ARTS ELEVATED:
CONFERENCE 2026
Nina Meehan is a Brilliant Communication™ specialist, speaker, and coach who helps leaders, teams, and organizations communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. As the founder and CEO of an award-winning, multi-million-dollar entertainment company, she honed her expertise in breakthrough thinking, innovation, and audience engagement—creating immersive experiences for over a million people worldwide. A recognized director, playwright, and producer, Nina has brought stories to life on some of the most respected stages, including a trailblazing musical based on a book by Chelsea Clinton, adaptations of multiple New Yorks Times Bestsellers. She has worked with Tony-Award Winning companies and artists and collaborated with EGOT winners. Beyond the stage, she empowers CEOs, venture capitalists, tech innovators, and educators to refine their communication, elevate their leadership, and move beyond any limit. Whether she’s coaching a founder to secure millions in funding, leading a startup through strategic storytelling, or guiding an organization to build a culture of collaboration, her approach is dynamic, creative, and results-driven. A two-time TEDx speaker, Nina has spoken at Chicago Women in Tech, Wonder Women in Tech, Conscious Leadership Group, EO, the University of Utah, Northwestern University, the National Endowment for the Arts. She has worked internationally in Australia, Italy, Canada, China and Korea. Her insights have been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, ABC, NBC, and CBS News. She holds a B.S. in Theatre from Northwestern University, a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership. She is also a certified yoga instructor. When she’s not consulting, speaking, or training, Nina can be found hiking in the mountains, doing stand-up paddleboard yoga, or cross-country skiing with her three kids.
Nina Meehan
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
PRESENTERS
Danielle Booker
Danielle Booker (M.Ed) is a dedicated educational leader and the Vice Principal of Jessie Duncan School. A proud Métis woman with deep ties to Northern Alberta, Danielle’s leadership is informed by her rich tapestry of Algonquin, Cree, Michif, French, and Polish ancestry. With over a decade of teaching experience ranging from her early recognition as an Edwin Parr Award recipient to her recent work as a cultural advisor within the EIPS First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education team—Danielle is committed to fostering inclusive spaces where identity is celebrated. Her academic background in Psychology, Sociology, and Educational Leadership provides a robust foundation for her work in supporting students and families. Passionate about the "heart-work" of reconciliation, Danielle is a student of traditional Métis dance, mentored by Lyle Donald and the Edmonton Métis Dancers. She believes that by sharing the rhythm of her culture, she can inspire students to walk proudly in their own identities.
Kelly Brownlee
Kelly Brownlee is an award winning dance educator and Dance Instructor at Father Lacombe High School, where she brings over fifteen years of international teaching, choreography, and performance experience to her students. Her work in the classroom and on stage reflects a commitment to the transformative power of dance, helping young artists build confidence, community, and technical and interpretive skills through rich performance and training opportunities. The Dance program at Father Lacombe boasts five consecutive High School Hip Hop Battle Championships and the Kaiti Peres Love of Dance Award. As co chair of the East Side Dance Festival Society, Kelly helps lead one of Calgary’s most impactful and equity driven youth arts organizations. The festival removes barriers to fine arts access, connects students with professional artists, and provides mentorship, workshops, and post secondary pathways for young dancers across the city. Under its leadership, the Society has received major recognition, including the 2023 City of Calgary Community Achievement Award for Arts Organization and the 2025 ATB Powering Possibilities Through the Arts Award, and the 2026 Mazda Local Legends Award. The Society has contributed to many initiatives such as the Gateway Project in partnership with Pulse Studios, Young Choreographer Residencies in partnership with Dancer Studio West, Dance to Campus in partnership with the University of Calgary and the Gamma Crew in partnership with illFX Education which connects hundreds of young artists to the wider dance community in Calgary every year. Kelly’s vision and dedication continue to uplift dancers from diverse communities, ensuring they feel seen, supported, and inspired as they discover their artistic voice, grow their confidence, connection to a network arts professionals, and their shared passion for dance.
