Knowledge Hub
New Dawn 2023 Call for Entries
New Dawn is an international film production fund aimed to support a larger diversity of voices and perspectives. A combined effort by 10 European and Canadian public film funds, New Dawn was launched in May 2022 at the Cannes Festival. The first selection was...
Cannes Indigenous Co-Production Forum – Call for Participants
The Indigenous Screen Office is hosting an Indigenous co-production forum at the Festival de Cannes, May 16 to 27, 2023. Experienced producers may apply to participate in-person at the forum on May 18, 2023, an opportunity designed to connect and explore future...
Martini Film Studios uses 100% Renewable Natural Gas
Earlier last year, Martini Film Studios announced its entire studio moving to operating entirely on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The Langley-based studio is the first film studio in British Columbia to sign up for this carbon-neutral energy innovation supported by...
Leadership
CEO
Prem has been named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women, Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” and received the Community Catalyst award from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. She brings more than 20 years of experience from the digital media and entertainment industries to her current role as CEO, where she is responsible for delivering a wide range of programs and services that will expand B.C.’s creative economy to reach its economic, social and creative potential both at home and globally.
Before Creative BC, Prem spent eight years with TELUS, most recently in the role of Director of Production & Original Programming. Her commitment to the advancement of B.C.’s creative economy can be seen through her achievements there, including the successful development and launch of the STORYHIVE program and TELUS Optik TV community channel.
For many years, Prem has championed Canadian creativity as a representative and spokesperson to media, industry and government at all levels. Previous roles and responsibilities have included government and regulatory affairs, independent media consultation, cross-platform marketing, communications, research, public affairs and multicultural programming.
Prem currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Bell Fund, a not-for-profit organization supporting Canadian Media content makers and on the Board of Directors for BC Tech Association, representing B.C.’s tech sector.
Contact
Media requests: media (at) creativebc.com
General inquiries: info (at) creativebc.com
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Vice President
Now Creative BC’s Vice President, Robert markets British Columbia internationally as a destination of choice for projects and companies seeking a world class creative industries centre in which to do business. In his role, he leads the administration of Creative BC’s tax credit and granting programs, balancing attraction of international business with support for BC’s domestic content creators.
During his tenure with the organization, Robert has become the expert on motion picture tax credits, originally helping to launch the BC film and television tax credit program in 1998. He went on to play an integral role in the evolution of British Columbia’s motion picture industry tax policy.
Tel: +1 604 730 2236
Email: bwong (at) creativebc.com
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Executive Assistant to the CEO, VP + Board
Anita brings over 20 years of administrative experience to the organization and came to Creative BC from the former BC Film + Media.
Tel: +1 604 730 2249
Email: areichenback (at) creativebc.com
Director, Finance + Administration
James is also knowledgeable and experienced in the music industry, having served as the controller of a music instrument retail/wholesale business and school, and later as Director of Finance for a cross-border brokerage, which served many industries including motion picture and live music.
James holds an MBA and is a CPA with over 17 years of experience in finance and accounting. The majority of those years have been spent in a supervisory role. James has worked closely with IT departments in past positions and led several major implementation projects. He has also managed general administration services from office management to employee benefits.
Tel: +1 604 730 2234
Email: jblair (at) creativebc.com
Director, Business Operations
Karin brings broad experience to her role, including expertise and education in a variety of key areas from strategic brand-building and talent development to research and knowledge.
Previously, she worked with Emily Carr University of Art and Design for close to three years, most recently in the capacity of Digital Strategist and before that as their Media Relations and Communications lead.
Karin also spent five years as an independent professional consultant, providing strategic and hands-on expertise to organizations in the areas of brand positioning, marketing and communications; human resources and employee engagement; as well as operations and organizational development.
