Today, Elettra helped its client, GWL Realty Advisors, celebrate the completion of a deal for Amazon’s new Metro Vancouver Fulfillment Facility. It was a great event with a great turnout. Thank you to Tsawwassen First Nation for the warm welcome.

The Board of Governors of Emily Carr University of Art + Design today named Dr. Gillian Siddall as the University’s next President and Vice-Chancellor. 

“I am delighted to announce Dr. Gillian Siddall as ECU’s new President and Vice-Chancellor,” said Kim Peacock, Chair, ECU Board of Governors. “As the University begins writing the next chapter of its story, Dr. Siddall has the qualities, experience and track record to harness the best ideas from the ECU community and the leadership experience to put them into action.”

The appointment marks the culmination of a year-long search by ECU’s Presidential Search Committee, guided by the international recruitment firm Caldwell Partners. The 14-member Search Committee comprised representatives from across the University, and included students, faculty, staff, alumni and a member of the Indigenous community at ECU.

“I am thrilled at the prospect of being the President and Vice-Chancellor,” Dr. Siddall said. “I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the people of ECU to help advance the priorities that they’ve already identified around decolonization; trans-disciplinary learning, research, and creative practice; social justice; and innovation. There are a lot of exciting things happening at Emily Carr, and it will be wonderful to be part of that.”

Dr. Siddall holds an Honours BA and MA in English from the University of Guelph and a PhD in English from the University of Western Ontario. She began her career as a sessional lecturer at the University of Guelph, before accepting a tenure-track appointment at Lakehead University in 1998. There she went on to become the founding Director of the teaching and learning centre, and then Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her research area is Canadian literature, and she has published extensively on the subject of musical improvisation, both within and outside a literary context. 

She most recently served as Vice-President Academic and Provost at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U) where she led the academic planning process. This experience, along with her personal connection to the arts as a jazz vocalist and choral singer, make her well-suited to understand the specialized nature of art and design education. She is an advocate of Indigenization and decolonization within the university sector, and co-led the Provost’s Taskforce on Indigenous Learning at OCAD U with Professor Bonnie Devine.

Dr. Siddall succeeds Dr. Ron Burnett, who has served as ECU’s President since 1996. Dr. Burnett will be stepping down from the position on July 31, 2018. Dr. Siddall’s term commences September 1, 2018. 

Michael Clifford, VP, Finance + Administration, and Bonne Zabolotney, VP Academic + Provost, have agreed to serve as co-Interim Presidents from August 1 until Dr. Siddall’s arrival.

We are pleased to welcome Nichole Kapalungan to our team at Elettra.

With her passion for arts and culture and an unbridled love for literature and film, Manila-born and Vancouver-reared Nichole is joining our team as an Account Executive.

As a communications professional she believes that access and transparency cultivate meaningful relationships and create valuable engagement. Having developed skill sets in marketing and communications within the retail and arts and culture sector, she is excited to pursue a career in Public Relations and collaborate with Elettra’s diverse clientele.

While pursuing her BA in English Literature and Arts and Culture Studies at Simon Fraser University, she co-created and curated a series of art exhibits called “The Postcard Show” which were focused on creating accessible art on a mobile medium. The series found homes in Vancouver galleries such as Ayden Gallery and Hot Art Wet City.

When she isn’t writing your strategy, you’ll find her trying out the newest microbrew in the city and finding the best nook to read her book. 

We are thrilled to thank our intern from the BCIT Marketing Communications Program, Yazmin Lara Yunes, for her work and contributions to Elettra Communications these past six weeks. Here are a few words from her:

I am really grateful for the authentic PR experience Elettra has enabled me to have during my nine-week practicum. 

Being able to see how two Public Relations veterans run their own agency and all the behind-the-scenes work that gets put into events really helped me have a deeper understanding and appreciation for Public Relations. 

With the help of the Elettra team, I was able to participate in countless projects happening around this very city and catch a glimpse of the discussion and decision-making process PR associates go through in order to come up with a recommendation for their clients. I was also able to further develop my communications skills and learn to come up with solutions quickly and under pressure. 

The variety of clients Elettra works with gave me the opportunity to learn about other industries as well. Working on projects such as the Chefs’ Showcase for the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, I learned about the dynamic food scene in Vancouver and all the ambrosial menu options for all tastes.

Now nearing the end of my time on the team, I look forward to working on Forestry Proud Day and continue learning about the various jobs that shape PR.

Thank you Elettra for the enriching experience!