Meet the Team

  • Gabriela Rosende

    Co-founder & CEO

    Gabriela Rosende is a Chilean-Canadian visual artist, curator, and arts administrator based in Edmonton, Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from the University of Alberta, and her paintings, installations, and video work have been exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally.

    With more than two decades of experience in Alberta's arts sector, Gabriela has held production, exhibition, programming, and leadership roles with the Art Gallery of Alberta, The Works International Visual Arts Society, Latitude 53, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre, the City of Edmonton's Public Art Program, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program.

    As Co-founder and CEO of the CannaBliss Festival, Gabriela is dedicated to creating innovative cultural experiences that unite art, music, and community while advocating for the responsible normalization and worldwide legalization of cannabis—always in the frequency of love.

    Email: gabriela@cannablissfestival.ca

    Instagram: Gabriela.at.CannaBlissFestival

  • Chad Anderson

    Co-founder & Artistic Director

    Internationally renowned professional skateboarder Chad Anderson is a 30-year veteran of the international cannabis industry. An original member of the pre-legalization cannabis movement, he has helped shape the industry's evolution through his work as a cultivator, consultant, event producer, and respected cannabis connoisseur.

    Widely recognized for his expertise in cannabis quality and culture, Chad has served as a judge for the High Times Cannabis Cup, one of the world's most prestigious cannabis competitions. He has also produced more than a dozen successful 4/20 festivals, bringing together consumers, cultivators, artists, and industry leaders to celebrate cannabis through professionally organized, community-focused events.

    With decades of experience spanning both the legacy and legal cannabis markets, Chad continues to be a respected ambassador for the industry, promoting education, professionalism, and the positive evolution of cannabis culture.

    Facebook: Chad Toonie Anderson

    Instagram: paperznobluntz

  • Dusty Delisle

    Co-founder & CannaBliss Investor

    Following his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2006, Dusty Delisle became a passionate advocate for medical cannabis and other natural therapies after experiencing what he believes to be their profound impact on his health. He credits medical cannabis with helping manage his chronic pain, improving his overall quality of life, and contributing to his remission.

    A dedicated supporter of cannabis education and responsible legalization, Dusty is an active sponsor of the CannaBliss Festival and a strong advocate for initiatives that promote safe, regulated cannabis consumption, including the future development of legalized cannabis lounges. Through his advocacy, he continues to champion greater access, public awareness, and positive change within Canada's cannabis community.

    Dusty also advocates for the responsible exploration of naturally occurring psychedelics and their potential to support physical, mental, and spiritual well-being as research and public understanding continue to evolve.

    Email: dusty@cannablissfestival.ca

    Facebook: Dustin Delisle

    Instagram: dustin_delisle

FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT: high@cannablissfestival.ca

Above, Jim Henson - inspired headshots of the CannaBliss Crew.

Jim Henson wasn’t just a puppeteer—he was a creative force who quietly rewrote the rules of entertainment. With a mix of imagination, technical ingenuity, and genuine heart, he transformed felt and foam into some of the most beloved characters in modern culture.

As the mind behind The Muppet Show and a key creative force in Sesame Street, Henson brought puppets out of the toy box and into prime-time television. His creations—the Muppets—weren’t just for kids. They were witty, self-aware, musical, and sometimes delightfully chaotic, appealing to audiences of all ages. Characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy became cultural icons, blending comedy with surprisingly real emotional depth.

What made Henson truly groundbreaking was how he fused disciplines. Puppetry, in his hands, became a hybrid art form—part acting, part sculpture, part filmmaking. Every performance was a careful balance of voice, movement, camera work, and character design. Before Henson, puppets were often dismissed as simple children’s fare. After him, they became a legitimate and respected medium for storytelling.

Music was another cornerstone of his magic. The Muppet Show regularly featured legendary performers like Elton John, Alice Cooper, and Johnny Cash, creating a joyful collision of comedy and live performance. And in The Muppet Movie, Henson delivered one of the most enduring songs in pop culture, Rainbow Connection—a gentle anthem about dreams, belonging, and wonder.

His work carried a certain surreal charm, too. Some fans have pointed out a playful overlap between the Muppets’ whimsical, sometimes trippy humor and the psychedelic vibes of the 1970s. But that connection lives more in audience interpretation than intention—Henson’s true aim was always to spark imagination, not to chase trends.

Beyond the laughs and songs, Henson’s legacy is enormous. He influenced everything from character design in film and television to experimental storytelling and musical variety shows. His collaborative approach—bringing together artists, performers, and musicians—set a template that creators still follow today. Through The Jim Henson Company, his spirit of innovation continues to shape new generations of storytellers.

In the end, Jim Henson didn’t just create the Muppets—he created a new language of storytelling. One where humor and heart go hand in hand, where a frog can sing about life’s biggest questions, and where imagination feels just a little more real.