Membership & Governance

Kismet Bhandar is a seasoned litigator with 22 years of experience with personal injury, property damage and other claims. With her open, approachable and cooperative style, she fosters teamwork with her clients and works with them to reach a positive outcome. 

Kismet was born and raised in Victoria, BC. But she did not fully understand her good fortune until she moved away and lived in other parts of Canada and overseas. She came home to go to law school in 1994 and has enjoyed working on Vancouver Island ever since.

Pam is a graduate of University of Victoria’s Cultural Resource Management Program. She enjoyed her career in heritage preservation policy and planning with the B.C. Heritage Branch until 2016.

She has contributed to her community in several volunteer capacities since the early ‘90s, ultimately serving as a three term Oak Bay Municipal Councillor between 2005 and 2014, with related committee responsibility on CDR Arts, Royal & McPherson Theatres Society, Oak Bay land use and Official Community Plan renewal.

Pam is delighted to have an opportunity as a CCPA Board member to return to her early passion for theatre arts! While her family was growing, she worked as assistant scenic painter for the VOS, POV, (and even a movie!) as well as volunteer painting coordinator for the Oak Bay High Drama Program. In 1998 while working as an administrator of a youth mentoring program in heritage and culture, CCPA was among her first sponsoring organizations; another reason she is excited to take on this role.

With her husband Brian, Pam lived in Oak Bay for over 40 years raising three children, and now lives close by in Fairfield Gonzales. She still serves on committees and also enjoys dabbling in visual art, singing in two choirs and spending time with her five grandchildren.

Maia has been connected to the Canadian College of Performing Arts since enrolling as a student there in 2012. After graduating from the Applied Performing Arts Diploma program, she worked with the College as an artistic contractor before joining the administrative team full-time in various roles including graphic designer, executive assistant, and I.T. coordinator. During that time, she also worked around Victoria as an actor, projection & sound designer, and stage manager.

She continues to hold the work of CHAS and the College close to her heart, and is grateful for this opportunity to continue to work to support a welcoming, inclusive, and encouraging atmosphere at CCPA.

Maia also currently serves as secretary-treasurer of the Board of Directors for Impulse Theatre.

Tom Croft’s work experience and background are in banking and real estate, and his heart is in creating community.

Tom is well known in Oak Bay as a founding member and active participant in the Community Association of Oak Bay (CAOB). He is also a Member at Large and Past Secretary of Oak Bay Tourism and Member/Past Director/Past President Rotary Club of Oak Bay. Among other projects, Tom participated in the creation of the Peter Pan Spray Park at Carnarvon Park and the Teen Centre at Oak Bay Rec Centre.

Tom served as a Municipal Councillor in Oak Bay from 2014-2018, which came with appointments to the Oak Bay Advisory Design Panel Liaison, as well as the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia, South Vancouver Island Prosperity Project, and University of Victoria.

Sam Ennis is a licensed optician and owner/operator of Goo Goo Goggles Optical, an independent optical store in downtown Victoria.

After growing up in Ontario and Quebec, Sam moved to Victoria in 2004 to attend UVic, and it soon became very clear that Victoria was the perfect place to call home. While completing an honours degree in Cognitive Psychology, she also started working in the optical field, and, in the end, being an optician in a creative environment was where she was meant to be. Now with over 19 years of experience in optical, Sam specializes in finding creative solutions, teaching exceptional customer service, and managing an amazing team of unique individuals. Along with providing a safe space for customers, one of the main focuses for Sam as an owner is to create a landing spot for her wonderful team to feel safe and seen and like they’ve found their own perfect place to call home. Sam also manages the store’s advertising, choosing to support the arts, festivals, and the Victoria Queer community whenever possible.

Sam lives in Saanich with her wife Laine and their border collie, cat, and seven chickens on a small hobby farm.

Major the Rev. CD2, OMM, Al, is a retired military chaplain and a minister in the United Church of Canada. By avocation he is a military historian and author of Peacetime Padres, a history of Canadian military chaplains 1945-1995.

Al has served in civilian churches in New Brunswick, Ottawa, Kingston, and Victoria. He served for several years on the national executive of the Canadian Authors Association and for the past twenty years has been on the national executive of the Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada. While serving at Royal Roads Military College, 1990-1993, he set the college up as a military museum.

Pre-COVID, Al and his wife Sheila were helping feed CCPA students and enjoyed the personal connection. They have been pleased to offer the Fowler Family Awards for dance and for the best 5 minute play.

Michael has worked internationally as a production designer for 25 years, based in Toronto, Buenos Aires and Malta, and working primarily in commercial production. Educated at UVIC and the University of Western Ontario, he was a participant in the pilot year program for music theatre at the Banff School. He first began working in Toronto in theatre and opera, at the Stratford Festival and the Canadian Opera Company prior to moving into film, where over the years he has worked with film directors including Tony Kaye, Noam Murro, and Antoine Fuqua. Among other projects, he has been charged with rebuilding parts of the Lucasfilm 'Star Wars' sets in Buenos Aires and recreating WWII in the Czech Republic.

