Mariko (she/her) is a familiar face to Likely but a new team member as of this month. An artist, stylist, and herbalist with a deep well of both compassion and passion to draw upon, we are so very lucky to welcome Mariko into our community here at Likely!

Favourite Shop Music:
Basia Bulat, Agnes Obel, and Hildur Guðnadóttir

Community Organization in Toronto to Support:
ESN Toronto (Encampment Support Network)

Memorable Likely Moment:
My most memorial moment at the shop would be countless heartfelt discussions with the lovely staff as a consumer. 

Brooke (she/her) began Likely General in 2013. She fills the shop by selecting all artists, makers & goods, programs all workshops & events, and curates all exhibitions in the Likely General Gallery. Outside of running Likely, she is a poet and sound maker studying end of life care.

Favourite shop music: Currently listening to my friend Tam on repeat The Weather Station and a lot of Greenflow. I love making playlists to listen to at the shop too: remember we can peel the grape

Community organization to support this month (and always): The Parkdale Community Foodbank works tirelessly to help our community and they could always use fresh produce and donations. Seeds of Hope (a longstanding Toronto org working with the homeless and under-housed) + Community Fridges GoFundMe to Winterize

Favourite Likely General memory: I love our annual Kids Art Show. Seeing bright minds under 12 support each other without competition to raise money for a cause of their choice reminds me to listen, to slow down, to trust in every process, to lean into our source of real hope for the future - the kids, and their ideas.

Justine (she/her) started at Likely in October of 2020. We were lucky enough to host her work in the gallery at the same time. She is an incredible glass artist who creates one of a kind talismans and has been shown internationally. A dear longtime friend, Justine is a powerful compassionate force here at the shop and we're so grateful for her presence.

Favourite playlist to play in the shop:
My go-to is a Spotify playlist called Liming, which is an extensive ongoing collection of music from Brooklyn based Sudanese-American artist Ahmed of Sinkane (@sinkane). It always puts me in a good mood. Hear it here: Liming Playlist

Native Arts Society, lead by Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction is an organization I find really beautiful. They are an Indigenous 2S/Queer/Trans collective who just opened a gallery space and studio in the city. This space highlights the works of some of the Indigenous unhoused folks in our city and helps to advocate for fair pricing for their art.

Memorable Likely moment:
Having the privilege to showcase my stained glass work and short film I created, Emotional Armour in the Likely General Gallery space for the month of October in 2020. Which was also the month I conveniently started working in the shop! I had created a series of wearable stained glass pieces, half of which were in Iceland for a group exhibition that I couldn't attend, that Brooke kindly invited me to share in the shop. In the short window of time between lockdowns when we were open to the public I got to shyly sit back and watch folks come in and experience my work. Very memorable and very meaningful. 

Salina (she/her) is our little hummingbird and a breath of fresh-air! A vibrant force at Likely and a deeply empathetic soul, Salina has an exceptional eye for colour and shape, a heart for community, and a spirit that can uplift you on the heaviest days. We are so grateful for Salina!

Favourite playlists for the store: "Sade" all day, "Psychedelic Sundays"

Recommended community organization to support: community fridges!

Memorable Likely moment: Meeting Brooke for the first time at Likely was a moment I'll never forget. How she creates such a welcoming environment and treats everyone that enters as friends in her home makes the space so special for the whole community.