Original photo submitted by the Mazotta family and resulting painted portrait by Brandy Saturley.

 

Ben and daughter Naia, Toronto Ontario

 

1.       Where we you born?

Ben: Toronto

Naia: Toronto

 

2.       Where do you call home now?

Ben: Toronto

Naia: Toronto

 

3.       What are your occupations?

Ben: TV director and writer

Naia: I go to school, I'm in Grade 1.

 

4.       Where is your favourite place to eat, other than home?

Ben: my parents

Naia: Subway Restaurant

 

Favourite cuisine?

Ben: Indian

Naia: McDonald's Happy Meal

 

5.       How many languages do you speak?

Ben: two (English, Italian)

Naia: one

 

6.       Who is your favourite Canadian music artist?

Ben: Cowboy Junkies

Naia: Shawn Mendes

 

7.       What is your favourite thing to do on a Sunday?

Ben: play video games with my son and go for walks

Naia: visit Nonna (grandma)

 

8.       Politically speaking, which way do you lean?

Ben: liberal/to the left

 

9.       Do you play any sports? Favourite sports to watch?

Ben: ball hockey. hockey!

Naia: No. My favourite sport to watch is hockey.

 

10.   Do you have a hidden talent or hobby that you enjoy?

Ben: making balsam wood model planes

Naia: Drawing but it's not a secret

 

11.   How do you celebrate your culture?

Ben: enjoying hockey, producing Canadian children's TV

Naia: At school we sing O Canada.

 

Specific holidays, traditions, games?

Ben: going to the movies as a family

Naia: Christmas, and birthdays because you feel special

 

12.   What is the most important issue to you as a Canadian citizen?

Ben: Economy and how it applies to the film/tv industry

Naia: my family

 

13.   Where do you go to be in nature?

Ben: High Park or camping at Rockwood Conservation Area

Naia: High Park

 

Is this important to you?

Ben: yes

Naia: yes

 

14.   I have three days in your neighborhood, what must I not miss to get a real sense of life in your part of Canada?

Ben: Toronto city hall/Nathan Phillips Square, Eaton's Centre for shopping, Little Italy/Chinatown/Greektown/little Korea for walking

Naia: CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Toronto Harbourfront

 

15.   Do you have a favourite museum or art gallery?

Ben: ROM

Naia: ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)

 

16.   Mounties, hockey, maple syrup, beer, maple leafs and eh…do you partake?
Do you wish Canada would get over all the stereotypical icons of Canadiana?

Ben: No, not at all.

 

17.   What does being Canadian mean to you?

Ben: Being nice, polite, and being tolerant of everyone and all cultures

Naia: to be living in Canada with my family and spending time with my friends.

 

18.   I see you holding Tim Horton’s? How often do you enjoy Timmy’s?

Ben: Almost every day.

Naia: When Matteo and I go out for walks with my mom and dad, sometimes they get me a hot chocolate if it's cold.

 

19.   Where in Canada would you like to explore that you have not yet?

Ben: British Columbia

Naia: Quebec to practice my french

 

20.   Do you volunteer your time or support any Canadian organizations?

Ben: Every year I do a cartoon drawing class at my children's primary school in Toronto. I help my parents-in-law with their annual book-drive (they send children's books to build children's libraries in the Philippines.

Naia: I play at the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club every day.

 

Canada is a patchwork nation made of many cultures, colours, vistas and stories. Every story shared is another chance to know and appreciate each other on a deeper level. Thank you to Maria for sending in the photo, and to Ben and Naia for sharing a bit of their Canada with us. Ben & Maria are the creative minds behind Little Engine Moving Pictures and just launched a new trailer for their preschool series all about Canada, 'Canada Crew'. Watch the trailer here.