Between 2017 to 2018 I worked at Moberly Arts Centre and Sunset Communty centre developing art programs and supporting the Arts Programmer, and then was promoted to Events at Killarney community centre and Recreation Programming at Champlain Heights Community Centre. Even a small stint back at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre as part time Volunteer Coorodinator. Was so great to develop more in my working relationships and programming experience for the City of Vancouver. With my degree in Fine Arts I still really wanted to be a community Arts & Culture programmer but through these roles I was able to develop more ideas and creativity through events, centre displays and supporting artists and musicians. Projects like bunting flags as reusable decorations, Salmon Caravan activities, and upgrading materials and equipment added to the community experience.
In January 2019 I became a full time Commnunity Arts and Recreation Programmer at Trout Lake Community Centre. What a vibrant and amazing community to be a part of, and in my neighbourhood of East Vancouver.
At Trout Lake we had the Family Day event, I started the Winter TroutFest, we supported the Seniors bake sale and the Pottery Club sale, Fall Harvest, Drawdown, the lantern procession with the Carnival Band, Wednesday night concert series in the Summer, and many Summer camps for kids. We welcomed back the Mothers Day Pow Wow a historic event partnered with Cedar Cottage. We had cultural events such as Sukkot, Hannukah, Spring Hanami Blossom festival, Korean art and culture, Halloween, and Breakfast with Santa.
These events were on top of the every day programming of arts and culture such as workshops, dance, music, fine arts, and pottery for Adults and Children, and supporting the Seniors quilting group, Seniors Committee, and luncheons. It was a whirlwind of a year that ended in the birth of my second son. I returned to Trout for a short time when I brought in family art making and some post-pandemic transitional programming with pop-up performances outside and the come back of the outdoor concert series, smaller events and outdoor activities for families. The final project I worked with the Arts Committee for their 10 year anniversary of the new Trout Lake building in a short documentary created by Jon West. This can be viewed on their website. Trout Lake Community Centre
I was very grateful for my time at Trout and the experience that helped me to then land a full time Arts & Culture Programming role at Britannia Community Services Centre in the Spring of 2021. This diverse community and Board really aligned with my values and personal art practices to support local artists in East Vancouver and uplift the Indignenous community.
This role is more focused on Indigenous programming and some of the projects I have supported included a community carving program, a mural for Celebrating Black Lives with Edge, the opening of the Alcoves as another space to showcase local artists, the development of the Britannia Art Gallery review and hiring of Curator Iris Houngbo, the Squamish Totem Welcome marker by Darren Yelton from conception to the totem raising in April of 2024. As well supporting the Raven Totem that will be raised in 2025 by Simon James.
In 2022 and 2023 working with Words in Motion Spanish Language and VLACC for the Spring Break Explore Latin Culture camp for children expanded on experience I had with running daycare, and then we offered again in the Summer of 2024. Dance artists Carla Alacantara and Naduska Lopez have also been a big part of these camps, and Carla from Words in Motion who facilitates singing, art and games with the children throughout the week.
The ongoing events and programs such as Plaza Markets, Coffee House Equinox events, Britannia Winter Market and Pop-up events, Shine Intercultural Spring event, and the newly added Indigenous Concert Series with support from Parks Activations, also a recently added department through the City of Vancouver. Supporting the Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression committee and hosting the Arts & Culture Commitees. Partnering on Events such as Indigenous Peoples Day and Ornage Shirt day for Truth and Reconciliation in Grandview Park with the local nations Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh, as well as Urban Indigneous peoples and organizations. As Manager of Organizational Change, Suzette Amaya has been integral in the past few years in the development of an Indigenous staff team, and programming, as well as supporting Arts & Culture site wide.
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