Our Circle

Cindy (she/her) has more than 20 years experience working for not for profit, charitable theatre organizations in Vancouver. It all started when she became a founding Board Member of Electric Company Theatre. After 5 years of working alongside four amazingly talented Founding Artists creating and touring original works of theatre, she moved to The Cultch where she spent 12 years fulfilling the role of Managing Director. She then helped to reopen The Improv Centre on Granville Island. Most recently she had the pleasure of working at the Firehall Arts Centre. She is an active volunteer in the local arts community, currently serving as Board President of Company 605. Cindy has an emotional connection and long history with the visual arts as well, being the daughter of commercial artist Bob Reid and niece of Haida artist Bill Reid. Cindy’s knowledge and experience in arts administration, human resources, and fund development, coupled with her passion for the arts, makes her a natural addition to the team at Urban Ink.

Fabian (he/him) was born in Egypt to Cuban Canadian parents and spent his childhood and adolescent years in Cuba, Mexico and China. He attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in ‘Society, Culture and Media’ from the University of East Anglia in England before graduating from the Vancouver Film School in the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl’ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. His background has revolved around Freelance Producing and Film Production, holding several credits in various departments and working for prominent production companies in their respective countries (LIKE MINDED LABS & KICKSTART ENTERTAINEMNT – CANADA, EAGLE MEDIA – CHINA and BBC – UK); as well as directing, writing and producing several original short films; most recently developing a documentary about Cuban immigrants who after leaving their military service now reside in Vancouver. Fabian has also worked in non-profit organizations and business companies as a Marketing/Communication Assistant and joined Urban Ink in August 2022

Jorge was born and raised on the lands of the Toba, Kolla, Diaguita-Calchaqui and Mapuche peoples in Argentina, and is descendent of Ukrainian and Slav first nations. For over fifteen years he has been involved in arts and cultural programming through his work in several radio broadcasting stations. With a Bachelor in Business and Science, has held multiple leadership positions in the management of technology development projects for leading companies in South America, the USA and Canada. Jorge joined the board of Urban Ink in 2011, where he has held the position of Vice-Chair and, since 2012, is the Board Treasurer.

My name is Lyle Dixon, I am from Siska Indian Band just out side of Lytton BC. My people are the ‘Nlaka’pamux. I should like to thank the Squamish, Musqueam and the Tswel watuth First Nations for allowing me to be on their territory.

I come from a large family with six sisters and had three brothers. My parents attended to St Georges Residential school in Lytton. I have a diploma in criminology that I attained at Native Education College (Vancouver) and Douglas College (New Westminster). I worked in that system for several years. I have a diploma in Family and Community counseling also attained at Native Education college that I followed with working at Coast Mental Health as a front line mental health worker.

I completed the Bachelor of Social Work Indigenous Specialization (BSW-IS) at the University of Victoria (UVic) in Victoria BC. Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia (NCCABC) was good enough to hire me as a Native Court worker where I stayed for seven years at Vancouver Provincial court at 222 Main Street. I moved on to complete the Master of Social Work- Aboriginal Field of Study (MSW-AFS) at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) in Kitchener Ontario. I worked as a counsellor for a time before I moved on to teach at a post secondary level. I try to encourage my First Nations brothers and sisters to strive and succeed in what they want from life.

I did a semester as adjuct professor at University of British Columbia (UBC) where I taught a fourth year master of social work (MSW) course. I greatly enjoyed teaching at the Native Education College in the Criminology program, the Family and Community Counselling (FCC) courses as well as an Adult Basic Education Psychology course.

I work as a therapist. I focus on healing through medicine wheel teachings combined with cogntive behavioural therapy (CBT), narrative therapy and inner child work. I weave these western modalities with medicine wheel teachings. I have learnt that the medicine wheel teachings are valuable in my own life and share what knowledge I have attained with the people I work with.

My free time is used to do some volunteering at The Cultch, as theatre is a part of my life that brings me great pleasure. I am greatly honoured to be on the board of directors of Urban Ink.

Donna Wong-Juliani was born on the Island of Tiohtia:ke on the unceded lands of both the Kanien’keha:ka, and the Anishinabeg peoples, and gratefully acknowledges  to have lived and played, at various times in her life, on lands covered by Treaties 6 & 13 with the Nehiyawak/Cree, Algonquin, Anishinabeg, Mississauga and Chippewa bands, and on the unceded territories of the  Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

She has had a life-long involvement in and commitment to the performing arts and to activities that focus on the betterment of society.  Throughout her career she has participated in and/or produced artistic works and projects that have enhanced the communities in which they have occurred.  Her firsthand knowledge of the theatre, dance, television and film disciplines and her ongoing commitment to the encouragement and development of artists working in all these fields has led her to play key roles in endeavours ranging from feature film producing, to senior management of a film industry crown corporation, to representation of writers, directors and composers, and to administering non-profit arts organizations. 

Lauren Duffy (she/her) is a settler raised on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and is of Irish and French-Canadian descent. She holds a bachelor of Fine Arts and Business, Digital Arts Communication from the University of Waterloo. She has a versatile background in financial services and advising on brand, digital, sponsorships, events and experiential marketing for arts, sport, and community organizations. Lauren believes that art can transform, whether its through storytelling, self-expression or formal visuality. She has worked on a wide range of arts programs and sponsorships including the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Hot Docs, Scotiabank Photography Award, New Generation Photography Award and the National Gallery of Canada. In her current work with PH&N Institutional, she is an active partner for their Indigenous investment services group. Passionate about arts accessibility, Lauren is excited to contribute her expertise to Urban Ink.