it’s spiritual, and that’s what it’s described as ‘conscious’. Being an independent artist can mean funding your career personally, leading and working with your team to achieve all your goals. Foundry is an opportunity to elevate my career, and being a part of the program is a big win for me and for my team.”

Blessd Medellín, Colombia Video 
Blessd: “Being an artist is a dream I always had and also something I needed to do for my family. As an independent artist, I feel free. YouTube is my main social network to connect with my audience and it’s incredible to be a part of Foundry. I see this as a very big moment in my career.” 

chilldspot Tokyo, Japan Video
chilldspot: “As independent artists, we can express what we really want to say and what we feel exactly. More than anything, to enjoy music is the biggest goal for us. With this support, we will be able to produce more of the video works that we are obsessed with and fans around the world will have chances to get to know us.” 

Doul Tokyo, Japan
Doul: “I want to share my music with people all around the world, and touch their soul through my expressions such as my sound, lyrics, fashion or makeup. Thanks to Foundry, people who have never heard of me can get to know me and my music.” 

Ebhoni Toronto, Canada
 Ebhoni: “Everything I talk about in my music is a real moment: my story, my mood, my experience. To me, independence means individuality. I feel the most success as I achieve the goals that I set for myself, from very small to very lofty. I first fell in love with music by watching people do covers on YouTube, and starting to experiment with singing and making songs my own. I see Foundry as a way to allow more people to discover my music and connect with me.”

Enny London, England 
Enny: “Since childhood I had a love for music and the older I got, the more the desire grew. I would describe my music as a new vibe with an old feel and a fresh perspective. Being an independent artist means being a bit more hands on with all sides of your music. It might mean more work for you and your team but it makes the wins both small and big even more gratifying. For me, success is seeing people discover and connect with your music. And also knowing you've done the best you can, when creating and releasing your art.” 

Fana Hues Pasadena, California, United States 
Fana Hues: “When creating a project, I sprinkle all parts of myself throughout to build a sonic journal. Integrity is crucial; My art has to stay true to me constantly. Being an independent artist provides the freedom to dream as freely as I want, and my vision comes to fruition without compromise. With the support of Foundry, I’ll be able to add more shades and hues to my canvas, giving the world more of my vision while nurturing and growing my craft.” 

Junior Mesa Bakersfield, California, United States
Junior Mesa: “Being independent is a mentality. Claiming independence is saying: We are not the same! I will not conform to your standards. I will express myself in a way that satisfies my will, not yours!” I’ve basically been raised by YouTube, and it’s a huge honor to be recognized.”

Marina Sena Taiobeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Marina Sena: “To be an independent artist is to have determination, free will, freedom. I love being an independent artist, making the sound that really is all about me. I don't think Foundry could come at a better time. After starting my solo career on the right foot and being about to release my first full album, there’s nothing better than support to bet on my sound and make it reach people all over the world.

Meekz Manchester, England
Meekz: “Everything I've put out has been sentimental to me and had a great value, deeper than just music and shooting a video. I'm telling stories in a different way, in a Meekz way. The passion always comes through. To be an independent artist takes a lot of dedication, focus, and behind the scenes work. The bigger you get in life, the challenges get bigger, and you learn to deal with them better, and overcome them. Success for me is about improvement, progression and growing with each release. It’s about building relationships and doing for people what you’d expect them to do for you. The future of independent artists to me is looking great. We make popular happen.”

Paranoid 1966 Alicante, Spain
Paranoid 1966: “My friends pushed me to start singing and writing songs more seriously. Now, I always try to bring new sounds that say something about myself. With my producer Boixy, I always try to innovate. I want to be able to develop my art and music without ties to any constraints. Foundry is a great opportunity to take my creativity to a new level.” 

Paris Texas Los Angeles, California, United States
Paris Texas: “Being an independent artist means your ideas mold the landscape of whatever field you're in. Success as an independent artist means that whatever you've done in your field is cemented, statued, and acknowledged by artists all across the board. I would describe our music and work as a lot of good ideas and having fun.”

