Kayla is a Métis storyteller who, in her work, mixes the visual and written worlds. As a research assistant, freelance writer, photographer and curator, she explores diverse storytelling mediums.
Kayla lives, works, and explores in Vancouver, British Columbia. Currently pursuing her Master’s in English with a specialization in print culture, she is passionate about how stories shape our understanding of the world. When she’s not immersed in her studies, you can find her riding her beloved Brooklyn Roebling, playing the cello, or outdoors, often with a book or camera in hand.
Contact: kaylamacinnis@gmail.com
looking back
Kayla graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing with distinction from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She brings over a decade of experience in the events industry, playing critical roles in planning, setup and teardown, serving, hosting, bartending, and photographing events. She has designed marketing materials and coordinated transportation and team logistics. With a strong background as an executive assistant, Kayla excels in administrative and communication skills, integrating these strengths into her academic pursuits.
INTERVIEWS
Finding harmony and reciprocity in land-based poetry, Massy Arts Society
Where one meets the other, connecting worlds and identities through stories, Foto Femme United
COURSES & MENTORSHIPS
Room Up Front - A Canadian Photojournalism Mentorship for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. - Oct 2020 to Oct 2021
Social Documentary Network - Recruiting Art in Service of Real Life Stories with Amber Bracken - September to November 2021
The Canadian Association of Journalists Mentorship Program - Mentorship with Jesse Winter - August to October 2021
WORKSHOPS TAKEN
Fundamentals of Anti-Oppression with Bakau Consulting
Trauma and Resilience for Journalists with The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma
Decolonizing Journalism with IndigiNews
Awards & Recognitions
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Words from the judges: ”Kayla MacInnis identifies one of her primary influences as ‘questions’ and says that writing is the answer. Her work is crisp, clear and confident in tone and line and impulse. One senses a pure heart speaking. Exploring the intersections of identity, culture and this precipitous now, Kayla folds a living, vital world into her enquiry. Of an autumn day in a garden sprung with strawberries, coriander and thyme she writes: ‘I let it wash over me.’ And she does this washing again and again in work that’s smart and crafted and personal – saying this is the world, this is me. This is brave work from an artist who knows where they’re headed.”
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Words from the judges: “In words both lyrical and rich with sense-based imagery, this writer demonstrates skill and sensitivity in the craft of both essay writing and poetry. Books are a refuge, and words gave the writer enough power to save her life—a moving statement on the importance of reading and making stories come alive through lived experience. This is a writer who collects the unknown and the new just for the love of words. Her attention to diction and the sensory impact of language packs an emotional punch, particularly with layered references to Indigenous and family history. Her Poem, Cut Grass Smells Like Watermelon, is a moment of beauty among many that resonate."
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"Kayla MacInnis came to KPU to make her dream of working as a writer a reality. Earning her Bachelor of Journalism with a Minor in Creative Writing, she is the first in her family to graduate from a post-secondary institution.
A responsibility she doesn’t carry lightly.
A displaced Polish/Ukrainian and Scottish settler on her mother’s side and Métis from the Red River settlement on her father’s, Kayla has made countless valuable contributions to her instructors and classmates, keeping them aware of the realities of reconciliation and the importance of BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ perspectives.
Working as a freelance reporter, Kayla is deeply committed to amplifying voices and shedding light on pressing issues. She focuses on stories encompassing human rights, biodiversity and climate change, as well as cultural and arts stories. Her work is recognized through numerous bylines and photo credits in esteemed publications such as IndigiNews, the Globe and Mail, and The Narwhal, among others.
Community is critical to Kayla, who understands the importance of reciprocity. Originally hailing from Saskatoon, you’ll often find her doing shoreline cleanups or helping in soup kitchens. Closer to KPU, Kayla has volunteered with the Indigenous Student Council and worked as a student assistant for Dr. Aislinn Hunter’s Advanced and Innovative Research Techniques for Creative Writing class.
She has also volunteered with Special Bird Service, Raincoast Conservation, Indigenous Women at Sea, Sea Smart School, Plastic Oceans Canada, Indigenous Women Outdoors, Vancouver Pride Society, SAD Magazine, Growing Room Literary & Arts Festival, Vancouver Writers Festival, and Capture Photography Festival.
A Jack Webster award-winning student journalist, Kayla plans to take her love of storytelling back into the classroom. Her next dream is to become a university instructor with the goal of one day achieving her PhD. And she’s well on her way, having been accepted into a Master of Arts in English at SFU."
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events