BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Devon LeClair

Chair

  • Devon is a born and raised Calgarian. After spending many years living in cities around the world, she came back to YYC with one goal: to help make Calgary more livable and lovable.

    With an extensive background in arts and culture, non-profit and government, Devon currently works as Chief of Staff for the Ward 9 City Councillor. She is a lifelong lover of theatre and has held several positions with different theatre companies.

    Why Devon volunteers with The GRAND: “I am particularly interested in helping to move The GRAND towards a more inclusive, intersectional and accessible space for all Calgarians.”

Patrick Moskwa

Vice Chair

  • Patrick Moskwa is an artist, entrepreneur, educator, and designer. He has spent the past 2 decades embedded in cultural production and education working with various clients, firms and institutions around Calgary and the throughout North America. As part of his design and art career he has participated in and developed exhibitions and publications around Canada and the United States. He sees The Grand as one of Calgary’s most unique and provocative culture hubs and is proud to lend his expertise to the board. As a queer artist, Patrick is particularly interested in bringing more diverse voices to Calgary’s cultural scene.

    Patrick is passionate about the diversity and strength of Calgary’s cultural scene. He has a Bachelor of Architecture from Carleton University and a Master of Fine Art in Craft Media from Alberta University of the Arts. Patrick has called Calgary home for the past 20 years and looks forward to seeing this wonderful city continue to blossom.

    Patrick’s favourite thing about The GRAND:

    “I am particularly proud of what The Grand has become over the past years since it’s redevelopment. The Grand is a space that promotes a diverse and explorative group of artists in many shapes of performance and visual art. It embraces and praises the emerging arts and culture community in Calgary and is poised to become a hub for the emerging arts landscape across Western Canada.”

Renee Matthews

Secretary

  • Renee’s current roles with The Grand are as a Director and the acting Secretary of the Board.

    Her day job as an energy lawyer, practicing at a boutique law firm in Calgary, coupled with her creative off-hours hobbies give her the perfect balance of left- and right-brain exercise! She has a LLB / MBA from the UBC, and prior to her role as a Director, she assisted a number of other Calgary arts and community organizations volunteering legal services on a pro bono basis.

    Renée’s favourite GRAND space: “The Mezzanine Lounge is an intimate space that’s perfect for grabbing a cocktail, mingling with other guests and capturing a bird’s eye view of the bustle in the lobby area below!”

Jason McKay

Director

  • VICE PRESIDENT Modern Rentals

    With a career spanning over two decades in the Events and Food & Beverage Hospitality industry, Jason has had the opportunity to work with every kind of client from celebrity athletes to corporate businesses. His passion and creative thinking ensure that every client and their guests have an experience like no other. He has worked with brands, clients, and companies from across the globe and has been committed to showcasing Canadian talent and all it offers through notable programs, including World Cup Snowboard, Freestyle, Bobsled, Alpine Canada, and the Hockey Canada Gala.

    Through his dedication to giving back, Jason was the founder and producer of the Legacy Gala (2014 – 2018) which supported Canadian Olympic Athletes. And he has been an instrumental part of fundraising for a number of not-for-profit sports and charities over the years.

Akashdeep Gill

Treasurer

  • Akash Gill is a Treasurer at The GRAND with over 5 years of experience working in public practice. He currently works as an Assistant Controller at Hexagon's Autonomy & Positioning division. He graduated from Mount Royal University with a degree in Business Administration, Accounting, and holds a CPA designation. Akash uses his knowledge and skills to support The GRAND's accounting department and provides financial insight to the Board for decision making.

Gurjit Toor

Director

  • Gurjit is co-owner of PnG Builders and Closet Art Studio. She brings 20+ years of technology, management and entrepreneurial experience to the Board. Her diverse industry knowledge has evolved from working directly in Oil & Gas, Construction, Fitness, IT Consulting and Fine Art.

    With a strategic and governance-focused approach, Gurjit excels at defining direction that aligns corporate vision with well articulated end-user impacts, via actionable roadmaps.

    She prioritizes stakeholder engagement, maintaining clear communication to facilitate swift and sound decision-making. She brings valuable insights and leadership to guide organizational growth with strategic initiatives.

    Gurjit holds a BSc Computer Science and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. She has served as an Independent Director on a variety of Boards since 2018.

Emily Gryba

Director

  • Emily Gryba brings over a decade of diverse experience in the music industry across Canada and the United States. She began her career as a gigging musician in her early teens and later earned a Bachelor of Music with a specialization in Music Management from MacEwan University in 2019. During her studies, Emily worked with the university's record label, Bent River Records, and managed logistics for the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, further solidifying her passion for music and music industry work.