Raveena New York City, New York and Stamford, Connecticut, United States 
Raveena: “I always had an innate desire to be an artist and to express myself and be ultra-vulnerable. My music is experimental, with a backbone of pop sensibility. Visuals are also a huge part of my artistry and I love bringing people into my colorful, dream-like world. When I have a big vision, I find friends and collaborators to help me elevate my dreams along the way. I was actually really concerned about being able to create all the visions I see in my head for my upcoming album’s music videos, but I feel so supported in my endeavors, thanks to Foundry.”

Reggie Houston, Texas, United States
reggie: “My music tells you about me. It gives you something to relate to. I want the world to know I’m human. To me an independent artist is someone who is free to do what they want and move how they want. It’s a constant grind: you’re always talking to your team. You’re playing the game with other artists who have a lot of people behind them. But you get to make everything exactly how you want to make it. As creators, I hope we can get to a point where we can sustain ourselves. I hope the future of independent music is that it’s not even called independent music, because it’s such a normal way of doing business.” 

Rote Mütze Raphi Munich, Germany
Rote Mütze Raphi: “I can’t remember when I started to sing, it must have been around the time I started to think. I always said to the people around me that making music is my biggest goal. People often laugh about clear statements like this if you are young and without experience and success. But for me there wasn’t any trigger necessary to decide to become a musician. There was no alternative. Being a musician means everything to me, I can do what I really love. For me I’m successful when I can touch people with my music and maybe even help them to go through a hard time.”

SE SO NEON Seoul, South Korea
SE SO NEON: “We make a spectrum of colorful music that crosses the boundaries of genres, love for vintage textures, emotions and explosive energy that resonate deep in the heart, and above all, the pursuit of novelty. We’re happy to participate in Foundry, as we’re focusing not only on our activities in Korea but also on our success as a global act.”

Seedhe Maut New Delhi, Delhi, India
Seedhe Maut: “Our whole lives, we’d been told this is how we had to live or do. Hip-hop helped us articulate our hopes and ambitions and be who we truly wanted to be. Once you’ve tasted that kind of freedom, that happiness and belonging, why would you ever choose to do anything else? We represent a generation that dares to dream and wants to live life on its own terms. With our music, we hope to give a voice to others like us who go against the grain and follow through on their convictions, whether that be as an artist, gamer, accountant, or whatever. As long as it’s true to you. No compromises, no regrets. Being independent grants us the freedom to evolve in any direction that we feel like. The downside of that can be that sometimes, great ideas get sidelined due to limited resources. Foundry helps remove some of those hurdles, and we’re extremely helpful to unleash our full creative potential onto the world.”

Shygirl London, England 
Shygirl: “My music is lusty and precious, experimental yet familiar. Being an independent artist means choosing your own narrative on a daily basis. I see Foundry as an opportunity to expand and think even bigger.”

Sinéad Harnett Los Angeles, California, United States  
Sinead Harnett: “My music is honest, and influenced by classic R&B. A healing, aural hug, if you will. Being an artist is something I’ve put so much time and work into, just simply for the love of it. I never knew it would become my career, but I knew I would want to write and sing forever. I feel lucky to be independent, in the sense that I’m living up to my expectations and no one else’s. It’s not always easy, but trusting in and carving out your own vision is exhilarating. I believe success as an independent artist lies in having creative control, and in being able to sell out tours and connect to fans. Being supported by an epic team for my visuals and music will be a huge step in my career. I’m excited to reach new audiences and introduce myself to people that don’t know about me yet. Foundry is a big look, and I’m so excited to make it count.”

Snail Mail Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Snail Mail: “To me, being an independent artist is about the songwriting craft and maintaining integrity, while also getting to do whatever I want creatively. Snail Mail started with basement shows and tours that my bandmates and I booked ourselves, so I take a lot of pride in the work that it took to get where I am today. I define immediate success as putting out music that I would listen to myself and long term success as being able to make music for as long as it feels right to do so.”

