2022 Our Community Stories

January, 28, Laurie Jones-Canta: Laurie graduated from SFU in the Contemporary Arts Program as an interdisciplinary performer & has been artistically creative all her life. She began carving four years ago, studying with Master Carver, Al Phillips, and Bill Skerret. She has taken courses at Lee Valley for wood, bark carving and pyrography. As a working artist, Laurie has produced private commissions and unique works from bark, cedar and bass wood. Lighthouses, boathouses, gnomes, castles, gothic spires and fantasy houses are Laurie’s focus. How have you changed over the past two years? “The past two years have been life changing in so many ways, with the launch of my website, joining art groups and councils for support. The isolation and restrictions of COVID, brought a resurgence of support for local artists’ creative endeavours. I made a concerted effort to be intentional with my art after retirement three years ago. In 2019 I had the opportunity to take Robert Bateman’s masterclass, a once-in-a lifetime chance to do something great, a gift to myself…from that experience I now sketch every day and see my natural surroundings according to “Bob’s quips and quotes”. Once I became serious and committed about my approach of wanting to share my skills and voice in my work, I answered many artist calls. Being accepted to “On the Edge” was a sincere boost to my confidence. I continue to explore sculpting and carving mediums deriving such joy from the surprising outcomes and sharing my work with others.” Love Laurie’s work? Get one for yourself! Laurie welcomes private commissions, visit her website for more details: www.lauriejc.com

February 11, Lillian Liu: Lillian is a creative photographer who utilizes digital techniques to create unique atmospheres in her work. She is part of the humanitarian artistic collective Free Spirit, headquartered in Paris, as of 2016. Features include: Marie Claire Taiwan, Vogue Taiwan, Penguin Random House, CTV News Canada, Craftopia on HBO Max, and many more. Lillian’s latest awards are the Grand Award, Creative Division at the 2021 WPPI Competition, first in the 2020-2021 WPPI First Half Competition (Open Category) and first in the 2021 Muse Photography Awards for digitally enhanced photography. Lillian has also collaborated with The Colour Lab to release her own set of colour-toning actions. She is also an ambassador for lighting company Lumecube. Lillian shoots in Canada, the USA and the EU, and is also a full-time music teacher. Share a memory that has transformed you into the person you are today? “I’ve been reminded that you cannot take health for granted and that health spans deep into workflow especially for artists. Desk setup, stretches, repetitive muscle strain, tension and posture all can take a toll on you over time and result in injury. Especially, if you work on your craft every day at a desk. One day the cards—our health—could come falling down. Being mindful of our wellbeing translates directly into better productivity and art.” Lillian’s photography can be found, not only on walls in galleries, but on the cover of your favourite book! One of the most recent books that have her photography as a cover is a YA/teen novel titled “Castles In Their Bones” by New York Times bestselling author Laura Sebastian (author of Ash Princess). It was just released this February and can be found in all major bookstores! Lillian is super proud of it and we encourage you to check it out!

February 25, Hazel Kang: Hazel studied Psychology and Cinema at University of Toronto, which operates on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. She has worked as a programmer for the Toronto Korean Film Festival, where she witnessed the strength of a shared experience of art and grew to love showcasing art to empower communities. She also enjoys theatre and has acted on physical and digital stages for campus theatre productions including “The Madness of the Square” and “Porcelain Tigers”. Share a memory that has transformed you into the person you are today. “When my family first moved to Canada, I was enrolled into a very small school with an average of ten students per class, per grade. We learned knitting, cursive writing and woodwork, and drew/wrote our own textbooks every day. It sounds like the dream school any kid would beg their parents to go to, but I had no particular interest or talent in any of these crafts. It wasn’t until my class put on our year-end play, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde, that I realized how excited I could be about making art. I played Lady Bracknell, an arrogant Victorian lady who interferes in her daughter’s marriage, and I couldn’t wait for every next day to come so I could run to school to practice lines and build scenes with my class. I remember the thrill of waiting for my cue backstage on the opening night, and the energy and connection I felt when I finally stood in front of an audience who breathed, laughed and cried with me. That moment was something truly magical and transformative that it drives my love for making and showcasing art to this day.”

March 25, Jessica Kang: Jessica is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board after being a student (1994-) and a member of PdA’s staff (2002-2004). Since then, her career has led her to live around the world for several multinational corporations. She now works in the public service as a policy director and runs her namesake art & design studio @jessicakangstudio . Jessica holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from UBC Sauder School of Business and has completed MFA-level design studies at Parsons in New York. She credits PdA for fostering rich, immersive art and music experiences for her growing up and is thrilled to share this passion with the community. What small or big transformation has been a milestone over the past two years? So much has changed over the past two years for everyone, but I would say my one big transformation has been becoming a first-time mom. It truly is life-changing and I have so much respect for parents everywhere. I also can’t wait to introduce our little guy to art, music and culture via PdA! Anything you want to share? Long before today’s recognition of diversity, inclusion and representation, I have personally experienced PdA championing and modeling this. When I identified that the growing Korean community could benefit from translation support at the front desk, they gave me the opportunity to work at PdA and help remove barriers. It’s always heartwarming to hear from our community members especially those that have been with us for many years in different capacities. Jessica is among many of our community members who continue to not only inspire us but inspire those in her community. Photo: Lara L Hill @lara_hill307

