Cross-Pollinations with Sheniz Janmohamed and Anna Reed

Описание: On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, artist educator and nature artist Sheniz Janmohamed and Anna Reed (BSW, MSW, MSc, RSW) joined Cross-Pollinations for an hour of poetry and conversation around the theme of Theme: Climate, Ecology, and Health.

This event was curated jointly by the League of Canadian Poets, The Canadian Association for Health Humanities, and the Health Arts Research Centre.

Hosted by: Rhiannon Ng and Mic Jones

Anna Reed (BSW, MSW, MSc, RSW) holds a Master of Social Work, from the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, as well as a MSc in Health Services Research both from the University of Toronto. Anna has practiced social work in the community, long-term care and hospital. Currently Anna is working as a social worker in the emergency department at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, as well as a patient engagement consultant for the health system. She is recently the recipient of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation Allied Health Research Grant. Anna’s interest in planetary health led her to support the launch of PaRx in Manitoba – Canada’s evidence-based nature prescription program.

Sheniz Janmohamed was born and raised in Tkaronto with ancestral ties to Kenya and India. A poet, artist educator and nature artist, Sheniz is a graduate of the MFA in Creative Writing program at the University of Guelph. Throughout her career, she has had the honour of being mentored by Janice Kulyk Keefer, Dionne Brand, Kuldip Gill, M.G Vassanji and Jessica J. Lee.

In the last 20 years, Sheniz has presented her work nationally and internationally, including the Jaipur Literature Festival, Kenya Literary Association, Aga Khan Museum, Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD),  Vancouver Writers Fest, Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) and TEDXYouth Toronto.  She has three poetry collections published by Mawenzi House: Bleeding Light (2010), Firesmoke (2014) and Reminders on the Path (2021). Her nature art has been featured across Turtle Island, including the National Arts Centre and MOCA. Her creative nonfiction has been published in a variety of journals and publications including Body & Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seekers (Caitlin Press, 2019), The Willowherb Review and The New Quarterly.

A recipient of the Lois Birkenshaw-Fleming Creative Teaching Scholarship, Sheniz holds an Artist Educator Mentor certification from the Royal Conservatory. She visits dozens of organizations and schools to lead nature walks and host workshops in poetry, writing and nature art.

In 2022, Sheniz served as the Writer-in-Residence at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, the first writer of South Asian descent to serve in this position. Sheniz currently teaches creative writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.