OUR BOARD

Rup Grewal | President & Treasurer | Southwest/Lower Mainland

As a settler in Vancouver, Rupinder Grewal is grateful for the opportunity to live and work on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. Her work has immersed her in the world of professional communications, project management and advocacy. Rup’s appreciation for art and culture was born in the vibrant cultures of India, her ancestral home, which drive her to advocate for the arts and for those voices which have been historically  underrepresented. She is an art enthusiast in every form – as a maker, collector and appreciator.

As the Communications and Program Director for the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, Rup works on province-wide award programs to celebrate the arts, specifically in the areas of First Nations art and  applied art and design. Her current work combined with her past careers working in advertising and for governments has given her the experience and relationships that will support the work of the Board.

Together we can do good things for the future of arts and culture in BC.

McKaila Ferguson | Immediate Past-President | Pacific/South Island

Joanne Finlay | Secretary | Northwest

Joanne Finlay is situated on Tsimshian traditional territory with a background in Public Administration, Life Skills and Human Relations. Since 1996, Joanne has used her skills to help Indigenous artists and organizations in Prince Rupert and the surrounding villages. This work has led to a passion and talent in arts administration and includes project planning and coordination. Joanne has helped artists with developing their bios and artists statements, and she has assisted with developing their portfolios and documenting their work. She opened a small agency called Mousewoman Consultants in the summer of 2018 and has continued her work in the community.

Joanne has volunteered on non-profit Boards for over 25 years. She has recently retired from her job in education and plans on dedicating herself to the community arts in the next few years. She was a founding member of the Tsimshian Arts and Culture Society in 2020 and has been instrumental in supporting this Indigenous arts and culture organization to build their board capacity. She offers them grant writing support and now has short term contract work with them. This work will include developing an Archival Library in Prince Rupert to house a collection of historical documents and recordings that are being digitized to make them available to Tsimshian community members. Genealogy and family histories will also be part of the archival library plans. This work is to begin in fall of 2025.

Joanne has planted herself at the grassroots level to work in community development through the arts. She most recently helped to develop an Executive Director position for the TACS Board with the help of Patricia Huntsman, and she has organized a Community Roundtable looking to develop partnerships with other organizations in Prince Rupert. The dream is to connect to a building so that all artists have a space to work out of.

Joanne also continues to support individual artists who are developing exhibitions and planning shows for 2027 and 2028.

Joanne has 2 adult children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Sydney Black | Director | West Kootenay

Sydney Black is a dedicated arts leader committed to fostering strong and connected communities through the arts. As Executive Director of the Nelson & District Arts Council, she champions accessible arts programming and community engagement in rural areas. She co-founded the Nelson International Mural Festival and leads Black Productions, bringing high-quality theatre to the region. Sydney chairs the City of Nelson’s Cultural Development Committee, is a founding board member of Intercultural Kootenays, and serves as a cultural representative on Greater Nelson Economic Development and Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism. Passionate about collaboration and community building, Sydney works to create opportunities for artists and arts lovers to gather, share stories, and celebrate a rich tapestry of artistic expression and perspectives.

Ovvian Castrillo-Hill | Director | Peace Liard

Ovvian Castrillo-Hill is a Filipino-Canadian sculptor, visual artist, and designer whose work explores identity, culture, family, and the shared human experience. Trained under the mentorship of her late father, renowned Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo, she developed a distinctive artistic voice that blends modern expressionism with deeply personal storytelling. Working primarily in brass, stainless steel, wood, and mixed media, her sculptures are recognized for their lyrical movement, textured surfaces, and emotional resonance.

Originally from the Philippines and now based in Fort St. John, British Columbia, Ovvian’s artistic practice reflects both her Filipino heritage and her experiences as an immigrant artist in Canada. Her work often celebrates resilience, community, and cultural connection, themes that appear across her public art installations, gallery exhibitions, and commissioned works.

Ovvian has created notable large-scale projects, including Pathways to Prosperity for the Philippine Stock Exchange and The Drum of Concordia, a community-centered public art installation in British Columbia. Her artworks have been exhibited and collected internationally, with pieces found in the Philippines, Canada, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and the United States.

Beyond sculpture, Ovvian is also a curator, filmmaker, and cultural advocate dedicated to fostering artistic dialogue and celebrating multicultural communities through art. Her practice continues to evolve as a reflection of movement, memory, heritage, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Jai Djwa | Director | Southwest/Lower Mainland

Jai Djwa is an artist and creative technologist who teaches at the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. His work weaves together creativity, collaboration, and community service.

Throughout his career, Djwa has served on the BC Arts Council for six years, helped Indigenous schools across BC access vital technology, and created digital arts installations for the 2010 Olympics. He has contributed to diverse projects including rebuilding the online Doomsday Clock and bringing historic castle battles to life on television. One of his most meaningful contributions has been working with the Royal BC Museum on “Our Living Languages” to help preserve Indigenous languages.

As a BIPOC artist and facilitator, Djwa approaches his work through the lens of equity and justice. He is active in many volunteer organizations and also serves as a foster caregiver.

Anita Lal | Director | Southwest/Lower Mainland

Anita Lal is a fourth generation settler, born and raised on the traditional territories of Lhtako Dene peoples and currently lives on the lands of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations. Her Biji (paternal grandmother), Thakuri Kaur Lal, instilled in her the Sikh values of seva, social justice and advocacy from a young age.

These values fuel her work as the co-founder and Executive Director at Poetic Justice Foundation. Her approach is always inclusive, intersectional, and critical; she draws attention to biases, inequalities, and oppressive systems of casteism, racism, and discrimination.

Anita strongly believes in giving back to the community. She serves on Boards and Advisory Committees for Arts BC, Women Transforming Cities,The University of Fraser Valley’s Human Research Ethics Board and South Asian Studies Institute, the Seva Foundation and Vaapsi Recovery Home. She is the Director of Operations and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Moving Forward Family Services and does consulting work for the Royal Academy of Punjab.

Dr. Ambedkar’s words inspire her: Educate. Agitate. Organize.

Shay Paul | Director | Thompson Okanagan

Shay is a Secwepemc multi-media artist, graphic designer, facilitator, and community organizer who operates in unceded Secwepemc’ulucw Territory. In 2022 she founded the grassroots art collective, Indigenous Resurgence Project, to help support regional Indigenous artists. Shay has been an active advocate for artists and working to strengthen pre-existing foundations within the art community through collaborating with artists and organizations across the Southern Interior. She has diverse skills and experience coordinating several different scales of events and strives to learn more with every new project she is a part of. As an active artist in the community, Shay’s passion for working with and helping other artists drives her work in all aspects.

Logan Thackray | Director | East Kootenay

Logan is currently the executive and artistic director for the Golden District Arts Council operating as Kicking Horse Culture, creating accessible, innovative, and engaging arts programs, festivals and events for the community of Golden and area A. Logan lives in Parson BC with her husband, dog and two cats. She is skilled at weaving productive and respectful relationships, finding creative solutions and uplifting creative endeavours that support the well-being of the community. Both her professional and artistic work is founded in respect, connection and wonder. They are grateful to be living the good life as a settler on lands that have been lived and cared for since time before memory.