Facilitators, Speakers, Panelists 

Carla Stephenson

Facilitator + Session Leader

Carla Stephenson has lived her adult life in small rural towns and has worked in the arts in British Columbia for over two decades. She's studied community development, innovated systems and built community hubs and cultural events, and is called to the work of amplifying the voices of others, mostly artists. She is the founder of the Tiny Lights Festival in Ymir, BC and creator of the Rural Arts Inclusion Social Innovation Lab project.

“I do not know how to change the system or to create a better one but I believe that through listening, collective story harvesting, and collaboration we can find ways to support change. Arts play a role in disrupting and getting to the truth of issues in subversive and overt ways. I am honoured and grateful to have the opportunity to explore this challenge with as many people who feel called to participate as possible.”

Meeka Noelle Morgan

Speaker: Opening Circle, 2 Rivers Remix

Meeka Noelle Morgan was born and raised within Secwepemc and Nuu-Chah-Nulth lands, traditions and culture, but is also part St’atimc, and N’lakapamux. Surrounded by great orators and storytellers from both sides of her desert/rainforest family, as well as into a kaleidoscope of land defenders, activists, artists and musicians, she has been writing from as early as she could remember, and spent much time throughout her young life listening to stories and music shared with her family. This invoked an immensely curious nature about the significance of stories, music and creativity, and how they can transform and rebuild relationships. She wrote her Master’s thesis (SFU) on the impacts her father’s people and generation experienced: “Making Connections with Secwepemc Family Through Storytelling: A Journey in Transformative Rebuilding”, which further developed her work, focused on retelling history, and processing this experience through creativity. She founded an Indigenous music and arts collective, The Melawmen Collective, which is now a performing musical act, and is also Artistic Director of 2 Rivers Remix Festival, an All Indigenous Music and Arts Festival. She currently lives in sunny Ashcroft, with her husband, daughter and dog, and close to her adult son.

Rosina Kazi

Speaker: Building Community: Keynote with Rosina Kazi of LAL.

For over 2 decades, Polaris Prize longlisted Toronto's downtempo soul saviours electronic duo LAL, comprised of Rosina Kazi and Nicholas Murray, have built a catalogue of silvery, internationally-influenced electronica that insists that the dance-floor remain a place of resistance. In the process, they’ve become the backbone of Toronto’s sprawling DIY scene, nurturing and propping up a multi-generational group of artists.

Sydney Black, Nelson & District Arts Council

Panelist: Been there, done it - A Pecha Kucha on what we learned in 2020

Sydney Black loves making things happen, especially with teams of amazing people. She was born (and currently resides) on unceded Sinixt, Ktunaxa and Syilx territory known as Nelson, BC with her incredibly supportive husband and children. When she isn’t organizing events, you can find her producing and performing in theatrical extravaganzas with her company Black Productions. She is the Executive Director of the Nelson & District Arts Council, the founder and ED of the Nelson International Mural Festival and the chair of the Cultural Development Committee for the City of Nelson.

Elliott HeartE, Arts BC

Panelist: Funding and Support
Moderator: Bridging the Gap

Elliott Hearte is an experienced Arts Administrator who has worked with artist run centres, festivals, equity seeking groups, and arts service organizations across Canada. Elliott has held senior roles in organizations on the East and West Coast and is currently an Arts Consultant working as Director, Programs & Services at Arts BC. Elliott focuses on equity and organizational development consulting for the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition, Moving Images Distribution, Artistic Sign Language, and more. A graduate of the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts, her work in film, video and new media has shown extensively in festivals and galleries across Canada, USA, and Europe. Elliott participates on numerous boards and committees dedicated to the advancement of media arts in Canada and abroad including the Independent Media Arts Alliance, and the Media Arts Alliance of the Pacific.