Andrea Ciona
Andrea Ciona is a conductor, educator, adjudicator, and musician, based in Calgary, Alberta. She teaches music at Bishop Carroll High School, where she works with a wide range of secondary music ensembles and is passionate about creating meaningful, student-centered musical experiences. Her teaching experience spans choral, vocal jazz, musical theatre, wind band, and orchestra, with a strong focus on artistry, leadership, and community-building through music.Andrea is the Artistic Director of Spiritus Chamber Choir, plays Principal Clarinet with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, and teaches conducting at the Mount Royal University Conservatory of Music. As an adjudicator and clinician, Andrea has worked with ensembles across Canada and internationally. She is also an active arranger, and guest conductor, known for her energetic rehearsal style, practical teaching approach, and sense of humour. When not in rehearsal, Andrea can usually be found planning concerts, programming repertoire, or reminding students that great choral singing starts with great vowels.
Lucas Coffey
Lucas Coffey is the founder and lead facilitator of Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm, a sold-out artist-in-residence program that has shared improvised music with over 100, 000 students in Alberta and throughout North America. He is the author of “Chaos to Connection: Four Principles of Drum Circles for Youth.” He is the founder of Drum Circles for Youth, a training program designed to assist youth educators in launching or enhancing their own improv rhythm programs. He is a global drum circle trainer for Arthur Hull's Village Music Circles. He has presented at the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild conference in 2017, 2021, 2022 & 2025 at the GETCA, SEATCA & SWATCA Alberta teachers conferences, Seattle World Rhythm Festival, and the REMO Centre for Music.
Kim Friesen
Kim Friesen has been teaching music with Edmonton Public Schools since 2000 and with the University of Alberta since 2014. Kim is the course director for the Orff Levels at the UofA and recently defended her dissertation in Elementary Music Education with a focus on critical music pedagogy and culturally sustaining music teaching.
Jack Grinhaus
Jack Grinhaus is an award winning and nominated artist, with work spanning over 25 years as Artistic Director, Director, playwright, and actor with numerous theatre, television, and film credits. As Artistic Director and director Jack has developed, programmed, and produced over 50 productions, directing nearly half of them. He was Artistic Director for the regional Theatre NorthWest, the Indie hit company Bound to Create Theatre, and is current Artistic Director of Vertigo Theatre, Canada’s National Theatre for Intrigue and Mystery. He also stared in the television films, Deadly Ex Next Door, Beware the Midwife, and Who is Clark Rockefeller? Jack holds an MFA in Directing and Acting, and a BA Honours from York University and an Associate Degree in Acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY and has studied/ worked with renowned artists such as Uta Hagen, Graham Maclaren, Robert Lepage, Morris Panych, Edward Albee, Atom Egoyan, and Ann Bogart and the SITI Company. Selected Directing: The Verdict, The Girl on the Train, Gaslight (Vertigo Theatre); JOB (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre), A Killing at La Cucina (Prairie Theatre Exchange), Isitwendam (Native Earth Performing Arts/B2C/Talking Stick/RMTC/4 Dora Mavor Moore Nominations); ART (Persephone Theatre/Nomination Outstanding Direction/SAT Awards); Hedda Noir, Million Dollar Quartet, Half Life, The Secret Mask (Theatre North West); dirty butterfly (Obsidian Theatre/B2C); Phaedra's Lust (Tapestry New Opera/B2C); Taming of the Shrew (Grand Theatre, HSP); Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project). Upcoming: The World Premieres of Alfred Hitchcock's The Lodger and The Midnight Torch: A Detective Murdoch Mystery as part of Vertigo Theatre’s 50th Anniversary 2026/27 Season.
