Education
2017 – 2019 Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies – Intercultural Communication, Royal Roads
2016 – 2017 Indigenous Studies & Okanagan Language, En’owkin Centre, snpink’tn
2016 Lougheed Leadership Centre, Banff Centre for the Arts
2001 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Studio) Great Distinction, University of Lethbridge, AB
2000 Visual Communications Diploma – Honours, Medicine Hat College, AB
Experience
Service Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Victoria 09/2021- present
Passport Officer
- Application of legislation such as the Canadian Constitution and the Passport Act
- Assessment, analysis, verification, and rejection of passport applications in conjunction with policy and procedures
- Extreme attention to detail and quality assurance processes
- Ensuring complete and accurate applications including the requirement for legal documentation for adults and children as per federal regulations, and interpretation of same
- Reports run for System Administration, troubleshooting passport applications and adherence to policy, communications with Print Centres and Call Centres across Canada
- Coaching and mentoring junior Passport Officers and Citizen Services Officers with direction and guidance
- Printing of passports and troubleshooting printer/lamination equipment
Cultural Worker, Okanagan 08/2003-01/2017
- Created vision of equal Indigenous/non-Indigenous peoples arts council and implemented same via creation of business processes and methods for collection/analysis of data
- Recruited personnel, founded and led team: creating, uniting and managing stakeholder engagement of businesses, political bodies and community
- Navigated the sensitive dual culture of the area using authenticity, integrity, planning, and organization; governance experience by establishing teams, references, procedures
- Conducted research and analysis through development of questionnaires to further cultural planning objectives and understand trends
- Creation, management, and updating of personnel website via WordPress
Canadian Air Force Administration Clerk, (various locations) 08/1985-10/1997
- Supervision and management of staff members 1 Air Movements Squadron 07/1995-03/1997
- Monitoring and reporting on budget for CO in Winnipeg 07/1995-03/1997
- IM user database management and troubleshooting for Directorate in Ottawa 1993
- Creation of job work descriptions for Director General in Ottawa 1991
- Drafting, formatting, proofreading documents such as correspondence, memos, detailed reports and agendas 07/1991-07/1997
- Meeting logistics including setup, takedown, minute taking, transcription and dispersal
- Calendar and correspondence management, planning & organizing agendas, meetings
- Travel arrangements for CO and other members including plane, car and hotel reservations 07/1987-10/1997
- Management and processing of personnel records including researching and applying policies, filing, bring forward
- Researching policies to ensure application and explanation in various situations
- Liaising with internal members, external organizations and national/international agencies
Project Management (selected)
In all projects listed below, functions included research and analysis of feasibility of complex cultural and business issues including racism and discrimination, engagement with Indigenous peoples, recruitment of personnel including stakeholders, statistics and analysis, provision of summary documents such as briefs, reports, business plans, strategic plans, presentations, policy creation, financial documents: draft to final.
- The Real Canadian Un-opoly 12/2018–05/2019
Game created in Project for Master’s degree
- Suk’temsqilx’w West Kelowna Arts Council, Okanagan 05/2014-12/2016
Founder, Chair
- Respecting Traditional Knowledge & Protocols, Okanagan 09/2016-03/2017
Co-Organizer & Facilitator
- Arts & Culture All Candidates Forum, Federal Election, Okanagan 07/2015-09/2015
MC & Organizer
- Spirit of the Okanagan, Kelowna International Airport 02/2015-12/2016
Team Lead and policy writer
Public Speaking
2016 Presentation to Rotary Club, West Kelowna, BC
2015 Creative City Network of Canada Conference, Kelowna, BC
2015 Presentation Okanagan Board of Excellence, West Kelowna, BC
2015 Presentation Westbank Lion’s Club, Westbank, BC
2015 Arts Summit, Arts BC/Artists for Creative Alliance, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
