.:: Executive Committee ::.

John Hudson, Chair 

John is the Artistic Director of Shadow Theatre and the Executive Director of The Varscona Theatre. He has directed over 70 productions in his career including many Canadian premieres of outstanding international work. He has developed a committed new play development program with the primary focus on emerging playwrights and premieres a new Canadian play in his season almost every year. 

During his time at Shadow the company has garnered over 60 Sterling nominations for outstanding work in the Edmonton Theatre community, winning in virtually every category. In his work with The Varscona he has lead the theatre since 1996 and the building is now one of the busiest in Canada with 350 performances a year with 30,000 people coming through the doors. The theatre has one of the largest demographics of any theatre, with children’s theatre, improv. for teenagers and the smart sophisticated plays of Shadow and Teatro la Quindicina. As an actor he has worked with most of the professional companies in the province. He sat as a board member of The Old Strathcona Business Association for 3 years as their arts representative and is part owner of one of the finest video stores in the country, The Videodrome, which caters to people looking for the best in foreign and alternative cinema. John lives in Edmonton with his wife playwright, actor, speech pathologist, Sandy Paddick and their two daughters Charlotte and Isabella.

Nicole Reeves, Vice-Chair

Nicole is the Education Business Manager for the Art Gallery of Alberta.

She also currently sits on the Board for Harcourt House Artist Run Centre (WESCAN Society) as Exhibition Chair. Other arts organization involvements + appointments have included: Celebration of Women in the Arts (disbanded), Mayors Awards for the Arts; Submissions Juror and Grant Submissions Juror; RBC Undergraduate Grant Program.

Nicole began her education with a Diploma in Fine Arts from GMCC. She then attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), simultaneously completing her BFA and B.Ed. in Art Education.

Nicole has been an arty downtown dweller for 15 years and doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.

Mary Philips Rickey, Secretary-Treasurer 

Mary Phillips-Rickey is a Edmonton Chartered Accountant who started out in public practice, moved to an electric utility during their deregulation period and, most recently, ran a not for profit arts charity – Edmonton Opera. She has been an external auditor, internal auditor, long range planner and general manager. She currently teaches at Grant MacEwan University part time. Mary is on the Boards of KSPS Friends of Seven Public Broadcasting Station in Spokane, Washington and the Alberta Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. She served on the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation Board for a full six year term to April 2011 but continues as a public member of the Audit committee. Mary was raised and educated in Edmonton and received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta who presented her with an Alumni Honour Award September 2010. She is active in the arts, singing with Richard Eaton Singers and serving on their 60th anniversary committee.

Marsh Murphy, Past Chair

Marsh has been working with media arts organizations in western Canada since the mid-nineties, in a variety of capacities. He's currently the Executive Director and Film Programmer of Metro Cinema, and the President of AMAAS (the Alberta Media Arts Alliance). He also writes about the media arts, and is working on an experimental documentary about an abandoned gas station, which he thinks will be more interesting than it sounds.

.:: Members at Large ::.

Wayne Arthurson

Wayne Arthurson is an Edmonton-born aboriginal writer/musician. He has written over 100 articles for Canadian and US publications, and four history books including For Love, Not Money: The History of Walterdale Playhouse. Wayne is also the author of two novels, including the recently released Fall From Grace, which is published by Forge Book, a major US publisher. Fall From Grace has received many positive reviews since its release including a starred review from the prestigious Library Journal. Wayne Arthurson is also a long-time member of Edmonton’s music community and currently plays in two bands.

Amber Borotsik

Originally from rural Manitoba, Amber has studied contemporary dance, contact improvisation and Flamenco throughout Canada, the United States and Spain. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta in 2001 and now works as both a contemporary dance and theatre artist.  Amber is the founder /Co-Artistic director of the creation based company Dammitdance Theatre whose premier production, Scythe, received two Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards (Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Independent Production).  Amber has performed across Canada, the United States and Panama with Tania Alvarado, Synergy Improv, Mile Zero Dance, Eko Dance, Sheldon Casavant, Firefly Theatre, Ishtar Circus Arts, The Maggie Tree, Citadel Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, Scarface, Red to Blue Performance, Nakai Theatre, Workshop West Theatre, Shadow Theatre and Artistic Fraud Theatre of Newfoundland among others.  In 2004 Amber founded The Expanse Movement Arts Festival with Azimuth Theatre artistic producer Murray Utas and now serves as its Festival Director. 

