Press & Media

North by Northwest with Margaret Gallagher

North by Northwest: “Ruby Smith Diaz Searching for Serafim: The Life and Legacy of Serafim “Joe” Fortes”

Ruby
February 4, 2025

Listen to the episode, “Ruby Smith Diaz Searching for Serafim: The Life and Legacy of Serafim “Joe” Fortes,” from the North by Northwest radio show on CBC/Radio-Canada, with Margaret Gallagher.

Ruby and Serafim standing side by side at Íy̓el̓shn, one century apart. Digital collage by Ruby Smith Díaz.

Grappling With the Legacy of a Black Icon in Vancouver

Ruby
February 3, 2025

Read my essay “Grappling With the Legacy of a Black Icon in Vancouver” on MONTECRISTO Magazine.

NewsRadio Bookshelf: Ruby Smith Díaz (Searching for Serafim)

Ruby
February 3, 2025

Listen to Ruby Smith Díaz’s interview on the NewsRadio Bookshelf podcast, hosted by John Ackermann, or watch the video version on YouTube.

Edmonton AM: “Searching for Serafim: the true story of a Canadian Black icon”

Ruby
February 3, 2025

Listen to the episode “Searching for Serafim: The True Story of a Canadian Black Icon” from the Edmonton AM podcast with Mark Connolly and Tara McCarthy.

A Vancouver Artist Seeks the Truth about Joe Fortes

Ruby
October 23, 2024

“Seraphim Joe Fortes (or Serafim, as he spelled his name) is a Vancouver icon. He taught generations of children to swim and saved dozens of people from drowning. He’ll forever be associated with his favourite place, English Bay, and his…

a large circle of youth wearing leggings, loose fitting pants, or ribbon skirts gather around a beautiful wooden high ceiling in the shape of a cedar hat. Ruby is in the centre, and wears a white respirator mask, a white tshirt, black cargo pants, and white docs.

Canadian Women’s Foundation Youth Summit Report Back

Ruby
April 1, 2024

What an enriching and grounding experience it was to close out the Youth Summit on Musqueam Territory for the Canadian Women’s Foundation. I had the privilege of leading the youth in an arts based process creating ‘survival kits’ for the…

Now LIVE: Soliloquy for Serafim

Ruby
January 30, 2024

My soundscape, Soliloquy for Serafim, is now officially live on the Contemporary Art Gallery of Vancouver Website. “We’re delighted to share Faultlines, a series of long-form audio responses produced for the gallery’s Timelines initiative. ⁠⁠Phoebe Bei, “VIVO Media Arts Centre’s…

ECW Press BIPOC Mentorship!

Ruby
January 30, 2024

I’ve been keeping quiet about this for the last few months, but I’m finally letting the cat out of the bag! I have been selected for the ECW Press BIPOC mentorship program. It’s such a perfect fit for me as…

Soliloquy for Serafim Launch at iy̓el̓shn

Ruby
January 10, 2024

On September 16, 2023 Afro Latina artist Ruby Smith Díaz released her inaugural soundscape, Soliloquy for Serafim, created as part of her WEDGE Residency at the Contemporary Art Gallery of Vancouver. “ Serafim “Joe” Fortes was an Afro-Caribbean man who…

Our Shared Tapestry Workshop Series

Ruby
January 10, 2024

Led by multidisciplinary artist and youth educator Ruby Smith Díaz, this 3 part workshop series took place in the late summer and Fall of 2023, with the support of Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice. This workshop series guided participants in…

I had the great fortune of having Ruby Smith-Díaz as a guest speaker in my Afrofuturism in Music classes at SFU and VCC last week. Ruby designed an interactive workshop for us that connected the global history of anti-Blackness, the need for Afrofuturism, and its healing potential for individuals and communities. Ruby is a talented speaker and educator and I highly recommend her if you’re looking for group facilitation or curriculum development work.

Deirdre Morgan

Ph.D. Ethnomusicology Lecturer - Simon Fraser University & Vancouver Community College

Ruby uses art, body movement, and her excellent facilitation skills to draw knowledge out of groups and help them do the vulnerable and important work of personal and political transformation. Her ability to challenge people while inviting them to be creative allows individuals and groups to build trust and go deep. Our participants consistently mention the session in program evaluations as one of their favourites and talk about using the techniques learned in their work. Participants who don’t see themselves as “artsy” especially appreciate the opportunity to engage with this part of themselves in a non-judgemental and encouraging space.

