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.
Yumi Lee, President
My name is Yumi, and I am an 11th grade student from Centennial Secondary. I was a part of the Youths Arts Council from 2023-2024, and I am excited to be a part of the council again! I’m an avid lover of various mediums of art, and I enjoy being able to improve the same community that has helped me improve my own self in the past. As I continue to improve my leadership and teamwork skills, this council is an opportunity for me to practice them. This year, I hope to continue to express my creativity, and I look forward to attending meetings and planning events!
Emily Shin, Vice-President
Hi, my name is Emily! I am a grade 9 pre-IB student at Port Moody Secondary School. My passion for art, music and dance grew from a very young age as I took many classes at PdA. I hope to share my love for art through volunteering and helping others while developing my leadership and teamwork skills. I look forward to contributing to this amazing community by hosting fun events and offering a different perspective!
Avery Peng
Hi! My name is Avery, and I am a grade 11 IB student at Port Moody Secondary School. Growing up, I had a strong passion for art, taking art lessons from the age of 4 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 watercolor from time to time, and I like to focus on realism. In grade 9 and 10, I took art classes for electives and got best grade 9 art student of the year! I have been volunteering for Place des Arts’ art camps since last March. I love being involved in the art community and helping inspire young kids to find a passion in art!
Eva Ton
My name is Eva, I am a grade 11 student at Centennial Secondary. I was on the YAC last year, where I learned how to organize events and work with people from different art backgrounds. I’m excited to build on this experience this year and continue to organize more engaging and exciting projects for youth in our community. I look forward to making a positive impact by bringing youth together and encouraging creativity with art!
Rachel Sin-Tak-Lam
My name is Rachel Sin-Tak-Lam, and I am currently in my final year of secondary school at École des Pionniers de Maillardville. I have a strong interest in the creation and appreciation of visual arts. Following two years of volunteering for Place des Arts, I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute more to the community through the Youth Arts Council. I am keen to develop my leadership skills and believe that the YAC will provide an excellent opportunity to gain valuable new skills and experiences. I am eager to collaborate with the other members to further enhance the arts and culture experience at PdA.
Tessa Tsai
My name is Tessa, and I am a student at Heritage Woods Secondary. The arts have always been a significant part of my life. Lately, I have been exploring the world of digital art and animation through books and videos. In my spare time, I love watching animations and being constantly amazed by other artists. Place des Arts holds a special place in my childhood. I have taken many classes here, including ballet, hip-hop, drawing, pottery and piano. Having made so many wonderful memories, I would like to help others experience the same. I joined the Youth Arts Council for the opportunity to work amongst like-minded peers as it brings out the best in me. I’m excited to share my passion for the arts as we head into the 2024-2025 season together.
Charlotte Lau
My name is Charlotte Lau and I’m a grade 10 French Immersion student at Dr. Charles Best Secondary School. I’m passionate about the arts and contributing to the community. I play piano, enjoy listening to music, drawing and doing ceramics. I went to a middle school for the arts and took dance classes regularly until I was 12 years old, all of which helped me develop my love for the arts. This year, as part of the Youth Arts Council, I hope to share my passion for the arts and build my skills in leadership and teamwork. I look forward to future events and making a positive impact in the community.
Lauren Vianzon
Hi, my name is Lauren, and I am currently a grade 11 student at Dr. Charles Best Secondary. I love drawing with pencil crayons and doing visual arts. For the past 10 years, I have been a student at PdA taking all sorts of classes including piano, ballet and violin. I have also been volunteering here as an art class assistant and more. As this is my first year in the Youth Arts Council, I hope to build leadership and teamwork skills.
Sophia Qu
I’m a grade 10 IB student enrolled at Port Moody Secondary, and I enjoy doing traditional and digital art in my free time. Beginning in visual arts at a young age, I believe art is an important outlet for our emotions, which connects a wide audience of people together. I joined the YAC to connect with like-minded individuals who strive to promote the arts in our community. Through this committee, I hope to help teens engage with different forms of art as well as build upon my leadership skills by planning memorable events for youth.
Vannah Tam
I’m Vannah, a grade 11 student at Centennial Secondary. I’ve been drawing as long as I can remember and was in an art class for nine years. I also enjoy reading and writing short stories in my free time. As a Youth Arts Council member, I hope to use my years as a student and time as a volunteer to improve the experiences for youth at Place des Arts. I wish to inspire and encourage others my age to see the value in art and self-expression, especially as something that is worth pursuing in life.