    After graduating, Emily joined the team at Watchdog Management in Vancouver, BC, where she spent five years specializing in artist development, sync, and new business initiatives. During this time, she worked with acclaimed artists such as Mother Mother, Corb Lund, Peach Pit, and emerging talents like Jade LeMac and LA-based Winnetka Bowling League, fronted by Matthew Koma.

    Now based in Calgary, Emily is part of the development team at the National Music Centre, where she contributes to advancing its mission of connecting people to music. She also runs Busy Kid Entertainment, a company dedicated to supporting independent artists with career development and strategic guidance.

Wakefield Brewster

Director

  • In January 1999, Wakefield Brewster stepped onto his first stage as a Poet and Spoken Word Artist. Today, he is known as one of Canada’s most powerful Professional Performance Poets.

    A BlackMan raised in Toronto by parents from Barbados, he has resided in Calgary since 2006, and it is in the New West where Wakefield has been able to truly flourish as a Poet and as a Person.

    Throughout his career, Wakefield has been published in several Anthologies: 

    • T-Dot Griots, Trafford on Demand Publishing, 2004

    • The Great Black North, Frontenac House, 2013

    • The Calgary Project, Frontenac House, 2014

    • The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology, Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2019

    Since moving to Calgary, he has produced two Professional Recordings to his credit:

    • Wakefield Brewster, da lyrical pitbull

    Produced by Kill Whitey Records, 2007

    • east2west

    Produced by Spanish Fly Music, 2008

    Here is a list of roles he is currently enlisted in:

    • Professional Poet & Spoken Word Artist

    • Professional Poetic Interpreter™

    • Calgary’s 1st City Slam Poetry Champion, 2006

    • Calgary’s only 3-Time Calgary Poetry Slam Champion & Team Captain; 2006, 2008, 2009

    • Inaugural Poet Of Honour, People’s Poetry Festival, 2011

    • Calgary Poet Laureate Official Shortlist/Finalist 2012, 2020

    • Calgary Poet Laureate Unofficial Shortlist/Finalist 2014, 2016, 2018

    • Inaugural Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre 2019 – 2022

    • Inaugural TD ARTIST INCUBATOR at Arts Commons, Poet-In-Residence, 2021-2022

    • Canadian League Of Poets Member

    • Former Elephant Artist’s Relief Society Board Member

    • Peter Gzowski Foundation For Literacy Calgary Poet Laureate, 2021

    • Registered Massage Therapist and owner of WakeFull Wellness Registered Massage Therapy & HealingSpace

    • Community Builder by engaging in Volunteering, Leadership and Mentorship for Youth and through The Arts

    • Advocate for Literacy and The Humanities; Healing Arts & Alternative Medicine; Alcoholism & Addictions; Mental Wellness & Recovery

    • In 2019, he was appointed as The Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre House in Calgary, Alberta. 

    • In 2021, Wakefield joined The League Of Canadian Poets in order to become a more integral part of Canada’s Literary scene, while representing the standards of Diversity and Representation.

    • In 2023, he became the TD INCUBATOR Fellow for the 2023-2024 Season, Mentoring over 30 Up-And-Coming Calgary Artists from all disciplines.

    •Also in 2023, Frontenac House Publishing House signed Wakefield on to release his very first full-length Poetry Manuscript. To be release in April 2024 during National Poetry Month: WakeWord

    After all that the stage has given Wakefield, he has discovered other ways that he may repay his beloved Poetry and Arts Communities, by performing silently, backstage for them, providing productions.

    He accomplishes this mission as a Connector, Creator, Curator, and Collaborator.

    Wakefield finds that underneath the many hats and the many hoodies he wears, resides a most wonderful life. 

    He would like to sincerely Thank You All, for being a part of it.

Neil Fleming

Director

  • Originally from the Anishinaabe territory Bawating (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), Neil is a settler playwright, designer and producer now based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary, AB) in Treaty 7 territory. Often described as quirky, comical, and absurd, his plays include: Outside, Anomaly, Security, Last Christmas, The After Party and He Said, She Said (Lunchbox Theatre), John Doe/Jack Rabbit (Ground Zero & FireBelly Theatre). He has been a contributor on devised works with Downstage Arms Length Embrace, and Making Treaty 7, O’Kosi and Indians & Cowboys. Neil has also been: Board President of Alberta Playwrights Network, Executive Director at Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society and Regional Council Representative for Alberta with the Playwrights Guild of Canada. He has recently joined the board of The Grand, one of the oldest theatres in Western Canada.

Kate Ritchie

Director

  • Kate Ritchie is a Calgary-based textile artist originally from Toronto, Ontario. With a rich academic foundation and a deep passion for craft, Ritchie brings a unique, thoughtful perspective to her work and to her role as a board member in the theatre community.