SoFaygo Atlanta, Georgia, United States
SoFaygo: “Being an independent artist means going harder than anyone else. There is more to prove. You can do and be whatever you want if you just believe in yourself.”

Sycco Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sycco: “Sycco music is colourful and excitable. I think my energy tends to exude those qualities. I love being my own boss, and answering to myself even when it gets hard. The satisfaction of getting something right and ticking off goals no matter how big or small is so fulfilling, and unlike any other feeling.”

Tenille Arts Nashville, Tennessee, United States 
Tenille Arts: “My music is country, with modern lyrics and melodies. It’s vulnerable, honest, fun, and talks about real life. Being from Canada originally, I was influenced by Shania Twain to go to Nashville and start my career there, and country music always seemed like the natural decision for me. I made my first trip to Nashville after posting covers on my YouTube channel, so Foundry giving me the opportunity to have exposure I’ve always dreamed of really feels like a full circle moment. I want to share my music with a lot of people and have a lasting impact. My big goal is to have a headlining arena tour, and I don’t feel limited at all by being an independent artist. I think it’s all possible!”

Tokischa Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tokischa: “My music has no labels. It’s a free, new wave. I’m excited to stand out in countries that are far from my culture.”

Tuyo São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Tuyo: “Tuyo is more about a feeling than a type of sound or genre. We mix very delicate vocals with strong rhythms. It’s music for floating, for flying. We are whole, happy and successful when we can communicate with people through music. Foundry will help us achieve our goal of starting musical conversations with people around the world, and to improve our work and make it more meaningful.” 

MEET FOUNDRY’S NEW CLASS OF 2021

YouTube Music announces the largest global class to date with 27 independent artists joining the program - 2 from Canada
Today, YouTube Music is excited to welcome the 2021 class of Foundry, our global artist development program. Foundry is focused on serving independent music because we believe that the creative potential of independent artists is unmatched. 

Receiving our most applications ever, the 2021 Foundry Class is the largest to date with 27 artists representing 14 countries and a broad spectrum of musical heritage. Toronto-based R&B artist Ebhoni and from Weyburn Saskatchewan, country singer Tenille Arts, are joining the Foundry class of 2021.

As part of the program, artists will receive dedicated partner support from YouTube and seed funding invested into the development of their content. The combination of access to resources and great teams enables artists to create and launch their music with greater impact and global reach. Since its beginnings in 2015 as a workshop series, Foundry has supported more than 150 developing artists across 15 countries, including breakout alumni like Arlo Parks, Dave, Dua Lipa, Lime Cordiale, Gunna, HARDY, Natanael Cano, Novelbright, Omar Apollo, Rosalía, and Tems. 

You can’t really go anywhere in New York City right now without hearing WizKid and Tems’ “Essence,” the slow-burning collaboration that just made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100. 

“Being a part of Foundry was an amazing experience,” said Tems. “You get to connect with so many incredible artists and build relationships with wonderful people. It’s an opportunity to grow, and connect more with the world.” 

Foundry is designed for artists who have a vision for their own success. Tems is a star and she’s still independent, building her career in an industry where artists have more options than ever before. Foundry celebrates artists, their courage, and reduces barriers to entry. This group of artists are driving their careers forward as independents, building communities that allow them freedom to grow on their own terms. We are so proud to spotlight and play a part in developing indie talent, and will continue supporting these artists every step of the way.

Welcome and congrats to the Foundry Class of 2021! 
 
Ambar Lucid Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Ambar Lucid: “I have always known that I wanted to be an artist. I just knew it was what to do, even if I didn’t completely understand it at times. I would describe my music as magical, healing, and inspiring. To me, being independent means having creative control and power over myself and my art. Success means being able to do things my way while having a loyal group of supporters with me throughout my journey.” 


