People
Staff
Staff
Staff
Staff
Staff
Staff
Avery Shannon
they/them
Out In Schools Program Coordinator
Avery Shannon
they/them
Out In Schools Program Coordinator
avery@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x303
Avery (they/them) is a multiply disabled, wheelchair user queer youth of colour who is primarily an activist. Avery joined Out On Screen as an Out In Schools Facilitator in 2017. They are very excited to have moved into the role of Program Coordinator.
Born and raised on unceded Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam lands, Avery is a passionate and over-committed grassroots community organizer. Over the past couple of years, their focus has ranged from Indigenous sovereignty to sex work advocacy. In 2018, Avery was one of the core organizers of Protect The Inlet, the Indigenous-led resistance against the Trans Mountain Pipeline. In 2019, Avery helped start Our Time, a cross-country youth-led intersectional climate justice group pushing to bring a Green New Deal to Canada. They co-founded the local hub, Our Time – Vancouver.
Be it when they’re playing music, nålbinding, or swimming, Avery strives to bring an intersectional lens to all that they do.
Brandon Yan 甄念本
he/him
Executive Director
Brandon Yan
甄念本
he/him
Executive Director
brandon@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x101
Brandon (he/him) has collaborated with the Ministry of Education, BC Teachers’ Federation, UBC Faculty of Education, and the ARC Foundation to address the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth through policies and practices that foster inclusive and more supportive school environments. Growing up as a mixed-race queer kid in Langley, he never saw role models who looked like him on TV or in film, and if he did they were never queer. If they were queer, they were never Asian. Brandon understands that representation of diverse and complex intersecting identities is important, and it is this conviction and his experience as an activist, advocate, and educator that led him to run for Vancouver city council in 2018. Though he didn’t win, it brought forward important conversations on representation, race, sexuality, and politics.
Danny Lybbert
he/they
Out In Schools Program Coordinator
Danny Lybbert
he/they
Out In Schools Program Coordinator
danny@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x304
Danny (he/they) is a queer, non-binary, Nice Jewish Boy. He loves to play with gender/expression through clothing, makeup, nails, and especially platform shoes. They have been an enthusiastic member of the OOS team since 2017, starting out as a Facilitator and moving into the role of Program Coordinator in 2021. He is committed to an intersectional, decolonial approach to education and has a passion for pursuing justice and equity. Alongside their work with Out on Screen, Danny has been involved in leading children’s classes and afterschool programs, and is currently completing a BA with a double minor in History and Legal Studies from SFU. They strive to bring compassion, dedication, and his unique brand of Dad humor to everything he does.
When not working or studying, Danny enjoys handicrafts like crochet and embroidery, watching 80s movies, and doting over their kitty.
Gavin K Somers
they/them
Education Director (on leave)
Gavin K Somers
they/them
Education Director (on leave)
Gavin (they/them) joined the Out In Schools team first as a facilitator in 2014. In supporting organizational growth, Gavin has stepped into many roles including Program Coordinator, Out In Schools Program Manager and now Education Director.
Passionate about the power of storytelling, Gavin is a writer, musician and artist.
Gavin captivates audiences with humour and kindness; compelling others to engage in the act of self-reflection for communal growth with the goal of moving towards social equity.
In their spare time, Gavin escapes the city, and nourishes new/old relationships.
Luca Seccafien
all pronouns
Development Coordinator
Luca Seccafien
all pronouns
Development Coordinator
Madeline Taylor
they/she
Individual Giving Officer
Madeline Taylor
they/she
Individual Giving Officer
madeline@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x204
Madeline Taylor (they/she) is a queer, non-binary, and femme, of white settler heritage, living and working on the unceded territory of the qiqéyt peoples.
Madeline comes from a background in radio, podcasting, writing, and event organizing. They are passionate about justice focused community building, sound art, punk rock, the decolonial potential of reimagining institutions, and procrastibaking.