As a member of both the Directors' Guild of Canada and IATSE 891, Michael has been active for decades in working to improve aspects of the film industry, and while resident in Malta, contributed significantly to the organization of the Malta Film Commission. Born in Comox, Michael returned to Vancouver Island nine years ago, and has since been working towards building infrastructure in the Greater Victoria region to better local industry. Michael remains grateful for past assistance from the Canada Council.

Kevin has deep expertise in both leading organizations and spearheading national research aimed to drive innovation, improve quality of care, and create services to improve the health and wellbeing of older Canadians and their caregivers. He is actively engaged with both the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association and the Hospice Care Alliance of BC.

Prior to joining Luther Court in June of 2023 he was the CEO of Victoria Hospice. He has held leadership positions in long term care for over eighteen years. From 2013 – 2018 he was the President and CEO of York Care Centre (YCC), the largest long term care facility in New Brunswick. During his five years at YCC, he forged several national strategic partnerships and worked as part of the team that created the AGE-WELL’s National Innovation Hub: Advancing Policies and Practices in Technology and Aging where he later became the Executive Director.

In addition to his work with AGE-WELL, Kevin developed CIRA (Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging) a research centre in partnership with the University of New Brunswick, the University of Toronto and Simon Fraser University; he is a former Member of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Home and Continuing Care National Advisory Committee; and he participated in the Seniors Quality Leap Initiative, a collaborative of nursing homes across Canada and US who lead in the benchmarking of clinical quality standards. He is results-driven with a collaborative and strategic approach; a number of the quality improvement initiatives he led at the YCC have been adopted provincially and nationally.

Having studied economics at the University of Victoria and law at Dalhousie University, Roxanne has been in the private practice of law in Victoria for over 35 years. She has enjoyed periodically guest lecturing at the University of Victoria law school on a number of civil and criminal law topics.

She has extensive governance experience, having served her colleagues at the Bar locally, provincially, nationally and also internationally. Roxanne has served her community in a number of capacities including as a Community Appointee to the Leadership Council of the Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, as a Provincial Appointee to the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board and also the British Columbia Association of Police Boards and as Board Member and President of the Inter Cultural Association of Victoria. In addition to serving as Chair of the Canadian Heritage Arts Society she serves on the Board of the Vancouver Island Trail Association.

She is married, the mother of two gainfully employed adult children, and the devoted owner of a young black Labrador Retriever named Reggie.

Derrold is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. For most of his career, Derrold was a Tax Partner with KPMG, working out of both the Vancouver and Victoria offices. Derrold held the dual role of Tax and Office Managing Partner in Victoria until his departure from KPMG is 2008.

Derrold’s primary areas of practice include personal tax planning, international tax and corporate taxation. He has authored several articles on Canadian tax planning and has been an instructor in Canadian tax programs for many years. He is a frequently requested speaker to business groups throughout Canada and Asia. He has also been recognized as one of the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC and Canada’s top instructors for his teaching in various tax programs over the years, including the Advanced Tax Program sponsored jointly with the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Most importantly, married to Pauline Rafferty, 5 kids, 14 grand kids. A food-wine- travel family.

40% of my working life. Long time Deputy Minister. 5 Premiers, 10 different Ministries plus acted as government’s trouble shooter, fixer, negotiator — federal, business, labour, international agreements — and the most fun, the opening of EXPO with the Prince and Princess of Wales. Concurrently, lecturer at the University of Victoria and Queen’s in negotiations and crisis management.

Left government—other 60%. Vancouver based consulting business. Non-lobbyist for industry — major forest and other large companies/unions, and small business organizations. Focus on solutions to government created problems and major issues. Clients: Presidents and CEO’s. Government interruptus — twice. First, Premier asks return to public service, to manage the largest re-organization in the province’s history, creation of the Children’s Ministry — 18 months. Second, 10 years on, briefer, Head, independent inquiry into a horrendous child welfare incident. Recommendation led to increased funding and adopted best practices.

In between and after, BC’s industry lead in softwood lumber negotiations with the USA. Then several years mediating disputes between industry and First Nations concerning large, litigated delayed, commercial project start-ups and operational interface problems. Advisor, Costal First Nations (Great Bear Rainforest folks).

Wrote two books, one a BC politics best seller, one historical fiction currently with an agent.

Media. Enjoyed 12-15 years as a political panellist on radio and television, written extensively on political issues for the print media.

Additional relevant public boards: Serauxman Service Club (Nanaimo), Garth Homer Society, Victoria Philharmonic Choir Society, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Sovereign Order of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.

Gongs. Queen’s Jubilee Medal, Honorary Appointment for non-church-members to BC Diocese of Anglican Church.

