OUR BOARD

McKaila Ferguson | President | Pacific/South Island

I have been involved with arts communities and non-profits around the world for several years. I hold a MSc in Museum Studies from the University of Glasgow and a BA (honours) in Art History from the University of Victoria.

In addition to sitting on the Arts BC Board of Directors, I am currently a Registrar at the Royal BC Museum.

My past experience includes: designing touring exhibitions for a World Heritage Site; assisting with the decant and storage process of a 6,000 piece museum collection; researching for an EU-funded heritage project that changes how we interact with heritage sites; documenting and digitizing large collections; designing community outreach projects; and managing various museum and gallery collections.

Art should always be accessible to everyone and remain at the heart of every community.

Laurel Wood | Immediate Past-President | Pacific/South Island

Retired after a 30 year career in professional services, I now call Victoria – the magnificent traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations – home. As a collector, maker and above all appreciator of art, I am passionate about the value of art in society. As an experienced Director, I know that good governance empowers the work of members and volunteers and am committed to our progressive journey as an arts community. I am so proud to support and engage with Arts BC as ‘We Power the Arts’.

Rup Grewal | 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.

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/ artists statements and 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.

She has raised close to one million dollars in funds for artists and community arts projects in the community for over 25 years including assisting with capital fundraising efforts. 

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 is presently planning to conduct research into the needs of Indigenous artists in Prince Rupert based on and using an Indigenous strategic planning and evaluation framework model she learned while attending the Banff Centre of the Arts. Her main objective is to assist Indigenous artists to build their capacity and make community plans as a group.

Joanne has planted herself at the grassroots level to work in community development through the arts. She hopes to one day organize a conference for local First Nations artists regarding taxes and professional development. 

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.

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 parent to a 14-year-old.

Darin Corbiere | Director | Pacific/South Island

James Darin Corbiere is an Indigenous artist, writer and teacher from Wiikwemkong, an Indigenous community on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Darin is Anishinaabe (Indigenous people from the Great Lakes region). His spirit name is Waabshki Makwa (White Bear). Darin belongs to the Bear Clan. Darin drew upon his role as an Indigenous culture and language teacher to create “The Truth in Truth & Reconciliation” educational board game. He also created DED-C-Comics, the label producing his graphic novel and comic books series. In 2015, Darin embarked on a healing journey from church-related, childhood trauma. His technique of using ink on sculpted wood originated from a desire to connect with the spirit of each individual piece, which in turn, has a story to tell. It is in their creation that he has found a way to heal. Reconciliation is an emerging theme in Darin’s projects.

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 Province of BC’s Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project, the South Asian Studies Institute at The University of the Fraser Valley, and the Seva Foundation. 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.

Diane Levesque-Majewski | Director | Central Interior

Diane is an artist and was born in the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Her ancestry includes Kwakwaka’wakw and she is a proud member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nations (Kingcome Inlet, Alert Bay and Guilford Island). She is French Canadian & Indigenous.

Diane’s interest in art began in 2003 and she is a self-taught artist. Her passion is creating art in a wide range of mediums including painting with acrylics & oils on canvas, watercolors and alcohol inks, pottery, beaded & leather jewelry, and metal art. Diane inspires to continually learn from those she comes in contact with. Her community involvement includes being the President of the Northern Indigenous Arts Council (NIAC) and a Board of Director on the Prince George and District Community Arts Council (CAC).

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.