OUR STAFF

Erynn Nicole Lyster

Executive Director

  • Erynn leads a talented, diverse team of arts professionals dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for artists and patrons alike. Her work positions The GRAND as a dynamic gathering place where art is the catalyst for meaningful connection, innovative solutions, and challenging conversations.

    Erynn is an entrepreneur with a background in event planning and production, design, communications, and business development. She has spent time working internationally with non-profit organizations, guiding communication strategy and building brand awareness. The strength of her leadership is in bringing talent together to innovate, experiment, and problem solve. In 2016, Erynn was recognized as one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40.

    She is at home in the mountains and has explored much of our country by bike! She loves animals, marvelling at art, and finding new ways of looking at and travelling through the world.

    Erynn’s favourite GRAND spaces: “This past year, the team found a room within a room. We were a bit scared to open it as it clearly hadn’t been discovered in decades … story TBC! There is also a mysterious door in the basement that leads somewhere, but no one has yet had the courage to explore!”

Meredith Blackburn

Director of Events & Marketing

  • Meredith is the Director of Events and Marketing at the GRAND, where she leads a dynamic team of creatives. With over eight years of experience and a background in event management from Mount Royal University, Meredith specializes in theater events within the nonprofit sector. She has continually honed her skills in marketing, design, and business development. Known for her creativity and keen eye for detail, she brings a unique flair to her work. In her free time, she enjoys photography, drawing, painting, and is an avid movie enthusiast.

    Mer’s favourite GRAND space: "My favourite space would have to be the Green Room. It's nestled in the basement and I love its privacy and dark green paint”

Nathan Thiessen

Technical Director

  • Nathan has worked with The GRAND since 2014, and became the Head Stage Carpenter in 2019. This is a diverse role that involves overhead rigging, assisting with audio, and often requires stage management during shows.

    His technical background includes a decade of working in live sound for the City of Calgary, festival high rigging, video and graphics operation, and some film work.

    Outside of the theatre, Nathan enjoys creating electronic music, running long distances, and mountain biking.

    Nathan’s favourite GRAND show: “I really enjoyed The Gold Rush Redux, presented during the High Performance Rodeo, because the team was so fun, genuine and encouraged others to be themselves.”

Autumn Sali

Head of Administration & Operations

  • As the Head of Administration & Operations at The GRAND, Autumn works closely with the Production, Facilities, and programming teams to keep the facility maintained and organized.

    She is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

    Outside of the theatre, Autumn enjoys reading books and playing video games, especially the Dragon Age series.

    Autumn’s favourite GRAND space: “The theatre’s entrance foyer is my favourite place in the building because of the beautiful historic ornamentation that is still visible today.”

Nate Chiang

Head of Programming

  • In his role, Nate is responsible for Leading Programming from The GRAND. His duties include liaising with artists and the community, helping to coordinate and execute presentations, coordinating artist residencies and visual arts in the space, and providing administrative support.

    Nate has a passion for the arts and is currently a busy performing jazz drummer, gigging with various bands around Calgary for the better part of the last decade. He is passionate about building relationships and capacity in the local arts community, and values the diversity and calibre of Calgary's artists.

    Nate’s favourite GRAND space: “My favourite place at the theatre is the Studio, which I consider the most calming and inspiring of all the spaces.”

Aoife Aherne

Front of House Manager

  • With a deep love for the arts and years of experience in hospitality, Aoife is passionate about creating exceptional guest experiences both on and off the stage. She holds a BA in Drama Performance from DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin Ireland and her background in acting gives her a unique perspective on audience engagement and venue operations.

    Aoife is excited to bring her leadership skills and customer service expertise to the team. With over five years in hospitality and venue operations, she has a strong track record of team leadership, problem-solving, and ensuring every guest has a memorable experience. Whether in a theatre, bar, or any space, Aoife thrives in fast-paced environments where storytelling and service come together.

    Aoifes favourite space at The Grand... has to be The Flanagan Theatre. There's something about the red velvet seats, the exposed red brick walls, and the old-school charm that feels like home.

Aaric Innes

Head of Stage

  • Coming Soon!

Georgia Jeffery

Head of Lighting

  • As the Head of Lighting, Georgia is responsible for carrying out the vision of the artists that come through The GRAND. Whether that is simple balanced looks for cameras or complex lighting cues for dance performances, she takes pride in creating art that brings joy not only to the audiences but also the various groups that come through this iconic space.

    Prior to working at the GRAND, Georgia has worked in a variety of spaces within Calgary, ranging from the Jubilee Auditorium to Theatre: Calgary as well as various projects at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She spent three years touring with the Alberta Ballet and is passionate about the arts and supporting artists.

    In her free time, Georgia can be found either curled up with a good book and her Jack Russell Terrier, or taking advantage of the great outdoors through hiking and skiing.

    Georgia’s favourite space at the GRAND is:

    The Flanagan Theatre! Particularly the tech catwalks where you can see all the rigging and truss from above. That’s when I really feel like I am in a theatre, and it is a perspective that the audience doesn’t get.

Mike Watson

Head of Sound

  • As Head of Sound, Mike’s job is to ensure that pristine levels of sound are reproduced throughout the entire building. Not only does he make it heard, but he strives to make it FELT.

    Prior to “stewarding the sonic vessel that is The GRAND,” Mike has held multiple audio engineering positions at various festivals across Canada.

    One of Mike’s favourite ways to spend his time is visiting Memphis, Tennessee to play blues music and sample the local BBQ.

    Mike's favourite GRAND show: “My favourite show to date is Fluid Festival because it enabled me to gain a new appreciation for modern dance.”

Vaishnavi Khullar

Venue Rentals Coordinator

  • As a venue rentals coordinator, Vaishnavi collaborates closely with clients to guarantee the flawless execution of their events. Drawing from a diverse background, she has a keen eye for detail. She completed her Fine Arts degree from Alberta University of the Arts, majoring in Media Arts. She is an artist working in video, sound, and installations. And she loves to read!

    Vaishnavi’s Favourite Space

    "My favorite place at the GRAND is the Mezzanine. The unique composition of the space and the oculus looking down onto the Lobby is my favorite part!"

Emily Fonda

Event Operations Coordinator

  • Emily Fonda (She/Her) is a Calgary-based arts professional and graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (now Dance Arts Institute). Emily was formerly a Youth Presenter and Educator with SQx Dance Company, focusing on community engagement, movement creation and social engagement workshopping with students from across Canada. As an Event Operations Coordinator at The Grand, Emily currently oversees front-of-house relations, bar operations, payroll and schedule coordination. Emily’s blend of operational experience, commitment to hospitality, and passion for fostering meaningful connections makes her a proud member of The Grand’s team.

    Emily’s favourite space at The GRAND is the lounge outside the dressing rooms in the basement! Check out the fun photo op mirror and neon sign!