Prior to these professional activities, she worked for 10 years in various operational roles for Korn/Ferry International, a leading global talent management firm. Karin has a BA in Art History and certificates in both digital strategy and professional writing
Tel: +1 604 730 2250
Email: kwatson (at) creativebc.com
BC Film Commissioner + Director of Production Services
As BC Film Commissioner and Director of Production Services, Marnie Gee leads the Provincial Film Commission team to deliver motion picture industry services, from locations marketing and physical production resource support, to industry and community relations services. She works to sustain and grow ongoing opportunity and collaboration for the network of industry and government stakeholders who together contribute to the motion picture industry’s success in B.C. With 20+ years of experience in location and production support in the film and television industry, Marnie has worked throughout British Columbia and brings specialized knowledge of local communities and geographical areas as well as a strong understanding of the dynamics between communities and motion picture production.
Direct Tel: +1 604 730 2247
Main Tel: +1 604 736 7997
Email: mgee (at) creativebc.com
Provincial Film Commission
Julie Bernard | Manager of Production Services + Reel Green™ Partnerships
Julie Bernard, is the Manager of Production Services + Reel Green™ Partnerships at Creative BC, and was previously in the same position at the BC Film Commission for 13 years. Julie works closely with local and international producers providing service including valuable resource information and location expertise helping to market the province as a film destination.
In Julie 20 years of experience in the film industry as a Location Manager and Production Coordinator, working on many productions: commercials, television movies, pilots, series and feature films, she brings extensive knowledge of the film industry, having worked directly with producers, production managers, directors and the creative teams.
Julie has also been working with industry partners for the last five years to evolve the Reel Green™ initiative and takes great pride in helping transform B.C. and the rest of Canada into becoming one of the greenest production centres.
Tel: +1 604 730 2244
Email: jbernard (at) creativebc.com
Seán Hernández Cummings | Location + Data Consultant, Library + Production Services
Seán Hernández Cummings works closely with local and international producers by providing production services including valuable resource information and location expertise, helping to market the province as a film destination. Seán promotes British Columbia as a destination of choice for film producers by preparing customized location packages, facilitating location surveys for the creative team, tracking stage space & studio facility availability, and assessing the suitability of location files for inclusion in Creative BC online locations library.
Seán has worked as a location manager and scout in British Columbia on more than 30 projects including feature films, television movies and series. In addition to the abundance of experience and knowledge of motion picture physical production, Seán brings a diverse background to more than six years experience with Creative BC, including time in client services management, finance, real estate appraisal, professional theatre management, teaching, and organized labour. This unique insight enables Seán to play an important role in client services and issues resolution as part of the Provincial Film Commission team.
Tel: +1 604 730 2243
Email: sdcummings (at) creativebc.com
Mike Jamont | Location + Listing Consultant, Library + Production Services
As Location + Listing Consultant, Mike has the responsibility to connect incoming production companies with British Columbia’s many and varied filming locations. He conducts a creative location breakdown of film and television scripts for potential projects. For several years, Mike has been responsible for overseeing the Creative BC proprietary digital library, ensuring the effectiveness and quality of those services to Creative BC, the regional film commissions, property owners and locations professionals.
Previously, Mike worked in the Locations Department on a wide range of television series and feature films. He brings to the role more than 15 years of experience in BC film and television industry including positions with BC and Regional Film Offices.
Tel: +1 604 730 2246
Email: mjamont (at) creativebc.com
Andrea Connacher | Location + Listing Specialist, Library + Production Services
Andrea Connacher joined Creative BC in February 2020 as a Locations + Listing Coordinator on the Provincial Film Commission team. Andrea is responsible for coordinating the operation and maintenance of Creative BC online locations library, which is one of its key vehicles for promoting British Columbia and attracting domestic and international productions to the province. Andrea ensures that the data is current and catalogued correctly and liaises with members of the public and businesses who want to add images of their property for inclusion in the locations library. She also provides training for location managers and scouts and regional film offices on its use.
Andrea brings to the role a broad range of experience and knowledge of Motion Picture Production in BC which includes 17 years of experience in the Locations Department; most recently with 8 years spent as a Location Scout/Coordinator doing episodic television. Andrea is also a graduate with honours of BCIT Broadcast Media & Communications: Television Program.
