Come Celebrate the Stories that Make Brampton with Brampton Artist in Residence Janice Reid

All Brampton residents are invited to celebrate this year’s residency on September 20th

BRAMPTON, ON (September 10, 2025) — To celebrate a highly successful third year of the Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) and Brampton Library’s joint Brampton Artist in Residence program, this year’s resident artist, Janice Reid, will host a free public showcase to unveil the portraits she took of the local community during her residency.

Since June, Janice has held weekly public office hours, one-on-one portrait sessions and led a series of workshops at Brampton Library’s Mount Pleasant Village Branch. Over those three months, 75 community members collaborated with Janice to create a living archive of participants’ personal and migration stories. The portraits are far more than just images; Janice considers them “living stories”. Each portrait documents the intimate exchange between Janice and the sitter, capturing not just their likeness, but their essence, history, and presence. She expresses her profound gratitude for the sitters sharing “both their time and their vulnerability”.

 
Everyone has stories to tell and journeys that have brought them to where they are now. Whether one was born here or arrived recently, Brampton is a city composed of these stories and experiences. Together with community members, Janice has created a complex, moving project that is a testament to our city’s vigour and diversity.

 
Come and witness these individual stories that together weave the story of the City of Brampton itself at the showcase.

Save the Date

Join Brampton’s Artist in Residence, Janice Reid, and her community co-creators as they unveil the portraits made during her residency. Light refreshments will be provided during the event.

Saturday, September 20, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Brampton Library, Mount Pleasant Village Branch, 100 Commuter Drive, Brampton, ON
Free / All Are Welcome

Links

Further information and details about the showcase can be found here.

A sample of the portraits taken by Janice can be found here.

About the Brampton Artist in Residence Program

The Brampton Artist in Residence program was created by the Brampton Arts Organization in partnership with Brampton Library to unlock a new way for community members to engage in creative experiences while building relationships with local artists and art organizations. The goal is to create awareness and encourage further exploration of Brampton’s arts, culture and creative industries. Artists or arts organizations in residence receive an $8,000 stipend and free workspace at the Brampton Library’s Mount Pleasant Village Branch.

About the Artist

Janice Reid is a Brampton-based artist exploring memory, migration, and ancestral knowledge through storytelling. Her work engages with archives, community narratives, and visual art to uncover hidden histories, particularly within Caribbean and diasporic communities. Through photography, research, and workshops, she creates spaces for reflection, dialogue, and reconnection with the past. Her work has been exhibited at Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, BAND Gallery, PAMA, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, the National Gallery of Jamaica, and the National Portrait Gallery.

Quotes

“The success of the Brampton Artist in Residence program speaks volumes about the vibrant artistic community we have in Brampton. This showcase is not only a celebration of Janice Reid’s artistic achievement but also a testament to the people who make up our great city. Through initiatives like this, we aim to continue opening new avenues for artistic exploration, community engagement, and the celebration of the mosaic that is Brampton.”

Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“Brampton Library is grateful to BAO and to the entire community for this incredible project connecting participants to photography in a common endeavour. The Brampton Artist in Residence program is a great opportunity for residents to discover art and create with each other. The Library is very proud to host Janice and her project.”

Todd Kyle, Chief Executive Officer, Brampton Library

“We are thrilled to celebrate another incredible year of our Brampton Artist in Residence program in collaboration with Brampton Library. The overwhelming community engagement we’ve seen testifies to how vital creative spaces are for our city! Janice’s work has beautifully brought people together, sharing not only their own individual stories but also the story of Brampton itself.”

Michael Vickers, Executive Director, Brampton Arts Organization

“I’m grateful for this residency and especially for the portrait sitters’ time and vulnerability. They brought their memories to life through the process of sharing and it’s their memories that make the project special. Whether it was the sitter who signed them up or a family member, they all found the importance of being seen through portraiture and being part of the larger story about community in the City of Brampton.”

Janice Reid, Local Artist; Brampton Artist in Residence

About the Brampton Arts Organization 

The Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) is a registered non-profit that champions Brampton’s diverse arts, culture and creative industries and advocates for the #BramptonArtist. We work to build a thriving, confident, valued, and empowered creative scene by offering a range of programs, services and resources. In this, BAO is a key partner in fulfilling the City of Brampton’s strategic vision and Culture Master Plan. Learn more at bramptonartsorg.ca and connect with us at Instagram, Facebook, X(formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

Media inquiries, please contact:

Gardenia Flores, Marketing & Communications Lead
gardenia@bramptonartsorg.ca