Madeline holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Simon Fraser University, and spent the last five years working in campus/community radio as Programming Manager at CiTR 101.9FM. Madeline has done freelance work with organizations ranging from the BBC to VIVO Media Arts Centre, and won national recognition for their audio storytelling.
Muhan Zhang
she/her
Marketing & Communications Manager
Muhan Zhang
she/her
Marketing & Communications Manager
muhan@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x205
Muhan (she/her) is a retired band-geek, soft-data spreadsheet wiz, and quadruple Gemini. She grew up as a child of Chinese immigrants on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. She studied Art History and East Asian Studies at McGill University and received a Master of Arts in Visual Arts Administration from New York University. As a career arts administrator, Muhan believes strongly in the administrator’s power to advocate and propel change from within institutions. She also writes sometimes, predominantly works of cultural criticism and creative nonfiction, which you can track down in C Mag, The McGill Daily, and SAD MAG. You can find her chaotic self-published book reviews on readwithmu.com.
Nya Lewis
they/she
Interim Artistic Director
Nya Lewis
they/she
Interim Artistic Director
nya@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x402
Nya Lewis (they/her) is a queer femme with proud Torontonian and Trinidadian roots. She is an activist and community organizer with a focus on building just and inclusive cultural and social infrastructure in Vancouver. Winner of the 2019 Canadian Inspirit Social Change award, and now in pursuit of a MFA in Curatorial studies, her work bridges art, communication and public service. Moved by the goal of equitable access to art and diverse stories in Vancouver, she is the Founder and Director of BlackArt Gastown and contributing curator at UBC Museum of Anthropology working to decolonize the African collections. A writer committed to representing QPOC, her work celebrates the strength and perseverance of Black Canadian culture, history and its diversity.
Piper Fawkes
they/them
Operations Manager
Piper Fawkes
they/them
Operations Manager
piper@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x102
Piper (they/them) is a queer agender femme currently living on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. They thrive on any opportunity to organize the thing and the people. Having a background in technical theatre and the arts, Piper has always dabbled in their own artistic practice and helped support others in creating meaningful, connective, and unapologetically expressive art.
Outside of work Piper can be found doting over their dog, Maven, on the trail, at the beach, or doing an extensive training session.
Sarah Chown
she/her
Education Director (parental leave)
Sarah Chown
she/her
Education Director (parental leave)
sarah@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x301
Sarah (she/her) is a an asexual white settler currently based in lək̓ʷəŋən territory, now called Victoria, BC. She’s passionate about fostering spaces for youth to lead, whether in workshops, workplaces, or beyond, and is thrilled to join Out On Screen!
Sarah loves baking, bike rides, and finding and sharing media to change the world.
Most recently, Sarah worked at YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society wearing a variety of hats, including peer education, operations, and leading teams. She owes much of her current practice to the many youth who shared their knowledge and experience while she was there. Her formal training includes public affairs, policy management, and public health.
Seasonal Festival Staff
Seasonal Festival Staff
Seasonal Festival Staff
Seasonal Festival Staff
Seasonal Festival Staff
Seasonal Festival Staff
Al MacKay
he/they
Festival Programmer
Al MacKay
he/they
Festival Programmer
Al MacKay (he/they) is a gay trans man living on the unceded territories of the Kwikwetlem, Tsleil-Waututh, and Stó:lō peoples.
Since becoming involved in online animation and art communities at 12 years old, Al has had a passion for experimental film, with a special focus on work created by trans people, for trans people. He has spent time as an independent filmmaker, animator, editor, and sensitivity reader, and started working with VQFF in 2018 as a member of the programming committee before moving into the role of programmer. In his free time, he runs a small press out of his apartment focused on collaborative zines and other print projects.