2015 Delegation, District of West Kelowna Council, West Kelowna, BC
2015 Greater Westside Board of Trade, West Kelowna, BC
2014 Delegation, District of West Kelowna Council, West Kelowna, BC
2014 CARFAC – Making a Living as an Artist, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
2014 Culture Days, Sncǝwips Heritage Museum, Westbank First Nation BC
2014 Artist Talk, Art & Money, Vernon Federation of Canadian Artists
2014 Artist Talk, Art & Money, Kelowna Federation of Canadian Artists
2014 Artist Talk, Art & Business, Summerland Art Gallery
2013 Artist Talk, Art & Money, Lake Country Art Gallery
Published
2015 Okanagan Anthology, Penticton Writers Group, Penticton, BC
2014 – 2016 Weekly culture based articles for Westside Weekly, BC
2014 FIDEM Catalogue
2013 Art and Money, Author, Editor, Publisher
2012 FIDEM Catalogue
2009 – 2013 Okanagan Erotic Art Show Catalogue, Author, Editor, Publisher
2009 Julia’s Model Series: Lauren: Sensuality of Form, Author, Editor, Publisher
2008 Spirit of Kelowna Monograph, author Introduction and contributing artist
2007 “Art of Charity”, Author, Okanagan Arts Magazine, Kelowna, BC
2007 Exploring Life Drawing by Harold Stone, contributing artist
Radio & Television
2016 CHBC – Global Okanagan, Aboriginal Tourism
2015 CHBC – Global Okanagan, Westside Culture Days
2014 CBC Radio Daybreak South, Chris Walker, Westside Culture Days
2012 CBC Radio Daybreak South, Alya Ramadan, Italian Residency
2010 CBC Radio Daybreak South, Marion Bartschel, Business and Culture
2007 CBC Radio North by Northwest, Sheryl McKay, Okanagan Erotic Art Show
2003 CBC Radio North by Northwest, Sheryl McKay, Rotary Centre for the Arts Artists
Honours
2017 Lifetime Achievement, Okanagan Arts Awards, Kelowna, BC
2014 Nomination Culture Days Antoni Cimolino Leadership Award, West Kelowna, BC
2011 Nomination Okanagan Arts Awards Visual Artist, Kelowna, BC
2011 Nomination City of Kelowna Honour in the Arts Civic Awards, Kelowna, BC
1997 Canadian Forces Decoration
1997 Multi-National Forces and Operations
1997 Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
Exhibitions
2016 FIDEM, Provincial Museum of Ancient Arts, Namur, Wallonia, Belgium
2014 Styx & Stones, Art Gallery of the South Okanagan, Penticton BC
2014 FIDEM, National Archaeological Museum, Sophia Bulgaria
2014 (Writings) Sncǝwips Heritage Museum, Westbank, BC
2011 Courthouse Gallery – Ennistymon, Ireland
2010 FIDEM, Tampere Hall, Tampere Finland
2009 Starry Night, Art Gallery of the South Okanagan, Penticton BC
2008 Gallery Vertigo, Vernon, BC
2007 Rhythms of Nature, Osoyoos Art Gallery, Osoyoos, BC
2005 Figures! The Old Schoolhouse Gallery, Qualicum Beach, BC
2005 Existence in the Dream, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC
2001 Graduate Show, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge
2000 Chronos/Kronos – Medicine Hat Museum & Art Gallery, Medicine Hat AB
Professional, Volunteer & Community Experience
2015 – Chair, Suk’wtemsqilx’w West Kelowna Arts Council
2014 – Initiated/Led/Coordinated, Westside Culture Days, Westside, BC
2007 – 2013 Founder, Coordinator, Curator for Okanagan Erotic Art Show
2007 – 2011 Core council member establishing policy for the Okanagan Arts Awards
2006 – 2015 Director Kelowna Museums Society, Kelowna, BC
2005 Founder Livessence Society of Figurative Artists and Models from Life Drawing sessions
2003 – 2014 Trainer of models for Life Drawing
2002 – 2011 Resident Artist, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna BC
Art Collections
Lougheed Leadership Centre, Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, AB
City of Kelowna: Spirit of Kelowna Medallions, Leon Avenue Banner Project
(Writings) Sncǝwips Heritage Museum, Westbank First Nations, Westbank, BC
Kelowna Museums Society
Art Gallery of the Southern Okanagan
Can Serrat, El Bruc, Spain
BAU Institute, New York, NY
RBC Dominion Securities, Kelowna, BC
Professional Affiliations
2014 – CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artistes canadiens), Canada
2014 – Suk’wtemsqilx’w West Kelowna Arts Council, West Kelowna, BC
2014 – 2016 Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art, Kelowna, BC
2012 – FIDEM – International Medallic Art Society, Canada
2008 – Member – Kelowna Sculptors Network Society, Kelowna, BC
2008 – CARCC (Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective)
2008 – National Library and Archives, Ottawa, Ontario
2006 – 2015 Director – Kelowna Museums Society, Kelowna, BC