Tel: +1 604 648 7899
Email: aconnacher (at) creativebc.com
Julie Stangeland | Regional Lead
Julie is responsible for the ongoing evolution of Creative BC engagement, support, and collaboration throughout B.C.’s economic regions. This includes facilitating investment in, and partnership with, the Regional Film Commissions.
Building strong regional ties and connections, she undertakes strategic projects, initiatives and policy work to support the sustainability and growth of the motion picture industry, as well as the broader creative industries, across all of BC.
Working internally and externally, Julie ensures that Creative BC programs and services reach stakeholders beyond the Lower Mainland/Southwest, and facilitates collaboration between associations, governments, industry and communities to expand the positive impacts of Creative BC activities.
Julie brings to the role a broad range of knowledge of motion picture production in BC which includes five years of experience in the locations department for a wide range of productions in BC. She is a graduate of the UBC Film Production Program. She also co-wrote and produced her own short film as part of the annual Crazy8 Short Film Competition.
Tel: +1 604 730 2245
Email: jstangeland (at) creativebc.com
Smiely Khurana | Reel Green™ Sustainability Lead
Smiely Khurana is the Reel Green™ Sustainability Lead at Creative BC, supporting and connecting Reel Green’s expanding community of engagement through the implementation of Reel Green’s strategic plan, deepening industry’s expertise and use of the tools, further transforming production practices through the Clean Energy municipal collaboration, and work to help industry transition to a circular economy. With a background in Motion Picture Arts and business, Smiely has worked on a number of productions in several different positions such as producer assistant, accounting, digital marketing and film promotion, and most recently as a sustainability coordinator. Throughout the years, Smiely passion and involvement in environmental sustainability has allowed her to lead discussions, workshops and keynotes at universities, film festivals, global organizations, and host a successful podcast The Sustainable Act focused on environmental sustainability.
Tel: +1 778 878 0817
Email: skhurana (at) creativebc.com
Peter Klassen | Manager, Motion Picture Industry + Community Affairs
In this role, Peter is responsible for support and engagement with a variety of stakeholders including all levels of government, industry, and community under the guidance of the BC Film Commissioner. He is responsible for a variety of projects and initiatives that support the sustainability and growth of the motion picture industry in BC as well as the management of general inquiries, physical production concerns, policy work and community relations.
Peter comes to Creative BC with 20+ years of experience in film and television production; having worked as a Locations Manager for the last 10 of those years. He has worked on a variety of productions from TV pilots and series to feature films. This range of experience has provided Peter with the skills to be a creative, effective, and collaborative problem solver.
Tel: +1 604 730 2248
Email: pklassen (at) creativebc.com
Jennifer McNeil | Consultant, Motion Picture Industry + Community Affairs
Jennifer joined the Provincial Film Commission at Creative BC in October 2019. In her role on the Industry + Community Affairs team, she serves as a first point of contact for general inquiries, works to resolve concerns raised by the community, provides collaboration for ongoing policy work and municipal outreach, and supports physical production to help keep filming viable and sustainable in British Columbia.
Jennifer previously worked in locations in Los Angeles where she managed film permits and community outreach for a number of productions. Her unique background liaising between production, government, and the community has given her a big-picture perspective of physical production and the ability to collaboratively solve problems.
Tel: + 604 730 2231
Email: jmcneil (at) creativebc.com
Giovanna Vargas | Coordinator, Motion Picture Industry + Community Affairs
As part of the Industry + Community Affairs team, Giovanna supports the sustainability of the motion picture industry in B.C. through ongoing municipal outreach, engagement with industry and the community, and collaborative solutions for physical production and community concerns.
Giovanna brings to the role an extensive background from the motion picture industry. Prior to joining the Provincial Film Commission in 2021, she spent several years working in various positions within the locations department for film and TV productions. Giovanna is also an award-winning writer and director, recently releasing her first feature film, A Perfect 14, on Amazon Prime Video. Her creative drive enables her to truly connect and provide support to new filmmakers reaching out to Creative BC for guidance on beginning their own journeys.
