As part of our celebration of Asian Heritage Month and aligned with this year’s festival theme The Year of the Horse, the Year of the Trailblazer, FascinAsian is proud to present the Everyday Trailblazer – a powerful photovoice exhibit that captures the spirit of trailblazing through a deeply personal lens. This year, five emerging and established photographers were selected through an open call to share their unique perspectives on what it means to be a “Trailblazer” in today’s world.
We invite you to experience these compelling visual stories and connect with the voices behind the lens. The Everyday Trailblazer Photovoice Exhibit is on display at the Calgary Central Library, Buffalo Platform, from April 27 to May 31, 2026.
Our photographers behind Everyday Trailblazer Photovoice Exhibit
Christina Yao is a China-born, Calgary-based artist working across photography, video, and installation. Drawing on her experiences living in the United States, Colombia, and Canada, her work explores relationships, identity, and place through a cross-cultural lens. Yao holds a Bachelor of Design in Photography (with Distinction) from the Alberta University of the Arts. She was named a 2025 Critical Mass Top 200 finalist and a 2024 LensCulture Portrait Awards finalist, and was featured in the 2024 Exposure Photography Festival. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Sotheby’s Institute of Art (New York), Contemporary Calgary, and Arts Commons.
Harjeet Kaur Jassi is the photographer behind Forever Frames Photography, where she captures meaningful, lasting moments through a deeply personal lens. After immigrating to Canada over 25 years ago, she paused her creative pursuits while raising her family. Encouraged by her sons, she rediscovered photography in her 40s, studying at SAIT and continuing her learning independently. Her work focuses on emotion, connection, and authenticity—especially in her portraits of senior couples. Harjeet is also President of the Skyview Ranch Community Association, where she fosters community connections. She believes it is never too late to return to one’s passion and “frame it forever.”
Heinrich Domingo is a Calgary-based photographer and Filipino newcomer whose work centers on storytelling and community. Before moving to Canada, he worked as a photographer and documentary filmmaker in the Philippines. Today, he balances his work in the cleaning industry with volunteering for local non-profit initiatives. Through photography and portraiture, Heinrich is reconnecting with his creative roots, focusing on capturing meaningful people and lived experiences. His practice reflects a deep commitment to highlighting everyday stories and amplifying voices within the community, bridging his past work with his present life in Canada.
Jessica Cheng is a Calgary-based visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans graphic design, illustration, photography, papercraft, and upcycling. A second-generation Chinese Canadian, she draws inspiration from her heritage and lived experience growing up in Calgary. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications from the University of Alberta and an Applied Degree in Business Administration from SAIT. Her work explores themes of communication, identity, and connection. She has exhibited at venues including Vertigo Theatre, cSPACE, and The Confluence during Chinook Blast, and is pleased to return to the Calgary FascinAsian Film Festival.
Jon Yee is a Calgary-based photographer known for capturing candid, unguarded moments that reflect the human experience. His work spans local events and global stories, from documenting Calgary’s major public movements— including Women’s Marches and Black Lives Matter demonstrations—to photographing conflict and displacement abroad. His international work with refugee communities in Lebanon, created in partnership with UNHCR and NGOs, has helped raise over $1 million USD in humanitarian aid. Jon’s photography is rooted in presence and authenticity, using the camera as a tool to witness, connect, and tell stories that resonate across borders.