Goodable

While everyone else is talking about the shooter at Uvalde, Texas, we’re doing something different at Goodable. We want to talk about two heroes: Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles. They were the two teachers that died protecting their students in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children at Robb Elementary School.<img src="https://scontent.fyto1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/284341945_580509236772642_763590570466120365_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=UMVRvSt0XiMAX-fCaMu&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fyto1-2.fna&amp;oh=00_AT9kq2f9PGPHqAK5spDzBwvIrviFugbuaBes1o6Cp-8PGw&amp;oe=6294912D">
Irma Garcia



<img src="https://www.ucisd.net/cms/lib/TX50000017/Centricity/Domain/1359/Irma%20Garcia%20DTOY.png">



Irma Garcia had been teaching for 23 years, all of them at Robb Elementary. She was married to her husband for 24 years, and together they had four children – the youngest of which was in seventh grade. She loved cruises and barbecues with her family, and was described by the school community as a teacher who loved her students. 



In 2019, Irma was a finalist for the Trinity University prize in education, which honors excellence in education. In her nomination, Irma was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/20015082725/posts/pfbid0AKYPQ2Xogg5xQrk6XUqo3Xuae7nLc2969UanYpGJpw5t1S6xT5kEJHNDADrG3hTAl/?d=n" target="_blank">praised</a> for helping struggling students “excel academically with a renewed vision of education.”



When the gunman opened fire in her school, she physically shielded her students from the bullets. Irma gave her life to protect others, and died a hero.



In a <a href="https://twitter.com/fuhknjo/status/1529298462570946560?s=20&amp;t=Kfz_04Tqia3tr7knj7n1Fg" target="_blank">post on Twitter</a>, her nephew said she was “loved by many and will truly be missed.”



Eva Mireles



<img src="https://www.ucisd.net/cms/lib/TX50000017/Centricity/Domain/1365/Mireles.jpg">



Eva Mireles was a teacher who taught language and special education. She was a teacher of 17 years, and was described by parents as a “<a href="https://twitter.com/audreymg0928/status/1529249176390860801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1529249176390860801%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marca.com%2Fen%2Flifestyle%2Fus-news%2F2022%2F05%2F25%2F628daeda46163f6a138b4618.html" target="_blank">beautiful person &amp; dedicated teacher</a>” who went “above and beyond for her students.” In an <a href="https://www.today.com/news/news/cousin-of-teacher-eva-mireles-killed-texas-school-shooting-speaks-out-rcna30437?cid=sm_npd_td_fb_ma&amp;fbclid=IwAR3A4ZIX1GcHe2Qwm-yuz5ohJWpqOIgtioiw-wb2A6Q5pt81OmGJEnFAPK0" target="_blank">interview</a> with The Today Show, Eva’s cousin described her as “absolutely vivacious” and said “it breaks my heart. Her cooking was amazing, her laughter was contagious, and she is going to be missed.”



Eva loved the outdoors — she wrote about her love of hiking, running, and riding her bike. She was a wife and a mother, and died trying to protect her students.



Eva’s daughter, Adalynn, posted a tribute to her mother, describing her as the “half that makes her whole”. Adalynn mentioned that her favorite memories of her mother from karaoke and cooking, and her mother’s beautiful laugh.
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FTm45nvWYAEiyDy?format=jpg&amp;name=large">
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FTm45nwWYAAqnVK?format=jpg&amp;name=large">




In a world full of names, remember these ones. Two teachers who didn’t hesitate to protect their students in the face of danger, and lost their lives protecting others. Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles were heroes. 



A fundraiser has been set up for the families of the victims and can be found <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/mtdrdc-texas-elementary-school-shooting-victims-fund" target="_blank">here</a>.

A Tribute to The Hero Teachers of Uvalde

After a spectacular year in space in 2025—from a rare interstellar visitor to jaw-dropping auroras and the long-awaited opening of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory—the new year is shaping up to be just as exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just like watching the skies, 2026 is packed with moments worth looking up for.