Ashna Thaya
she/her
VQFF Program Coordinator
Ashna Thaya
she/her
VQFF Program Coordinator
programmingcoordinator@outonscreen.com
Emma Mendez
she/her/they/them
Marketing Coordinator
Emma Mendez
she/her/they/them
Marketing Coordinator
marketingcoordinator@outonscreen.com
Emma (she/they) is a queer femme, mixed-Indigenous “mestizx,” and the child of Mexican immigrants. They strive to help create a decolonized world free of oppression and injustice. A writer, creative, and witchy human, Emma is passionate about astrology, tarot, and finding magic wherever they go. You can find their fiction writing and poetry in The Liar, and their self-published book wounded healer.
They live, create, and study on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. She’s currently completing her BA in The Study of Religion with a minor in Creative Writing at UBC.
Ciara O Donnell
she/her
Festival Technical Coordinator
Ciara O Donnell
she/her
Festival Technical Coordinator
Ciara O’Donnell has 15 years experience working various technical roles within the Live Entertainment, Music, Arts and Film Industries. She’s worked all areas of a film festival from film projectionist to front of house manager. She has a huge passion for projection, working with 35mm film when it was still the more prevalent format and worked in many projection booths all over the world working in different art-house venues, multiplexes and film festivals. Though she misses the art-form of handling film, she embraces the growing technology in digital projection. She’s happy to be the last link in the magic of film, presenting a variety of films to audiences to enjoy. VQFF holds a dear place in her heart and she’s honoured to be part of such a special film festival.
Jamie Rokovetsky
he/him
Festival Technical Coordinator
Jamie Rokovetsky
he/him
Festival Technical Coordinator
Jamie (he/him) started volunteering with the Festival in 1999 with the “popcorn brigade” helping to select films with the programming committee. Soon after, he put his technical skills to good use, and has been keeping things going behind the scenes from the projection booth. A video editor by trade, you may have also seen some of his handiwork up on the big screen over the years. Thousands of screenings later, the Festival still has that special magic for Jamie, which keeps him coming back for more.
jas calcitas
they/them
Festival Programmer
jas calcitas
they/them
Festival Programmer
jas calcitas (they/them) is a Filipinx-Canadian artist living on stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, & səlilwətaɬ land. They have a specialization in colour-grading, graphic design, and programming. They have been a colourist for films such as “Sinvergüenzilla in First Kiss” and “Don’t Text Your Ex”, a Managing Visual Editor of Sunstroke Magazine, a graphic designer for Collective 4891, and a Digital Content Creator for It Gets Better Canada. They were the VQFF Program Coordinator in for VQFF 2021, and they’re this year’s Festival Programmer for VQFF 2022. Outside of work, they are focused on ancestral healing, the Queer Filipinx community, and plants.
Jessica Han
she/her
Festival Technical Manager
Jessica Han
she/her
Festival Technical Manager
jessica@outonscreen.com
Jessica (she/her) is a lighting designer, stage manager, theatre technician, and filmmaker. Her short action comedy Bill, Please! won three shorts awards at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival in 2013 and went on to participate in 16 festivals around the world. In 2015, Jessica became part of the Festival’s tech team and helped Jamie keep things going behind the scenes. If you’d like to see more of her work please visit jessicahan.ca.
Rayne Weinstein
she/her
Box Office Coordinator
Rayne Weinstein
she/her
Box Office Coordinator
boxofficecoordinator@outonscreen.com
Rayne (she/her) is a Jewish writer, musician, and artist who lives on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish peoples. Rayne holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and can usually be found meandering in forests.
Her plays have been staged for the Brave New Play Rites Festival, and her fiction work has been shortlisted for multiple awards at Canadian literary magazines.
Selina Tseyhaye
all pronouns
Front of House Coordinator
Selina Tseyhaye
all pronouns
Front of House Coordinator
frontofhousecoordinator@outonscreen.com
Out In Schools Facilitators
Out In Schools Facilitators
Out In Schools Facilitators
Out In Schools Facilitators
Out In Schools Facilitators
Out In Schools Facilitators
Avery Shannon
they/them
Program Coordinator
Avery Shannon
they/them
Program Coordinator
avery@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x303
Avery (they/them) is a multiply disabled, wheelchair user queer youth of colour who is primarily an activist. Avery joined Out On Screen as an Out In Schools Facilitator in 2017. They are very excited to have moved into the role of Program Coordinator.
