Board of Directors

KATE GALICZ Born and raised in our amazing and diverse community, Kate is a proud north shore resident, who is pleased to be raising her family here. She holds a BA from UBC in history and art history; a Masters in Art History and a graduate diploma in curatorial studies from York University; and a certificate in human resource management from SFU. Kate has a broad-based knowledge of the arts and culture sector, working for Heffel, Canada’s national fine art auction house. She is currently the Director of Heffel Vancouver and the National Co-Director of Consignments; she is a key member of the leadership team. In addition, Kate manages the Human Resources department for Heffel’s growing national team. In 2019 Kate co-chaired the Audain Art Museum Gala. She currently sits on the gala committee for the Contemporary Art Gallery, securing corporate sponsorship and donations to their auction event. Kate is passionate about arts, culture and community.

MONICA GEWURZ Born in Lima, Peru, Monica immigrated to Canada in 1976 where she obtained her Bachelor of Science and Masters in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. Throughout her career, Monica has worked in the public and private sector in real estate, land development, environmental and tourism issues, and economic development, and treaty negotiations with First Nations in BC and Alberta. She lives in Vancouver and has traveled extensively throughout the world studying different art forms. In 2017 she obtained her Advanced Study Certificate program, in painting from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She is currently represented by Ukama Gallery and Tofino Contemporary Art Gallery. Her paintings have been exhibited at numerous galleries in BC’s Lower Mainland and are in private collections internationally. She also uses her mixed media art to convey main issues pertaining to the environment to invite dialogue and discussion. As an artist, Monica believes strongly in the multidisciplinary and multicultural potential of the arts council to encourage a broad range of people to participate in culturally enriching programmes and activities. Her artwork can be seen in her North Van Arts member profile.

ANNE-MARIE LAWRENCE Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Anne-Marie has lived in North Vancouver since 1972. She has been involved in many community organizations such as the North Shore Women’s Centre, United Way Committee for the North Shore, Girl Guides, and the North Vancouver Community Arts Council. With an avid interest in the arts, Anne-Marie has had a membership with the Vancouver Art Gallery since 1983. Anne-Marie sits on the board of North Shore Heritage Preservation Society because she strongly believes in the value of heritage as an expression of cultural identity and supports the retention of heritage structures, integrating with new construction rather than demolition, to retain as much of the original character of the North Shore as is possible.

DAVID LITTLE David obtained a law degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia, and has since practiced business law in Vancouver. Involved with the business and legal community, David has worked on many complex projects such as hospitals and educational institutions. Many projects involve multiple parties with private and public objectives to be reconciled. Raising a family with his wife in North Vancouver, he has enjoyed the programming and events of the NVCAC, notably the art rental programme and the Anonymous Art Show. David is supportive of the organization’s efforts in bringing art to the community in interesting and unexpected ways, creating a feeling that North Vancouver is a real community where people of all ages live, work, create and grow.

EFFAT MIRNIA Born and raised in Iran, Effat was part of an art-loving family. From childhood, she expressed her feelings and thoughts through her art – painting, writing and poetry became a form of release for her. From a very early age, Effat volunteered with several organizations: she taught underprivileged children working for UNICEF and taught illiterate women in the villages of Iran. In Iran’s Governor House, she worked with immigrants and refugees to help them lead a successful life in a new country. Effat obtained a Bachelor in Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Design. Since moving to Canada in 1983, she has worked in diverse fields such as interior design and customer service while raising her two daughters. She has fully integrated herself within

her community and has volunteered her time with autistic children as well as organizations such as North Vancouver Community Art Council. She is currently volunteering with Immigrant Services Society (ISS of BC) as a facilitator and a member of the advisory committee for refugee and immigrant women who are new to Canada. She also volunteers as a counselor with the North Shore Seniors Peer Support and Hamrahan Iranian Seniors Support. Her creative oil and acrylic paintings vary from landscapes and architecture to portraits and realistic life subjects. Art has not only become a creative outlet for Effat but a true passion in life.

KAREN A. MOOLA Karen is passionate about the intersection of culture, arts and community and seeks ways to foster this passion, both professionally and personally. She works as an independent consultant, providing strategic planning and engagement services. Her experience includes arts and culture consulting projects in BC. She is dedicated to community and professional service, having served as the Partnership Director for Ballet BC Up, a young patrons group designed to develop philanthropy and a love for the arts among young professionals. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Education without Borders and the Planning Institute of British Columbia. She enjoys North Shore arts, culture and recreational experiences with her family.

SANDRINE PELISSIER Sandrine obtained her Masters of Natural Science degree at the University of Rouen, France and has been working as a professional visual artist since she moved to Canada in 1998. She is very involved in the community, as co-founder of the North Shore Arts Crawl and co-founder of a weekly life-drawing group. Furthering her own career as a professional visual artist and instructor, Sandrine has extensive experience in marketing and events planning. She has a keen interest in community art projects that make the North Shore an exciting place to live, with many opportunities to connect the general public with artists.

KATIE RODGERS Katie is a North Vancouver-based artist and a member of North Van Arts. She can frequently be found exploring the trails near Mt Seymour with her energetic twin boys. From 2003-2012, Katie was the co-owner of a healthy meal delivery company (with fresh grab-and-go cafes). Since then, she has applied her skills in business development, accounting, strategic planning, and marketing services for organizations operating across several industries (including forestry, property management, modular structures, food services, and First Nations youth training). Katie backs her experience up with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph and a Certified Management Accountants designation.

DON RUTHERFORD Don is a long-time member of the North Shore community – both personally and professionally. He and his wife established their home in Deep Cove in 1985 and went on to raise two boys in the Cove. Now empty nesters we continue to reside in our Deep Cove Cottage and enjoy every minute of living in this unique community. After graduation from the University of B.C. School of Social Work in 1982, Don worked for several years in the field of adolescent offenders, assessment and treatment planning. In 1988, he joined the North Shore Neighbourhood House as Executive Director, where he remained for almost 25 years. I retired in 2011 to enjoy “a life of leisure” which entails a never-ending list of chores, gardening, trying to learn to paint (watercolours), walking the dog, and a wee bit of consulting to a couple of non-profit organizations in the area of labour relations, collective bargaining and public relations.

KATHLEEN WHYTE Kathleen is the Senior Manager of Human Resources at Family Services of the North Shore. She is also an active volunteer in the community and has volunteered primarily with the music program at Handsworth Secondary School, the West Vancouver Youth Band, and Highlands United Church. While originally from Vancouver, she has lived on the North Shore for the past 30 years and has raised her 3 children in North Vancouver. Though not an artist, she considers herself an active supporter of the arts through her frequent attendance at live theatre, musical performances, art crawls, and the like. Kathleen has a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and her CPHR designation.