    She received her BFA in Material Art and Design from OCAD University (2020) and recently completed her MFA in Craft Media at the Alberta University of the Arts (2023).

    Ritchie’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in the transformative power of materials and their ability to foster connection. Her work is an exploration of the infinite potential for objects and people to come apart and come together again, weaving together concepts of emotional and physical care, and celebrating the beauty in seams, hems, and other overlooked details. Through a combination of weaving, unweaving, and reweaving domestic objects, she explores the tactile and emotional resonance of materials, focusing on the layers of meaning embedded in the act of making and the relationships that form between artist, object, and viewer.

    Ritchie’s commitment to craft is underscored by her dedication to the process and the systems of work that support it. She thrives on the small but significant details—efficiency, attention, and respect for the materials and processes that underpin her practice. Her work is driven by radical care, emphasizing the potential for objects to be both functional and meaningful.

    Over the course of her career, Ritchie has honed her practice through residencies, including at the Contemporary Textile Co-op (Toronto), Artscape Gibraltar (Toronto), Calgary Allied Arts Foundation (Calgary), and the Banff Centre (Banff). These experiences have expanded her artistic vision and deepened her commitment to the power of craft as a form of storytelling and community-building.

    In addition to her artistic practice, Ritchie is an active advocate for the arts community.

    Her experience in both the academic and creative spheres brings a unique perspective to her role at The Grand. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive, dynamic environments where creativity, collaboration, and care can thrive. Whether through her work as an artist or involvement in arts organizations, Ritchie is committed to the transformative potential of the arts to foster connection and build meaningful relationships.

Ishita Singla

Director

  • Ishita Singla, founder of Madhuban Performing Arts, channels her lifelong dance passion into a journey of empowerment. Influenced by icons like Madhuri Dixit and Madhubala, she founded the organization in 2016, initially a dance team but quickly evolving into a diverse artist haven. The music team was born in 2017, adding depth to Madhuban’s legacy. Ishita seeks to integrate art into lives, shifting South Asian art in Calgary from an afterthought to a cornerstone. Her impact on the community aims to make art integral to personal journeys. Ishita was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for her contributions in the community. She also received a South Asian Inspiration Award for her Outstanding Achievement in Arts, Culture & Entertainment, and was recently named one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40. But her greatest accomplishment to date has been her team. 

    Outside of Madhuban, Ishita works full-time as a Senior Communications Officer at CBC Calgary, bringing minorities and their stories to the forefront. She is also passionate about serving the community through her board work with Raga Mala Calgary, Sifarish and more.

Alex McKay

Director

  • Alex is a barrister at a boutique civil litigation firm in Calgary, maintaining a busy and exciting practice focused on strategic, effective, and client-focused advocacy. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a B.A. in Sociology (with an Honours thesis focused on gender theory and slasher movies!) and a Juris Doctor.

    Outside of work, Alex is a curious and passionate consumer and supporter of the arts – both locally, and abroad – and has spent many years passing through The GRAND’s historic doors as an audience member. Now, Alex is excited to volunteer her time to help support, preserve, and shape the future of this important venue, which she believes holds a vital space within the heart of her hometown’s cultural legacy.

Morgan Johnson

Director

  • Morgan has worked in the energy sector for 15 years. She currently works for a global oil and gas company, overseeing the communications and community investment functions for the organization’s North America region. She also has extensive experience planning corporate events including town halls, conferences, and celebrations.

    The GRAND holds a special place in Morgan’s heart. She has been attending events at the theatre for nearly two decades. She also has a soft spot for historic theatres, and is passionate about preserving them for future generations.

    Morgan has volunteered at The GRAND since 2020. Initially, she managed the theatre’s social media accounts during the pandemic. She currently interviews local artists and shares their stories and art on The GRAND’s channels, and also co-leads historical tours of the theatre. She is excited to take on this role as a Board member at The GRAND!

    You will most likely find Morgan catching a show, photographing buildings, day-tripping to small towns with her husband and pup, or getting lost in a museum. She’s also on a mission to see every Vincent van Gogh painting in the world!

Phillip Armstrong

Director

  • With oversight over development and operation of assets at a national level, Phillip  has a strong eye for strategic business planning and asset management. He has spent over 15  years in commercial/residential real estate development, construction, adaptive reuse and asset management. Phillip is a graduate of Queen’s University. More importantly, he firmly believes in the Grand’s vision to support the grass roots arts and culture ecosystem in Calgary and across Canada.

Tony Ovechkin

Director

  • Tony is an independent promoter who organizes events for the Russian speaking community across Canada and the US.
    He also does events for the general public.

    Tony immigrated to Canada in 2008 from Russia and since the first day in Canada calls Calgary home.

    Besides organizing events Tony is a provincial level referee with Alberta Soccer Association.