Tel: +1 236 455 6240
Email: gvargas (at) creativebc.com
Katannya Yee | Creative Pathways Program Lead
Katannya (“Kat”) Yee is the Creative Pathways Program Lead, having joined Creative BC from ICG 669, the International Cinematographers Guild. There, for close to seven years, she designed, developed and ran the successful Camera Trainee Program and managed all aspects of membership for the 1000+-member organization. Representing ICG669 at career fairs and trade events, Kat collaborated with other unions, guilds and stakeholders, and delivered guest speaker sessions to post-secondary schools. Each year she dispatched over 90 active camera trainees across Western Canada to feature film and TV productions, and problem-solved through their internships, including finding the right opportunity and partnership.
Additionally, Kat ran and organized the union’s flagship “boot camp” course in Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg each year including ensuring all materials were current with industry standards and protocols. Prior experience includes five years at the BC Sports Hall of Fame as the graphic designer and guest services manager. She holds a degree from UBC in Psychology and Film Studies.
Phone: +1 604 730 2241
Email: kyee (at) creativebc.com
Motion Picture Tax Credits Team
Biljana Radovic | Manager, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Biljana Radovic is the Manager of the motion picture tax credits team at Creative BC and provides direction and oversight to the department in the administration of the Film Incentive BC and Production Services Tax Credits.
She is a published playwright, academic writer, a former editor in chief for various magazines; and an accredited film critic at the international film festivals Venice (2005), Milan (2005), TIFF (2004), Fest (2004), etc.
Prior to joining Creative BC in 2019, Biljana was a Business Affairs and Production Associate at Omnifilm Entertainment and had over a decade-long career in Business Affairs in Motion Picture, Indie Film Distribution, Scriptwriting, and Theatre Production.
Biljana’s academic competencies are Post Baccalaureate diploma: North American Business Management (Capilano University, North Vancouver), Master’s degree: Production of Dramatic Arts and Media – Film, and TV (University of Arts, Belgrade), and Bachelor’s degree: Dramaturgy (Academy of Arts, Belgrade).
Tel: +1 604 730 2232
Email: bradovic (at) creativebc.com
Joanne Chow | Senior Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Joanne Chow is a Business Analyst for the Creative BC Motion Picture Tax Credit team. She processes applications for the Motion Picture Tax Credit programs: Film Incentive BC and Production Services Tax Credit, while providing expertise and service to local and international producers.Lea Chambers | Senior Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Lea Chambers joined the Creative BC tax team as Tax Credit Coordinator. A year and a half later, she has become one of the Business Analysts reviewing applications for motion picture tax credit certification in the province of British Columbia.
Lea started her work experience at Creative BC in 2016 as accounts payable within the finance department. She was responsible for processing payment requests and had the pleasure of taking on special projects like impact report photography.
Graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics, Lea’s educational background is in maths, business, and economics. Outside of the office, Lea can be found writing, reading, and enjoying films and television shows!
Tel: +1 604 730 2252
Email: lchambers (at) creativebc.com
Andrée Laplante | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Andrée has returned to Creative BC to support the Tax Credit Team as the Tax Credit Coordinator after having pursued personal writing projects for several years. Andrée is familiar with the B.C. Motion Picture Tax Credit programs since she was a tax credit business analyst with SODEC in Quebec for 7 years, prior to joining BC Film + Media (now Creative BC), where she was part of the tax credit team for another 7 years.
Andrée has a degree in Business Administration from Laval University in Quebec.
Tel: +1 604 262 8678
Email: alaplante (at) creativebc.com
Patricia Lee | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Patricia Lee joined the Motion Picture Tax Credits team at Creative BC in 2022 as Business Analyst reviewing and processing Film Incentive BC and Production Services Tax Credits applications.
Graduating from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Patricia has a professional background in theatre and entertainment arts. She worked as an executive producer and arts administrator for a number of performing arts organizations in Hong Kong prior to joining Creative BC.
Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, crafting, watching stage performances, stargazing, and chilling out by the sea.
