The Board

Roderick (“Rod”) Pearce, President

Rod Pearce has lived most of his life on the North Shore, and is passionate about his community.  He is a corporate and commercial lawyer, with a busy practice in Downtown Vancouver, representing a range of clients, with a particular focus on entrepreneurs and the not-for-profit sector.

Rod grew up in North Vancouver and Cranbrook, BC.  He earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree and his LL.B. at the University of British Columbia before being admitted to the BC bar in 1986.  An admitted hockey nut, both as a player and fan, Rod and his partner, Myrna, also enjoy scuba diving, skiing, cycling, all aspects of the visual and performing arts and travel.

Luciana Alvarez, Vice President

Luciana is an internationally renowned visual artist having graduated with a Fine Arts Degree from Emily Carr School of Art Design and Media in Vancouver.  Born in Chile and raised in Spain, Luciana moved to North Vancouver in 1987. Luciana has exhibited her art at showings in New York, Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina and here in Vancouver in various galleries.  Active in the community Luciana has donated her time and art to raise much needed funds for such charities as; the North Shore Crisis Centre, Lions Gate Hospital, Athletics 4 Kids, Ferry Building Gallery, The North Van Arts Anonymous Show, The MPS Society, and the Pink Ribbon Society. For the past 13 years Luciana has worked as a Customer Experience Specialist for Cove Continuity Advisors Inc.  where she is responsible for maintaining their Climate Smart certification.

Sue-Ann Gilmour, Secretary Treasurer

Sue-Ann Gilmour has lived and worked in North Vancouver since moving here from Montreal in 1972.  She opened her own accounting firm in 1983 serving small businesses in North Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland.  While raising her family and growing her business, Sue-Ann served on many boards of directors of charities and non-profits, including those in the areas of education, politics, sports, and social justice.  Sue-Ann is an arts enthusiast and has enjoyed attending the FANS gala evenings since their inception.  She is now delighted to bring her expertise to the position of FANS Society Treasurer.

Julie Fox, Director

Visual artist Julie Fox, is best known for private commissions or donated illustrations for fundraising events on the North Shore.  She studied fine arts at Langara College and went on to graduate from Emily Carr University in Graphic Design. Julie gained invaluable experience working as a sole designer at a Communications Company for many years before she made the decision to focus on raising her young family.  When time permitted, she continued to paint, and became well known for her distinctive whimsical style that appealed to audiences of all ages, with its fine details and use of brilliant watercolours.  Currently time is allowing Julie to explore new materials and subject matters, all with the desire to create heartfelt impressions with the viewer. 

As a strong Arts advocate Julie has served on the North Vancouver Public Art Advisory Committee and is now thrilled to become a Director on the FANS Society.

 Val Mason, Director

Val Mason has worked in Arts Management for 35 years, starting in Sydney Australia for Belvoir Street Theatre. Upon returning to North Vancouver, she has managed many non-profit arts organizations and served on several boards.  She was Managing Director for PAL (Performing Arts Lodge) Vancouver, an affordable house condominium for artists in Coal Harbour.

Val was the Managing Director of Presentation House for 10 years when it housed the Arts Council, Gallery, Museum and Archives and Presentation House Theatre. She is a Life Coach, Mentor and CTI Leadership graduate. Currently, she works for North Van Arts providing Financial Services.

Doti Niedermayer, Director

Doti Niedermayer is currently the Senior Manager, Cultural Services at the District of West Vancouver. Previously, as Executive Director at Arts Whistler for 14 years, Doti oversaw numerous festivals, events, and programs including a key role in the Whistler Live Sites program for the 2010 Winter Games.

She has worked with the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance in Nelson, Vancouver’s Alliance for Arts & Culture, the Surrey Arts Centre, ARTROPOLIS 1993, Vancouver Fringe Festival, and contracted for various Lower Mainland arts organizations and festivals. She is currently on the board of Arts BC.

Karen Shalansky

Recently retired, Karen spent the last 23 years working as a Doctor of Pharmacy at Vancouver General Hospital.  Prior to retiring she was honoured with the BC Kidney Care Wilma Crockett Memorial Award, for her amazing work ethic, undying enthusiasm and strong dedication to patient care.   Karen has served on countless committees, and brings her boundless energy and get it done attitude to everything she does.  She has a strong personal interest in all forms of art and over the years has attended almost every FANS Tribute event. Now that she is retired and has more time for her person interests, Karen is keen to join the FANS Society board and help with its mission to serve and support artists in our community. Karen was born in Ontario, but has spent most over her adult life living on the North Shore where she raised her family.

 Lori Philips

Lori Phillips was born and raised in North Vancouver and feels grateful for having been able to raise her own family here as well. She obtained her BFA in Visual Arts & Art History from the Nova Scotia University of Art and Design and has devoted her career to the field of Arts Administration, developing expertise in a broad range of cultural areas including: cultural policy development, arts grant programs, public art, community capacity building and arts advocacy. She currently works as North Vancouver’s Public Art Officer, administering the City & District of North Vancouver’s Public Art Programs.