Laura Collison

Next Up Program Coordinator, Edmonton

The fierce integrity of Ruby’s sense of social justice, rooted in a sensitive and compassionate understanding of her fellow beings, makes any workshop she facilitates a soulful and authentic experience. I love her potent ability to grow into her own power as a leader, and a woman, and her generosity to see, and to nurture the emergence of power in others. Ruby brings her resilient strength, and her deep sense of play into everything she takes on.

Ellen McGinn

Educator With Students On Ice, Volunteer With Power Of Hope

Ruby is a dynamic and focused facilitator. I’ve always been extremely impressed to see Ruby’s ability to keep a group focused on an intention and to make any difficult situation into a meaningful learning experience for all involved.

Charlie Ahlquist

Area Director - Office Of Campus Living, Lewis And Clark College

Ruby Smith Díaz is a incomparable facilitator of integrity and skill. Ruby is able to keep an overview of logistical concerns while being present for each individual. I recommend Ruby for any planning or facilitation of any youth or adult group. Her hard work is undeniable and her patient listening is deeply felt.

Khari McClelland

Lead Facilitator With Power Of Hope And PYE Global, Program Planner At Vancouver Moving Theatre

Ruby is definitely active in her own decolonization process and actively supporting the Indigenous struggle. She innovative in her work with youth and I feel good knowing I have people like her in my corner.

Molly Wickham

MA- Indigenous Governance, Gitdumden Of The Wet'suwet'en

Ruby is a skilled, engaged, collaborative, and thoughtful facilitator

Harsha Walia

No One Is Illegal

Ruby Smith Díaz is an immensely talented facilitator, deeply committed to social justice. Ruby’s thoughtful and skillful styles create meaningful learning spaces with potential for transformation and change.

Annie Banks

Co-Facilitator & Coordinator, Anti-Violence Project, Lkwungen And WSANEC Homelands, Victoria BC

We engaged Ruby to work with our board and staff members over two days on considerations around diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The workshop was well-paced with a mix of gentle physical activities, shared dialogue and knowledge transfer. Ruby listens carefully, she creates a trusting environment that engenders deep consideration and she is very adept at teasing out the kernel of an issue. We were left with an array of short and long-term goals, access to resources and most significantly a shared understanding and appreciation of the necessary work ahead. Ruby is an exceptional and committed facilitator.

Margaret Chrumka

Executive Director, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops, BC Canada

An incredible series that disrupts the White Supremacist narratives found in our current school system while also being mindful of Indigenous sovereignty throughout, Ruby uses Black History, Black Futures, Black Excellence and Black Creativity to take students on a creative journey full of discovery, celebration, and pride in Black Identiy. This series helps us operationalize what we mean when we say Black Canadian History is Canadian History. This truly should be a requirement in every class.

Annie Ohana

M/Ed in Equity Studies and Indigenous Department Head

Ruby engaged my Social Studies 8 class with incredibly engaging presentations on Black History and how to be an ally. My students were privileged to have Ruby’s powerful and meaningful workshops, and this all demonstrates how vital Black history is to our curriculum. Thanks Ruby!

Lee

Windermere Secondary Social Studies Teacher

I had the immense honour of working with Ruby in 2019//2020 where she facilitated this ground breaking workshop series at Windermere Secondary. She is an incredibly knowledgeable, engaging and skilled facilitator and educator. Students expressed an overwhelming appreciation to have participated in this series. For many, it has sparked an interest in racial justice in their school communities and beyond.

Preet Lidder

Mathematics Teacher, Windermere Secondary School

The sessions with Ruby were more than illuminating, they really got my students to think deeply about issues, and to want to inquire further about the issues raised. I learned a great deal but I also got to see someone teach with passion, empathy, and true understanding. My students and I will not forget the lessons learned in the workshops.

Brent Schieve

Social Studies Department Head, Guildford Park Secondary

Having Ruby join us in class, with her skill sets as an artist, teacher, storyteller, and community builder, provided opportunities for students to engage with complex topics, express themselves in unique ways, and see themselves represented in the stories, and storytellers, shared over the duration of our 8-week series.

Joel Wollenberg

Take a Hike Senior Program Teacher

I loved being able to use the knowledge Ruby shared to continue the learning in our Social Studies lessons. It really made me realize the impact of hands on learning for my students to make their learning memorable.

After the field trip to Salt Spring Island, one parent said that this was exactly the experience they hoped their kids would get in school and that her son came home and talked through every aspect of our day trip.

Meaghan Abra

Grade 6 Teacher, Lansdowne Middle School, Greater Victoria School District

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