The Critics in your head are lying to you.
These pins started out as merch in collaboration with The Tesse Rae for my solo show Fake n’ Bake. My Critics were some of the main characters in the show, which explored personal themes of disordered eating, addiction, mental health and recovery.
In the first year I did the show, 10% of merch proceeds went towards Canadian Mental Health Association, Edmonton. The Critics pins were by far the biggest hit of all!
In fact, I remember needing to order more halfway through the run because the message on them resonated so strongly with people.
“Oh, my sister/brother/best friend/mom/partner needs this pin!”
“Can I get 10 of these to give to people I love?”
In the second year, I shifted to selling the Critics pins by donation, with 100% of the proceeds going to CMHA Edmonton. By the end of that summer, we had raised over $1,700 for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
In the fall of 2023, I partnered with all four locations of The Makers Keep, as well as The Tesse Rae in Highlands, to sell these pins by donation. %100 of profits from all pins sold go towards the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Last summer, I had the privilege of learning more about this incredible organization. The CMHA provides vital support for individuals in our community, creating a safe, welcoming space where people feel empowered to address their mental health challenges. They are a fantastic organization that I will always continue to support.
I’m proud to share (with thanks to the ongoing support of The Makers Keep and The Tesse Rae), we’ve raised over $2,068 for the CMHA.
The pins are still available by donation at the locations above and I also have a stash of pins and fridge magnets if anybody wants one.
I’ve mailed them as far West as Vancouver and as far East as London, Ontario!