Brian G. Smith - Director
Brian is an award-winning film-maker, educator, and alumnus of The Second City. Over the last 20 years, Brian has helped thousands of students exercise their creative spirits, and find their own storytelling voices. As head of ‘Annex Improv’ (at the Centre for Social Innovation and MaRS), Brian has created training programs that combine personal and professional growth. "Powerpoint Improv" is Brian's unique presentation skills game, found nowhere else in the city. Brian is also dad to a high-school student. This text is not funny, but Brian is.
Anjum Chagpar - Director
Anjum is a mother, artist, community organizer, and systems design engineer. In 2023, she co-founded good futures collective which uses arts, play and nature-based activities to imagine, and step into alternative stories about what is possible.
Anjum has been a youth camp counsellor, an instructor at OCADU and organized an alternative schooling pod during the pandemic. She is inspired by the imaginations of young people and the possibilities that open when we come together with presence.
Teen Teacher: Sarah Alexander
Sarah is an educator and community activist, passionate about bringing the joys and gifts of Improv to people of all ages. She has studied and performed in NYC (UCB and Magnet); LA (iO West), Toronto (The Second City and Bad Dog); Ithaca, NY (as a member of The Comedy Flops); and Melbourne. While she once supported herself as a discount birthday party clown, her biggest claim to fame is performing above the Saturday Night Live Stage on a Tuesday for the NBC IT Team.
In her youth-focused Improv instruction, Sarah brings her extensive experience as an educator to crafting engaging classes that meet the needs of diverse youngsters with empathy, sincerity, and a contagious spirit of playfulness.
Teen Teacher: Jaileen Chagpar
Jaileen is a grade 12 student in Toronto where she’s completing the Design Studio program. She has been a summer camp counselor for the last 3 years and brings her love of visual arts and sports to the IMPROV EVERYTHING! team. When she’s not sketching or playing flag football, she’s cracking jokes to make new friends and obsessing over bubble tea.