Meteors to Mark on Your Calendar

It starts with the Quadrantids in early January, a lesser-known but fast and furious meteor shower that can deliver up to 120 meteors an hour. That is, if you manage to catch it.

“It’s one of those showers where, if you get it at the right time and the conditions are right, you actually see the ramp up in activity,” said Peter Brown, Canada Research Chair in meteor astronomy at Western University.

But this year’s show will be muted by bad timing: a full moon will wash out most of the faint streaks, and January weather isn’t always kind to skywatchers.

The Perseids in August are a different story. One of the most popular showers of the year, they could reach up to 150 meteors per hour, and best of all, the peak falls on a new moon.

“We [have a] good moon for next year,” Brown said. “Actually, it’s literally a new moon.” That means even faint meteors will be visible, especially in darker areas away from city lights.

Later in December, the Geminids return for another round. They’ll also peak under great conditions, with only a waxing crescent moon to compete with. Again, that could mean up to 150 meteors per hour on the night of Dec. 13–14.

A Canadian Is Going to the Moon

For Canadians, one of the biggest events of the year won’t be visible from Earth—but it’ll make history.

Jeremy Hansen, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency, is one of four crew members aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission, which is currently targeting a launch window that opens Feb. 5. The mission will send humans around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The crew—Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover—will orbit Earth before heading toward the moon, making a single orbit and then returning to Earth. The planned trajectory will take them farther from Earth than any human has ever gone.

Eclipses Are Back

Canada didn’t see many eclipses in 2025, but this year, there are three to watch for.

First up: a total lunar eclipse on March 3, best seen from the West Coast and Northwest Territories, where the full event will be visible. Further east, you’ll catch it as the moon sets.

Then in August, just as the Perseids peak, parts of the world will see a total solar eclipse—though Canada will only get a partial version. On Aug. 12, viewers in central and eastern regions will notice a subtle bite taken out of the sun.

Two weeks later, on Aug. 28, the moon slides back into Earth’s shadow for a partial lunar eclipse visible across the country. Nearly the entire moon will turn a reddish-orange hue, depending on atmospheric conditions.

New Missions Beyond Earth

Aside from Artemis II, several major space missions are on the calendar.

Rocket Lab plans to launch a probe to Venus in summer 2026. The mission will drop a small craft into the planet’s atmosphere to search for potential organic molecules. That follows the 2020 debate over whether signs of phosphine—associated with life on Earth—had been detected in Venus’s clouds.

Japan is targeting 2026 for its Martian Moon Exploration mission, which aims to collect a sample from Mars’ moon Phobos and return it to Earth. If successful, it will be the first sample ever retrieved from a Martian moon.

And possibly launching by the end of the year (or slipping into 2027) is the long-anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The mission’s goal is ambitious: to investigate the dark matter and dark energy that are thought to make up most of the universe.

The Unknown Awaits

Space has a way of surprising us. In 2025, scientists welcomed only the third-known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, named 3I/ATLAS. No one knew it was coming.

So while 2026 has plenty already on the calendar—meteors, moonshots, eclipses and explorations—there’s always the possibility that something entirely unexpected could light up the sky.

It might be another comet. It might be another visitor from another star. Or maybe something no one’s predicted yet.

Best advice? Keep looking up.

From Moons to Meteors: What The World Can Look Forward to in Space Travel This Year

People

Four years ago, Thomas Scordino and Sophia Paranzino struck up a conversation on a Boston College shuttle bus. Last week, they returned to that exact spot—but this time, Scordino got down on one knee.

The finance and marketing major planned a surprise proposal for Paranzino in the center aisle of a Newton campus shuttle, where they first met as freshmen. “He was wearing a Johns Hopkins shirt and I’m from Baltimore, so I asked about it,” Paranzino told Boston College News. “Then we talked for the rest of the ride.”

