THE WINTER LIGHT TEAM

The Edmonton Winter Light Society Team

Festival Programming & Production
Artistic Director, Pamela Anthony
Operations Manager, Andrew Bursey
Technical Director, Matt Vest
Marketing, Joel Higham, pocobrio
Finance Officer, Shirley Combden
Team Leaders, Mill Creek Adventure Walk, Dylan Toymaker, Andrew Bursey
Team Leaders, Illuminations, Pamela Anthony, Matt Vest
Team Leaders, Winter Light Gala Launch Party, Jennifer Alabiso, Pamela Anthony, Alexandra LaPearla

Board of Directors

President, Betty Grudnizki
Secretary, David Cheoros
Treasurer, Shirley Combden
Community at Large: Jennifer Alabiso,  Leo Letendre
Festival Director: Pamela  Anthony

The Edmonton Winter Light Society gratefully acknowledges funding from the Edmonton Arts Council.
 

BIOGRAPHIES

President, Betty Grudnizki
Betty is currently the Director at People First Management, providing consultant services in human resources, supervision, education and training. Betty specializes in supervising and motivating team efforts and has lent her expertise as a Volunteer Team Leader at Fringe Theatre Adventures for many years. Betty’s smile is twice as brilliant when she’s wearing a toque.

Secretary, David Cheoros
David Cheoros is the Executive Director of LitFest (Oct 12 – 23!) where he herds the literary, a former Director of the Fringe Festival, where he attended to the theatrical, and a co-founder and director of the Comedy Arts Festival, where he observed the rule of 3.  A writer, director and inveterate multi-tasker, he (with Karen Simonson) co-founded MAA & PAA theatre. David is looking forward to explaining the concept of ‘snow’ to his baby daughter.

Community at Large:

Jennifer Alabiso is Senior Manager of Community Engagement for the Northern Alberta Jubilee Society, an active community member and a founding member of Edmonton Winter Light Society. Jennifer knows ‘melt down’ is just an expression.

Leo Letendre is a traditional dancer, cultural interpreter and international touring artist.  When he is not presenting his troupe in Europe, he is regularly featured at special events and cultural events across Canada. Leo was program contributor to Winter Light during the pilot project, and is now a founding board member of the new society. Leo enjoys getting his picture taken in the bright light of the winter sun.

Shirley Combden, Financial Officer
Shirley Combden is the financial administrator for the Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Winter Light Society, and Metro Cinema Society. An active community member, she volunteers for several lucky non-profits including the Edmonton Twin and Triplet Club. Shirley likes to count snowflakes using new math.

Pamela Anthony, Festival Director
Pamela Anthony is the Artistic Director of Winter Light. She was symposia coordinator for the Cultural Capital Project, Executive Director for the Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society, and co-founder and director of the Comedy Arts Festival. She, with Darrin Hagen, is presenting the exhibit Deep Rust at the Milner Gallery in November. Pamela has always loved winter, right from the very beginning.

Andrew Bursey, Operations Manager
Andrew Bursey’s busy career has encompassed theatre, film, music and event production.  He has garnered many awards for excellence, including a Sterling Award, Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award, and a Just for Laughs Award to name a few. Andrew co-founded the theatre company Ribbit Productions, starred in the much-awarded film Rugburn, and was an original cast member of the smash hit BoyGroove. A personal highlight was singing the American and Canadian national anthems at a Toronto Blue Jays game. Andrew would like to be frozen in a glacier and discovered by future humans in 10,000 years.

Joel Higham, Marketing Director
Joel Higham is the director of Pocobrio Motion Graphic Design Inc. He does all the marketing materials, web & design. He's an instructor at MacEwan University, and an independent filmmaker.  Joel believes bright blue winter skies are a good design platform.

Matt Vest, Technical Director
Matt Vest is the Technical Director of Winter Light, a light designer and filmmaker. He has contributed ice carving, special ‘snow’ structures, design and production know-how to festivals and winter events throughout the region. Matt likes to buy really good winter jackets.

Dylan Toymaker, Designer
Dylan Toymaker is a new/old media artist, working with digital 2d, electronics, community activation, recycled materials sculpture, lighting design and installations. Dylan has shared his talents in a wide variety of venues and mediums. His designs look especially cool in the subzero.

Kate Boorman, Communications
Kate Boorman is a freelance artist and writer. Recently she’s worked as a qualitative researcher, sessional instructor and conference coordinator, and she’s indulged her travel bug by stumbling around far off lands with her husband and two small children. Kate adds snowflakes to her hot chocolate whenever possible.