Barbara Tomasic

Executive Artistic Director

A long-time lover of theatre and the performing arts, Barbara has made a career working in theatres across Canada directing, acting, and producing musicals, plays, special events, and new works with organizations such as Soulpepper Theatre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, and the Firehall Arts Centre.  She has been involved with Gateway since 2002 where she has worked not only as an artist but also as an Instructor in the Academy, in New Play Development, and as the Artistic Associate.  When she’s not immersed in the art world she can be found exploring the amazing food scene in Richmond, enjoying the outdoors, and attending arts events around town.

Ashley Bate

Administrator

Ashley has long found joy and fulfillment in the performing arts and strives to help others do the same through her work as an arts administrator. Having spent her university years on several student groups bringing affordable dance training to the UBC community, Ashley is excited to have joined Gateway and to play a lead role in our ongoing efforts around accessibility. Outside of work she can be found dancing in studios and public spaces across so-called Vancouver, or trying to earn the affection of her shy rescue cats!

Trinity Chase

Patron Services Supervisor

Trinity Chase moved from Calgary, Alberta, to attend Vancouver Acting School and pursue a career in the arts. She loves to create more than anything in the world, her dream is to become a certified intimacy coordinator and continue to tell people’s stories, whether as a writer, actor or just a creative mind. When she’s not at Gateway, she loves to read books, sketch and paint little mushrooms and play Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.

Cecelia Chen

Patron Services Attendant

A theatre and musical lover who started her first job in Canada from Gateway. Patron service is a professional and tolerant team with enthusiastic staff and volunteers; she enjoys communicating with people and sharing the beauty of the arts with the local community. 

Before joining Gateway, Cecilia had over 20 years of experience in AD management, HR, marketing and sales. She enjoyed the last work of organizing national and international exhibitions and conferences in the electronics industry. She spends most her time on studying, singing, dancing and shopping when she is not at Gateway.

Jenny Chen

Finance Manager

Jenny specializes in working with small to mid-sized private enterprises and non-profit organizations. Over the past years, Jenny has the pleasure of working directly with owners, CEO and senior management in a close knit capacity. As a CPA, she values the importance of transparent and useful financial information for her company and clients. When Jenny is not at work, she can be found at various playgrounds and parks with her two children. On occasion, Jenny likes to pretend that she has a creative side to her – be it playing the piano or writing essays that nobody reads.

Renee Fajardo

Education Manager

Renee is a Filipino opera singer and producer, and the current Education Manager for Education at Gateway Theatre. She has performed across the Philippines, the UK, and Europe and is an active collaborator in the music and theatre communities in Canada. Renee believes that the arts are a place where everyone should feel like they belong. On non-rainy days, she zooms around Richmond on her e-scooter!

Caitlin Fysh

Executive Producer

Caitlin’s love of the performing arts means she has always been involved with some aspect of it her entire life. From dance and musical theatre in high school to a degree in Set & Costume Design, a diploma in Acting, and then opportunities to design, act, and create professionally, Caitlin has steeped her life in the theatre. She has had the pleasure of working throughout Canada, including the Shaw Festival, Vancouver Opera, and of course Gateway. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys hanging out with her dog Hank and being the Co-Artistic Director of Lucky Penny Opera.

Oona Iverson

Patron Services Manager

In her role at Gateway, Oona oversees box office, front of house, and concession operations. Outside of work, she enjoys ranking passing dogs by perceived emotional intelligence and attempting home repairs with the assurance that a qualified tradesperson is only a phone call away.

Julie Kwak

Patron Services Supervisor

Julie has loved the performing arts for as long as she can remember. She studied French and English literature in Seoul. After having been an ECE teacher for over 20 years, Julie is delighted to have joined Gateway Theatre and is passionate about her role in patron services. When not at Gateway, Julie is growing vegetables, learning to communicate with her cat, and always planning travels to new places.

Twiggy Lee

Interim Marketing Manager

As a Marketing and Communications Leader, Twiggy’s journey has been filled with diverse experiences and skills honed in marketing strategy and brand development. Whether it’s crafting compelling marketing content or implementing communication strategies, her focus has been on fostering engagement and resonance with our audience that lead to increased brand recognition.

Queena Leung

Accounting Clerk

Queena has a Commerce Degree with a major in Finance. She is experienced in the Financial & Accounting field. When not at Gateway, Queena enjoys cooking, singing Karaoke, traveling, and photo-shooting.

Isaac Maulana

Fund Development Co-ordinator

An SFU alumnus, Isaac has worked for various student union groups including SFU SOCA, and currently still sits as a committee member for the SFU sustainability office. Isaac has accumulated experience from these various volunteer experiences and is currently dedicated to channeling that into the Gateway community. When not at Gateway, Isaac is an avid sports fan and spends his time either practicing or watching football, and basketball.

Liz Nygren

Marketing Co-ordinator

Liz comes to Gateway Theatre after spending many beloved years at Western Canada Theatre. Her passion of theatre stemmed from a young age and continued to grow in Kamloops, where she received her Bachelor of Journalism Degree, with a minor in Theatre from Thompson Rivers University. She loves to watch the magic of theatre unfold onstage and her greatest joy is getting to spread the word about it! Outside of work, she enjoys going for walks, reading, spending time with friends, and most of all, going to shows.

Yanting Qiu

Community Engagement Producer

Yanting fell in love with Kunqu (a traditional Chinese theatre genre) about two decades ago and started exploring the world of theatre ever since. After her years at UBC Asian Studies and Theatre Studies, Yanting has been working as a producer, playwright, dramaturge, and cultural consultant who has been helping arts organizations engage the Chinese-speaking communities. Yanting is looking forward to providing Gateway audiences with fun, relevant and non-traditional programs. In her spare time, Yanting is the co-artistic/managing director of Theatre as a Second Language Society and a Flame storyteller.

Sophia Radford

Education Co-ordinator

Sophia is an actor, musician, educator and administrator originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Sophia has been involved in the arts for as long as she can remember! She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Victoria, and has performed across Western Canada. She has worked in theatre in a variety of roles, including as an instructor, marketer, and box office clerk. Sophia is passionate about arts education and is thrilled to help foster a safe space for young people to learn and grow.

Susan Shank

General Manager

Susan Shank’s love of theatre has defined her thirty-plus year career. She has administrative and leadership expertise from her work as a general manager, administrator, producer and arts programmer with companies such as Touchstone Theatre, The Firehall Arts Centre, Theatre for Living, The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, and the Developmental Arts Society.  Susan also holds a BA from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in theatre. She is proud to be the mother of two amazing children. When she is not hanging with her children or attending theatre (sometimes both at the same time) she enjoys swimming, walking and partaking in good food with good people!

Samara Van Nostrand

Facility Manager

Samara has worked in live theatre for over 20 years. She started her career as a props builder and then moved on to being a stage manager working with theatre companies such as Bard on the Beach, Vancouver Playhouse, Boca Del Lupo, Gateway Theatre, and many more. Several years ago she transitioned into arts administration and now enjoys using her knowledge to help facilitate a wide variety of performances and activities for the Richmond Community at Gateway Theatre. When not at Gateway, she can be found planning her next vacation.

Jessica Wong

Patron Services Supervisor

Jessica (she/her) is a theatre administrator and actor currently living on the traditional, ancestral and stolen territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking peoples. Gateway has been a part of her life since she was a participant in Gateway Academy which opened her eyes to the magic of musical theatre. When not working in theatres, she is also passionately working towards creating opportunities for artists who may have struggled to find their place in Vancouver theatre as a co-founder of Bramble Theatre Collective (@brambletheatreco). In her own time, she loves to play board games, try new restaurants and bake fun desserts!

Kelly Zhou

Patron Services Supervisor

Not only does Kelly work as one of Gateway’s Patron Services Supervisors, she is also an actor, teaching artist, and theatre maker! Since graduating from Douglas College with a diploma in Theatre Performance, she has had the pleasure of working with the Arts Club Theatre Company, Bard on the Beach, the Surrey Arts Centre, and Lights Up Musical Theatre. Kelly is committed to fostering a safe space for everyone at Gateway no matter what. Outside of work, you may find her playing on her pink electric guitar or thrifting for vintage trinkets.

Jane Fernyhough

Chair

Jane is a longstanding Richmond resident and retired Director of Arts, Culture, and Heritage Services at the City of Richmond. She has been on the Gateway Theatre board for the past four years. Jane is currently the Chair of the board, and serves on the Strategic Planning committee. Jane is also the current Chair of the Richmond Arts Coalition. She enjoys traveling, gardening, physical activity, reading, and cultural activities.

Debbie Musil

Treasurer

Debbie Musil, FCPA, FCMA, is an instructor at the Melville School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Debbie brings over 30 years of private and public sector experience to her role as Treasurer of the Gateway Theatre Society Board. She has been involved in the performing arts for many years through her volunteerism with the Arts Umbrella Dance Company and the West Coast Tap Dance Collective. Debbie and her husband live in Steveston and are parents to two grown children. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, languages, and spending time with the family dog, Martini.

Ray Wang

Vice Chair

Ray Wang graduated from SFU in marketing and finance. He has worked in marketing for over a decade and currently operates his own digital marketing agency, RW Digital. Ray is very engaged in the community, as he currently sits on another board of directors in Richmond and volunteers as a mentor for post-secondary students, amongst other volunteer work he contributes to the Richmond community. He’s interested in joining the board at Gateway Theatre to further support the beautiful Richmond community. Outside of work, Ray likes to grab coffee and food with friends, explore new cities, and binge-watch docuseries.

