Personal Bio
Jingshu Yao is an Asian, Queer, creative writer based in Toronto. She studied creative writing at the University of Toronto and holds a Master’s degree in Museum Studies. Jingshu’s experience as an international student in Canada inspired her to experiment with multilingualism and multiculturalism in writing. Her ongoing project explores the relationship between food, language, and queer identity. She works as managing editor at the Hart House Review. Her short stories are published in Tint Journal, The Roadrunner Review, Block Party Magazine, and Rabid Oak.
PUBLICATIONS
Yao, J. (2024). Steamed Eggplants Still Purple. Gastronomica, 24(4), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2024.24.4.10
Yao, J. (2025). Oral History in the Digital Age. Heritage Toronto.
https://www.heritagetoronto.org/explore/oral-history-in-the-digital-age/
Yao, J. (2023). Growing Our Future: Commemorating 100 Years of the Chinese Immigration Act. Heritage Toronto.
https://www.heritagetoronto.org/explore/commemorating-chinese-immigration-act/
CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Yao, J. (2025, July 15-18). Community-Based Digital Storytelling Archive. Digital Humanities Conference 2025, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Yao, J. (2025, June 18-21). Leftover Ingredients: Storytelling through Collage. 2025 ASFS/AFHVS, Association for the Study of Food and Society, Oregon State University.
Yao, J. (2025, June 5). Food as a Community Care Language during COVID. Federation for the Humanities and Social Science, Canadian Communication Association, George Brown College.
Yao, J. (2025, March 15). North York Recipe for Healing: Food, Identity, and Belonging. Intersections | Cross-Sections Conference, Toronto Metropolitan University.
Yao, J. (2024, September 24). Recipes, Identities, and Community Building: Reflect on a community-based research project. Culinaria Symposium, Toronto, Canada.
Yao, J. (2022, August 25). Beyond Words: Language Accessibility and Community Engagement. International Council of Museums Conference, Prague, Czechia.
Toronchuk, N. & Yao, J. (2022, May 10-11). Translators, tools, and two-way-streets, Museums as Spaces of Cultural Translation and Transfer, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Van Ryck deGroote Ausa, S., Delamarter, K., & Yao, J. (2022, April 26-27). Reframing and Reclaiming Diversity in Museum Practise: Stories from Emerging Changemakers. Canadian Museum Association Conference, Virtual.
Lord, G., Wong, L., & Yao, J. (2022, April 6). Time is on My Side: The New Context for Revisiting History Museums, Museums/Musées Canada Conference, Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada.
Kahramanoglu, S., Smolarz, M., Li, H., Yao, J. (2022, November 7). One small step at a time: navigating museum space with mentorship and peer support. Ontario Museum Association Conference (OMA CONF), Hamilton, Canada.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2021
Managing Editor, Hart House Review
Planned and organized publications and events.
2020
Editor, Musing
Master of Museum Studies Blog at the University of Toronto
2019
Staff Writer, The Underground
Written weekly scheduled articles, campus guide, interviews.
2019
Editor, Students of English Literature and Film (SELF)
Organized SELF Writer’s Circle and edited English department publications.
2018
Senior Correspondent, Organization of World Peace
Wrote weekly posts and updated the organization’s website.
GRANTS, CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOPS
2023
Mentorship Microgrants, The Writer’s Union of Canada
Reviewed manuscript with Mentor H. Felix Chau Bradley
2023
OUTREACH, Gallery 44/The 519
Participated in 8 weekly workshop series and exhibitions.
2022
BPOC Writer’s Connect, The Writer’s Union of Canada
Reviewed manuscript with Mentor H. Felix Chau Bradley
2022
Q Summit, Spoken Word Poetry Workshops, Lakeshore Arts
Participated in 12 weekly workshop series and poetry showcases.
2019
Annual Creative Writing Contest, University of Toronto Scarborough
“River”, Second Runner-up.