Joanna & Ewa Borkowska

Accountants

Ewa and Joanna are the mother-daughter team behind Valliant Accounting. For the last four years, they have worked with various non-profit organizations, charities, and small businesses to help them achieve their long-term goals. Ewa’s knowledge and experience within the non-profit and charity sector has a long history. For over twenty years, Ewa has worked as an accountant for many local non-profit organizations and charities, with a primary focus on arts organizations. She has established long-standing relationships with many of her clients and has witnessed and collaborated in their growth. Ewa and Joanna both have a love for theatre and music that stems from Joanna’s active involvement in the dance and figure skating community at a young age. They continue to endeavor to support artists and believe in ensuring that Vancouver continues to flourish in bringing about creative and cultural experiences to the public.

Rick Chung

Marketing & Communications Manager

Rick is a Vancouver-based arts editor and culture writer. He studied Political Science at UBC and broadcast journalism at BCIT before starting his career in media at CBC News. He is also known as a prolific blogger and photographer mostly covering lifestyle and events for a variety of outlets. His love of live theatre started in high school co-starring in musicals at Delta Secondary and performing long-form improv comedy for the Chinese Varsity Club. He has since gone on to work in various digital communications roles for local organizations including Langara College and the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA).

Angie Descalzi

Education Manager

Angie is an award winning Latinx producer and arts administrator living and working on Coast Salish Territories. Originally from Quito – Ecuador, Angie moved to Canada in 2005 to pursue her love for theatre, and holds BA in Applied Theatre from Vancouver Island University and an Advanced Certificate in Arts and Entertainment Management from Capilano University. Since then, she has a worked with a variety of theatre companies in Vancouver, and has been involved in the inception of initiatives such as CultureBrew.art and CALTAC (Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition), which aim to advocate, celebrate and support BIPOC artists. After working at the Vancouver Fringe Festival for 8 years, Angie is very excited to embark in this new and exciting journey with the team at Carousel Theatre for Young People.

Tanja Dixon-Warren

Director of Development

Tanja has been working as a freelance actor, producer, director, teacher and mentor for over 28 years and is thrilled to be CTYP’s Director of Development.  An active member of the community, with a long history of mentoring emerging artists and arts administrators, Tanja served for 15 years on the board of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA). She has also served as a board member with Quintessence Musical Theatre Projects, First Vancouver Theatrespace Society (Vancouver Fringe Festival) and was a Jury Member for the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. Tanja has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations for her achievements in performing, producing, and business.

Randi Edmundson

Interim Co-Artistic & Managing Director

Randi is a Vancouver-based performer, puppeteer, and theatre-maker with a special interest in theatre for young audiences and community-engaged theatre practice. With her fledging puppetry company, Little Onion Puppet Co., Randi has created Freddie in the Neighbourhood and Dorothy: a mother daughter memoir project, which toured to Vancouver, Kamloops, and Calgary, supported by the Festival of Animated Objects. Freddie in the Neighbourhood was also the winner of two Jessie Richardson Awards for Theatre for Young Audiences.  Randi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria specializing in Acting and Applied Theatre. In 2019, Randi began working as the Artistic Associate of Project X Theatre in Kamloops, which produces an annual festival of family-focused theatre. As a lover of all things TYA, Randi loves learning and sharing that learning with her communities.

Shizuka Kai

Interim Co-Artistic & Managing Director

Shizuka is a Vancouver-based artist known for her puppet work and set design. She’s also a trained puppeteer, mask & props maker, painter, illustrator, costume designer, and director. She has worked with many established theatre companies including the Arts Club, Neworld, Théâtre la Seizième, Electric Company, Rumble, Axis, Boca del Lupo, Itsazoo, and many others. Shiz is a three-time Jessie Richardson Award winner with several nominations, the recipient of the Earl Klein Memorial Scholarship, and a graduate of Studio 58. Her recent designs at CTYP include: Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play!, Peter Pan, and The House at Pooh Corner.