Phone: +1 236 471 0786
Email: plee (at) creativebc.com
Derek Clayton | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Phone: +1 236 471 0877Email: dclayton (at) creativebc.com
Troy Taillon | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Troy Taillon is a Business Analyst for the Creative BC Motion Picture Tax Credit Team, processing Production Service Tax Credit and Film Incentive BC applications while providing service and support to local and international producers.
Troy’s experience prior to joining Creative BC includes 20 years of administration, production, and business affairs in the transcreation of international animated IP’s, with successful B.C. and federal PSTC applications for over 3000 TV episodes, specials, and movies.
When not working with the tax credit team, Troy does voice-overs for corporate videos, drums to his favorite 80’s tunes, and enjoys golfing and fishing.
Email: ttaillon (at) creativebc.com
Phone: +1 236-471-0681
Shannon Hunt | Coordinator, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Shannon joins Creative BC as a recent graduate of the University of Alberta MBA; she has a professional background in business development and administration, her most recent position being with St John’s Music in Music Education Sales. Shannon is an accomplished composer in film, theatre and concert band music, with a Bachelor of Music specializing in jazz/pop. Her hobbies include hot yoga, performing in musical theatre, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Tel: +1 236 471 0138
Email: shunt (at) creativebc.com
Funding Programs
Book, Magazine Publishing, Motion Picture, Interactive
Mathew Parry | Manager, Creative Industry Programs
Mathew began his career in film locations in his native Wales, spending a decade working for the Wales Screen Commission, attracting and providing support to productions of all shapes and sizes. His locations talents eventually led him to Vancouver by way of Los Angeles where for a number of years he helped facilitate international productions on behalf of the UK Film Council from their Hollywood office.
Now at Creative BC, Mathew’s primary responsibilities lie within the Funding Programs team, where he oversees a number of programs including the Project Development Fund, and other partnership programs with external organizations supporting film and TV development.
Mathew has a Master’s degree in history, and is also a graduate of the Documentary Film Production program at Langara College. A short film he produced and shot as part of the program was selected for screening at DOXA (Vancouver Documentary Film Festival) and at other festivals in Canada and the UK.
Tel: +1 604 730 2239
Email: mparry (at) creativebc.com
Selina Crammond | Program Analyst
Before joining Creative BC as a Program Analyst in September 2021, Selina was the Director of Programming at DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Western Canada’s largest documentary film festival. While at DOXA she provided artistic, strategic, and operational leadership for the organization at large. She is also one of the founding members of the Vancouver Podcast Festival, produced by The Documentary Media Society.Lou-ann Neel | Indigenous Lead + Program Analyst
Lou-ann Neel is from the Kwakwaka’wakw people (the Kwak’wala-speaking people) but most of her life has been spent in the lands of the Lekwungen (the Songhees and Esquimalt people), also known as Victoria, BC. Her formal education includes a Certificate in the Administration of Aboriginal Governments and Diploma in Public Sector Management in the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration, the Provincial Public Service Management Training Program, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Emily Carr University of Art & Design.
Lou-ann has worked as an arts and culture manager for over 30 years, within the Provincial Public Service and with First Nations and urban Indigenous organizations. She has helped to develop, launch, and oversee several grant programs and other initiatives designed to support Indigenous artists in a range of artistic practices; and recently worked with CARFAC to create the “Indigenous Protocols for the Visual Arts” publication and website.
Lou-ann is also a practicing visual artist, working in textiles, painting, and vector-based design. “I feel very fortunate to be able to balance my work in program and policy development with my artistic practice; I think they support one another beautifully, and often inspire new, creative solutions that enable us all to do really positive and impactful work.”
At Creative BC, Lou-ann is responsible for the consultation, design and launch of the new suite of targeted programs from Rogers Group of Funds and Creative BC to support Indigenous filmmakers and drive the advancement and growth of this province’s creative industries with a focus on Indigenous creators.
