When was the last time you felt free to be creative? To just let loose and tap into your creativity in an inviting and supportive space?

I was thinking about these points when I took in the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing Only event in January.

This gathering comes from the wonderful mind of Jaymie Raefta, a Saskatoon illustrator and artist who has become one of my favourite people in the past few years.

Once every few months in a warehouse space in Riversdale, Jaymie hosts a gathering of people who love to draw, no matter their ability, and encourages them to draw badly. Very badly.

Jaymie, who uses they/them pronouns, emcees the evening. They embrace the role with the vigor and charm of a late-night television talk show host. Jaymie’s quick wit and humour, along with quirky musical selections, create the perfect vibe for people to draw.

The drawing comes from specific prompts which Jaymie comes up with. My favourite was the following: draw your favourite co-worker as a cold baked potato.

You have two minutes to complete your drawing, and at the end of each round, the table votes on the best bad drawing.

What I love about these Something Sketchy nights is the creative community they are forming in Saskatoon. The room was packed with more than 30 people who giggled and laughed throughout the night while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

The people came from all walks of life: artists, graphic designers, potters, and even a mailman. You will hear from these people how much it means to them to have a devoted set time and space to be creative in this episode, and you will hear why these Something Sketchy nights mean so much to Jaymie.

This has been an amazing season of YXE Underground, and I am so thrilled to end it with such a fun and meaningful episode.

If you want to learn more about the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing events, look up Plastic Salad on Instagram. This is an illustration collective created by Jaymie to promote illustration in Saskatchewan, and there’s a Something Sketchy event happening on Wednesday, June 17th, from 6:30pm-8:30pm that you should totally check out!

A big thank you to Jaymie and everyone at the Something Sketchy for letting me share their stories on the podcast.

If you have enjoyed this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and so I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

A big thank you to all of you listeners for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. It means the world. I will drop a few bonus episodes this summer, but Season 9 will launch in September. I can’t wait to share more stories of people and organizations who are making a difference here in Saskatoon. If you have someone who you think should be on the podcast, send me an email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com

I would like to acknowledge these interview were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Hello and welcome to Season 8, Episode 9 of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson, and welcome to OUT Saskatoon’s Newcomer Support Group.

It is a snowy, bitterly cold Thursday night in April, but in the OUT Saskatoon’s headquarters, their main gathering space is packed with people from across the world.

This support group started last May and offers LGBTQ newcomers and refugees a safe space to not only learn about Saskatoon and Canada, but as you will hear in this episode, the group is providing community and friendship to those who come.

Once a month, Iris Akbar welcomes people to the group and leads them through different topics and activities. It could be an art activity or a discussion on how best to survive a Saskatchewan winter. On this night, Iris has invited two-Spirit Elder Shelley Belhumeur, to speak and share about Indigenous knowledge and history.

Shelley begins the night by asking people to introduce themselves and share where they are from. Most people in the room are from African nations such as Nigeria and Ghana.

The person behind this Newcomer Support Group is Iris Akbar. Iris, who uses he/she pronouns, immigrated to Saskatchewan with his partner from Singapore; a country where same-sex marriage and civil unions are not recognized.

Iris started working at OUT Saskatoon in 2019 and was passionate about helping LGBTQ newcomers and refugees get the supports they needed in our city. He was about to start a Newcomer Support Group when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and put that on hold.

When the pandemic ended, Iris continued to help helping newcomers and refugees at OUT Saskatoon in a volunteer capacity; not only in terms of finding supports in Saskatoon, but to make connections and friendships in the community.

Iris started the Newcomer Support Group in May of 2025. As you will hear, what started as a small gathering has now grown into a vibrant collection of people who are eager to learn about their new home and make meaningful connections.

The episode features a conversation I had with Iris a few weeks after I met him at the Newcomer Support Group. We met at Tastebuds Café on Lorne Avenue on a beautiful sunny day; so nice in fact we sat out on the patio!

You will also meet people who were at the Newcomer Support Group that chilly April evening and hear why this group means so much to them.

If you want to learn more about the important work being done at OUT Saskatoon, please visit their website at outsaskatoon.ca

If you have enjoyed this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and so I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

"Every day is a new, exciting challenge. I am having a great time doing it, but it is a challenge."

Anita Smith has been creating live theatre for nearly 30 years. She is the Executive and Artistic Director of the 25th Street Theatre Company and loves providing Saskatchewan artists the opportunity to tell their stories and showcase their skills.

The company's latest production, however, is pushing Anita and her team to their limits.

Behind Closed Doors takes people to six different sites across Saskatoon to explore unseen conversations and gives them a chance to experience in a performance in a unique venue specific to the story. Each play is 20 minutes, has limited capacity (we're talking 6-8 people per venue), and will no doubt make the impression on audience members.

Anita and 25th Street Theatre is committed to supporting Saskatchewan playwrights and Behind Closed Doors is giving six playwrights the chance to share their voices with our community.

I am a huge fan of Anita as an artist and a person, and any opportunity to talk with her on the podcast is one that I will take. She graciously took time in-between her many duties to speak with me on the University of Saskatchewan campus to tell listeners about Behind Closed Doors and why people will never forget watching a play in a bathroom!

Here are the six plays and their locations in Saskatoon, and you can purchase tickets on the 25th Street Theatre website.

• Historical “Friends” by Kaydence Banga. At The Senator Hotel. Directed by Jennifer Brewin.
• Fallen Women by Marley Duckett. In Kirk Hall, USASK. Directed by Pamela Haig Bartley.
• Hiring by Mitchell Larsen. At The Two Twenty. Directed by Murray Utas.
• First On, Last Off by Clare Middleton. On a bus at Louis’ Pub, USASK. Directed by Pamela Haig Bartley.
• Another Day on the Diamond by Drew Mantyka. At Gordie Howe Sports Complex. Directed by Murray Utas
• This Is It by Cheyenna Sapp. At Louis’ Pub, USASK. Directed by Jennifer Brewin

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis