Our Team

Carmen (she/her) is a visual artist, singer, and interdisciplinary performer. She has a long history of initiating art projects and creative community integrated projects. In 2010 Carmen received the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award, and in 2012 the Queen’s Jubilee Award for her art with the community. She has an Art History degree from UBC and a diploma from Emily Carr Institute. Carmen is the founder and artistic director of Still Moon Arts Society. Through Still Moon and in collaboration with many community partners, she has created the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival and other projects and events that shed light on Renfrew Ravine, Still Creek, salmon in the city, and the community’s creative capacity. She leads art workshops about natural dyes, lantern-making, giant puppets, and costume-making for schools, the general public, and community groups including  Sarah Ross House Temporary Modular Housing, and a six-year residency with Arts, Health and Seniors.

Previous to founding Still Moon Arts, Carmen was the founder and co-artistic director of Mortal Coil Performance Society for 10 years – creating shows, designing costumes and giant puppets, performing, and booking stilt-dance shows all over North America.

As a singer, Carmen performed, recorded and toured with Elektra Women’s Choir, the Slavic Soul ensemble Zeellia for 20+ years, and currently performs with Zlatna Mountain.

In 2016 Carmen created a major public art installation Still Here at Skyway Towers Plaza on Kingsway. In 2017 she was an artist in residence at CACIS Centre for Art and Sustainability in Spain. In 2018 she collaborated with artists Paula Jardine, Cathy Stubington (Runaway Moon), and Robi Smith as Birds in Residence and Birds on Parade, spending over a year creating a giant bird parade with hundreds of community members in costume performing as birds on stilts for the opening of the International Ornithological Congress and the Vancouver Bird Festival.

Carmen’s visual art can be seen in the stone mosaic pathways around Renfrew Ravine, giant puppets and stilt walking characters at festivals and community parades, giant lantern installations at several lantern festivals, and living mushroom sculptures, Fruiting Bodies, in Renfrew Community Park.

Learn more about her work by viewing her TEDx talk.

Clea (she/her) has over ten years of experience in nonprofit management, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Her past work has included surveying remote old-growth forests in northern Ontario, and managing collaborations between scientists, government and First Nations representatives, and others to improve the management of salmon and their habitat. As a community advocate, Clea has led initiatives to enhance local infrastructure, services and social capacity, and has built strong relationships with municipal and provincial politicians and civil servants, local businesses, and the community at large. She holds a B.Sc in Biology from the University of Guelph and a M.Sc. in Ecology & Evolution from Simon Fraser University.

Connelly (she/her) is a biologist with a passion for nature, science, and community. She received her Bachelor of Science in Applied Animal Biology from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. During her career, Connelly has participated in pollinator research, led nature education in the Gulf Islands, and guided stewardship efforts in local parks.

Connelly is dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment where everyone can learn, participate, and cultivate a passion for healing the land and waterways of our local parks. Outside of work, Connelly can usually be found birding, knitting, or reading a good book with her cat on her lap.

I (he/him) was raised in the Coast Redwoods in southwestern Cascadia (traditional Wiyot and Yurok territories). I fell in love with fungi as a young child, and I’ve been learning from them, along with plants, animals and microbes, ever since. I’ve been offering educational experiences relating to fungi, art and ecology in community contexts and schools for over a decade. I’ve worked with Still Moon as a community-engaged public artist since 2016, (co-)leading projects such as Beaver Pondering Lodging, We All Belong and Fruiting Bodies. I also offer hands-on land and water care opportunities woven together with ecological teachings and artistic experience to help people build relationships with the more-than-human world around them, an embodied awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings, and a place-based sense of belonging, responsibility and gratitude for the gifts of the earth. May this work help us to be better guests on these Coast Salish Territories. Some of my other passions include music (I play percussion in the Carnival Band), and growing, foraging, cooking, preserving and sharing food. I co-facilitate the Art & Fungi Project with Isabelle Kirouac, and I am the author of DIY Mushroom Cultivation. For more info, see ArtAndFungi.org.

“With hands of an artist, eyes of an ecologist, and the heart of a deeply connected human, Arévalo brings the practical and joyful together.” – Radical Ecologist Nance Klehm

Katherine is a trained professional opera singer who has worked in the Vancouver arts community for the last 20 years as a soloist, ensemble singer, and teacher. During that time, she has worked as a bookkeeper for various groups and individuals, and understands the multifaceted needs of non-profit organizations. Katherine is passionate about facilitating efficiency, ease, and transparency in her clients’ financial operations, so that organizations are freed up inspire people and change lives. Katherine is excited to contribute to the good work that the Still Moon team is doing in our community.

Alecska is a multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary artist from France. Her photography and video works have been exhibited, published & screened at several galleries, theatres, and artist centres in Europe and Canada. Alecska is also an experienced administrator, passionate about connecting people with resources and each other. Since immigrating to this land, she has been active with arts organizations in various capacities: administration, development, programs, events, and communications. She is thrilled to join the Board and provide her skills to an organization that engages the community about the environment through the arts.

In her spare time, Alecska rescues houseplants and walks her housemates’ dogs.

Albert is a lawyer with a downtown Vancouver law firm. He has lived in the Renfrew-Collingwood area for over 20 years and has always had an interest in local art and culture. He joined the board of Still Moon Arts Society as a way of contributing to the community that he has grown up with. On the weekends, he can often be found exploring the rapidly changing neighbourhood while walking his frisky Shih Tzu-Poodle.

Sookie has developed strong instincts in storytelling while producing, directing and writing factual series for A&E, Discovery, National Geographic and more. Her work has taken her behind the scenes at a wide variety of exciting arts events as well, including Canada Day in Ottawa, the Montreal Jazz Festival and Carnaval in Quebec City.

Her latest project was producing After The Storm on Crave. In this role she spent a year interviewing people affected by the recent floods in B.C., learning much along the way about various facets of environmental stewardship, flood mitigation and food security, as well as indigenous perspectives on land use.

She has always been fascinated by Still Creek, walking or biking along its path during lunch hour and talking to environmental and municipal experts about its history.

Nadine (she/her) enjoys working with people who are continually weaving skills and knowledge: learning from one another to develop individual and collective strength. Nadine works at a charity in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and is dedicated to supporting the growth of transformative community organizing within our community. She is excited by the opportunity to build equitable relationships and support the development of skills and knowledge for all community members.

In her free time, Nadine enjoys hiking and camping in the mountains and volunteering for organizations that are environmentally and socially focused.

Brooke is a former environmental scientist who made a career switch to music and live events after an extended parental leave when her daughter was born. She has a graduate degree in soil chemistry from the University of Alberta and recently completed a certificate program in Event Marketing from BCIT. She worked in environmental consulting for 10 years prior to her parental leave. She is currently the Administrative Assistant for the Rogue Folk Club and is responsible for managing most of the operations of the folk club.

Originally from Edmonton, Brooke has lived in the Grandview-Woodlands neighbourhood for over 15 years.  She was first introduced to Still Moon Arts through their Moon Festival and has been attending with her family since 2017. She also participates in the Still Creek Streamkeepers group. Brooke is excited to continue to contribute to Still Moon Arts, which offers such a unique, community-based  integration between arts and science.

Joe has always enjoyed exploring nature and the community around him, from the suburbs of Toronto to East Vancouver, with stops in Nigeria, Switzerland and northern Quebec along the way.

Joe has been a high school teacher, information specialist in engineering companies and is now research liaison at BCIT. He is active with the Green Team and Cycling Committee at BCIT, and has board experience with the BCIT Faculty and Staff Association. 

Joe has lived in East Van for over 30 years. In recent years he has been more involved with Still Moon Arts as a community volunteer, and joined the board in 2022 to become more involved with the Still Moon Arts community. When he’s not working or volunteering he’s usually on his bike or in his garden, or weaving with ivy and willow.