DR. SM STEELE

Session lead - Navigating the great divides: A case study of Li Keur, Riel's Heart of the North on cross-cultural boundaries, fiscal management, and the ecologies of Indigenous engagement with European opera

SM Steele, is an award-winning poet, installation artist, and librettist. Steele is Métis from the Gaudry/Fayant families, families that trace their roots to the first families (Anishinaabe and French) of our nation. Her work is broadcast, studied, and exhibited internationally, she has lectured and performed at Oxford, London, St Andrews, Scotland, Amiens, France, across Canada etc., at festivals, conferences and universities. Steele has a PhD in narrative studies and ethics from the University of Exeter (UK), a BMus (voice) from UBC, and an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario. Her new opera, Li Keur, Riel's Heart of the North, with composers Neil Weisensel and Alex Kustoruk, premieres in 2021 with the Winnipeg Symphony, and her installation work will be exhibited at Canada House in London, UK, in 2022.

Jimmy Leitch

Panelist: Funding and Support

Jimmy is the Program Manager for Music BC and joined the organization in 2019. He has over 10 years of experience working within the music, arts & culture industry of BC and the US. Jimmy studied History and Economics at UBC and is a graduate of the Publishing Program at Langara where he served as the Managing Editor for an annual magazine published through The Globe and Mail. After working as a content and media coordinator for boutique music festivals and events across BC, Jimmy joined DoStuff Media (based in Austin, TX) and helped launch their first Western Canadian properties with the owners of Rifflandia Festival, Atomique Productions and Secret Study Projects - Do250 and Do604 - known as DoBC Media. Jimmy was thrilled to have worked closely with Music BC, Factor and Creative BC on supporting export showcases for BC artists in the PNW. A self-described "professional music listener" - he also worked with the 2018 JUNO Host Committee on activating music programming throughout Vancouver before taking on his current role.  

Sabina Dennis (Hujunē)

Speaker: 2 Rivers Remix

Hadih! Hujunē means , those who sing in Dakelh , the language of our people . We chose this name accurately as we often have guests perform with us ,as you will see in our showcase we have one of our  brilliant elders, Angie Todd-Dennis and our dear friend , poet and musician Meeka Morgan-Hall. Hujunē would like to dedicate our performance to all those who are actively healing ..... thus adding to the collective healing of our Mother Earth and all life upon her.

deb Beaton-Smith

Speaker: past>now>next

Deb Beaton-Smith founded Beat Music Management 16 years ago to provide Artist and Event Management services focussing on project management and music industry leadership.   Deb was an artist manager for over a decade, has run large-scale events and created unique initiatives such as the BC Music Festival Survey project.  Event Management contracts have include: Sr. Project Manager for Victoria’s Canada 150, Host Chair and Co-Producer BreakOut West 2015, Rifflandia Festival, Director Artist Relations, Grants and Business Development and a 2010 Olympics Artist Merchandise Manager.Deb was a Director on the Board of Music BC for four years and has been a Juror for the Junos, FACTOR, MusiCounts, Creative BC and the Canadian Folk Music Awards.  Deb is known for her ability to execute large and small scale projects on time and on budget while her passion remains with the music and musicians.

LAURIE M LANDRY

Panelist: Bridging the Gap - Accessibility in the Arts

Laurie M Landry attended Wells’ Island Mountain School for the Arts in the late 1970s, and completed the Emily Carr University of Art & Design’s Fine Arts Techniques program in 2008. She has since continued training with mentor programs and in-class workshops, including Studio Escalier in Paris, France, and Toni Onley Artist Project, Wells, Canada. In 2018 Island Mountain Arts hosted an exhibition by Laurie Landry titled “Deafies” where she explored ASL, a sign language used by North American English-speaking Deaf community, and focused on Deaf or HoH people by allowing them to have a voice in their portraits. Showing that they are more than an impairment, they are a community with a rich culture and language. She currently has a billboard going up in the City of Vancouver that continues this work.

AMY BRAUN

Panelist: Bridging the Gap - Accessibility in the Arts

Amy the CODA (Amy Braun) is the lead singer and non-vocalist of the duo Half/Asian + Amy the CODA. Amy is the Child of a Deaf Adult (CODA) and she is committed to her role as the bridge between the hearing and non-hearing communities.  Amy the CODA is an advocate for d/Deaf rights and accessibility. She is a facilitator of meaningful dialogue and a representative of inclusivity as an intentional practice. Bringing a lifetime of knowledge and learned experience, Amy offers her voice to the hearing community and sign language to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and sign communities. She is of the belief that accessibility and inclusivity does in fact require work, but we can choose to do that work joyfully and collectively.