Tel: +1 236-427-4695
Email: lneel (at) creativebc.com
Rylan Friday | Coordinator, Funding Programs
Rylan Friday (Saulteaux Ojibway / Plains Cree) is a multi-disciplinary director, curator, writer and producer from Cote First Nation, Saskatchewan. Rylan’s focus is to bring an honest discourse of LGBTQ2+ & Indigenous representation to the big screen while being truthful to their own narratives. His short film This Bright Flash has screened at VIFF, FTQFF, The Lift-Off Sessions LA, FNFVF Chicago and Festival Mix: Film & Sexual Diversity in Mexico City. In 2019, he produced the feature film Portraits From a Fire and helped implement its peer-to-peer mentorship program for Indigenous youth.
Currently, Rylan is in post-production on his short form projects Looking For Tiger Lily, Musk., The Sound of You Collapsing; in development with MBM TV and Justin Hagedorn on Unsettled: Encounters With The Unknown; and is slated to go into production with Urban Ink on Terror/Forming with hopes of turning this project into a feature film.
Rylan became the first openly gay Indigenous filmmaker to spearhead the 2020 iteration of the Vancouver International Film Festival’s Catalyst Mentorship Program, and curated the highly successful #Indigeneity series for Reel Causes. He was also the lead curator for the Who We Are Indigenous Film Series, a collaboration with VIFF and the Museum of Vancouver.
Email: rfriday (at) creativebc.com
Robin Macabulos | Coordinator, Funding Programs
Robin joined the Creative BC team as Funding Programs Coordinator in August 2021 to support the administration of book and magazine publishing, interactive and digital media, and motion picture industry funding programs. He comes from a background in film where early on in his career he gained years of coordinating experience working as a Production Coordinator on various international co-productions and features.Funding Programs
Music + Sound Recording
Brenda Grunau | Manager, Music Programs
Brenda is the Manager of the Music Team, and brings more than 15 years of experience in Canada’s music industry. Prior to joining Creative BC, she was at CiTR, UBC’s radio station, where she held the position of Station Manager and was the Publisher of Discorder magazine. In this role, she was responsible for strategic planning, stakeholder relations, fundraising, grant writing, finances and human resources, leading a team of 20 employees and 250+ volunteers to create local programming with a mandate to support local, Canadian, and niche music.
Brenda has a degree in music performance, as well as an MBA in Arts and Media from York University. She has organized festivals and community events, and chaired the boards of the Community Radio Fund of Canada, Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and the National Campus and Community Radio Association. Outside of work, Brenda enjoys festivals, biking around town and playing croquet in the park.
Tel: +1 604 730 2251
Email: bgrunau (at) creativebc.com
Gina Loes | Senior Program Analyst, Music Programs
Gina Loes joined Creative BC in December 2016 as a Program Analyst in the music department. Gina is responsible for the Career Development program, and supports artists applying for recording, marketing and music video production grants.
Gina has her BA in Music from The University of British Columbia. Her primary music project was writing and performing with the Vancouver band The Ruffled Feathers. Gina worked in music publishing administration with Nettwerk Music Group, and has also held positions in fundraising, grant writing, sync licensing, and digital marketing. Outside of work, Gina studies flamenco dance, Spanish and Italian language, and has been making ceramics for over a decade.
Tel: +1 604 730 2253
Email: gloes (at) creativebc.com
Kaitlyn Reining | Senior Program Analyst, Music Programs
Kaitlyn Reining joined Creative BC in December 2016 as a Program Analyst in the music department. Kaitlyn is responsible for the Live Music and Music Company Development programs, advising and supporting applicants with business development projects.
Kaitlyn graduated from the Producing and Engineering program at Harris Institute for the Arts. Prior to working at Creative BC, Kaitlyn got her start in the music industry at Arts & Crafts in Toronto, and moved on to a Project Manager role at Light Organ Records, a local indie record label, where she managed the day-to-day career development for signed artists. Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys going to shows, riding her bike, and being a tortured Toronto Blue Jays fan.
