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About North Van Arts

Our mandate is to enable emerging and professional artists in all disciplines, bridge cultures and build strong & healthy communities through the arts.

Board of Directors 2023-2024


terry fahr – investment and banking industry professional, retired

Terry has been a Deep Cove resident since 1999 and enjoys all that this beautiful community and the North Shore provides. Terry retired in September 2022 after spending his career in the investment and banking industry. He spent 35 years with RBC, the last 21 years were as Vice-President and Portfolio Manager with RBC Dominion Securities and prior to that was Centre Manager, RBC Private Banking and Manager of RBC’s Main Branch. Terry is a graduate of Dalhousie University’s MBA program. He has been a lifelong art enthusiast. He is a member of North Van Arts, The Polygon Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Contemporary Arts Society – Vancouver. Terry and his wife JoAnne have two adult sons and their families live in North Vancouver and they spend their free time attending as many of their five grandchildren’s activities as possible. They share a love of travel, biking, tennis, and golf.


MONICA GEWURZ – Visual Contemporary Artist, Retired

Born in Peru in 1957, Monica immigrated to Canada in 1976, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science and Master in Landscape Architecture. She also has an Advanced Painting Certificate from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Throughout her career, Monica has worked in the public and private sectors; in real estate, environmental planning, ecotourism, and treaty negotiations with First Nations in BC. Monica is represented year-round by Ukama Gallery in Vancouver, Tofino Gallery of Contemporary Art in Vancouver Island and internationally by Singulart. She has received many international awards and featured in interviews and press releases. As a mixed-media artist, her paintings have been exhibited at numerous galleries in BC’s Lower Mainland and are in private collections internationally. 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.


ANNE-MARIE LAWRENCE – Retired (bOARD SECRETARY)

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.


DINA SADEGHI – (she/her) B.Env, MRM Candidate (Planning)

Dina grew up in North Vancouver for most of her life. She is currently a graduate student at Simon Fraser University, focusing on provincial food planning and cultural placemaking. She has dedicated most of her work experience to serving the community of North Vancouver, through her work on the Culture Compass and within the Shipyards District and Lonsdale Quay. She is fascinated by how geography shapes the functions of societies and enjoys exploring these relationships. She is passionate about community building and recognizing the importance of the arts in maintaining strong and inclusive communities.


DONNA OSEEN – Retired owner of corporate moving business (BOARD VICE-CHAIR)

Fifty years ago, Donna moved to North Vancouver and built her home here. She worked in facilities management for a large law firm for 30 years before starting her own facilities consulting business which has grown and expanded and is still in operation today.  For more than three decades Donna has been involved in the arts community in North Vancouver.  In 1998 she received the Judy Dennis Award in recognition of her work to enrich and support the cultural community. Since then, Donna has been involved in may facets of the community including the North Vancouver Community Arts Council where she was chairperson of the art rental program for many years and president of the council for three years.  More recently, Donna took on the role of Trustee for the Preservation of St. Paul’s Church on the Squamish Nation.  She currently holds the position of secretary treasurer, keeping her finger on the pulse of the historic landmark.  For the last seven years, Donna has served on the board of directors of the Friends of the North Vancouver Museum & Archives.  During her tenure, a new space was acquired, and the North Vancouver Museum (MONOVA) was built and opened in 2022.


KAREN A. MOOLA – Strategic Planning Consultant and Community Planner 

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 consulting experience includes arts and culture projects in BC.  Karen also works as a Community Planner, focusing on municipal planning issues including heritage and affordable housing.  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.


Sara pedlow – lawyer

Sara grew up on the North Shore, which she has always considered home. Though she briefly ventured away for university, she returned to North Vancouver to raise her children. Sara is a wills and estates lawyer and an active volunteer in the community. She currently serves as the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Wills & Trusts (Vancouver) subsection, as the Student Liaison Officer for the Vancouver Branch Executive of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and as a member of the BC Cancer Foundation’s Trusted Advisor Circle. Art has always been an imperative outlet in Sara’s life, and her preferred medium is pen & ink. She now happily encourages her two young daughters to explore arts and crafts, and friends who visit often marvel at the family’s collection of art supplies. Sara is delighted to be a member of North Van Arts, to witness and foster the intersection of arts and community.


KATIE RODGERS – Visual Artist/CPA (Board Treasurer)

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. Her artwork can be seen in the North Van Arts member listing or at www.katierodgers.ca.


 

KATHLEEN WHYTE – Senior Manager of Human Resources, Family Services of the North Shore (Board CHAIr)

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.