The campus became a big part of their relationship, she said. “Most nights we would go to 10 p.m. Candlelight Mass, take the bus back, and walk around Newton Campus for hours, just getting to know each other and growing closer.”

So when it came time to propose, Scordino knew exactly where he wanted to do it. He reached out to Gabe Parker, Boston College’s Director of Transportation and Parking, with what he called a “crazy ask.” Parker didn’t hesitate.

“He said, ‘Yes, we love it. Do it,’” Scordino recalled. “And I was like, ‘Oh, heck yeah.’ I’m so very, very grateful to them.”

With the help of Coach Supervisor Manny Alves, they spent a week figuring out how to stage the proposal without disrupting regular bus service. The couple boarded a bus marked “special event,” sat in their old seats, and after a short ride, Scordino stood up to deliver a heartfelt speech.

Then, in the exact spot where their story began, he proposed.

A photographer captured the moment through the shuttle doors, and soon after, friends and family joined the couple for a celebration—including a custom cake shaped like a shuttle bus that read: “Congratulations Thomas & Sophia … the real magic school bus.”

Parker praised the effort Scordino put into the proposal. “This is a kid who’s in college, worrying about midterms, thinking about where he’s going to work next year, and he still took the time to plan something so thoughtful. We were happy to be a small part of it.”

Paranzino said she started to suspect something was going on before the big moment. “He’s not a good liar, which I always say is a really good quality in someone I want to marry,” she joked.

As for Scordino, he had one takeaway for other students: “Don’t have your head down in your phone all the time — just say hi to people. It worked for me.”

Boston College Couple Gets Engaged on the Same Campus Shuttle Where They First Met

Glenda Akin didn’t just teach generations of students—she made history doing it.

After more than six decades in the classroom, the longtime educator from Westmoreland, Tennessee, retired in 2024 and earned a Guinness World Record in the process. Akin officially holds the title for longest teacher in the same school (female) after clocking 61 years and 43 days at Westmoreland High School.

She began her teaching career in 1963 at the Sumner County school and stayed put, working as a social studies and library teacher until her retirement on September 13, 2024.

Westmoreland High School shared the news of her milestone in a Facebook post on December 19, writing, “Historic Achievement at Westmoreland High School! We are incredibly proud to announce that Ms. Glenda Akin has officially been awarded a Guinness World Record for the Longest Career as a Female Teacher in the Same School!”

The post included photos of Akin being honored at the school, proudly holding her official Guinness World Records certificate.

“With an extraordinary 61 years and 43 days of dedicated service at Westmoreland High School, Ms. Akin’s lifelong commitment to education has shaped generations of students and left an unforgettable legacy in our school and community,” the school added. “Please join us in congratulating Ms. Glenda Akin on this historic and well-deserved honor!”

Though Akin has now stepped out of the classroom, her presence remains deeply embedded in the school. Westmoreland High has renamed its library the Glenda Akin Library in her honor.

A plaque installed in the newly named space features her photo and a tribute: “Her six decades of service to our school and community will remain forever cherished in the lives of her coworkers and students.”

No longer at the front of the classroom, Akin leaves behind not just a legacy, but a reminder of what commitment to education looks like—measured not just in years, but in lives touched.

Teacher Wins Guinness World Record For Working 61 Years At The Same School

ESPN

Travelers headed toward Davidson College might now hear a familiar name called out on their GPS — and it’s not just any alum.

On Tuesday night, NBA superstar Stephen Curry returned to his alma mater as the state of North Carolina officially renamed Exit 30 off I-77 the Stephen Curry Interchange, recognizing his lasting legacy at Davidson College and his contributions to the school’s basketball program.

Fittingly, Curry has worn the number 30 throughout both his college and NBA career.