Lori is delighted to have a long time affiliation with Fund for the Arts on the North Shore (FANS) and is always ready to assist the society in building support or increasing awareness and recognition of North Shore artists.

PAST BOARD MEMBERS

Andy Warner, Director

Andy Warner is the Social Engagement Manager at North Van Arts, and a co-founder of the Transgender Expressions Haven. Andy spends a lot of time on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ lands, working near the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community of Eslha7án. She is a transgender woman who also identifies as non-binary and queer. Having grown up here on the North Shore, her lived experience informs her work both as an artist and an arts administrator. Andy was the youngest poet to win a provincial and national spoken word poetry championship in the same year (2014). She since branched out in clowning, drag, and written word poetry as well as community-engaged arts and arts advocacy.

departure. Since then  Rachel has made her way back to her passion for the arts by volunteering at North Van Arts and joining the FANS board.  

Michael Gordon Brouillet, Director

Michael attended The Montreal Museum School of Art and Design and worked in animation and advertising before moving to North Vancouver 25 years ago. He worked as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer creating designs for print companies. His designs were also used for direct mail marketing fundraising campaigns for hospitals and non-profit foundations across Canada. Michael served 6 years on the board assisting with their graphic design and website needs. He works from his North Vancouver studio painting and teaching art. He also works as a Program Assistant at STAGE, a program of the North Shore Disabilities Resource Centre.

Anne Rodgers

Growing up in Deep Cove, Anne developed her passion for the arts through acting and singing in local theatre productions. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce form UBC and she currently leads North Vancouver Recreation & Culture’s communications and storytelling.

Anne has over 30 years of marketing and communications experience in the private, non-profit and government sectors. She previously served on a number of boards including with North Shore Multicultural Society, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver a Vancouver theatre company and a local counselling centre.

Cassie Brondgeest

Cassie grew up in North Vancouver and attended Capilano University where she studied Communication. Currently she works as the Communication Officer for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver. Other work experience she has includes event coordination, blog writing, social media, and communication planning. Cassie joined FANS in the fall of 2019 and is grateful she can help support the arts in her community.

Kathleen Campbell

After graduating Argyle Secondary, Kathleen completed a business marketing certificate from SAIT in Calgary, a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University, and an Internet Marketing certificate from UBC. Her work experience includes fourteen years at advertising agencies, plus seven years operating her own marketing communications company. She went on to serve as the Executive Director of both the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and Vancouver's North Shore Tourism Association until her retirement in 2016. An appreciation for the arts has helped frame how Kathleen views and experiences the world, coming from a creative family.

Nicola (Nicky) Morgan

Nicola is an exhibiting studio painter and instructor living and working on Vancouver’s North Shore. Nicola graduated from the Fine Arts department of Langara College and continued on to complete the four year painting program at Emily Carr College of Art and Design. She has worked previously as a Children’s Book author and illustrator and has been involved in providing Arts Education for all ages.

Nicky has been happily contributing to the Fans organization as a board member for 5 years. She feels that by providing exposure to our North Shore’s rich artistic community is an important and rewarding experience.

Richard H. White

Richard H. White is a urban planner in private practise on the North Shore. He is actively involved in several local, provincial and national organizations. He joined the FANS board in 2015.

Previously, he served the City of North Vancouver in a variety of positions including City Planner, Director, Community Development, and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. A graduate of the Master’s program at the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia, he has also held planning positions with the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the City of Vancouver.

Mr. White was awarded the 2011 Planner of the Year award by PIBC. He has also been elected to the Canadian Institute of Planners College of Fellows (FCIP). He lectures from time to time on planning topics on a volunteer basis for programs at Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Capilano University and in North Vancouver schools. 

He is involved in many volunteer endeavours, including serving on the Land Use Committee and the Public Hearing Panel for the UBC Board of Governors, the Board of the Community Energy Association, and the Squamish Nation’s Advisory Design Panel, the Executive of Lambda Alpha International (Vancouver), as an advisor to the British Columbia Mayors’ Climate Leadership.

He has also held public office, elected as a School Trustee of the North
Vancouver School District No. 44 from 1999 until 2005. He is married and the
father of two adult children.

Robert A. McMillin

Born in Toronto and educated at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, Robert A. (Bob) McMillin is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) with over 35 years of human resources experience with national management consulting firms. Bob was formerly Vice President in the consulting division of Price Waterhouse Coopers LLC.  He is a member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, a past director of Capilano University and has served as a director of the West Vancouver Heritage Society.

A musician from an early age, Bob continues to play with several bands on the North Shore and in Vancouver.  He and his wife, Andrea are actively involved in supporting live music events as hosts of the Heritage House Concert series. Bob’s love of music and dedication to the musical arts, together with his strong ties to the North Shore, will complement FANS’ mission of identifying and recognizing the artistic contributions and accomplishments of North Shore artists.