2012 Nominees - Arts, Culture and Design
Daina Augaitis
Daina has been a role model and mentor for other women in her field. Daina is known across the country as one of the foremost curators of contemporary art. She is committed to the promotion of art by female, First Nations and Asian artists and has successfully brought artists interested in social issues into the spotlight. For more than 20 years Daina has actively participated as a volunteer for numerous arts organizations. Her belief in the power of art to transform thought and affect change is exemplified by her ability to move art beyond the gallery walls to freely accessible, public exhibition spaces expanding the audience for art.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“Youth are our future! I support the YWCA’s healthy choices for youth program because it invests in everyone’s future by encouraging kids to grow into confident and thoughtful community members.”
Louise Cecil
A life-long volunteer and philanthropic supporter of the arts, Louise is devoted to making the arts accessible for everyone to enjoy. Louise has been a dedicated board member of the Dance Centre Society since 2006. Through Louise’s leadership, initiative and vision she has helped grow the Dance Centre from a small service organization for professional dance artists to a multi-faceted organization offering a wide range of activities unparalleled in Canadian dance. She single-handedly created an annual giving membership that has become a long-term, sustaining revenue source for the Dance Centre. Louise has volunteered within arts and health organizations across North America and is a constant promoter of the valuable role that the arts play in our society.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“Supporting YWCA’s early learning and child care program is a natural choice for me. As mother and grandmother, I believe in the value and importance of providing young mothers with the opportunity for supportive guidance and education that instills greater self-confidence. Having a safe, nurturing, creative and stimulating environment for the young children during their formative beginnings allows the mother assurance and freedom to grow.”
Violet Goosen
Violet has enabled the award-winning Vancouver Chamber Choir to not only survive in an increasingly difficult financial climate but to thrive. For 38 years Violet has sung, led, mentored, inspired and single-handedly made the Vancouver Chamber Choir an international tour de force. She has championed Canadian music by raising funds to commission hundreds of new works by local composers as well as those from outside British Columbia. In addition to her tireless efforts to advocate for the arts in Canada, Violet has been instrumental in developing and enacting initiatives in the area of music education and outreach programs for youth and young professionals.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“The future of a child begins the day they are born. The early learning and child care received in his/her early years will help to lay the foundation of a healthy and productive life. I believe that by establishing a strong foundation and then building on it children will be healthier, both physically and emotionally as well as being more successful learners.”
Allyson Grant
Allyson is committed to enhancing lives through humour with a therapeutic nature. Allyson’s charity Jest for Joy brings much-needed laughter to residents at George Pearson Centre in Vancouver. She also commits to volunteering her time to raise funds through an annual gala fundraiser. Allyson also shares her talents to serve high-school students through a program called Spirit Clowning to help promote self-esteem and self-expression. Because of Allyson’s artistry and commitment, Jest for Joy is an inspiration to other clown-doctoring organizations across Canada.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“Having been a guest artist for several years in high school Leadership classes, I have witnessed transformational changes that can happen for teens through encouraging exciting and attainable goals. Self-esteem and self-expression cultivated in our youth can promote a sense of responsibility, belonging, and connection to community. The YWCA supports these developments with their healthy choices for youth programming.”
Chen Lizra
Chen is a firm believer that the way we dance is the way we live life. As the founder of Latidos Productions, a leading Vancouver production company, Chen has made a significant impact in the arts community through her leadership, creativity and passion for Cuban culture. She recently published a best-selling travel guide to Cuba which matched personal anecdotes and essential information that immerses readers in Cuban culture. Her project reflects her long-term vision and perseverance to educate people about the culture of Cuba. Chen volunteered considerable time to help bring the National Ballet of Cuba to Vancouver, leveraging her communication skills and her connections within the Latin community to make the event a success.
Connecting the Community Quote:
"As someone who had dealt with a lot of heartbreak and self esteem issues while a teenager, I choose to support healthy choices for youth. With the help of the YWCA I am certain that these teenagers will get the kind of guidance they need to step into a much stronger and brighter future."