The Golden State Warriors guard attended Davidson’s home game against Duquesne in Davidson, North Carolina, to celebrate the moment. Wearing a Davidson sweatsuit and a pair of "Carmine" Air Jordan Retro 6s — the same sneakers he wore in an iconic college photoshoot — Curry stood alongside teammates Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler III, and Moses Moody, who made the trip to support him.

In March, Curry made headlines when he became the first active NBA player to take on an administrative role in a college basketball program, being named assistant general manager for Davidson men’s basketball.

Curry played for the Wildcats from 2006 to 2009 and famously led them to the Elite Eight in the 2008 NCAA tournament. That season, he also set the then-record for the most three-pointers in a single Division I season with 162 — a mark that stood until Iowa's Caitlin Clark broke it in 2023-24 with 164.

Now 37, Curry is still making an impact on the court, averaging 28.8 points and 4.3 assists so far this NBA season.

As of this week, he’s also officially part of the North Carolina road map.

Davidson Honors Stephen Curry With Interchange Named After Him

BBC News

After weeks of living rough and sheltering her newborns in a hole in a tree, a stray Shiba Inu named Fern and her five puppies are now safe, healthy, and learning how to live in a home.

Fern had been spotted wandering near Peterborough in November, foraging for food but too nervous to let anyone get close. Locals began leaving food and water, but it wasn’t until the early hours of 20 November that she was finally found—peeking out from a tree, her tiny pups nestled behind her.

All six dogs were safely rescued and taken to Woodgreen Pets Charity in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. From there, they were placed into foster care with Ciara Pollen, the charity’s behaviour and training specialist, who is now raising the family at her home in Bedfordshire.

"Given their outdoor start, it's been lovely to see how resilient and curious they are now that they're safe and cared for," said Pollen.

The puppies—named Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom—were just three weeks old when they were rescued and are believed to have been born in the wild. Fern, though underweight and nervous at first, has bounced back with proper care and a nutritious diet.

"She's now at a healthy weight and even starting to politely decline the odd extra mouthful, which says a lot about how far she's come," said Pollen.

Now in a warm home, the pups are experiencing household life for the first time—interacting with children, cats, vaccinated dogs, and learning how to navigate everything from car journeys to dishwashers.

“They’re finding their feet beautifully,” Pollen said. “This stage is all about positive early experiences. Their socialisation window from roughly four to 14 weeks is crucial.”

Fern is also getting help adjusting, thanks in part to Pollen’s own dog, Fable.

“For Fern, living with a well-adjusted dog can be a big boost. Nervous dogs often learn more readily from another dog than from people,” she explained.

The puppies, now well on their way to becoming confident, well-rounded dogs, are being introduced to early basics like house training and gentle exposure to everyday sounds and experiences.

Foster life is busy. The puppies need to be fed every four to six hours, go through toilet training, and still sleep up to 20 hours a day. But Pollen says fostering makes all the difference.

"A home environment gives us a clear picture of how dogs behave day to day, which means we can match them far more accurately to the right adopters,” she said. “For dogs like Fern who have been strays with unknown histories, this is invaluable.”

While Fern was microchipped, it wasn’t linked to an address, and no one has come forward to claim her. The charity believes she was likely abandoned while pregnant—an unusual situation for a purebred Shiba Inu.

Despite the mystery surrounding her past, Fern’s future looks bright. All five puppies are thought to be purebreds, and interest in them has been overwhelming.

"Because of the brilliant support from Japanese Shiba Inu Rescue UK, we already have a large pool of breed-experienced applicants for both Fern and the puppies, so we aren't taking new expressions of interest for this litter or for Fern," said Pollen.

Woodgreen is reminding pet owners who are struggling to reach out before abandoning animals. Support is available, whether through Woodgreen or other animal charities.

As for Fern and her pups, the hard part is over. Their next chapter—one filled with care, security, and soft beds—is just beginning.

Rescuers Save Puppies and Mum Found Hiding In a Tree, Just In Time For A Warm Christmas

A New Jersey animal shelter is thanking its community after an overwhelming response to a crisis that left more than 30 dogs without a roof over their heads.