Jenifer Christenson

Jenifer is the Managing Director, Marketing Services at Edmonton Economic Development Corporation leading a team to support the marketing and communications functions for all divisions, including Edmonton Tourism, Economic Development, Edmonton Research Park, Shaw Conference Centre and corporate office.  She has been involved in the industry for over 20 years working in various  sectors including tourism, small business, fundraising, publishing, non-profit, government, retail, oil & gas, agriculture, property management, education and entertainment.  She has won numerous awards for her work, been instrumental in the promotion of the city’s festivals, launched a national best seller and developed and managed a youth at risk program which gained federal recognition. 

Christine Sokaymoh Frederick

Christine Sokaymoh Frederick is the co-founder/co-director of Alberta Aboriginal Arts, and is the Aboriginal Leadership Academy Coordinator for the Centre for Race & Culture. She is a Métis, Edmonton-based artist with many years experience as an actor, writer, singer/musician, dancer, community developer, facilitator and producer, and she has an arts & cultural administration background with many connections to the local and traditional community in and around Alberta. She has consulted for the Edmonton’s cultural plan The Art of Living (Edmonton Arts Council) and on the 2005 draft of Alberta’s Cultural Policy for the Ministry of Alberta’s Community Development. 

Christine is the recipient of the 2007 Esquao Award in Arts & Entertainment. Her children's book, Minosis Gathers Hope is in development including adaptations to the stage for Full Circle Performance's Talkingt Stick Festival in Vancouver and Edmonton's Concrete Theatre's Sprouts Festival. Christine dedicates herself to promoting and supporting the tender network of Aboriginal artists across Turtle Island.

Darrin Hagen

Darrin Hagen is an award-winning writer, composer, actor, television host, as well as Canada’s most notorious drag performer. He was the first Drag Artiste in Canada to host a national television series. Hagen was honoured with the Rosie Award (Alberta Motion Picture Association) for best Male Host, for his work on the show "Who's on Top?". He was nominated again for Best Male Host for season 2.

Hagen’s first one-man/woman play, The Edmonton Queen: Not A Riverboat Story, was awarded an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Work in 1997. It has since been reworked and published in book form (now in an expanded and revised Anniversary Edition from Brindle & Glass Publishing), and is being taught in gender studies and QueerLit programs across Canada. He has become a regular speaker at universities and colleges, delivering keynote addresses at several international conferences on gender diversity and sexual health.

Hagen has received 5 Sterling Awards for his work in Edmonton Theatre.  He has composed music for almost every theatre company in town.Guys in Disguise productions have played in Ottawa, Toronto, Orlando, Winnipeg, Meacham, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Vancouver, and Whitehorse. Plays by Hagen have also been produced in Seattle and Key West.

Hagen has written (or co-written) almost 20 plays.

Cadence Konopaki

Cadence is currently one of the senior technicians for Rapid Fire Theatre; working on their weekly shows, their international improvisation festival, Improvaganza, their provincial high school festival, WildFire, as well as many of their shows at the Edmonton Fringe.  She has also worked closely with the improv show Scratch, one of the most toured improv shows in the world.

Cadence is a producer and board member for HighWire Films, a local independent film company.  She’s proud that their last two feature films have been show in a number of countries and resulted in nominations to the AMPIA awards.

Gina Moe

Gina is an Alberta based stage manager, with majority of her work being in the city of Edmonton.  Recently Gina has taken on a year round position with the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival as the festival’s Assistant Artistic Producer. Gina has enjoyed a diverse career, working for both small collectives to large regional theatres, not for profit and commercial companies. Gina is a 2 time winner of the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding Achievement in Production.

Heather McRae

Heather McRae is the Branch Manager of Strategic Services with the City of Edmonton Community Services Department.  She is currently involved in the implementation of the Art Of Living plan, the creation of the Edmonton Heritage Council and is overseeing the creation of Edmonton’s People Plan-The Way We Live.   Heather holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Geography from Carleton University and a M. Sc. in Public and Social Policy from Edinburgh University.