Jacqueline Ho

Secretary

Jacqueline is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) working in public practice. She is passionate about giving back to the local community and has devoted many volunteer hours to the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for low-income families, City of Richmond programs, Richmond Food Bank, Richmond Hospital Foundation, etc. Jacqueline also mentors new Canadians as they prepare to acquire Canadian accounting professional designations. Serving on the Gateway board enables Jacqueline to leverage her experience and recognizes the importance of performing arts to the community. Outside of work, Jacqueline enjoys playing badminton, hiking, and attending live theatre performances.

Veronica Armstrong

Veronica Armstrong is a speaker and communications trainer, singer, and lawyer. She has lived in Richmond since arriving in Canada from South Africa. She is the proud mother of three children and one son-in-law. Veronica has been involved with the non-profit sector almost all her life and has been on the boards of several organizations and a committee member of many more. She loves being involved with the Gateway for the pleasure it brings to the community and to indulge her love of musical theatre.

Neil Ma

Neil Ma is a CPA and a partner with Bousfield & Associates in Richmond. He has a public practice and industry background and is experienced in tax, audit, and all facets of public practice. He is a UBC alum with a BSc in Statistics and a Master of Management. Outside of work, Neil is actively involved in the community and sits on the boards of the Hasting Sunrise Community Policing Centre, the Society for Children and Youth of British Columbia, and the Phoenix Vocal and Performing Society

Jennine Punzalan

Jennine Punzalan is a lawyer at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where she specializes in commercial disputes and construction law. She is also Vice-President Internal of the Federation of Asian-Canadian Lawyers (BC Branch), where she oversees BC’s largest legal mentorship program.

In high school, Jennine was a theatre kid, with notable roles such as the Baker’s Wife from Into The Woods and Maisie from The Boy Friend. She continues to be a theatre fanatic and indulges this interest by attending voice and dance classes, and participating in Touchstone Theatre’s annual Lawyer Show.

Kali McAndless

Kali is a creative communicator who loves bringing marketing concepts to life with design. Her career has led her to fulfill her passion as she focuses on all visual, branding, and marketing communications at Apply Digital. Her love of the arts developed at a young age and she was a student of the Gateway Academy for many years. She’s delighted that this opportunity has brought her full circle onto the board as her way of giving back to the community. When she isn’t in front of her screen you can find her walking the seawall, checking out new restaurants, and traveling.

Diane Purvey

Diane Purvey is the Provost and VP of Academic at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she was formerly Dean, of the Faculty of Arts. In addition to serving on the Gateway Theatre Society Board since 2016, she has contributed to several community-focused boards such as Strathcona Community Centre and the Surrey Public Art Advisory Committee. Through her service on the Gateway Board, she has been an active participant in the adaptive planning process and is currently Chair of the Board. Dr. Purvey has a BA and an MA in History and a Ph.D. in Social and Educational Studies from the University of British Columbia.

Clayton Rubinstein

Clayton Rubinstein is a lawyer practicing at the law firm of PLLR Lawyers in Richmond. In addition to serving as a director for Gateway Theatre, he volunteers as a legal advisor on matters pertaining to consumer protection for the Access Pro Bono legal clinic. Mr. Rubinstein believes Gateway Theatre is an important contributor to the Richmond community, offering great entertainment and programming. Having served on the theatre’s Board of Directors for the past 6 years, he is excited to serve the Gateway Theatre for the 2 years remaining for which he is eligible.

Linda Sum

Linda Sum has a passion for the theatre arts, and has been a performer, volunteer and board member for numerous local performing arts organizations, including the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Magee Music Society and Touchstone Theatre Society. She recently completed three terms on the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee. She has also performed in numerous local productions, including three of Gateway Theatre’s musicals. A former lawyer, Ms. Sum conducts workplace investigations and training in respectful workplaces and DEI. She continues to work with other arts organizations and keeps her feet on stage with the annual fundraiser, The Lawyer Show.

Haniya Syed

Ms. Haniya Syed is a Richmond resident passionate about community development, community service, and volunteering. Currently the official spokesperson for Herbaland Naturals, she has dedicated her time to various local organizations, including the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Syed is presently a student at the University of British Columbia, working towards becoming a lawyer.

Growing up, Gateway Theatre was a significant part of Ms. Syed’s connection to Richmond. She has many memories of the theatre and views Gateway as a place where she was inspired to undertake her public speaking career. Ms. Syed looks forward to supporting Gateway Theatre as a member of the board.

Brendan Wing

Brendan Wing is a technical consultant and project manager who has distinguished himself by specializing in developing expansive web portals, e-commerce sites, and mobile applications. Guided by his passion for lifelong learning and his belief in technology’s positive transformative potential, he continually embraces new challenges that foster his personal and professional development. Beyond the tech realm, Brendan also serves as a board member for the Lower Mainland Humane Society. His diverse interests include 90s R&B and hip-hop, live theatre, and the immersive worlds of books, movies, and video games. Amid life’s hustle and bustle, he cherishes the simple pleasures of time spent with family, friends, and his rescue dog, Noah.