ABOUT US
Kelowna Citizens for a New Performing Arts Centre Society
Known informally as Friends of KPAC, we are a volunteer organization formed to support the creation by 2026 of an exceptional new Performing Arts Centre in Kelowna’s downtown cultural district.
We are working with Kelowna’s municipal government to advance a plan to replace the Kelowna Community Theatre with an iconic new Performing Arts Centre.
We are also enlisting the performing arts community and other stakeholders to foster broad-based and sustained business and public support for the project.
Email to: [email protected]
Board Members
Patricia Ainslie
Past President and Founder
Retired museum vice-president
Myles Bruckal
2nd Vice President
Business leader in development and construction; Founder of Ballet Kelowna
Stephani Bruckal
Secretary
Retired music therapist; founding member of Ballet Kelowna
Carol Colpitts
Treasurer
Artist: producer, musical director, arranger, clinician; performer
Laura Doncom
Vice-President
Retired dancer; founding member of Ballet Kelowna
David Thomas
Director
Successful commercial real estate professional; champion of culture and entertainment in the Okanagan
Amarit Brar
Director
Digital strategist; active in local politics and multicultural and arts-based events
Ginette Williams
Director
Retired federal Department of Justice lawyer; past president of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
Advisers
• Nicole Baer, Communications & Media consultant, website content
• Hazel Christie – Retired City of Kelowna planner
• Ezra Cipes – Juno award-nominated performing artist and entrepreneur
• Maria Correia – PhD. Candidate, UCBO
• Aaron Dow – Partner, Petraroia Langford LLP
• Phil Johnson – Radio broadcaster
• Janice Liebe – Retired architect
• Walley Lightbody – Retired lawyer and Philanthropist
• Ron McDougall – Mass timber specialist, Structurlam
• Susan McIntyre – Human Resources and Strategic Planning consultant
• Lane Merrifield – Founder, Wheelhouse Ventures
• Alison Moore – Partner, OOMPH! Consulting
• June Nicolay – Past Chair, Opera Kelowna; Vice President, Kelowna Art Gallery
• Ruth O’Doherty – Theatre producer and presenter
• Mary Oldring – Founding Board Member, Winspear Centre for Music, Edmonton
• Amanda Poon – President, Kelowna Downtown Knox Mountain Neighbourhood Association (KDKM)
• Brigitte Reimer – Past President, Chamber Music Kelowna
• Sharron Simpson – Community historian, author, and strategic advocate
• Tammy Sweeney – CEO, TCU Place, Saskatoon
• Laura Thurnheer – Associate Dean of Science, Technology, Health and Social Development, Okanagan College
• Dr. Steven Tuck – President Emeritus, Okanagan College Foundation
• Abbey Westbury – Cultural heritage communications consultant
We wish to thank the following contributors for their generous assistance towards the operational costs of our non-profit Society:
• Aaron Dow – Partner, Farris LLP
• Scotty Gamble – logo design
• Anna Jacyszyn – Stage professional
• Richard Knight – KnightKnight Productions
• Dr. Charlie and Mary Lund
• Alison Moore – Partner in OOMPH! Consulting
• Dr. Tom Ritchie – imMEDIAte productions
HELP MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY
Visit our Community Support page to see how a new Performing Arts Centre will benefit the people and the businesses of Kelowna and the Central Okanagan.
And please consider becoming a supporter. Just sign up to our mailing list, and we’ll keep you informed of the progress of this important initiative.
Contact Us: [email protected]