On December 29, Associated Humane Societies of Newark announced that part of its facility had suffered “significant damage” when the roof of a neighboring business, weighed down by heavy snow, collapsed onto the shelter’s rear kennels.

“Suddenly, there was this tremendous boom,” shelter employee Olivia Gonzalez told CBS New York. “They rushed, and they saw just absolute chaos and destruction in the rear end of the kennels.”

Roughly 30 of the shelter’s 175 dogs had been housed in the damaged area. The collapse forced the organization to urgently call for emergency foster homes—specifically for dogs over 40 pounds.

“With the shelter already full, the sudden loss of this critical kennel space is devastating,” the shelter wrote in a Facebook post.

But the response from the community was swift.

Within just 48 hours, all but two of the displaced dogs had been placed with foster families. “Only two dogs left for foster,” the organization shared in a December 31 update, calling the outpouring of support “incredible.”

Staff and volunteers have been working nonstop to process applications, and the shelter is still encouraging people to sign up as fosters.

“We are still taking in stray dogs, lost dogs,” Gonzalez told ABC7. “So in this time that we are unable to house dogs in those 30 kennels, the foster support is vital to us.”

The shelter has asked potential adopters or fosters to bring their full household—including any existing dogs and children—for meet-and-greet visits, and to bring a valid photo ID (along with patience, as the team continues to work through a surge in interest).

The organization has also set up an Amazon wishlist for anyone wishing to donate supplies.

Despite the chaos, Gonzalez said the situation has been a reminder of how much the community cares.

“We’ve had people come from hours away just to help,” she said. “It’s been incredible.”

Community Rushes to Help After Roof Collapse Displaces 30 Dogs at New Jersey Shelter

ABC News

On the side of a rural road at the edge of Nairobi’s urban sprawl, a client steps into a shack lined not with mirrors and clippers, but tools of a different kind—agricultural shears, a wrench, a shovel.

And that’s exactly what Ian Njenga came for.

“I just use unconventional tools,” says Safari Martins, smiling as he slides the edge of a sharpened shovel across Njenga’s scalp. Moments later, a surprisingly clean, stylish haircut begins to take shape.

Martins—known to his fans as Chief Safro—might be Kenya’s most famous barber. With roughly 1 million followers on both Instagram and TikTok, he’s turned roadside haircuts into viral video gold, blending precision styling with a flair for the absurd.

A helper nearby films every snip, swipe, and swing on a smartphone. Each cut is part performance, part craftsmanship.

From High School to Headlines

Originally from Rwanda, Martins started cutting hair in high school back in 2018, using borrowed clippers to give trims outside classrooms and in cramped dorm rooms. Five years later, he swapped the clippers for machetes, kitchen knives, and even a hot iron box—now “blessed by village elders”—and added a camera to the mix.

The results were weird, bold, and instantly shareable.

He went viral for the tools, but his staying power comes from the stories. In recent videos, Martins layers in voiceovers inspired by African folk tales and traditions, mixing ancestral wisdom with Gen Z entertainment.

“I’m motivated by African culture, by African stories,” he says.

Haircuts and Influence

In a city where a basic men’s cut often costs just $1, Martins charges nearly $12. But his clients don’t mind the premium.

“If I compare him with other barbers his talent is next level,” says Njenga. “When I get shaved here I get very comfortable … while walking in the streets I get very confident.”

The appeal is partly about the haircut—and partly about appearing on one of Kenya’s most engaging social media feeds. The promise of internet fame, even for a few seconds, is part of the draw.

Influencer barbers are a growing trend in Kenya, as social media use explodes. According to DataReportal, Kenya added nearly 5 million new social media users between January 2023 and January 2025—a jump of almost 50%.

That’s opened the door for more creators to make real money online. A June 2025 brief from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis found that 15% of online content creators in the country now rely on it as their primary source of income.

