Events  /  Harmonizing Work and Family: Supporting Parents and Caregivers in the Music Industry

Harmonizing Work and Family: Supporting Parents and Caregivers in the Music Industry

Location:
Online via Zoom Webinar (Registration required)

Balancing Act Canada and Women In Music Canada present

Harmonizing Work and Family: Supporting Parents and Caregivers in the Music Industry

An online national panel on parent and caregiver support in the Canadian music industry

Join us for this dynamic conversation between music artist and industry professional caregivers who are championing a culture of care in the music industry.

With panelists:
Taaylee G
Desiree Dorion
Elise Roller

Moderated by:
Robyn Stewart, Executive Director of Women in Music Canada

Date: Thursday, Apr. 10, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

With live transcription and French interpretation

The webinar will include a Q&A session.

Balancing Act panels are held in English, but are accessible in French thanks to live interpretation.

📣 Meet the panel! 📣

🔵 Toronto’s own Taaylee G is a rising force in rap, blending authenticity, resilience, and Caribbean influence into her powerful sound. Known for her introspective bars and captivating stage presence, she made waves with her debut single “Life’s Good” and has since earned recognition at events like Rolling Loud and the Legacy Awards. With releases like “Porcelain Smiles” and “Counted Me Out,” Taaylee continues to showcase her growth as an artist and mother. A dynamic figure in Toronto’s hip-hop scene, she’s carving out her place as a bold new voice in music.

🔵 Desiree Dorion grew up a mile and a half from the grounds of Dauphin Country Fest, one of the biggest outdoor music festivals in Canada. As a little girl she would ride her bike there when the festival wasn’t on, climb up on the stage, and pretend to play to the thousands of fans that come to watch big country music acts. In 2014 her dream of playing the mainstage came true when she shared the stage with The Band Perry.

The JUNO Nominee has had multiple songs chart in the top 100 on the Canadian country music charts (TRAX), along with numerous songs reaching the top spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown. She will release her seventh studio album on September 20th, 2024 and is nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 Manitoba Country Music Awards.

🔵 Elise Roller is the founder and CEO of Misfit Music Inc., a Winnipeg-based artist development and management company, and umbrella of the newly launched Odd Doll Records. She was recognized as Women in Music Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023 in addition to consistently receiving other awards and nominations for her strength as a music community leader. In addition to managing a diverse roster of talent which prioritises underrepresented voices, she also supports independent artists who require team support on a project-to-project basis offering mentorship, strategic planning, and helping them successfully manage their own careers through Misfit’s Artist Evolution program. She teaches workshops on all things music biz, and beyond, and serves on Music Manager Forum Canada’s Board of Directors.

Misfit Music Inc. is a multi-award winning, Winnipeg-based, artist development and management company, and umbrella of the newly launched Odd Doll Records. With a strong team of music professionals and a diverse roster, the company’s primary focus is highlighting and supporting underrepresented artists across Canada. Through the innovative Artist Evolution program, the team also co-manages and collaborates with self-managed artists building strategies, connecting them to a network of industry pros, professionalizing their tool kits, and developing the skills and confidence needed to manage their own careers.

🔵 And our moderator 🔵

Robyn Stewart is a 22-year music industry veteran, accomplished organization and event director, currently the Executive Director of Women in Music Canada.

Robyn is passionate about the creative process and the role culture plays in communities. Her experience reaches all areas of event management and talent buying, with her strongest skills lying in financial management, complex logistics, government relations and fund development, and partner relationship building. Among the projects she is most proud of; Executive Director of Western Canadian Music Alliance, and Entertainment Buyer; PanAmerican Games 2015, and Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2010, which allowed her to support developing artists and engage in passion projects including working towards gender parity in the music industry on an international level. Robyn is incredibly driven by her work supporting artists to showcase and develop business in international markets, and has spoken at events in Estonia, Sweden, Australia, UK and more. Robyn holds board positions on the Polaris Music Prize (National Vice-Chair), and Heart and Stroke Foundation (Manitoba).

Above all, Robyn has two amazing sons, Jasper (13) and Ty (5), who are her greatest joys in life.

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