Taya Mikado (she/her) is a mixed-race Japanese-Canadian Yonsei hailing from Southern Alberta but currently anchored in Tkaronto. She dabbles in poetry, prose and digital art while working towards becoming an innovative and compassionate lawyer.

Losing her father to suicide at 13, and her mother to a motorbike accident at 18, has given Taya significant insight into the complexities of young adult grief.  In an effort to stimulate awareness about life with grief as a young adult, and to befriend her own grief, Taya wrote and self-published the poetry & prose book “This Grief Thing F**king Sucks”. Since publishing, Taya has actively engaged with the Toronto grief community, attending various grief-focused events, working for BFO-T, and facilitating young adult grief support groups. Taya aspires to blend her legal endeavours with her dedication to grief, healing, and community support while continuing creative ventures.