Bad Milk Medellín, Colombia
Bad Milk: “I think success is inspiring other people, and that’s my main goal. My music is chameleonic; I love to experiment with different sounds and portray different emotions. I don’t enjoy putting my creativity in a box. I see music as a mission. It’s definitely what I came here to do. I’m blessed to have the most caring and hard working team by my side. Working with a humongous platform like YouTube is crazy and overwhelming in the best way possible. It creates a space for artists like me to find new fans around the world.” 

Bella Shmurda Lagos, Nigeria Video
Bella Shmurda: “The music I do connects with everybody and has a message to pass. It goes beyond just music: it’s spiritual, and that’s what it’s described as ‘conscious’. Being an independent artist can mean funding your career personally, leading and working with your team to achieve all your goals. Foundry is an opportunity to elevate my career, and being a part of the program is a big win for me and for my team.”

Blessd Medellín, Colombia Video 
Blessd: “Being an artist is a dream I always had and also something I needed to do for my family. As an independent artist, I feel free. YouTube is my main social network to connect with my audience and it’s incredible to be a part of Foundry. I see this as a very big moment in my career.” 

chilldspot Tokyo, Japan Video
chilldspot: “As independent artists, we can express what we really want to say and what we feel exactly. More than anything, to enjoy music is the biggest goal for us. With this support, we will be able to produce more of the video works that we are obsessed with and fans around the world will have chances to get to know us.” 

Doul Tokyo, Japan
Doul: “I want to share my music with people all around the world, and touch their soul through my expressions such as my sound, lyrics, fashion or makeup. Thanks to Foundry, people who have never heard of me can get to know me and my music.” 

Ebhoni Toronto, Canada
 Ebhoni: “Everything I talk about in my music is a real moment: my story, my mood, my experience. To me, independence means individuality. I feel the most success as I achieve the goals that I set for myself, from very small to very lofty. I first fell in love with music by watching people do covers on YouTube, and starting to experiment with singing and making songs my own. I see Foundry as a way to allow more people to discover my music and connect with me.”

Enny London, England 
Enny: “Since childhood I had a love for music and the older I got, the more the desire grew. I would describe my music as a new vibe with an old feel and a fresh perspective. Being an independent artist means being a bit more hands on with all sides of your music. It might mean more work for you and your team but it makes the wins both small and big even more gratifying. For me, success is seeing people discover and connect with your music. And also knowing you've done the best you can, when creating and releasing your art.” 

Fana Hues Pasadena, California, United States 
Fana Hues: “When creating a project, I sprinkle all parts of myself throughout to build a sonic journal. Integrity is crucial; My art has to stay true to me constantly. Being an independent artist provides the freedom to dream as freely as I want, and my vision comes to fruition without compromise. With the support of Foundry, I’ll be able to add more shades and hues to my canvas, giving the world more of my vision while nurturing and growing my craft.” 

Junior Mesa Bakersfield, California, United States
Junior Mesa: “Being independent is a mentality. Claiming independence is saying: We are not the same! I will not conform to your standards. I will express myself in a way that satisfies my will, not yours!” I’ve basically been raised by YouTube, and it’s a huge honor to be recognized.”

Marina Sena Taiobeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Marina Sena: “To be an independent artist is to have determination, free will, freedom. I love being an independent artist, making the sound that really is all about me. I don't think Foundry could come at a better time. After starting my solo career on the right foot and being about to release my first full album, there’s nothing better than support to bet on my sound and make it reach people all over the world.

Meekz Manchester, England
Meekz: “Everything I've put out has been sentimental to me and had a great value, deeper than just music and shooting a video. I'm telling stories in a different way, in a Meekz way. The passion always comes through. To be an independent artist takes a lot of dedication, focus, and behind the scenes work. The bigger you get in life, the challenges get bigger, and you learn to deal with them better, and overcome them. Success for me is about improvement, progression and growing with each release. It’s about building relationships and doing for people what you’d expect them to do for you. The future of independent artists to me is looking great. We make popular happen.”

