Board Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement
North York Arts is committed to fostering and supporting equity, diversity and inclusion in its operations, programming and governance structures as an organization. The purpose of this statement is to express the commitment of the Board of Directors to promoting achievement of equitable, diverse and inclusive representation through appointments to its board and committees, and in the performance of its governance duties and responsibilities for the organization.
This includes an ongoing commitment to achieving a board membership that fully reflects the diversity of artistic and other expertise within the community and encourages inclusive representation including Persons with Disabilities, Black, Indigenous and Persons of Colour (BIPOC), and LGBT2SQIAP community members.
The Governance and Nominating Committee will use its best efforts within its processes to apply best practices to reach out to identify and recruit highly-skilled potential candidates who have skills, experience and knowledge supportive of roles on the board and its committees and who reflect the diversity of Canadian society, having particular regard to under-represented groups and equity seeking groups represented by race, sex, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
The Governance and Nominating Committee will periodically review its practices and procedures to ensure alignment with best practices and principles for diverse recruitment.
North York Arts Board of Directors – July 7, 2020
Meet Bill
Bill is a Chartered Professional Accountant , Chartered Director, and holds a business degree from the University of Toronto. With over 30 years of experience ranging from startups to Fortune 500 organizations, he has worked as a senior finance professional in a variety of industries and roles primarily helping organizations that are undergoing transition. Bill has always enjoyed and supported the arts and is an active member in many community musical organizations. He is thrilled at the opportunity to serve as Board Chair of North York Arts.
What does art mean to you?
Self-expression, creativity, and connection.
Meet Elka
Elka is an independent curator and the museum advisor for the province of Ontario. She offers advice to all community museums across Ontario and as the current President of the International Council of Museums, Canada, she champions museums and galleries locally and internationally.
What does art mean to you?
Without art we would be poor.
Meet Ash
Meet Donald
Donald Bilodeau offers thirty years of marketing, design, sales, and account management experience working with industry leaders in technology, financial services, telecommunication, and real estate. As the President and Chief Creative Officer of a brand marketing agency called PACT Advertising Inc. and a licensed realtor with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc., he oversees day-to-day operations, leads business development, and directs client services for many established and aspiring brands, and GTA home buyers and property owners. PACT’s leading accounts include Microsoft Canada, Great Gulf Homes, Canam Fresh, Intelliware, BlueDot, Concerto Cloud Services (now DXC Technology), and CIBC, to name a few. From 2013 to 2017, Donald was Vice President of Marketing with a Toronto-based application and web development firm BlueRush Digital Media Group, working with top-
tier financial institutions like Manulife, CIBC, TD Canada Trust, Allstate, MBNA Canada, and DUCA Credit Unions. An entrepreneur at heart, Donald creates opportunity from ideas and develops strategies that surpass marketing and business objectives. As a former graphic and web designer, Donald has a deep appreciation for the arts and for artists of all disciplines, from sculptors to painters to dancers and musicians alike. Artistic expression enriches communities across this great nation. He actively supports
organizations that help art and artists prosper across the GTA.
Meet Fabiana
Fabiana has deep expertise in program management, strategy & business transformation. She is passionate about helping organizations rethink how to deliver value. She currently works as Director of Fintech Partnerships and Innovation at Scotiabank. She loves arts, enjoying painting, attending performances and visiting museums.
What does art mean to you?
Food for our souls.
Meet Irene
What does art mean to you?
Meet Jessica
An artist at heart and aesthete at being. She is an Oxford graduate specializing in research, arts, and gender studies. Jessica is an interdisciplinary artist and in that, she embodies the essence of fluidity in art forms like poetry, photography and painting.
What does art mean to you?
ikigai, soulsong, dawn, entire, beyond
Meet Jonathan
Jonathan is a Canadian CPA, CA with 7 years of experience in the accounting and advisory field. He currently serves as a Manager in the Anti-Money Laundering department of TD bank. He previously served as an auditor with a focus in the non-profit niche with MNP LLP.
What does art mean to you?
Bringing the community together
Meet Marina
Marina Di Pancrazio has 30+ years of experience in the Canadian audiovisual industry (film, TV, digital, VR), including content creation, sales, broadcasting, and leadership. Currently the Chief Content Revenue Officer at the Just for Laughs Group, she oversees a TV Development arm, as well as a Distribution, OTT, and FAST Channel division.
Previously, Marina was the Director of Sales Service and Marketing at The Walt Disney company, for content including Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm, ABC TV, and Disney Channels. Marina joined Disney in 2008 as the Executive Director for Disney Channel Worldwide, overseeing content programming and brand strategies. While there, she led the launches of multiple TV channels, digital platforms, and apps.
Marina holds a B.F.A. in Film Production from Concordia University as well as an
M.B.A. from Queen’s Smith School of Business.
Meet Paniz
Paniz Ghazanfari obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology and a JD from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is currently a lawyer for a prominent national association in the financial services industry in Toronto. Her primary focus is providing legal advice on matters concerning non-profits, securities, privacy, and capital markets. As a pianist and music educator, she has always been passionate about advocating for the advancement of the arts in her community. Paniz has previously worked in legal clinics in the GTA serving low-income families and new immigrants. She is also fluent in Persian and French.
What does art mean to you?
Art for me means transcending language barriers and bringing communities together.
Meet Rebecca
What does art mean to you?
Sharing thoughts, feelings and perspective through creative mediums.