Fame, But Not Fortune

But even with millions of views and high engagement, Martins says barber influencers aren’t treated the same as other creators when it comes to sponsorships and pay.

“Barbers get viral on social media but I feel like they are not respected,” he says. “You are not paid as a content creator, even though you have the views, even if you have the engagement.”

Gaming, education, and lifestyle creators are often better positioned for brand deals, according to influencer financing firm Fundmates, because of broader commercial appeal.

Still, Martins isn’t slowing down. He keeps sharpening his tools, filming new videos, and chasing the next cut—part barber, part performer, part digital storyteller.

Just don’t expect him to pick up a pair of clippers anytime soon.

Meet Kenya’s Viral Barber Who Trades Clippers for Shovels

Nearly a decade after stumbling across a tiny black-and-white wedding photo on the floor of a shop, Donna Stocking still can’t bring herself to let it go.

“This is almost my last try,” she said. “But to be honest, I can't throw it away because, just look at the way she is looking at him in the picture — this is someone's history.”

Stocking, who lives in Stoke Ferry, England, found the passport-sized photo in or near the entrance of Artichoke, a boutique women’s clothing store in The Passage in Ely, Cambridgeshire, where she was working around 2017. The image shows a young couple—he appears to be wearing a naval uniform, she’s fair-haired and wearing a hat—locked in a moment that looks like it came from their wedding day.

Now, years later, she’s once again sharing the photo on social media, hoping that someone might recognise the couple or know their family.

“I think they look like they’re in their early 20s, and maybe it was taken in the 1960s or later, but I’m not sure,” she said. “Whoever they are, or whenever it was taken, just look at the way she is looking at him? I really hope they are still together.”

Stocking describes herself as a “photo fan” and has a personal collection of old photographs, but said this one has always stood out. “It’s clearly a wedding photo,” she said. “I’d been sorting through my pictures, and this is one I just can’t throw away.”

She suspects it may have slipped out of someone’s purse during a visit to the shop and has tried in the past to post it on Facebook, though with no luck. Her latest post in an Ely community group is a renewed attempt to reach someone—anyone—who might recognise the couple.

“It’s such a lovely photograph, isn’t it?” she said. “Wouldn’t it be great to find them, or maybe their children, if they had them, and reunite it?”

If that doesn’t happen, the photo will stay right where it’s been for the last seven years—in the hands of someone who’s not ready to give up on its story just yet.

“Just Look at the Way She’s Looking at Him”: Woman’s Final Attempt to Return Lost Wedding Photo

After nearly three years in RSPCA kennels and two separate shelter moves, a six-year-old lurcher named Alvin has finally found a home—and a sofa to call his own.

The tan-and-white lurcher cross was rescued in May 2022 after being injured during hunting. His previous owner failed to seek treatment, and Alvin was taken in by the RSPCA’s Warrington, Halton & St Helens branch in the West Midlands. But despite his “adorable couch potato” charm, no one came forward to adopt him.

He became one of the RSPCA’s longest-staying dogs, overlooked time and again even after several appeals. Legally, he couldn’t be put up for adoption until February 2024, when his former owner—who has since been banned from keeping animals—finally signed him over to the charity.

By the end of 2024, Alvin was moved to the RSPCA’s Preston branch in Lancashire in hopes of giving him a better shot at finding a forever home. Within two months, it worked.

Alan Eastham, who lives near Preston, spotted Alvin’s profile on the RSPCA website while browsing for a new companion. The family had recently lost their border terrier, and his stepdaughter was missing the presence of a dog around the house.

“I spotted Alvin, who was described by the RSPCA as a ‘gentle giant,’” Alan said. “I’d always fancied having a lurcher and he just seemed to tick all the right boxes.”

Still, Alvin had some adjusting to do. After so long in kennels, he was nervous around other dogs and needed time to settle in.

“We've done a lot of training to help him overcome some of his fears, mainly around other dogs,” Alan said. “Now we've got to the stage where he'll walk past them on the other side of the road.”