Tel: +1 604 730 2254
Email: kreining (at) creativebc.com
Mizzy Mejia | Coordinator, Music Programs
Mizzy joined the Creative BC team as a Music Program Coordinator in August 2021. He has previously worked within several sectors of the music industry; as a performing artist; event & festival production, booking agent and artist manager. After attending Durham College for Music Business Administration in Oshawa, he moved to Vancouver in 2009.
Mizzy began his career in Vancouver as a performer, but was quick to seek out opportunities within the business side of the industry. His first experience was street level marketing for events/selling tickets hand to hand, which evolved into becoming a full time production manager. He has also served as a manager and booking agent for several local artists and has helped to secure opening performances for major touring artists and festivals in the GVR and nationally.
Tel: +1 236 455 0946
Email: mmejia (at) creativebc.com
Joseph Bardsley | Coordinator, Music Programs
As a member of Creative BC’s Music team, Joseph provides support and front-line assistance for the Career Development program, as well as the Demo Recording and Music Video grant programs for underrepresented artists and organizations throughout Vancouver, and across B.C. He also manages the Creative BC Music Industry newsletter.
Joseph joined the Music team at Creative BC in January 2022. Prior to this role, he spent five seasons at Music on Main as the company’s inaugural Development Manager, leading all fundraising and grant writing efforts for the organization. Before Music on Main, Joseph spent seven seasons at Vancouver Opera as the company’s grants manager, building on earlier grant writing and fundraising positions at Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects.
Beyond his work at Creative BC, Joseph currently sits on Vancouver Foundation’s Arts and Culture grants advisory as a volunteer peer assessor, and spends additional time as an assessor on the City of Vancouver’s Neighborhood Matching Fund. Joseph is also a seasonal presenter on grant writing for undergraduate arts management students at Simon Fraser University. He’s served as a music panelist for the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the City of Vancouver, and B.C.’s artsVest program. He’s also received recent professional development funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council for self-directed arts management projects.
Joseph is a 2020 alumnus of the Banff Centre’s Cultural Leadership Program, and holds a BA in Journalism (2006) from Mount Royal University, in Calgary.
Tel: +1 236 455 6232
Email: jbardsley (at) creativebc.com
Communications + Operations
Lisa Escudero | Brand Lead + Media Relations
Lisa Escudero joined Creative BC in December 2019 as the Marketing and Communications Specialist.
At Creative BC she leads all digital and promotional aspects of the organization, servicing and sharing the creative industries and organization to deliver strong integrated storytelling to B.C. and beyond.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Communications from Capilano University and over seven years of experience in publicity, marketing, and branding for talent, brands, film and television content, and a decade of working in social media and graphic design.
Tel: +1 604 730 2235
Email: lescudero (at) creativebc.com
Nashlyn Lloyd | Knowledge + Systems Lead
Tel: +1 604 736 7997
Email: nlloyd (at) creativebc.com
Heather Campbell | Operations + Communications Coordinator
Heather joined Creative BC in November 2021.Finance + Administration
Daniel Gallant | Finance Manager
Daniel is Creative BC’s Finance Manager, responsible for financial operations and reporting, as well as supporting strategic decision-making and achieving objectives.
Daniel graduated with a BBA degree in accounting and has 10 years’ experience in the finance field. Prior to joining Creative BC, Daniel worked in the VFX industry and within municipal government. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys exploring B.C.’s beautiful landscapes.
Tel: +1 604 730 2238
Email: dgallant (at) creativebc.com
Valentina Pagetto | Accounting Administrator
Valentina joined Creative BC in March 2021 as an Accounts Payable Coordinator and transitioned into the Accounting Administrator role in June 2022. Working closely with the Finance Manager, she is primarily responsible for processing payments and expenses and will take on various duties and projects to aid in the functioning of the finance department.
Outside of her work at Creative BC, Valentina sits on the youth board for the Environmental Youth Alliance and performs freelance illustration for environmental nonprofits. She holds an Accounting Diploma from BCIT and is working towards a Bachelor of Accounting.
Katie Czenczek | Operations Administrator
Tel: +1 604 736 7997Email: kczenczek (at) creativebc.com