About me

Hi, my name is Fiona Keats. My friends call me Fionsy.

I love being creative, building community and making dolls.

Since 2002 I’ve been using creativity to bring people together, especially through my work running local service-based community organizations here in Montreal.

In my role as executive director of the NDG Food Depot I used creativity to re-imagine the physical environment, transforming it into a vibrant space that promotes people's health, happiness, and wellbeing.

I also love using creativity to create temporary spaces that bring people together. In 2009 I produced the first Thriller Zombie Dance, which united folks to dance through the streets of NDG to raise awareness of hunger. Eight years later the zombie dance is still going strong and the NDG Food Depot continues to flourish as I dreamed it would.

Creativity strengthens the connection between people and the places we share.

In 2009 my roommate Shannon, who was studying art therapy, taught me how to make these quirky little dolls using pipe cleaners and old clothes. I loved the way I felt when I made that first doll and have been making them ever since.

In 2010 I led my first Community Doll Making activity on the front lawn of my home at the annual Belgrave Block Party. It was an instant hit, turning strangers into friends and quickly evolving into monthly doll-making parties in my home.

Fionsy Doll Party was born!