Spoken Word

I am a musician, songwriter, videographer, podcaster, and arts advocate based in Churchill, Manitoba. As the Northern Champions Coordinator with imagiNorthern, I work to support and expand the Northern Champions Network, helping artists, makers, and creative communities thrive. My role involves mentoring regional champions, supporting artist development, and helping grow the network's impact across the North.

I’m also an executive member of the Churchill Creative Collective, Churchill’s Winterruption Festival, Churchill Arts Council and Churchill Aurora Winterfest, where I help organize events, workshops, and performances. My passion lies in creating, performing, and lifting others up through the arts. I’ve been playing music for over 20 years, and my albums, Smiling Like a Sundog and an upcoming 2025 release, are inspired by the landscapes and stories of the North. I founded Churchill Entertainment, where I produce video content, live-stream events, and host the Churchill Chats Podcast to share local voices and perspectives.

Whether I’m performing live, documenting an event, or leading a workshop, I bring boundless energy and enthusiasm for creativity. My goal is to break down barriers to artistic expression and help others find new ways to share their stories.

Andria Stephens is a singer/songwriter and artist administrator from Calgary, Alberta. became a professional singer while studying business administration at Mount Royal University. She performed with Toshi Jackson and the Silhouettes, touring Western Canada and learning the importance of backup singers and live music. Andria has worked with many Motown-era musicians and opened for hip-hop artists like T-Pain and Naughty by Nature. She is also a lyricist and has experience with Digital Audio Workstations.
In 2014, Andria and her partner Don Glenn moved to Thompson and in 2017 they discovered an abandoned Sobeys building on the outskirts of the city and envisioned it as a performance arts center. They created the Mall of The Arts, which includes a family theatre, café, upcycling studio, artist market, and Indigenous learning center. The center aims to connect the community and tourists through the arts, offering workshops in various creative disciplines. The organization has held workshops in drama, dance, puppetry, African drums, fashion shows, and more. The center focuses on youth and underserved peoples programming and encourages a sense of pride and respect through artistic activities.

In 2012, I graduated from The University of British Columbia with a BFA in Creative Writing. Since then, my written work has been published in Canadian anthologies and literary magazines such as onecoolword, CV2, Prairie Fire, Poetry is Dead, The Winnipeg Free Press, and Oratorealis.

While attending classes at UBC, I was introduced to spoken word and performance poetry through the Vancouver Poetry Slam community and my writing was forever changed. Since moving back home to Winnipeg in Treaty One Territory, I’ve built a presence in the local community as a fixture on stage at the Winnipeg Poetry Slam where I am also its co-artistic director.

As the former Winnipeg Individual Slam Champion, Grand Slam Champion, and Uniter 30 Favourite Writer, I’ve featured on stages at local writers, spoken word, improv and fringe festivals – the latter for which I’ve produced multiple engaging shows. I’ve also toured the nation, featuring on various community and festival stages like the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, The Victoria Spoken Word Festival, and The Saskatoon Poetic Arts Festival.

As a mentor I’ve facilitated various groups and workshops via programs with The Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, Creative Manitoba, The Manitoba Writers Guild, and Poetry in Voice, and have developed lesson plans for classroom residencies with the Manitoba Arts Council’s Artists in Schools Program, where I empower students to explore their self-expression and community building through spoken word poetry.