April 15, Jennifer Misera: I have always been an artistic person and enjoy learning new ways to be creative whether it’s through art, singing or acting. I feel my best when I am creating something that makes me feel proud. In 2021, I was fortunate to find a volunteering opportunity at Place des Arts. I joined for the Summer Fun! Art Camp, where I began volunteering over Zoom. Place des Arts extended an invitation for me to continue volunteering in the Fall. I accepted and have been volunteering ever since. How have you changed over the past two years? What I’ve learned over the past two years is that it’s important to be open to trying new things as well as doing what we love even when life gets complicated. Being artistic and creative was not only a fun activity but also one that brought me a real sense of peace. During a time when the world kept changing and was very chaotic, I had found something that I could do that made me happy. My volunteering experience with Place des Arts has helped me regain the creativity I thought I had lost, and I encourage everyone to try something artistic. You never know when you’ll find a new passion and outlet for your creativity.

April 30, Lois Ichlen: Place des Arts has been part of my life for a little over thirty years. I started with the intention of updating my office skills and going back to work after my youngest graduated from school. I worked every Tuesday with Gillian Elliot – Place des Arts’ Executive Director from 1989-2003 – and after my husband retired, I decided not to work and stayed on as a volunteer. While volunteering, I have done many jobs. In recent years, I’ve assisted with hanging the artwork identification cards. I enjoy this task as it allows me to see the different mediums of art that come through the centre. What small or big transformation has been a milestone? Not so sure if there’s been a transformation but I do want to say that I’ve worked with some wonderful people at Place des Arts. Of the past and current individuals, I’ve worked with, I always enjoyed my conversations with them and noticed their interests. One memory that sticks out in my mind was when I was working in Mackin House while they were renovating “the old, original” Place des Arts into the lovely building it is now. That was an experience!

June 24, Marcel Tremel: Marcel Tremel (@dancewith_marcel) is a choreographer, performer, adjudicator and dance educator based in the Vancouver area. He is a fully certified Dance Teacher with ADAPT Syllabus (Jazz, Tap), Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (Jazz, Tap, Acro), Acrobatic Arts, Progressing Ballet Technique, Alixa Flexibility and is working towards completing his certification with the Acro Dance Teachers Association. Share a memory that has transformed you into the person you are today? A memory that I would like to share is about a time I failed a dance exam. I was quite young then and completely devastated at the time, but my passion for dance persevered. I learned many things from that experience. 1) That failure is an opportunity to come back better and stronger than ever. 2) Hard work equals success. 3) You can let the experience define you or you can rewrite the story. Ultimately, I ended up continuing my dance training and really excelled after that experience. I learned to have resilience and developed a work ethic that aligned with my goals.

July 22, Samantha Kerr: Sam is a theatre artist who has lived and performed on the traditional, unceded and occupied territories of the Coast Salish Nation. She is currently an Acting student entering her fourth term at Studio 58, working towards a future in theatre and film. She has performed in a variety of plays, musicals and is in several short films and web series on the YouTube channel “YAP TV”. She enjoys all aspects that are involved in the performing arts, and since starting at Studio 58, has discovered her love for production. She is very passionate about the community aspect of theatre and is excited to continue working and connecting with equally eager artists in the future How have you changed over the past two years? Two years ago, I was in my final year of high school and I wasn’t set on what to do after graduation. Acting was my passion, but I thought it would be too risky to commit three years of my life to a full-time theatre program. It took not getting the role I wanted in my school’s musical for me to realize I had so much room to grow, and all I wanted to do was continue learning and performing after graduating. Studio 58 is a very intense program that requires my full time and commitment, yet I feel happier and more fulfilled than I ever did back when I was indecisive and trying to balance way too many subjects and hobbies in high school. I now know myself more than I did back then, and I’m so grateful to be studying and pursuing my passion.

August 19, Naomi Fong: Naomi Fong is an illustrator and comic creator. Graduating from the Alberta University of the Arts, Naomi has been making comics since she was seven years old. In 2020, she won an Applied Arts Award. Naomi believes in celebrating and encouraging creativity in action. She is excited to engage with the students of Place des Arts and share her knowledge and love for drawing and visual storytelling. What is a memory that has transformed you into the person you are today? When I attended the Alberta University of the Arts, I had a professor who treated every student as if they were rising star illustrators, and that success was inevitable. His absolute confidence in me back then continues to give me courage and confidence as an illustrator today. I want to share this philosophy of potential in passion and the joy of creating in my classes.