Born and raised on unceded Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam lands, Avery is a passionate and over-committed grassroots community organizer. Over the past couple of years, their focus has ranged from Indigenous sovereignty to sex work advocacy. In 2018, Avery was one of the core organizers of Protect The Inlet, the Indigenous-led resistance against the Trans Mountain Pipeline. In 2019, Avery helped start Our Time, a cross-country youth-led intersectional climate justice group pushing to bring a Green New Deal to Canada. They co-founded the local hub, Our Time – Vancouver.
Be it when they’re playing music, nålbinding, or swimming, Avery strives to bring an intersectional lens to all that they do.
Clea Arrieta
she/her
Facilitator
Clea Arrieta
she/her
Facilitator
November 2021 – present
Clea (she/her) is an older sister, queer woman of colour, and first generation Canadian. She is born and raised on unceded Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam lands, but has been working to understand what it means to be “Canadian” while also acknowledging and honouring her familial roots stemming from the Philippines.
It is Clea’s first year of being an Out In Schools Facilitator and she looks forward to storytelling about her lived experience, learning with youth, and fostering joy whenever possible in all the spaces she finds herself.
Danny Lybbert
he/they
Program Coordinator
Danny Lybbert
he/they
Program Coordinator
danny@outonscreen.com
604-844-1615 x304
Danny (he/they) is a queer, non-binary, Nice Jewish Boy. He loves to play with gender/expression through clothing, makeup, nails, and especially platform shoes. They have been an enthusiastic member of the Out On Screen team since 2017, starting out as a Facilitator and moving into the role of Program Coordinator in 2021. He is committed to an intersectional, decolonial approach to education and has a passion for pursuing justice and equity. Alongside their work with Out On Screen, Danny has been involved in leading children’s classes and afterschool programs, and is currently completing a BA with a double minor in History and Legal Studies from SFU. They strive to bring compassion, dedication, and his unique brand of Dad humor to everything he does.
When not working or studying, Danny enjoys handicrafts like crochet and embroidery, watching 80s movies, and doting over their kitty.
Devon Francis
she/her
Facilitator
Devon Francis
she/her
Facilitator
February 2022 – present
Devon (she/her) is a queer cis-woman and white settler living on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories. She first started coming out at age 14 and has been passionate about access to queer spaces and education ever since. She ran her high school’s GSA club, volunteered at her university’s gender and sexuality resource centre, and is now thrilled to be a facilitator with Out In Schools. In her free time, Devon is on an all-queer dragon boat racing team, organizes for climate justice with Our Time Vancouver, and loves to sing in choir, watch TikToks, and eat desserts.
Jackson Wai Chung Tse 謝瑋聰
he/they
Facilitator
Jackson Wai Chung Tse
謝瑋聰
he/they
Facilitator
January 2020 – present
An interdisciplinary artist, Jackson (he/they) first got involved with Out On Screen through the Troublemakers program, through which he created his first film: Breaking the Silence, featuring legendary multimedia artist Paul Wong. The film went on to premiere at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, won the Silver Cup Prize at REC-Filmfestival Berlin, and is now screening at festivals and screens across the globe. Following this experience, Jackson decided to join the Out On Screen team as a facilitator for Out In Schools, bringing his years of overseas classroom experience to a cause dear to his heart.
Based on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh lands (Vancouver, BC), Jackson continues to be an active and playful cultivator of relationships, creativity, and mindfulness. He dedicates his life to building chosen family while reclaiming spiritual connection, joy, and self-worth back from colonized ideas. Connect with Jackson at his website: http://sonofjacky.wordpress.com/.
Levi Saunders
he/they
Facilitator
Levi Saunders
he/they
Facilitator
January 2022 – present
Levi (he/they) is a transmasculine bisexual person living on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sə̓lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) lands, colonially known as Vancouver. Levi attended alternative schooling in his last three years of highschool, which shifted his view of education and learning tremendously. He is very passionate about offering educational alternatives to youth, and is interested in decolonized forms of education.