Chris Herard
Chris Herard believes deeply in the power of the arts to bring communities together through learning and performance. As Consultant of Fine and Performing Arts K–12 for the Calgary Catholic School District in Calgary, Chris supports arts education for more than 65,000 students across 120 schools, following a 20+-year career as Director of Bands at Bishop Carroll High School. Chris is also President & CEO of WAMSB International and has adjudicated, guest conducted, and presented keynotes across Europe, Asia, North and South America. Chris has received numerous honours including the 2022 Canadian Band Association Community Builder Award and the 2025 YYC Music Educator of the Year Award. Chris continues to champion music education through founding leadership roles with organizations including CADME, Band Directors United, the Servant Leadership Association for Music, as well as sitting on the boards of the Alberta International Band Festival, Phi Beta Mu, and John Phillip Sousa Foundation “Sudler Shield”. Chris also conducts a large community concert band Westwinds Adult Music Society. As a busy performer, composer, producer and recording artist, Chris appears on dozens of albums, has written and recorded hundreds of jingles, won multiple CARA awards, and was inducted into the Canadian A Cappella Hall of Fame with his band The Heebee-jeebees. Chris lives, works and plays in beautiful Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Katie McBeath
Katie McBeath is a registered Canadian Art Therapist and owner of Rock, Paper, Scissors Art Therapy. In addition, she is a full-time teacher with experience ranging from pre-K to grade 9 in her 25-year career. During her studies at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute Katie developed a 20 session art therapy program with educators in mind. An overall arts enthusiast, Katie is an energetic presenter keen to share what she knows and in turn learn from the world around her. In her spare time she can be found on the yoga mat or long walks with her dog Floss.
Kelsey McMahon
Kelsey McMahon-Stoker grew up studying Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Modern Dance at Ballet North School and Performing Company and West Edmonton Ballet Academy in Edmonton Alberta. Upon graduation she had the opportunity to dance with “Orchesis”, and “Opera Nuova”. Notable roles include; member of the corps in “Les Sylphides”, “Pas de Quatre”, “Appalachian Spring”, “Enfant”, and “Hansel and Gretel”. She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Alberta and a Masters of Education Degree from the University of Calgary with a research focus on the intersection of Jazz Dance Pedagogy and Social Justice Education. She has taught dance for the Calgary Board of Education for the past seventeen years, and has built one of the largest dance programs within the Calgary Board of Education. She is the co-creator of the Intensive Dance Development Program at Forest Lawn High School and the current Learning Leader of their Fine Arts Department. She has also completed certification in primary and recreational ballet syllabus through the Edmonton School of Ballet. She has been invited to speak at the Canadian National Academy for Dance Education’s Western Canada Conference, as well as the Alberta Teacher’s Association Beginner’s Teacher’s Conference, and the Calgary City Teachers’ Convention. She has also been an adjudicator for the Wild Rose Dance Arts Association. She is one of the founding members of the East Side Dance Festival Society (the current Co-Chair) and was recently awarded “The Most Outstanding Choreography” Awards at both Dance Evolutions, Dance Invasions and Shy Ann Dance Festival. She was also the recipient of the “Hemstreet Coach of the Year Award” for the 2017-2018 season. As a choreographer Kelsey has created numerous dance competition pieces, worked on musical theatre productions and has created several original full length ballets. Kelsey is passionate about the arts and their power to create community and empower young people. She believes that high quality fi ne arts programming should be accessible to all students in all schools.
Holly McWilliams
Holly McWilliams is a Canadian artist, educator, and founder of Indigo Arts based in Calgary, Alberta. With over 25 years of experience in both professional art practice and visual arts education, Holly is known for her bold, expressive paintings that combine vibrant colour, intuitive brushwork, and dynamic mark-making. Her artistic practice deeply informs her teaching philosophy. Through years of creating, experimenting, and problem-solving in her own studio work, Holly has developed a teaching approach that blends technical knowledge with creativity, confidence-building, and self-expression. She is passionate about helping others discover their unique visual voice while making art feel approachable, engaging, and deeply human. Holly has taught artists of all ages and experience levels through workshops, retreats, community programming, and post-secondary education initiatives. Her educational work through Indigo Arts focuses on creating meaningful, inspiring learning experiences that encourage curiosity, creative risk-taking, and personal growth. Alongside her educational practice, Holly’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries throughout Western Canada. Her contemporary paintings are recognized for their emotional energy, rich colour palettes, and expressive movement, often exploring themes of memory, landscape, atmosphere, and human connection. Through both her art and teaching, Holly is dedicated to fostering creativity as an essential part of personal expression, learning, and community.