Inga Petri, Strategic Moves

Moderator (Pecha Kucha) + Session Lead (IRL + Digital Futures)

Inga Petri, Strategic Moves, has been putting digital conversations in the performing arts sector on the agenda since 2011, when she lead the seminal Value of Presenting: A Study of Performing Arts Presentation in Canada (© 2013, CAPACOA). She has a long record of collaboration with our sector including co-writing Digitizing the Performing Arts: An Assessment of Issues, Opportunities and Challenges (© 2017, CAPACOA). Inga crosses the arts and technology divide easily:  since 1997, she has managed the development of web site applications, conceived online marketing campaigns, and helped organizations forge closer connections with their audiences in the digital and physical realms.

Ronnie Dean Harris

Speaker: Resistance 2 Resilience

Over the past 5 years, Ronnie aka Ostwelve aka Malō:yhleq has focused on cultural + ethnographic research of his ancestors + connected communities + cosmologies. The findings have led him to many new understandings and even more questions on how we will use research as a collective contribution to real relational change within the colonial framework.

KAIT BLAKE

Panelist: Bridging the Gap - Accessibility in the Arts

Kait came to Kickstart in the fall of 2016 as a work-placement through Gastown Vocational Services (a Vancouver based mental health vocational organization). With her strong administrative background, approachable personality and passion for community she quickly became a valuable asset to our organization. Under the mentorship of former Kickstart Artistic Director Yuri Arajs, Kait thrived in her role as Administrative Assistant. The Board of Directors felt that as our organization shifted Kait would be an excellent fit in transitioning to a Directorship. In November 2019, she excitedly stepped into her role as Administrative Director of Kickstart.  She is thrilled to be running such an amazing organization, as she is extremely passionate about inclusion and supporting everyone to live a fulfilling life filled with creativity!  While she is not an artist per se, she has been a lover and supporter of the arts since early childhood. Much of her youth was devoted to participation in every theatre endeavour available to her, whether it be performing, working backstage or attending productions. When she wasn’t doing that, she was performing original plays for her family, friends & stuffed animals, creating artistic “masterpieces” (and messes), singing in choirs (or anywhere she was allowed to sing) and writing short stories & angsty teen poetry. These days she is an avid paper crafter, novice seamstress, an enthusiastic dog & cat mom and is a lover of all things food related & enjoys cooking for her family & friends. Kait lives with severe depression & anxiety and is vehement about breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness. Kait holds a diploma of Tourism and Travel from Confederation College ’02 (Thunder Bay, ON) and a Bachelor of Recreation Management from Acadia University ’07 (Wolfville, NS). While her educational & career background was mostly tourism, she shifted into non-profit & mental health fields when she realized the personal importance of a career that enriches the lives of others & fills her soul!

G.R. Gritt

Session Lead: Be Seen, but more importantly BE HEARD - Live Streaming 101 Workshop

G.R. Gritt is a Juno Award winning, Two-Spirit, Transgender, Francophone, Anishinaabe/Métis artist. After living many years in Yellowknife they have recently moved back to Sudbury/Robinson Huron Treaty territory where they grew up. This homecoming coincides with a journey that they feel better represents them. With these changes has come a new voice, both physically and in the growing magnetism of their songwriting. G.R. Gritt pulls effortlessly from the past to create soulful futurisms with their new sound that elegantly weaves the melodies using vocals, guitar and new electronic elements. They create both intimate and anthemic music that would fit in a folk club, a dance club and anywhere in between.

The Northern cities G.R. Gritt has lived in forced them every winter through snow and harsh temperatures to make a choice between isolation and seeking community as a source of warmth. Their music serves as one of these beacons of connection for all who come near it. Welcoming yet truthful, they reclaim space through songs that show that intersectional identity is expansive and not to be divided into parts.

By exploring the emotional and cultural core of their heritage as a non-binary, queer, Indigenous artist they create new space and encourage others to do the same. G.R. Gritt is currently preparing for the release of a new full-length album titled, Ancestors, in 2021 on Coax Records. The first single “Quiet Years” will be released November 27, 2020.