Meet Deanna
Deanna Cadette, MPPA
Deanna Cadette is a media executive in the cultural industries with nearly 15 years’ experience leading initiatives to develop creative talent and competitive workforce strategies.
Working primarily in film and TV, her broad range of experience covers physical production, public policy, trade associations, public broadcasting and post-secondary education.
Prior leadership roles include senior vice president (CMU College of Makeup Art and Design), executive director (Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada) and director of the Bell Media/WGC Diverse Screenwriters Program (Writers Guild of Canada).
Deanna’s professional experience is supported by an MA in Public Policy, a BA in Journalism & Film Studies, and a Certificate in Project Management.
She is deeply honoured to join North York Arts as Interim Executive Director (2025-2026) to support the local artists, residents, businesses and elected officials who make up the arts ecosystem in this vibrant community.
What does art mean to you?
Art gives life meaning; it helps us understand ourselves and the experiences of others.
Meet Elizabeth
Elizabeth Mudenyo is a Scarborough-raised professional poet, community-engaged artist, and arts manager. Versed in projects and event management, she has worked all sides of the festival circuit with groups like the Regent Park Film Festival, Luminato, Hot Docs, and the Racial Equity Media Collective, among others. Moving towards literary and community arts, she continues to immerse herself in arts programming engaging the voices, imaginations and knowings of BIPOC, LGBTQQIAS2+ communities and others on the margins.
What does art mean to you?
Art is everything. It is what I do for a living, and most importantly how I make my life full and meaningful. It is how I make my place in the world and also what I do for fun! 🙂
Meet Chantel
Chantel was born and raised in Bermuda and moved to Canada in 2012 for university, where she obtained a BA in Business and a BBA in Communications. She is a business-minded creative with a background in non-profit programming, arts and events. As an immigrant learning to navigate Canada and build confidence in her identity, she was relieved to find solitude in creative communities. Chantel is delighted to contribute to the North York Arts team as she gets the opportunity to nurture community through the arts while supporting people on similar journeys.
What does art mean to you?
Freedom – a space to express a truth that sometimes there are no words for.
Meet Janice
Janice believes that the arts are a powerful tool in shaping the future, especially for the next generation. Having a background in psychology, early childhood, and special education, Janice has integrated into her pedagogical approach creative ways to engage children in art playing and art-making. She believes that arts bring an array of benefits to children’s development including increased self-confidence, enhanced communication skills, and improved cognition.
She has recently completed her post-graduate diploma in Arts Management at Centennial College and is delighted to have her internship at North York Arts.
What does art mean to you?
Art is one of the highest forms of expression