Chelene Knight, Founder, Breathing Space Creative
She/Her

I am the author of a few books including the award-winning Dear Current Occupant, Junie, and Let It Go. I have bylines in multiple Canadian and American literary journals, plus the Globe and Mail, the Walrus, and the Toronto Star.

In addition to running Breathing Space Creative, I also previously worked as a literary agent with Transatlantic Agency. Learn more about me here cheleneknight.com

Chelene on creative sustainability

“I want to write books and run and expand my business. In order to do this, I recognize that my mind and body play an integral role. It took me a long time to come to this understanding. So when I think about what the ideal work/life balance means to me and looks like on the daily, I see myself feeling good when I am writing AND when I am not writing. I enter into my work day feeling motivated to do my best and I call in gratitude when I shift into my creative work. I spend time cooking and creating outside of writing but everything I do connects and contributes to my creativity. Each morning I wake with curiosity on my tongue, and I go to bed feeling relaxed.

Photo credit: Maxine Bulloch

Jessica kent, Administrative Assistant
She/Her

Hi! I am Jessica and I am a crafter that loves to bake and eat! You will usually see me working on one of the many crafting projects that I will one day finish hehe. My dream is to one day live in a cozy home with my family and be able to craft all day with a nice cup of tea. It makes me feel great when I am able to help someone and make them feel comfortable in their environment. To be able to sustainably craft and create, I think you need to let yourself take the time to enjoy what you are doing and not put the pressure of finishing a project on yourself. Enjoying the crafting process is key!

Jessica has an environmental science degree from Simon Fraser University and loves to play farming video games. You can follow her on Instagram @jesscraftingscottage

Jessica on creative sustainability

"I want to be able to create and be relaxed while I do it. As someone who worries a lot, I know that I have to be able to set some of those worries aside and be in a relaxed space before I can enjoy my working and crafting time. To achieve this balance I see myself setting time aside to concentrate on tasks or life events that I am worried about, but once that set time is over I can relax and enjoy my crafting time. This will give me a calmer mind to work on fun projects and let my creativity flow, allowing me the ability to create forever."

Mar Tezak, Podcast Producer, The Balanced Creative
THey/THem

Hello! My name is Mar and I’m a creator. Whether it’s through writing fiction, reading energy, or designing sound, I am always exploring inner worlds through external ideas. Understanding the stories behind people and how they relate to the world is a big thing for me as I believe we are all storytellers who have something important to say.

I am passionate about creating safe spaces where people can process their emotions through creative outlets. One example I love to do this through Safyre, an immersive meditative fantasy podcast. As the producer and editor of The Balanced Creative, my focus is on enhancing the conversations around burnout and mindset shifts.

You can visit tezakaudio.com for more insights on my work.

Mar on creative sustainability

"Living each day intentionally is a big factor for me, especially since I have an issue with holding my focus. There are so many ideas out there, how can you just stick with one? And what happens when what you’re working on evolves along with you? Keeping my intentions in check has really helped me to find more creative sustainability because if you’re aware of what you need from your projects, and what your projects need from you, you’ll never lose sight of what you’re creating."

We firmly support creatives in defining and advocating for themselves and their boundaries all while honing their passions. We value the lessons and insights from personal journeys, recognizing that each story holds its own valuable expertise. It’s also important for us to shed those outdated narratives that weigh us down. Our goal? Evolve, grow, let go, and create new narratives for ourselves.

Who we are

We are Breathing Space Creative.

What we believe

Although we work with folks from all backgrounds and levels of experience, we strive to honour and celebrate all historically excluded identities.

 You belong here.

We aim to be an inclusive, intersectional, and welcoming community. Therefore, we do not tolerate anti-blackness, sexism, racism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism and any other form of discrimination.

We believe that seeking nourishment and wellness is an absolutely necessary part of living a balanced lifestyle.

We believe that communication is and should always be a top priority.

We believe that most industries (including the publishing industry) can be accessible without following the traditional pathways like a university degree.

We believe that lived experience is a key lens to create, explore, and ultimately share one’s creativity.

We believe that learning, unlearning, and growth should be celebrated.

We believe that defining self care, wellness, and success for ourselves is key to our practice.

We believe that discussion and conversation can foster empowering transformations in a way not possible or comparable to traditional education.

We believe that everyone’s creative work has value.

We believe that artists deserve to be paid for their work and their time. We value volunteer work, but we also encourage folks to advocate for themselves.

Finally, we believe in exploring all of the possibilities for self-discovery and fulfillment that the creative world has to offer.

We are not for you if you believe that you do not need community or if you are simply seeking out a fast-tracked way to eliminating burnout.

We recognize how easy it is for organizations to say they’re inclusive without incorporating any meaningful action. Here are the ways we  have and are continuing to work on making our business and spaces more equitable in the next 12-18 months.

Enforced Safer Spaces Policy

We have created a Safer Spaces Policy that all participants and members of any community spaces we hold are subject to.

We believe in everyone’s ability to address the harm they have caused and will help guide them to repair the harm they’ve caused. However, in instances where it’s clear there is not a desire or genuine effort made to address the harm caused, anyone in violation of this policy will be removed.

Accessibility

We understand that our goal towards accessibility is not a short path. We are committed to continually making the website more accessible and addressing existing accessibility issues which we hope to have implemented by the end of 2025:  

• Adding access information to our course sales pages

• Adding missing alt text

• Correcting existing contrast issues

• Adding captions and transcripts to pre-recorded videos

• Making sure we are meeting the rules  outlined in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Inclusive Language

• Creating an inclusive language policy

• Annual language audit: Each year we will review all content to make sure it reflects up to date respective terms and language and remove language

Land acknowledgement

We honour and celebrate indigenous peoples.

Our work takes place on the unceded, occupied, ancestral and traditional lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Our work also takes place on the traditional lands of the Sts' ailes, Seabird Island, Sq'ewá:lxw, Cheam, Douglas, Leq'a:mel, Samahquam, Sq'ewlets, and Skatin First Nations.

We commit to acknowledging the stolen lands our work takes place on the website and during any live or recorded trainings or events.

Want to support us with a tip? Our goal is to also provide high quality FREE content wherever possible, but making a living is also a priority. To help us to hire more BIPOC hosts, and offer discounted services to BIPOC creators, you can help us out here.

thank you!

our framework

Although each offering at Breathing Space Creative uses its own unique framework, our overall focus can be broken down into Processes, Wellness & Care, and Community Clarity.

Processes

• Build your rituals

• Assess your barriers

• Communicate your boundaries & non-negotiables

Wellness & Care

• Call in your community

• Move your body

• Protect your currency (energy & time)

Community Clarity

• Investigate your niche

• Challenge the status quo

• Demand agency