August 26, Cindy Wei: As a kid, I took ballet, piano and flute lessons at Place des Arts with some wonderful instructors who made me realize that art and music are joyful—non-stressful—activities. I started volunteering at PdA in grade 11 and then joined the Youth Arts Council the following year. My sister and I feel like we’ve grown up at Place des Arts, and even though staff, programming, and branding have changed over the years, the inclusiveness and encouragement hasn’t. I’ve been a certified yoga instructor since 2016. I was a competitive figure skater throughout high school and university, skating for the University of Waterloo’s varsity team before picking up aerial gymnastics, where I learned stability/conditioning exercises that have since been integrated into my yoga teaching. I received my BSc. in Kinesiology in 2020 and am currently working towards my MSc. I’ve led yoga classes for people as young as 5 and as old as 95! Tell us about a memory from your time at PdA that has brought you immense joy? I love the happiness and gratification that comes with volunteering and working at PdA alongside great staff and students. In my volunteer experience, I loved Imagination Station and ArtReach, as well as Day of the Arts. For several summers in a row, I volunteered for ArtReach and it was one of my favourite volunteer experiences of all time, because the idea of working towards one final performance is super exciting. I had so much fun being creative with designing performances/set pieces for the show. From student to volunteer to teacher, Cindy, never misses an opportunity to engage and share her passion for the arts with others.

October 13, Ruth Griffiths: Born and raised locally, fibre art skills including knitting, sewing and weaving were first passed on to me by family members. A self-taught spinner, to begin with, I have pursued a greater depth of knowledge through workshops and have won awards for my work. Dyeing with natural dye sources has become a great passion as well. I have taught “beginning spinning” at a local yarn store. Sharing my fibre passion with others is always a deeply satisfying process. Share a memory that has transformed you into the person you are today? I have been deeply influenced by memories of my maternal grandmother. She was someone who kept a sense of humour, compassion and a lively curiosity even after a life of toil and tragedy. She was able to learn new skills and ideas even in her old age. If I can be anything like the good person she was, I will feel like my life has been worth living. She was also a lifelong maker of things: knitted things, crocheted things, sewn things; rug hooking, baking, embroidery, gardening.

November 4, Karlie Norrish McChesney: Karlie a multi-medium artist who expresses herself artistically in two-dimensional and three-dimensional formats. Right out of high school Karlie worked as a draftsperson in an architectural engineering firm before pursuing her BEd and MEd in Studio Art Practices. Retired from her 30-year teaching career, she now pursues her art practice fulltime. Karlie articulates her art in a very precise manner. Her art practice requires much measuring and calculating to construct a finished piece of work, so much so that her work is a form of puzzle solving. Karlie’s preferred medium is fibre in the form of stitched textiles with elements of mixed medium applied to the surface. She often explores her passion for sculptural form and constructs with a variety of materials: textiles, paper, plastic, metal, clay and/or wood. Her skills are varied and flow freely from the making of one piece to another. From Karlie As an artist new to exhibiting it was thrilling to be juried for the Positively Petite Exhibition. At the time I had never worked in a small size; after making the four items for the exhibit it launched me into the making of an entire series of small works. Karlie’s newest exhibition with two other artists, Stitched Together, is on display at Place des Arts. Line and/or shape informs their art, but the imagery they arrive at creates a unique look for each. This is Karlie’s first group exhibit with her friends and she is very excited to be showing her work with theirs.

November 22, Susan Pereira: Today’s Our Community post is a bit different (very meta). As the Marketing Assistant at Place des Arts, I’m usually the one writing about someone else so it’s a change of pace to write about myself. Some of you may know me as the girl behind the camera at PdA events or as one of the smiling faces at the PdA booths during the year. After almost five years, I have the pleasure of introducing myself to you. So, hello followers, my name is Susan Pereira and I am the woman behind Place des Arts’ social media. Susan (she/her/hers) I grew up in Coquitlam alongside my family. At a young age, I had the pleasure of exploring weaving at Place des Arts’ Summer Fun! art camps which led me to take many textile electives during my high school education. The lessons I learned from those classes, like trying something new & not being afraid to make mistakes have helped me in my career. In 2017, I got my Marketing Management Communications diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). My passion for knowledge is continuous and I am currently working towards my Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (BBA) at BCIT. My hobbies include crafting, reading and watching Marvel movies. Tell us a memory from your time at PdA that has brought you immense joy? “Over almost 5 years at Place des Arts, I’ve had many moments of joy but one that stands out occurred this year at Teddy Bear Picnic. I had the lovely experience of assisting a Brazilian-Portuguese-speaking family new to Coquitlam at the PdA booth. This included an interactive experience teaching the meanings of animals through the lens of First Nations artist, Christine Mackenzie. I noticed that the family seemed hesitant to approach & as a bilingual individual I understood their fear of making a mistake when speaking English. Luckily, Portuguese is my second language, so I approached & explained the activity & animal meanings the best I could in Portuguese. The joy I felt when the mum thanked me for assisting and making the child feel included brightened the rest of my day. That interaction speaks to everything Place des Arts stands for to me- making the arts as accessible and inclusive as possible.”

2022 Our Community Stories

Click through our gallery to explore the wide breadth of stories from different members of our Place des Arts community!