Press Updates

MONTECRISTO

10-15-25

FOLIO YVR

10-06-25

THE STRAIGHT

09-10-25

PRESS RELEASE

CollabWest: An Annual Festival of Creative Collaboration

September 3, 2025, Vancouver, BC – On October 18, 2025, an artisan woodworking studio in North Vancouver will host the inaugural launch party of CollabWest ‘25 — an event featuring the work of three handpicked creatives, brought together to collaborate, create, and support a mutually chosen charitable cause.

This year’s collaborators—Keith Stride, Chairman Ting, and The Team behind Reduxwood West join forces to create three unique pieces presented in an exclusive silent auction with 100% of proceeds going to HeadsUpGuys, a program of the University of British Columbia and the global leader in men’s mental health support.

Collaboration is Key - Three Creatives. One Cause.

CollabWest was born early in 2025, when the three creatives serendipitously met and began discussing the power of collective creativity. Recognizing the absence of events spotlighting collaboration, they decided to create their own. They quickly got to work on creating three unique pieces – Ting/Stride, Reduxwood/Ting and Stride/Reduxwood. The results won’t disappoint.

These three standout collab pieces will be unveiled online October 4 and immediately placed on silent auction. Bidding will cease at 9PM October 18 with the three winning bids announced live at the event.

100% of proceeds from these three collaborative pieces will go to this year’s charitable partner - HeadsUpGuys.

The host venue, Reduxwood West, known for its stunning hand-crafted exotic wood furniture, will transform its studio into a dynamic gallery and event space for the evening celebration. Known for blending raw material with refined form, their lead artisan will be creating in real time in addition to offering a selection of exotic wood charcuterie boards will be available for custom laser engraving - offering guests the opportunity to personalize their board on site. Guests can choose to have custom text engraved or provide a specific image or design for engraving, creating a unique and memorable keepsake. These limited-edition pieces are perfect as holiday gifts, and all profits from these pieces will benefit HeadsUpGuys.

Adding a bold splash of colour and energy is Chairman Ting, the award-winning Vancouver-based illustrator and founder of Chairman Ting Industries. Known for his playful aesthetic and conceptual design roots, Chairman Ting has collaborated with global brands like Nike, Lululemon, and Porsche. For CollabWest, he will be hosting a real-time digital graffiti wall where guests can collaborate with Ting, and each other. The interactive piece builds on a similar installation Ting and Graffiti+ created earlier this year at ComplexCon Hong Kong, and also for Lululemon’s “Create the Future” campaign, where participants co-created art that was screen-printed live. At CollabWest, this digital canvas becomes a living mural of the night’s creativity and collective spirit.

Rounding out the artistic trio is Keith Stride, a Vancouver native and advertising creative director. His work brings a nostalgic depth to the mix with his large-scale works that lean into pop nostalgia. His mixed-media pieces, layered with icons and influences from the '70s and '80s, are emotionally charged explorations of memory, identity, and connection. With rich textures and layered storytelling,

Stride’s pieces invite viewers to explore the intersection of memory, myth, and modern identity. His ability to reimagine cultural relics into contemporary narrative artworks makes him an unexpected, yet ideal collaborator for both Ting and Reduxwood West.

Every Year a New Cause

The beating heart of CollabWest is a powerful mission: to raise awareness and funds for local charities. This year’s collaborators chose HeadsUpGuys, a program of UBC- that provides online tools, resources, and a therapist directory tailored specifically to men dealing with mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. With high rates of suicide and stigma among men, HeadsUpGuys offers a vital lifeline—empowering help-seeking, encouraging emotional resilience, and helping thousands of men take the first step toward healing.

Founded in 2015 by Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, the program has grown into an internationally recognized platform, supporting over 5 million visitors globally. From cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness modules to a robust suite of self-check tools and the world’s largest collection of real recovery stories, HeadsUpGuys is the globe’s most comprehensive mental health resource for men, combatting stigma while providing men with accessible research-informed resources.

100% of net proceeds from the event will benefit this very worthy cause.

Experience CollabWest

Doors open at 7:00 PM with a welcome cocktail courtesy of The Woods Spirit Co., known for its small-batch, locally crafted spirits. Throughout the night, guests can enjoy three signature cocktails from Prophecy complements of their special CollabWest pop-up bar, live DJ sets inspired by CollabWest artists, explore art installations, interact with featured artists, and bid on exclusive auction items—all while supporting a life-changing cause in the Reduxwood West studio-turned-gallery located at 340 Lynn Avenue in North Vancouver.

Most invitations have already been distributed to a select group made up of the three collaborators’ networks, however a final block of 50 tickets will be released to the public in early October for a minimum suggested donation TBD. Every dollar will go directly to HeadsUpGuys.

To purchase a limited-edition ticket watch CollabWest.ca for announcements.

Visit the official website—collabwest.ca—for full event information, artist bios and the link to the silent auction ahead of the October 18 event.

CollabWest promises to be an unforgettable fusion of creativity and cause—a one-night-only experience where Vancouver’s artistic talent is amplified in service of something much deeper. Art will be made. Music will be played. Stories will be shared. And lives, hopefully, will be changed.

About the Presenting Sponsor

Brandomatic Studios is a full service on-call creative services company that works with some of Canada’s largest brands. The company was conceived as an “arms length” creative department that operates outside the confines of the clients’ core business allowing it to function quickly, efficiently, and without the issues that can arise when creative services go in-house.

Brandomatic places an exceedingly high value on the human creative spirit and they are proud to partner with CollabWest ’25.