Life today–travel 4-5 months a year, plus family/write/read/exercise and volunteer Boards.

Mel Cooper was one of the most decorated citizens of Victoria. As a result of his community leadership, he received the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia, among much other recognition. Mel was a Vice President of Expo ’86 and Chair of the Board of Governors of the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He sold his radio stations in Victoria and Kelowna, concluding a 60-year career in broadcasting.

Mel was involved with the College from it's founding in 1998 until his death in February 2025.

Originally from Chile, Lina de Guevara is an actor, theatre director, drama teacher and storyteller. She’s a specialist in the techniques of transformational theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed and Commedia dell’Arte.

To create and produce plays about the immigrant experience, she founded PUENTE Theatre in 1988 and was its Artistic Director for 23 years. Her director’s credits include I wasn’t born here, Crossing Borders, The House of Bernarda Alba, Mother Courage, Canadian Tango, Letters for Tomas, Sisters/Strangers, Canadian Tango 09, Storytelling Our Lives, Algarabia/Danza, Scene and Heard, The woman who fell from the sky, Chile con carne, and The pilgrimage of the nuns of Concepción. She’s directed and dramaturged several one-woman shows, such as Emergence, Uthe/Athe, Patriot in search of a country, Heinz 57, and Peace Mum.

Jim’s career focus has always been education and student support. He spent 35 years working in post-secondary education and retired from the University of Victoria as VP Development and External Relations and President of the University of Victoria Foundation.

Before that, Jim was Executive Director of Student and Ancillary Services, and in 1993-94, he served as UVic’s Director of Operations for the Commonwealth Games. Jim initiated faculty and staff development programs; presented numerous workshops at regional, national, and international levels; and received national recognition awards for his work in the development and promotion of student services. He was a member of many professional organizations, and held office in most of them.

Chair of the Board of the Canadian Heritage Arts Society from 1994-99, Jim was involved in the foundation of the Canadian College of the Performing Arts and the establishment of the Legacy Scholarship Endowment Fund, and he continues to support both. He returned to the Board in 2016 for a two year term. An active community member, Jim has served a variety of associations such as the United Way and Friends of the RBCM.

Kimberley Rampersad is a theatre artist, born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

As an actor she has appeared in various theatres across Canada including Mirvish, RMTC, Stratford and Shaw. 

Her work as a choreographer has been recognized with two Dora nominations for Passing Strange (Musical Stage/Obsidian) and Seussical – the Musical (YPT) respectively, and an Evie Award in 2019 for Matilda – The Musical (Royal MTC/Citadel/Arts Club).

As a director, Kimberley was featured in the New York Times in July 2022 for her production of Rabindranath Tagore’s Chitra and in July 2019 for directing a full- length production of Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman, both at the Shaw Festival. Her production of Tré Anthony’s  How Black Mothers Say I Love You (GCTC) received a Prix Rideau Award for outstanding production, and her productions of The Color Purple (Neptune and Citadel/ Royal MTC) received Merritt and Sterling Award for outstanding direction and productions.  She recently made her directorial debut at the Stratford Festival with Serving Elizabeth by Marcia Johnson. She was the recipient of the 2017 Gina Wilkinson Prize for an emerging female director (Ontario Arts Foundation). Her season in 2023 includes directing King Lear at the Stratford Festival, and The Amen Corner at the Shaw Festival.

In the community she contributes to the work of the Philp Akin – Black Shoulders Legacy Award, the Gina Wilkinson Prize, and sits on the board of AFC.

Kimberley completed her dance teacher certification through the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science, from the University of Manitoba.  She is currently a graduate student in Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph.

Kimberley is currently the Associate Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Marguerite is a lifelong supporter of the arts and education and a passionate crusader for the Canadian College of Performing Arts. As a health care executive, Marguerite has received numerous national and provincial recognitions for health care quality and leadership. An experienced teacher in community colleges and previous member of numerous arts and fundraising boards, Marguerite appreciates our talented faculty, staff, volunteers and board members who work to create an amazing experience for our students.

Duncan Stewart is a Casting Director & Partner at Stewart/Whitley. Prior to forming Stewart/Whitley, Duncan was the in-house Director of Casting for National Artists Management Company (NAMCO) on various Broadway/West End productions. This year he celebrates 16+ years as the Casting Director of Chicago. Previous to this he worked with Alaine Alldaffer (Head of Casting) on numerous productions at Playwrights Horizons.  

Duncan has been a TV guest judge and panelist for ABC’s Emmy-winning ‘Extreme Weight Loss’ and Broadway TV’s ‘Next Broadway Star’, and is often booked as a guest lecturer and seminar/workshop leader for numerous colleges, studios and universities in the US, Canada and UK.  Mr. Stewart is an Artios Award winner and proud member of the Casting Society of America (CSA).