Levi hopes to someday make a difference in the education system whether that be through teaching or otherwise. When he is not facilitating with Out In Schools, he is spending time with friends, making art, acting, singing in a choir, and fixing bikes.
Maverick
they, 佢
Facilitator
Maverick
they, 佢
Facilitator
March 2022 – present
Maverick (they, 佢) is a mixed-race Chinese genderqueer experience whose favourite stim phrase is “Pea Pop!”. They believe in the healing nature of connection and shared space with others who share similar identities, which led them to start working with Out In Schools as a facilitator last year. They also work as a Queer Peer and Tarot Reader, supporting queer, trans, and non-binary people in embracing and reclaiming their full selves. For joy and rest, they like creating art of funny little creatures.
Photo by Richelle Seki (@faceinpalm)
Meika Johnson
she/they
Facilitator
Meika Johnson
she/they
Facilitator
January 2020 – present
Meika (they/she) is a non binary Métis person living and wondering along the Salish Sea in search of friendship and magic. They are very honoured to share their experiences as a queer person with so many youth, and to get to learn along with them.
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Aimee Beauchamp
she/they
Board Chair
Aimee Beauchamp
she/they
Board Chair
Aimee (she/they) is Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, French, and South American and is working towards learning more about her family history and traditions as a way of decolonizing. She grew up on the unceded territory of the Sto:lo people in Chilliwack, but currently lives and works on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territory in Vancouver. She holds a B.Ed and an MCP, and uses this education to blend Traditional healing practices and ways of knowing with westernized therapeutic methods. Aimee is a two-spirit woman and spends much of her professional and personal time working to create safer spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. She has worked and volunteered in the non-profit sector for over 5 years, involving herself in decolonization initiatives, youth sexual health projects, and anti-oppressive campaigns.
Allie Hamilton
she/her
Director at Large
Allie Hamilton
she/her
Director at Large
Coming soon!
Chad Clark
he/him
Development Liaison
Chad Clark
he/him
Development Liaison
Coming from a background that includes a Bachelor of Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto, Chad (he/him) is a hospitality industry professional who is most recognized for his role as Director of Operation for the Hawksworth Restaurant Group. Chad loves Vancouver and has many years of service on boards with the Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Opera, and the CANFAR Legacy Foundation. His goal is to continually enhance Vancouver culture and community by serving as an ambassador for the arts and valuable social organizations such as Out In Schools. He is husband to the man of his dreams, Matt Corker, and is passionate about family and community. In his spare time, you will find Chad running, biking or swimming his way across an Ironman or marathon finish line somewhere in the world.
Christopher Hallamore
he/they
Director at Large
Christopher Hallamore
he/they
Director at Large
Christopher (Chris) Hallamore (he/they) is a HR professional with over 20 years’ experience in labour, employee relations, workforce analytics, strategic workforce planning, organization design, and professional coaching. He was the co-founder and co-chair of the BC Hydro Pride Network, an employee resource group for BC Hydro’s 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and contractors. When he’s not working, Chris can often be found in a swimming pool: Chris is a Masters Swimmer, and has swam, coached, and volunteered with five of Canada’s queer swim teams. Chris’s love of diverse queer stories first brought him to Out On Screen in 2008, and he has returned as a hard core Festie every year since then.
Lori MacIntosh
she/her
Director at Large
Lori MacIntosh
she/her
Director at Large
Lori (she/her) is an educator, dog lover and media enthusiast. Prior to returning to Vancouver to complete her graduate work in Educational Studies, Lori lived and worked in Chicago and Seattle as a IT procurement manager, IT project manager, and HIV outreach coordinator/ curriculum writer. She credits her current love of teaching to this circuitous career path. Having worked with and developed an abiding love for Out In Schools, Lori looks forward to life as an Out On Screen Board Member.
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