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Board of Directors & Staff

If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors at Reel Causes, please apply here.

Erin Egeland is an avid fan of independent and documentary films and their ability to provide a voice to social issues that are not genuinely heard or seen in mainstream media outlets. She understands the critical role of film in education by way of them being a powerful and empowering medium to educate wider societal communities and how they shape and construct awareness about an array of issues in a way that no other media platform can.

Erin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a professor in the Accounting Department at Vancouver Island University (VIU) and the Diploma in Accounting Program in UBC’s Sauder School of Business. She also teaches in the CPA Professional Education Program for the CPA Western School of Business. Erin has volunteered as a Treasurer in a number of small non-profit societies, both local and nationally, including the CPA-CGA Education Advisory Committee, Kerry Park Minor Hockey Association (where she was also the President for four years), the Association of Certified Forensic Investigators of Canada, and recently, a faculty representative on the VIU Board of Governors. She enjoys using her finance and accounting skills to foster sustainable financial health of non-profits so they are better positioned to meet the needs of the organizations and communities they service.

Bob Christie is a filmmaker from Vancouver, Canada whose work explores the interesting spaces where documentary film meets popular entertainment and social justice. He produced and directed the 2009 feature Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride that won ten best documentary awards and many other honours, including being featured as the opening film of the Boston LGBT Film Festival and the Canadian Gala at the Victoria International Film Festival. Beyond Gay also involved substantial on the streets activism working with organizers from Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, the United States and Canada. In addition to extensive television commercial credits, Bob’s previous work includes The Royal Eight a documentary about his family, short films, music videos and web content. It received completion funding from the National Film Board of Canada and paints a touching portrait of Bob’s aging father and his seven siblings, their unusual traditions, and the remarkable camaraderie of these eight feisty seniors and their tight knit clan.

Bob is an active community volunteer, having served on the Vancouver Pride Society’s outreach committee, The Vancouver Queer Film Festival’s Queer History Project advisory committee and Winter Pride Whistler Film Society. Bob has a BFA in Film and an MA in Comparative Media Arts from Simon Fraser University where his studies focus on LGBT media and activism.

Mohamed Ehab is the founder of Reel Causes and the co-founder of Changemakers Vancouver.

An Egyptian born pharmacist, Mohamed moved to Vancouver in 2008 from Cairo, Egypt with a great interest in being an active community member. Starting a film group out of his living room, the group  evolved to become Reel Causes, with the purpose of organizing monthly community events that support and highlight the work of Vancouver charities.

Mohamed is frequently invited to Vancouver educational institutes and community events to share his story of integration into Canada, including being one of the speakers at PechaKucha Vancouver in November 27, 2014.

Mohamed was nominated for a Globe and Mail Catalyst Award in 2013 for changemakers across Canada.

Quyen Hoang is an immigrant settler. Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, Quyen came to Canada when she was eight years old with her family after fleeing on a fishing boat. She studied painting and art history at the University of Calgary (BFA, BA) and received her MA in art history through Concordia University in Montreal. Quyen has over 20 years of experience working in galleries, museums and municipal government with strong interests in equity and social justice. She currently works for the City of New Westminster and oversees the public and community art programs.

Daniel Oh has always eagerly looked to envelop himself in everything film. Having graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2012 with a degree in Film Studies, he went on to pursue a graduate certificate in film and television production at Sheridan College with a specialization in film editing, audio production and project management. At Sheridan College, Daniel found a particular interest in documentary filmmaking touching upon social issues, having been involved in a project about the experiences of low-income Filipinos and their return to “rockstar-like” status in the Philippines.

Daniel is a lawyer with Michael, Evrensel & Pawar LLP with a practice focusing on entertainment, media, and business law. He assists clients in the development, production, financing, and distribution of live action and animated film and television productions.

Team

Chris Reed/Continental Breakfast – Indigenous Curator

Chris Reed/Continental Breakfast is an Indigenous non-binary Drag performance artist and cultural event producer. They are Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree and are a settler on the stolen lands of the Txʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They work as a host, dancer, and performer in the alternative art scene. They aim to help people understand the strong existence of the non-binary community, and the importance of diversity in art. They are Emprex 47 of the Dogwood Monarchist Society, having worked to raise $32,000 in their year as the charity’s representative. They have produced shows such as Late Night Snack, Blackout: A Britney Spears Drag Musical, and The Darlings. They also co-founded the Vancouver production company, Queer Based Media.

Brianna Girdler – Program Manager

Having previously worked as the operations manager at Women in Film and Television Vancouver and currently as the program manager at Reel Causes, Brianna is an experienced non-profit administrator skilled in event management and communication. She works freelance in the film industry and is the associate producer on feature “Bella Ciao!“.

Natasha Tony – Racial Justice Curator

Founder and Principal of Elevate, Natasha Tony is a sought-after mediator, leadership coach, award winning trainer, and experienced labour relations specialist who has advanced the discussion on how to build inclusive organizations. With her commitment to intersectionality, Natasha goes beyond diversity programming and sets up organizations for true inclusion.

A graduate of the Labour Relations certificate program at Queen’s University in Kingston, Natasha has rounded out her education through mediation, negotiation and coaching programs offered by the Justice Institute of British Columbia.

Natasha’s former career as an extras casting director piqued her interest in diversity. Subsequently, she held a labour relations role for almost a decade with IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), a union representing members of the film, television, and entertainment arts.

An acclaimed trainer and facilitator and leadership coach, Natasha is also a charismatic and much sought-after speaker and commentator on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and respectful workplaces.

Natasha works with organizations in the public and private sectors with a wide range of clients — from national cultural organizations, all levels of government, labour unions, small and medium sized businesses, and many not-for-profit social justice organizations.

Anson Tso – Social Media Coordinator

A social media wiz with a background in film and communications, Anson is driven by the desire to see social change through the medium of film. As the social media coordinator at Reel Causes, they aim to cultivate an inclusive online community that prioritizes the intersection between documentary film and social justice.


And a big thank you to all our volunteers!

City of Vancouver
BC Arts Council
Canada Council for the Arts
SFU's Vancity Office of Community  Engagement
Consumer Protection BC