Paranoid 1966 Alicante, Spain
Paranoid 1966: “My friends pushed me to start singing and writing songs more seriously. Now, I always try to bring new sounds that say something about myself. With my producer Boixy, I always try to innovate. I want to be able to develop my art and music without ties to any constraints. Foundry is a great opportunity to take my creativity to a new level.” 

Paris Texas Los Angeles, California, United States
Paris Texas: “Being an independent artist means your ideas mold the landscape of whatever field you're in. Success as an independent artist means that whatever you've done in your field is cemented, statued, and acknowledged by artists all across the board. I would describe our music and work as a lot of good ideas and having fun.”

Raveena New York City, New York and Stamford, Connecticut, United States 
Raveena: “I always had an innate desire to be an artist and to express myself and be ultra-vulnerable. My music is experimental, with a backbone of pop sensibility. Visuals are also a huge part of my artistry and I love bringing people into my colorful, dream-like world. When I have a big vision, I find friends and collaborators to help me elevate my dreams along the way. I was actually really concerned about being able to create all the visions I see in my head for my upcoming album’s music videos, but I feel so supported in my endeavors, thanks to Foundry.”

Reggie Houston, Texas, United States
reggie: “My music tells you about me. It gives you something to relate to. I want the world to know I’m human. To me an independent artist is someone who is free to do what they want and move how they want. It’s a constant grind: you’re always talking to your team. You’re playing the game with other artists who have a lot of people behind them. But you get to make everything exactly how you want to make it. As creators, I hope we can get to a point where we can sustain ourselves. I hope the future of independent music is that it’s not even called independent music, because it’s such a normal way of doing business.” 

Rote Mütze Raphi Munich, Germany
Rote Mütze Raphi: “I can’t remember when I started to sing, it must have been around the time I started to think. I always said to the people around me that making music is my biggest goal. People often laugh about clear statements like this if you are young and without experience and success. But for me there wasn’t any trigger necessary to decide to become a musician. There was no alternative. Being a musician means everything to me, I can do what I really love. For me I’m successful when I can touch people with my music and maybe even help them to go through a hard time.”

SE SO NEON Seoul, South Korea
SE SO NEON: “We make a spectrum of colorful music that crosses the boundaries of genres, love for vintage textures, emotions and explosive energy that resonate deep in the heart, and above all, the pursuit of novelty. We’re happy to participate in Foundry, as we’re focusing not only on our activities in Korea but also on our success as a global act.”

Seedhe Maut New Delhi, Delhi, India
Seedhe Maut: “Our whole lives, we’d been told this is how we had to live or do. Hip-hop helped us articulate our hopes and ambitions and be who we truly wanted to be. Once you’ve tasted that kind of freedom, that happiness and belonging, why would you ever choose to do anything else? We represent a generation that dares to dream and wants to live life on its own terms. With our music, we hope to give a voice to others like us who go against the grain and follow through on their convictions, whether that be as an artist, gamer, accountant, or whatever. As long as it’s true to you. No compromises, no regrets. Being independent grants us the freedom to evolve in any direction that we feel like. The downside of that can be that sometimes, great ideas get sidelined due to limited resources. Foundry helps remove some of those hurdles, and we’re extremely helpful to unleash our full creative potential onto the world.”

Shygirl London, England 
Shygirl: “My music is lusty and precious, experimental yet familiar. Being an independent artist means choosing your own narrative on a daily basis. I see Foundry as an opportunity to expand and think even bigger.”

Sinéad Harnett Los Angeles, California, United States  
Sinead Harnett: “My music is honest, and influenced by classic R&B. A healing, aural hug, if you will. Being an artist is something I’ve put so much time and work into, just simply for the love of it. I never knew it would become my career, but I knew I would want to write and sing forever. I feel lucky to be independent, in the sense that I’m living up to my expectations and no one else’s. It’s not always easy, but trusting in and carving out your own vision is exhilarating. I believe success as an independent artist lies in having creative control, and in being able to sell out tours and connect to fans. Being supported by an epic team for my visuals and music will be a huge step in my career. I’m excited to reach new audiences and introduce myself to people that don’t know about me yet. Foundry is a big look, and I’m so excited to make it count.”

