Q with Tom Power Tomson Highway and Patricia Cano on their decades-long creative partnership
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Mar 23, 2026 
Tomson Highway, Cree playwright, novelist and composer from northern Manitoba, and Patricia Cano, singer-actor who first played Emily Dictionary at U of T, reflect on a 30-year creative partnership. They talk about Rose finally receiving a professional staging. They discuss climate urgency motivating the timing, how music helped Patricia learn Cree, and the evolving, family-like bond between them.
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Rose Emerged From Environmental Urgency
- Tomson wrote Rose now in part because of accelerating climate crises impacting northern Manitoba and the Arctic he loves.
- The play responds to environmental urgency by connecting personal and community loss with threats like forest fires and development.
U of T Production Sparked Early Attention
- The 1992 student production at U of T drew intense attention and had expert mentors like Alan and Leah Cherniak guiding Patricia and classmates.
- That early, high-profile staging gave students practical training and launched Patricia's relationship with Tomson.
Childhood Meeting Turned Lifelong Bond
- Patricia first met Tomson Highway at age six at a Réveillon visit and didn't recognize him until university when she connected him to her uncle Raymond Lalonde.
- They laughed about her childhood dress and Tomson immediately remembered her, which became the origin story for a lifelong personal and creative bond.