This season’s Youth Arts Council (YAC) comprises 10 engaging and inspiring youth from grades 9 – 12 who are keen to encourage other youth to participate in the arts.
Executive Members
Yumi Lee, President
My name is Yumi, I’m a grade 12 student from Centennial Secondary and this will be my third year in the Youth Arts Council at Place Des Arts.
I’m someone who is constantly inspired by the art around me, and I love finding new ways to share that creativity with others. YAC is a way for me to build on my leadership and teamwork skills through collaboration, while also encouraging involvement in the arts in my community through these events.
I look forward to meeting new people from different backgrounds and perspectives as well as planning fun events through this council!
Emily Shin, Vice-President
Hi, I’m Emily, a Grade 10 Pre-IB student at Port Moody Secondary.
Art, music and dance have been an important part of my life from a young age, inspired by the many classes I’ve taken at PdA. I’m passionate about sharing my creativity with others through volunteering and community involvement, and I’m eager to continue developing my leadership and teamwork skills along the way.
I’m excited to contribute to this vibrant community by helping host engaging events and offering a fresh, artistic perspective!
Members at Large
Avery Peng
Hi! My name is Avery, and I am a Grade 12 IB student at Port Moody Secondary School.
Growing up, I had a strong passion for art, taking art lessons from the age of four all the way to 13. Although I have stopped taking lessons, I still love drawing and do it in my free time. Some art mediums I like are pencil crayons and sketching. I also do watercolour from time to time, and I like to focus on realism. In Grades 9 and 10, I took art classes for electives. I’ve taken art studios and pottery classes.
I have been volunteering for Place des Arts’ art camps since March of 2023. I love being involved in the art community and helping inspire young kids to find a passion in art!
Brayden M
Hello! My name is Brayden. I’m a Grade 9 Pre-IB student at Port Moody Secondary.
This is my first year on the YAC. I have been playing the violin since Grade 3, and I studied at Place des Arts for five years. Also, I enjoy graphic design, and I’ve created many logos and posters for different events.
In my spare time, I love playing chess and writing. I am excited to use this position on the council to improve my leadership and organizational skills!
Charlotte Lau
Hi, my name is Charlotte Lau, and I’m a Grade 11 French Immersion student at Dr. Charles Best Secondary School.
I was part of the 2024/2025 Youth Arts Council, and I’m excited to be a part of it again! I play the piano, and enjoy fashion, textiles and ceramics. I went to a middle school of the arts and took competitive dance classes until I was 12 years old, all of which helped me develop my love for the arts.
This year, I hope to share my passion for the arts and build my skills in leadership and teamwork. I look forward to planning future events and making a positive impact in our community!
Kai Choudhari
Hi, my name is Kai, and I am a Grade 11 student at Inquiry Hub Secondary.
Growing up, I explored many different art mediums, including drawing, painting, theatre and photography. Each form of art helped me express myself in new ways and allowed me to grow as a person.
Over my time at Place des Arts, I’ve been lucky to learn skills from an amazing community who inspired me and shaped who I am today. Because of that, I want to contribute to the same community that supported me. I look forward to planning events and attending meetings!!
Lainey Mi
This is Lainey. She is a Grade 11 student at Port Moody Secondary, currently in the IB program.
She has dedicated almost 11 years of her life to piano, since she was around five or six years old, in fact! Just last year, she put on an hour-long solo recital on a school night! It was a real surprise to us all that she was able to finish her homework. She is also co-president of the Writer’s Guild at her high school. They explore creative art forms and delve into themes! Furthermore, she had taken Drama 9 and Theatre 10 as her electives in pre-IB.
As everyone can see, Lainey’s love for the arts runs deep. Although she can hardly draw a circle or take good photos, she has a deep appreciation and curiosity towards all mediums of art. She is so excited to be in YAC!
For this year, she aims to volunteer, suggest, and contribute to the creative society that has given her so many fond memories and serenity.
Lauren Chen
Hi! My name is Lauren, and I am a Grade 9 student in PMSS’s IB program!
I recently moved to Canada in August. I have a strong passion for the arts such as dance, visual arts and writing. I have been taking dance lessons for three years now, and I have been doing competitive dance for about a year. I train in ballet, acrobatics, contemporary, lyrical and jazz. Some of my visual arts have been displayed at the Singapore National Art Gallery. I used a mix of acrylic as well as coloured pencils and chalk as mediums. As for visual arts and dance, I have performed in many school musicals.
I look forward to sharing my love for the arts with other people and organizing fun events!
Lauren Vianzon
My name is Lauren, and this is my second year in the YAC! I’m a Grade 12 student at Charles Best and have been coming to Place Des Arts for around 10 years.
I’ve had many opportunities to be part of and contribute to the art community. I was able to volunteer for summer camps, classes, and events for PDA. Currently, I am attending piano there and have also done ballet + violin lessons. For the visual arts, I have a strong interest in pencil crayon realism, but I also enjoy painting.
As part of the YAC, I hope to make new friends and collaborate positively with the team accordingly!
Maya Kadach
Hi, my name is Maya, and I’m in Grade 11 and currently go to Centennial Secondary School.
Growing up, I would describe myself as a creative person. I would constantly write short stories, create different types of crafts and read all sorts of books. In Grade 4, I even published a short story on Amazon.
I’m excited to be a part of the Youth Arts Council and be able to make an impact on the community by spreading the joy of creating various types of art.
Mia Banner
Hi there! I’m Mia, a Grade 10 student at Dr. Charles Best Secondary School.
This is my first year in the Youth Arts Council; however, I’ve been taking classes in Place des Arts since I was eight and volunteering since 2023. I love all forms of artistic expression, and I believe art defines who we are. I am a creative writer, a painter and a seamstress.
I’m excited to experience this year along with my fellow council members. I look forward to inspiring people to pursue their artistic passions and arranging creatively driven events for our community!
Mia V
Hi! My name is Mia, and I am in Grade 11 at Charles Best.
I have been a student at Place des Arts since I was seven, and I have taken piano, guitar and art classes here. I have been expanding my art skills since around 2020, and my favourite medium is drawing, but I am open to everything!
I look forward to connecting and getting involved with the arts community at the YAC this year.