Chao has been living in the Renfrew neighbourhood since 1988. He recently retired as a professional staff and technology manager for Faculty of Applied Science for 38 years.  He was a volunteer and director of Renfrew Collingwood Annex Art Council in 2019. He is currently serving his third term as a director and now treasurer for Renfrew Park Community Centre Association, and serving his second term as Member at Large of the Board for Still Moon Arts Society. He has served as a volunteer for Variety Club BC since 2007. Chao is a photography hobbyist for nature, travel and community events photos. He is a “passive environmentalist” for engineering solutions for sustainable urban neighbourhoods. He wishes to continue his volunteering service to the neighbourhood for years to come.

Daniel: A Steward of the Earth and Advocate for Diversity

Born in the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic, Daniel found his second home amidst the majestic landscapes of Canada. His journey has been one of continuous exploration, from the dense forests that whisper the language of his roots to the vibrant festivals where art, music, and community converge in a celebration of life.

With nearly a decade dedicated to the organics recycling industry, Daniel has embraced the mission of environmental stewardship. His passion for waste management extends beyond the technical; it’s a heartfelt commitment to nurturing our planet. Currently, he channels this dedication into the event recycling industry, striving for waste minimization and diversion, ensuring that materials find new life instead of ending in landfills.

The mosaic of cultures and open arms of Canada has been a canvas of impactful moments since 2013. As a proud citizen since 2018, Daniel revels in the nation’s embrace of diversity, which resonates deeply with his own values.

Volunteering is not just an activity for Daniel; it’s a way of life. Whether it’s restoring ecosystems, monitoring wildlife, or educating the next generation, each act of service is a step towards a greener future. Dance and theatre are his artistic sanctuaries, allowing him to express the vibrancy of life through movement and storytelling.

Endlessly curious, Daniel is always learning about everything around him. His thirst for knowledge is insatiable, and he finds joy in the mysteries of the world. His curiosity is contagious, making him not only a steward of the earth but also a delightful companion whose presence brings laughter and fun to any gathering.
His recent dive into the rich traditions and history of the First Nations has been enlightening, uncovering wisdom that transcends time and speaks to the core of coexistence and respect for the land.

Inherited from his father, the philosophy “přej a bude ti přáno” or “wish and it will be wished upon you” in English, guides Daniel every day. His father’s love for travel, cultures, languages, and the mountains instilled in him a lifelong passion for discovery and an understanding of the power of goodwill.

Cassandra (she/her) grew up in beautiful Renfrew-Collingwood and has volunteered and worked around the neighbourhood including the Renfrew Park Community Centre, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, and Adrian Dix’s Community Office. She is currently the Executive Assistant at the Renfrew-Collingwood Seniors’ Society. She has a deep passion for working with seniors and is committed to strengthening and making community-based healthcare services more accessible to older adults and their loved ones.

Cassandra is of Chinese-Vietnamese heritage, speaks Cantonese, and is the middle child of 3. In her spare time, you can find her baking sweets at home or spending all her money on desserts at local bakeries and cafes, hanging out with family and friends, biking, or playing volleyball. Cassandra has long admired Still Moon Arts Society for their commitment and care in making art fun, engaging, educational, and accessible to everyone in the community. 15 years after her first volunteer experience with Still Moon, she is excited and honoured to be contributing back as a board member!

Immersed in the outdoors, Lama started her journey into nature at 16 years old and became a mountain guide at 18. After obtaining a master’s degree in Architecture, she discovered her passion for sustainability and integration within the field. This drove her to focus on renovating and restoring rather than destroying mountains and constructing new buildings. In 2016, she co-founded an outdoor adventure and environmental team called Moon Monkey in Lebanon, aiming to share outdoor experiences worldwide, especially the Himalayas of Nepal.

Throughout her career, Lama actively engaged with various NGOs, including the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa in Lebanon and Pompiers sans Frontières in France. Her work with these organizations focused on environmental causes and strategies for resilience in the face of natural disasters. These experiences expanded her knowledge in project management and community building.

Currently, since relocating to Vancouver in November 2022, Lama is dedicated to deepening her understanding of the local ecosystem and the city’s original and present inhabitants. She seeks to exchange knowledge, collaborate with others, and contribute to making the city more sustainable. Additionally, she is pursuing certification as a Project Manager Professional from the Project Management Institute.