is CAPACOA’s Membership and Program Manager. Chandel helps coordinate and implement national networking, and learning opportunities (like a biannual conference, international delegations, and the new loyalty/affiliation project) and live networking events across Canada (e.g., The Knowledge Café)/
As a professional artist, she is often found in movement and mask-based productions in the Ottawa region. Chandel is also currently using her teaching background to develop an arts program for hospitalized seniors with dementia. An avid volunteer, Chandel programs a 45-year-old volunteer-run family’s series in northern Ontario.
is a Digital Transformation Agent at CAPACOA (Canadian Association for the Performing Arts). Drawing on her past communications roles at nonprofits in both Canada and the United Kingdom, Dessa delivers workshops, presentations, and other outreach activities to help arts organizations better understand and take control of their open data. She also runs an annual Digital Discoverability Program, where organizations learn how to optimize their event pages and artist bios for the latest web technologies.
is the Senior Program Advisor for the Canada Arts Presentation Program, under the Department of Canadian Heritage. Laura works directly with applicants/arts organizations in the western region, which includes Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon, and works out of the Edmonton office.
Laura is a dance and theatre artist with over 25 years of experience in the arts sector. She will discuss the parameters of the Canada Arts Presentation Fund and the objectives of the Program.
is the Arts Development Consultant with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, managing the Major Arts Presenters funding opportunity, Arts Presenting project grant, and the Artist and Education project grant. Jodie is a dance movement artist with over 25 years in the cultural sector, including working with various arts organizations as well and instructing movement classes all over Alberta. She’ll be joining us to discuss resources and funding available to them at the provincial level.
is the Executive Director of Prairie Debut, a non-profit touring organization that develops appreciation, education, and support for classical and global music and artists. Prairie Debut tours throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the north to communities of all sizes, especially those outside the larger urban centres.
Prairie Debut aims to broaden the support of the arts and connects artists with communities in many innovative ways.
is the General Manager of the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre. Nick has been at the Lougheed Centre through construction of the building, which opened in October of 2014. Having managed several performing arts centres over the last 20 years. Nick has developed some clever tactics that are successful in bringing community together.
is a Public Educator and Community Consultant with the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE). She is passionate about anti-oppression and is trained in harm-reduction and trauma-informed practice. At SACE, Mariam educates community members about the topics of sexual violence and consent, and promotes the inclusion of immigrants, newcomers, and racialized communities.
Join Christy Morin, Artistic Producer and Executive Director of Kaleido Family Arts Festival, Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival and the Carrot Community Arts Coffee House, as well as Peter Chapman, Programming Community Coordinator for The Carrot, to look at ways of building community with various cultural groups and organizations. Christy and Peter have had years of experience in programming diverse performers and look forward to sharing this knowledge.
For almost 15 years, Shannon has worked for non-profit arts and culture organizations. Currently, she is the General Manager for Green Thumb Theatre (Vancouver, BC). Shannon has worked with organizations such as the Granville Island Theatre District, the Improv Centre, Vancouver Fringe Festival, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, and Carousel Theatre for Young People. She is an active volunteer with the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, participating in several committees.
In her former role as Professional Programming Presenter for the Arden Theatre in St. Albert, Caitlin North spent 11 years producing the International Children’s Festival for the City of St. Albert and has gleaned a great deal of insight in the importance of engaging children in live theatre. Prior to her tenure at the Arden Theatre, Caitlin worked in the roots music scene as Festival Programmer, Promoter, Artist Manager, Grant Program Administrator and Record Label Manager.