About Threads
Meet Our Team
Anahit Falihi
Anahit Falihi
Anahit Falihi is a researcher, visual artist and educator with professional teaching experience at every level of education, from the community to the university. She combines experience from her personal and professional lives in migration and integration with academic teaching and research in her role as a program director of the Saskatoon Open Door Society, a settlement and integration support service provider in Saskatchewan.
Anahit holds a Master’s in Educational Foundations and a PhD in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of Saskatchewan. Her dissertation focused on culturally responsive child and family support services, and her publications emphasize diversity, cross-cultural education, community learning and leadership development.
As a visual artist, Anahit deals in such forms as painting, fibre arts, digital and mixed media, sculpture, and furniture design. Following completion of a Master’s of Fine Arts degree at Marmara University in Istanbul, she worked with artmaking as a restorative practice for survivors of war, torture, trauma and large-scale violence, and as a costume designer and art director in theatre, film and television.
Dawn Wasacase
Dawn Wasacase
Dawn Wasacase is of Cree/ Saulteaux/Ukrainian descent and a citizen of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Treaty 4 territory. After earning an Education degree at the University of Saskatchewan, she worked as a teacher and then a curriculum writer with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. Her career took a new direction when the Indspire Awards show hired her as a cast wrangler, to ensure that on-screen talent was where it needed to be when it needed to be there. Indspire recognized her gift for leading others and offered her the position of Head Talent Coordinator, where she was responsible each year for preparing 20 young minds for a career in the production world.
Dawn’s medium for creative expression is visual – she’s a television and events producer, production designer and educator. Her experience ranges far and wide, from producing corporate video to generating nationally broadcast Indigenous-centred content. It’s in that connection to culture that her passion lies.
“Cultural content has the most meaning – no matter your own cultural grounding, when you experience cultural elements that are not your own, it opens your heart and mind to the world, and to others.”
Doris Wang
Doris Wang
Born in China and raised in Canada, Doris Wang is a writer, journalist, and social media specialist who has lived all over the world. In the last seven years, Doris worked as a broadcaster in China and traveled across the country. Wherever she lived, Doris has committed herself to building bridges between people of different cultures. She has won national and international awards, including the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Award, for reporting on the impact of cultural exchange activities. She currently works with a team at Saskatoon Open Door Society who is passionate about helping newcomers to settle down in their new home and bringing more diversity to the city.
Fatemeh Qasemi
Fatemeh Qasemi
Fatemeh, originally from Iran, immigrated to Canada to pursue her philosophical dreams. With her background in both Computer Science and Philosophy, immigration has given her the chance to see the Other and be seen through the Other in their historical and cultural richness. As a Community Development Worker at SODS, she is able to apply ideas, theories, and research findings to real-world situations. Fatemeh spends her free time reading philosophical books, listening to music, watching movies, and creating portraits.
Fay Motevallian
Fay Motevallian
Fay Motevallian, born and raised in Iran, is a Master’s student in Linguistics at the University of Saskatchewan, where a passion for language and sounds led her to specialize in phonetics. Beyond academics, she channels her creativity into photography and videography. As a member of the Threads team, she actively contributes to video production and editing. In her free time, Fay cultivates a love for cinema and literature, frequently indulging in movies and books.
Hongjian (Jay) Li
Hongjian (Jay) Li
Hongjian (Jay) Li is an award-winning, multicultural Graphic Designer currently based in Canada. With over 7 years of professional experience in graphic design and visual communication, Jay has worked across diverse cultural and creative landscapes, including Canada, the United States, and China.
Specializing in branding, promotional graphics, packaging, editorial design, and more, Jay brings a refined visual sensibility and cross-cultural perspective to every project. He holds a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)—one of the world’s top-ranked art and design schools. And a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design from Arizona State University.
Jay’s design work has been recognized and featured in several prestigious awards and publications, including: Adobe Design Achievement Awards, STA 100, Indigo Design Award, Sandu Publishing, among others.
Currently, Jay serves as Digital Media Officer at the Saskatoon Open Door Society, where he leads the creation of engaging visual content for multiple platforms. His work spans graphic design, branding, social and editorial design, and photography, with a strong focus on storytelling for newcomer communities, helping them live, learn, and thrive in their new environment.
He believes good design is not only about aesthetics, but also about communication, empathy, and social impact. With curiosity, clarity, and craft— he is striving to make design both functional and emotionally resonant.
Kristi-Lee Stewart
Kristi-Lee Stewart
Kristi-Lee Stewart is a Jamaican educator with teaching experience at the elementary and secondary levels. She has years of volunteer experience in working with children and teenagers and in teaching English. She is passionate about helping others and seeing them reach their full potential. Kristi-Lee holds both a Post- Graduate Diploma in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Computing and Information Technology.
