Articles by Emilea Semancik

About Emilea Semancik

Emilea Semancik was born in North Vancouver. Emilea has always always wanted to work as a freelance writer and currently writes for the Vancouver Guardian. Taking influence from journalism culture surrounding the great and late Anthony Bourdain, she is a recipe author working towards publishing her own series of books. You can find her food blog on Instagram: @ancestral.foods

Charitable Choices: Tonya Wimmer of Marine Animal Response Society

July 14, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Tonya Wimmer founded the Marine Animal Response Society in 1999 after recognizing a glaring gap in the Maritimes: when a whale stranded or a seal was injured, there was almost no coordinated infrastructure to help. […]

Homegrown Business: Tareq Hadhad of Peace by Chocolate

July 13, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Tareq Hadhad is the Founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, a Canadian chocolate company whose story is as remarkable as the product it makes. After fleeing Syria, the Hadhad family rebuilt their generations-old chocolate-making […]

Five Minutes With: Indie-Folk Rock Band Colrain

July 10, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Hailing from Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Colrain is an indie-rock ensemble known for their rich lyrical content, polished instrumentals, and strong ties to their local community. Their dynamic set ranges from melancholic ballads to uplifting rock, […]

Five Minutes With: Roots Band esdaile

July 3, 2026 Emilea Semancik

In late August of 2024, esdaile formed together, putting forth a new sound to the ears of listeners in the Dartmouth/Halifax area. The four boys (Colin, Ian, Leo, Keegan) translated their inseparable connection to a […]

Charitable Choices: Carmen Boyko of JA Nova Scotia

June 30, 2026 Emilea Semancik

The gap between what young people learn in a classroom and what they actually need to navigate the real world has always existed — but Carmen Boyko and the team at JA Nova Scotia are […]

Five Minutes With: Rock Trio Marian

June 26, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Marian is a rock trio known for rich harmonies, gritty riffs, and hook-driven songs. Their sophomore album, Play Louder, Hit Harder (PLHH), weaves together themes of adulthood’s relentless grind and the uncertainty of what lies […]

Charitable Choices: Jessica Young of Family SOS

June 23, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Every family hits rough patches — moments when parenting feels overwhelming, communication breaks down, or basic needs like food security become a daily stress. Family SOS exists for exactly those moments. As a free, inclusive, […]

Homegrown Business: Jake Mahoney of The Halifax Honey Company

June 22, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Jake Mahoney, CEO and Co-Founder of The Halifax Honey Company, knows what it means to build something from the ground up. What began in a small East Coast kitchen back in 2016 has grown into […]

Charitable Choices: Jaydean Jackson of Hope Cottage

June 16, 2026 Emilea Semancik

In Halifax, there’s a place where a hot meal comes with something just as important — the feeling that someone sees you. Hope Cottage has been that place for decades, and under the leadership of […]

Homegrown Business: Ashley Jollimore of The Ultimate Party & Rental Store

June 15, 2026 Emilea Semancik

Ashley Jollimore is the Owner and General Manager of The Ultimate Party & Rental Store, a women-owned small business based in Lower Sackville, NS, that has been helping Atlantic Canadians celebrate in style since 2013. […]