Holly Karpuik

Lead Theatre Technician, Waterfront Theatre

Holly is very excited to be Lead Technician for The Waterfront Theatre with CTYP, having worked for the organization since 2016. She grew up on Vancouver Island where she was introduced to theatre and the performing arts at a young age by parents who were very involved in their local community theatre groups. Her first theatrical production was Fiddler on the Roof, alongside her mother, brother, and father. This fostered a lifelong love and appreciation for the arts that lead her to complete a technical theatre diploma at Vancouver Island University, where she focused on stage management. Holly takes pride in any opportunity to help people bring their creative endeavours to life on stage

Tanya Schwaerzle

Production & Venue Manager

Tanya is a Vancouver-based Equity Stage Manager and Choreographer.  She has been fortunate enough to work with many companies including; Arts Club Theatre Company, Bard on the Beach, Touchstone Theatre, and many more. She feels very fortunate to have travelled across Canada working and showing the great work created in Vancouver.  Tanya holds her BFA: Stage Management Degree from the University of Alberta and her BGS: Extended Minor in Theatre from the University of the Fraser Valley.

Last season Tanya was fortunate to stage manage Peter Pan, which was her 4^th show at CTYP.

Valerie Thai

Freelance Graphic Designer

Valerie is an award-winning graphic designer and art director who grew up in Vancouver She attained a BFA from the UBC and a Bachelor of Communication Design from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. After years of working in the magazine publishing industry, she founded her own design company Cabin + Cub in 2006. With specializations in art direction, print design, and illustration, she works with predominantly non-profits, arts and culture organizations as well as socially conscious and sustainable companies. Her work ranges from logo and branding to books and magazines.

Jacob Kojfman

Board Member

Jacob professes to be a professional comedian with a side hustle as a lawyer at one of the world’s largest IT services companies. He joined CTYP, because he wants to contribute to the community, loves Broadway musical theatre, and recognizes the importance the arts plays in our society. He is currently the treasurer for the West End Community Centre Association and has been on the board of a social services agency. In his spare time, he reads, rides his Peloton, plays board games with his wife and young child, and is working on his amateur poker game.

Robert Anstey

Board Member

Dr. Robert Anstey is the Head of School for both Canada Star Secondary School and Windsor Hall (International Baccalaureate MYP candidate school) located in Richmond, BC. Robert has studied in Canada, the United States, as well as the United Kingdom and taught in a wide range of places throughout Canada and the UK. In 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to education. In 2020, Dr. Anstey was awarded the Claes Nobel Educator of the Year – Top Principal for 2020 Award. Robert, as a former theatre teacher, is passionate about theatre and the success of Carousel!

Sarah Hudson

Board Member

Sarah has been attending CTYP’s shows since she was a child, and enjoys them now more than ever as a Mum to two young children. She practices part-time as a research lawyer, and previously served on the Board of Directors of Green Thumb Theatre.  Sarah grew up in Vancouver, and spent part of her childhood singing, dancing and acting on local stages. A big believer in the value of theatre and drama in the lives of young people, Sarah is delighted to be supporting the work of CTYP.

Stephen Robertson

Board President

Stephen is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets Group at the law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where his practice focuses on advising clients with respect to securities and investment management industry matters. Stephen also has an affinity for the stage, having performed in the Lawyer Show’s productions of The Drowsy Chaperone, Grease, Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Guys & Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, and As You Like It.

Susan Shank

Board Member

Susan’s love of theatre and the arts has spanned her entire life. So has her love for CTYP!  While securing her BA from Simon Fraser University, with a concentration in Theatre, she was working part time and the summer with CTYP. Possibly her most creative and challenging job, being a mom, brought her and her children (pretty much grown up now) back to CTYP for all the fabulous plays and programs. Susan thinks it is absolutely fantastic to on the board of a theatre company that has played a big part of her and her children’s lives. Susan is currently the General Manager of the Firehall Arts Centre and is excited to bring her many years of Arts Administration and Theatre experience to the board.

Roger Watts

Board Member

Roger is a partner at Lindsay LLP in Vancouver, where he practices in the fields of personal injury and transportation law. He also sits on the board of directors of Canadian Defence Lawyers, a national organization serving the insurance defence bar. Roger’s interests outside the office keep him just as busy as his law practice, having performed in nine previous productions of The Lawyer Show as well as other productions for Metro Theatre and Theatre West Van.  He also serves as a director of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.