Tim Paetkau

After 13 years in the classroom, Tim Paetkau is currently the Music Consultant and Drama/Dance facilitator for Edmonton Public Schools. He received his Master of Education from the University of Alberta with an emphasis on music and phonemic awareness. Tim sings with the Greenwood Singers as his musical outlet. He also currently sits on the Steering Committee of the Cappies of Greater Edmonton and the Advisory Committee of the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Aidan Rowe

Aidan Rowe is Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design/Interactive New Media at the University of Alberta. He holds degrees from the University of Alberta, University of Westminster and Goldsmiths College.  Recent practice-based work explores human computer interaction, net.art, and information aesthetics. His professional practice focuses on information design and new media, recent clients include  Net-A-Porter.com , Sony, Vogue, Matthew Williamson and Jimmy Choo. He has taught design in Canada and the UK and has delivered papers, presented work and ran workshops in the UK, Canada, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Poland, Korea, the US and Japan.

Anne Ferguson Switzer

Anne is a lawyer with the private firm of Cleall, Barristers Solicitors, were she does primarily litigation.

Anne has been an enthusiast of the performing arts for many years, and is a committed amateur singer and sometimes amateur actor. She is a regular attendee at various theater productions in Edmonton, as well as Edmonton Opera, Fringe Festival, Folk Festival, Edmonton Symphony and Alberta Ballet. 

Anne is one of the founding organizers and an ongoing dedicated member of Players De Novo. Players De Novo is a group of lawyers and Judges who formed approximately six years ago and today have raised almost $400,000 for theatre in the City of Edmonton. 

Anne’s other volunteer participation includes terms as a director of Edmonton Youth Emergency Service Foundation, President of the Royal Glenora Club, Steering Committee and Fundraising Chair for Habit for Humanities Edmonton Legal Build, Director of Multiple Sclerosis Society Edmonton Chapter, and numerous other involvements, including literally dozens within the extended legal community.

Anne passionately believes that a vibrant and functioning arts community makes the City of Edmonton the wonderful place to live that it is.

Richard Tosczak 

Richard Tosczak is a Belgian-born, Edmonton-based figurative sculptor. While studying philosophy and sculpture at the University of Alberta, he pursued further artistic training in the Loire Valley with Martine Vaugel, first director of sculpture at the New York Academy of Art. More recently, Richard has attended the workshops of Israel Kislansky in São Paulo.

 Beyond his artistic practice, Richard is a year-round bicycle-commuter, yoga enthusiast, CrossFit trainer, and fire captain with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. His career as a firefighter has laid a foundation for travel and learning in pursuit of his creative endeavors. Richard’s work includes a public art commission in William Hawrelak Park and bronze sculptures currently represented by the Art Rental and Sales Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta.

 In addition, Richard co-founded and chaired two community-based arts organizations: Aggregate Visual Arts Society and the Association of Traditional Capoeira Regional, better known as the Capoeira Academy. As a result, Capoeira has been part of the cultural fabric of Edmonton since 1998 performing regularly and offering free outreach programming to targeted children’s groups.  

Brian Webb 

Brian Webb graduated with distinction from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. In 1979, he formed the Brian Webb Dance Company as “company in residence” at Grant MacEwan College, where he was the Chair of the Dance Program for ten years. The company began presenting a dance season in 1991 and is now the largest season ofcontemporary dance west of Toronto. Since the beginning, the BWDC has been dedicated to experimentation, the new, and a collaborative creative process. His company has commissioned over 30 musical scores, numerous installations by visual artists and scripts by writers. Brian collaborates with local artists and works to give their work a broad context by tours across Canada and abroad.

Brian has a keen interest in working with artists from other media and believes in collaboration being the democratic exchange between individuals to make something new.

In 1995, Brian was awarded the Syncrude Award for Innovation in Artistic Direction and in 1998 he won the Telus Award for Arts of the Future (for Project Desire: The Mountains and the Plains). He was selected as an interdisciplinary artist in the 2000 Alberta Biannual of Contemporary Art. Brian has been inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame (2002), and received the Queens Jubilee Medal (2002) and the Alberta Centennial Medal (2005). 

He was the president of Latitude 53 and PACE [locally], the Alberta Dance Alliance [provincially], and the CanDance Network [natioanally]. He has served on the boards of the Compassion House Foundation [7 years] and the Nina Haggerty Centre [2 years]. He believes that artists must be active participants in the community at large.