Over time, Alvin’s personality came to the surface. “As the months went on, his personality really started to shine through,” Alan said. “I can open a wrapper in the kitchen and he'll be asleep somewhere else, hear it and be next to me before I know it!”

These days, Alvin enjoys a peaceful routine: three short walks a day, Sunday visits to a dog-friendly café, and long, uninterrupted naps.

“He’s definitely a couch potato,” Alan said. But after years of waiting, Alvin finally has a couch—and a home—to call his own.

Gentle Giant Rescue Dog Finds Forever Home After Three-Year Wait

BetaKit

They’re in the stands during hockey brawls in Shoresy, singing carols in Hot Frosty, or quietly passing by in dozens of Hallmark movies. These background actors—aka extras—are everywhere in Canadian film and television. And in 2025, more than 7,000 of them found work through a single platform: Background Work.

The Ottawa-based startup launched just last year, aiming to fix one of the film industry’s messiest problems—coordinating extras. According to CEO Ilona Smyth, it’s often harder than casting a lead role.

“Negotiating a very large deal for a lead, versus trying to get 50 people to show up to set as background actors?” Smyth said. “Doing the latter is much harder, and there’s no tool.”

So she built one. After 20 years working in casting, Smyth teamed up with Saman Raza, who runs a tech consulting firm with partner Bryan Belanger. Together, they created a streamlined platform that connects aspiring background actors with film and TV productions—no experience required.

“What we’re trying to change is the perspective of what the background actors’ place is in the work of art of the film,” Smyth said. “They tend to be thought of last.”

A Platform for the ‘Hardest to Cast’

Extras are the bodies that fill arenas, cafés, and sidewalks—an essential part of visual storytelling. But they’re notoriously difficult to book at scale, especially for one-day shoots or productions on tight timelines. Background Work’s platform simplifies the process.

Prospective extras pay $99 per year to access vetted job listings, upload photos and videos, and get educational resources about working on set. Casting directors, in turn, get a searchable pool of pre-vetted talent they can book directly.

For a show like Shoresy, having video footage of applicants skating helped casting directors avoid the usual guesswork.

“There’s no limit to how this could be used,” Smyth said. “Because films are being done the same all over the world.”

So far, most of the platform’s work has been in Ontario. But demand is growing. In addition to productions like Hot Frosty and Shoresy, the platform recently helped book extras for Michael Cera’s directorial debut starring Pamela Anderson, which began filming in November in Carleton Place, Ontario.

The company, still only around 10 people, also has a large upcoming project in Manitoba and plans to expand nationwide.

Tech Meets Casting

Raza said the partnership between her team and Smyth’s worked because it fused deep industry experience with software development.

“We’re in a kind of marriage,” she said. “Ilona’s the artist, and we’re the paintbrush.”

Unlike broader casting tools like CastingBook, which focus on speaking roles, Background Work is built specifically for extras—the roles that are often hardest to plan, fill, and manage. That niche, the founders say, has been their strength.

The platform’s timing is also notable. While Canada’s film industry is booming thanks to tax credits and international streaming hits like North of North and Heated Rivalry, the ecosystem is facing pressure. New uncertainty around trade—sparked by Donald Trump’s push for 100-percent tariffs on movies—has left producers watching closely.

And behind the scenes, Smyth and Raza are already thinking ahead. Extras often need to submit personal information for tax credit eligibility, but the current system lacks proper security protocols. One of Background Work’s next goals is to modernize and secure that data exchange.

A Bigger Role for Extras

While extras may be the silent figures in the background of a scene, Background Work is working to shift that perception—starting with better infrastructure, more visibility, and smoother access to paid work.

For many aspiring actors, it’s a first step on set. For the industry, it’s one less logistical headache.

And if things go according to plan, 2026 could be an even busier year—for both background actors and the platform helping them get hired.

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