Snail Mail Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Snail Mail: “To me, being an independent artist is about the songwriting craft and maintaining integrity, while also getting to do whatever I want creatively. Snail Mail started with basement shows and tours that my bandmates and I booked ourselves, so I take a lot of pride in the work that it took to get where I am today. I define immediate success as putting out music that I would listen to myself and long term success as being able to make music for as long as it feels right to do so.”

SoFaygo Atlanta, Georgia, United States
SoFaygo: “Being an independent artist means going harder than anyone else. There is more to prove. You can do and be whatever you want if you just believe in yourself.”

Sycco Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sycco: “Sycco music is colourful and excitable. I think my energy tends to exude those qualities. I love being my own boss, and answering to myself even when it gets hard. The satisfaction of getting something right and ticking off goals no matter how big or small is so fulfilling, and unlike any other feeling.”

Tenille Arts Nashville, Tennessee, United States 
Tenille Arts: “My music is country, with modern lyrics and melodies. It’s vulnerable, honest, fun, and talks about real life. Being from Canada originally, I was influenced by Shania Twain to go to Nashville and start my career there, and country music always seemed like the natural decision for me. I made my first trip to Nashville after posting covers on my YouTube channel, so Foundry giving me the opportunity to have exposure I’ve always dreamed of really feels like a full circle moment. I want to share my music with a lot of people and have a lasting impact. My big goal is to have a headlining arena tour, and I don’t feel limited at all by being an independent artist. I think it’s all possible!”

Tokischa Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tokischa: “My music has no labels. It’s a free, new wave. I’m excited to stand out in countries that are far from my culture.”

Tuyo São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Tuyo: “Tuyo is more about a feeling than a type of sound or genre. We mix very delicate vocals with strong rhythms. It’s music for floating, for flying. We are whole, happy and successful when we can communicate with people through music. Foundry will help us achieve our goal of starting musical conversations with people around the world, and to improve our work and make it more meaningful.” 

Sharing More Olympic Moments with CBC Sports on YouTube

Editors Note: This blog was guest written by Perdita Felicien, an author, two-time Olympian, ten-time National Champion and the first Canadian woman to win a World Championship gold medal in track and field. Felicien is host of Tokyo Today and proud member of CBC's Tokyo 2020 broadcast team.
 

This summer in Tokyo, thousands of athletes from around the world will come together and compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Some athletes will compete for the first time, others for the last, all will have their eyes on the podium, ready to cement their name in history. Each will carry with them their own journey to the Olympic Games and have their own story to tell of how it all unfolded. 

The Olympic Games is a larger than life event, broadcasted to every corner of the world. The events however, are only the tip of the iceberg - a culmination of years of hard work. What most don’t see are the winding roads and the uphill climb that brought the athletes to the start line. I know first hand that qualifying for the Olympics is no easy feat. Access to training facilities, finding the right coaches and mentors, gaining financial support and weathering injuries are just a few of the obstacles athletes must first overcome. That’s why the Olympic Games are more than just a sporting event, it’s a celebration of years of training, hard work, and sacrifice. 

Olympians play a powerful role in bringing communities together. We inspire others with our skill, grit and determination and every two years, the world has the pleasure of watching us compete for glory at the Olympic Games. As a proud member of CBC’s Olympic broadcast team, we believe it is important to go beyond event coverage and share more moments leading up to and during the Olympic Games that help to create a closer connection between audiences and athletes. 

This summer, CBC is making the Olympic Games more accessible to Canadians by offering more ways to watch, and more Olympic-themed content to enjoy. Through CBC Sports on YouTube, audiences can get a deeper look at the Olympic journey with athlete interviews, full event recaps, viral moments and more behind the scenes content. CBC’s goal is to give audiences more access to Tokyo 2020 and showcase the athletes and the moments that will surely become part of Olympic history.