Kristi-Lee hopes to use her experience as an immigrant and educator to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada. She is pursuing a Master’s in Educational Administration at the University of Saskatchewan, and enjoys playing badminton and listening to music.
Mehdi Ebrahimpour
Mehdi Ebrahimpour
Mehdi Ebrahimpour, originally from Iran, migrated to Canada to pursue a Master’s degree in Philosophy. With a background in Computer Science, he has acquired diverse skills beneficial to presenting Threads: Cultural Conversations. Currently a cultural Bridging Facilitator, he eagerly explores global cultures and is keen on fostering collaboration among people from varied backgrounds. Mehdi is passionate about bridging cultural gaps and envisions a future where diverse communities come together to create a better tomorrow with greater social justice.
Parastoo Dokouhaki
Parastoo Dokouhaki
Born and raised in Iran, Parastoo Dokouhaki has been a journalist, blogger, and women’s rights activist for over 20 years. She is committed to her community, wherever she lives. Parastoo is interested in echoing the voices of underrepresented minority groups in Canada and seeks equality, diversity, and inclusion. She holds a Master’s in Global Media from SOAS, University of London, and a diploma in Media Production from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Working for Saskatoon Open Door Society, especially Threads, lets her combine her personal experiences as an immigrant with her knowledge of Media.
Tobi Oyedele
Tobi Oyedele
Tobi Oyedele is the Development and Communications Coordinator at the Saskatoon Open Door Society, where she supports in strategic communications, outreach, and fundraising storytelling to support newcomer inclusion and community-building across Saskatoon.
With a rich and varied background as an agrologist, creative writer, and educator, Tobi brings a thoughtful blend of analytical insight, creativity, and cross-cultural experience to her work and community. Her career spans agriculture, education, international development, and communications-cross both Canada and Nigeria.
Tobi is deeply passionate about the power of storytelling to drive social change. Whether crafting community engagement campaigns or facilitating newcomer-focused initiatives, she is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and building meaningful connections through inclusive, values-based communication.
Beyond her professional role, Tobi is an avid reader and writer, a land steward, movie critic, and a lifelong learner who advocates for equity, sustainability, and community resilience.
Past Team Members
Anita Ogurlu
Anita Ogurlu
As a cultural bridging facilitator and university lecturer, I’m a curious person on a quest for love and knowledge. Having lived over 25 years in Istanbul, Turkiye, I’ve experienced globalization firsthand and migration as a consequence. Since its inception, I’m a core team member and presenter of Threads. Born in rural Saskatchewan, educated in Toronto, Istanbul and London, I hold a PhD in Humanities & Cultural Studies, Birkbeck College (2016). My best teachers are the people and shared life experiences. I’ve published on cultural political economy, mass media, autobiography and the 20th century interwar period.
Christofer Paul
Christofer Paul
Chris has Polynesian, Taíno, black and Indo-Caribbean ancestry. He works as a Digital Media Worker at the Saskatoon Open Door Society. In an era of rapidly evolving technology where accessibility is becoming increasingly important, he prioritizes legibility, usability and practicality in his designs. He spends his free time thrift shopping, listening to music and experimenting with new recipes. He also stays fit through powerlifting and yoga. Check out his portfolio here: www.tofer.ca
Dolores Wollbaum
Dolores Wollbaum
Dolores Wollbaum has been dedicated to the employment and economic success of newcomers for over seven years. She has a particular interest in seeing international professionals find employment in their own profession. In her work, Dolores has learned from 80+ employers what they seek in employees, what qualifications are essential in some professions, and how cultural beliefs influence hiring. She has lived in the Caribbean for several years and knows firsthand the experience of culture shock, both on moving there and when returning to Canada.
Jean-Philippe Deneault
Jean-Philippe Deneault
Jean-Philippe Deneault is a communications specialist who lives and works in Saskatoon. He has a strong interest in building and joining online communities, developing strong media relations, and managing and refining brands. He regularly writes or translates interviews and exhibition reviews for a number of Canadian newspapers and art publications.
Lindsay Woods
Lindsay Woods
Lindsay Woods is a Digital Media Officer at Saskatoon Open Door Society with a diverse skill set, looking after all things visual-, brand-, and social media-related. She enjoys community theatre, thrift stores, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts while on long walks around her neighbourhood.
Special Thanks To
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April Sora
City of Saskatoon Consultant -
Fiyin Obayan
Okiki Consulting -
tBone(Brent Blazieko)
Sound Lounge by tBone - 25th Street Theatre
- Nuit Blanche Saskatoon
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Connor Addley
Saskatoon Public Library -
Rachel Broussard
PAVED Arts, Program Director -
Yaser Mirzaei
Community Development Worker - Elizabeth Ollerhead
- Remai Modern