Meghaan Michalsky
Meghann Michalsky (she/her) is an independent choreographer, dancer, educator, producer, and filmmaker based in Calgary. She is the Artistic Director of YYC Contemporary Technique Training and the former Co-Artistic Director of Project InTandem, a double-bill dance production platform that created and toured new works from 2017–2025. In 2019, Michalsky received the RBC Emerging Artist Award at Calgary’s Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions. In 2025, she was awarded the Final Tuning Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, becoming the first dancer/choreographer in Alberta to receive both distinctions.She holds a BA in Contemporary Dance, with a concentration in Choreography and Performance, from the University of Calgary and has continued rigorous professional training across Canada, Europe, and Israel. Her training includes extensive study in contemporary techniques such as Flying Low, Countertechnique, and Gaga. As a performer, Michalsky has worked with numerous artists and companies, including Karissa Barry, Laja Field (LajaMartin), Davida Monk, Linnea Swan, kloetzel&co, Jsik Movements, Robin Poitras, Jackie Latendresse and Dancers’ Studio West. Her choreographic work has been presented at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity; Dance Made in Canada (Toronto); New Dance Horizons (Regina); Fluid Festival (Calgary); artsPlace (Canmore); the University of Calgary; Chutzpah! Festival (Vancouver); the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (Camrose); Mile Zero Dance (Edmonton); Citadel + Compagnie (Toronto); and internationally in Finland.
Tamera Olsen
Tamera Olsen obtained her B.F.A. from the University of Montana, the Berkeley of the Rockies, where she mentored under a father of the Collagraph Printmaking movement. She is a painter, printmaker, and sculptor who has exhibited regionally and is in museum and private collections across the United States and western Canada. In addition to volunteering and leading arts organizations throughout her career, Tamera teaches junior high art and is the artist in residence for K-9 students at Louis Riel School, where she actively collaborates across grades and subject matter to enrich curriculums for all students.
Jason Schilling
Jason Schilling was re-elected president in 2025 following six years of service as president, two years of service as vice-president and more than eight years of service as district representative for South West. As vice-president, Schilling chaired the Central Table Bargaining Committee and the Finance Committee, served as a member of the CTF (Canadian Teachers’ Federation) Committee and acted as Provincial Executive Council liaison to the English Language Arts Council. As district representative, he chaired the Communications, Advocacy and Public Education Committee; the Strategic Planning Group; and the Teacher Education and Certification Committee. He has also served as a member of the Central Table Bargaining Committee, the Curriculum Committee, the Pension Committee, the Political Engagement Committee and the Committee on Superintendents in the Teaching Profession. Schilling was an English and drama teacher at Kate Andrews High School, in Coaldale, where he worked for 17 years. Schilling’s assignments as president include chairing the CTF Committee, the Strategic Planning Group, the Membership Eligibility Board and the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board, and acting as Provincial Executive Council liaison to the English Language Arts Council and the Fine Arts Council. He also represents the Association on the CTF Board of Directors.
Theatre Calgary
Theatre Calgary traces its origins to the 1960s grassroots movement for local professional theatre. The company formed from the city’s two most prominent amateur theatre groups: Workshop 14 and the Musicians’ and Actors’ Club. Workshop 14 had been founded in 1944 by students of local theatre pioneer Betty Mitchell and took its name from Mitchell’s drama classroom at Western Canada High School. The Musicians’ and Actors’ Club (fondly known as MAC) began as a social club in 1963, with meetings held the basement bar of the derelict Isis movie house on 1st St SW, but members soon took to staging short plays and musical revues in the upstairs hall. Under the leadership of Kenneth Dyba, the two groups merged in 1966 as MAC 14. Then, on July 1st, 1968, MAC 14 became Theatre Calgary, the city’s first fully professional theatre company. Christopher Newton, who would later lead the Shaw Festival for more than two decades, was appointed Theatre Calgary’s first artistic director. The new company performed in the Betty Mitchell Theatre at the Allied Arts Centre, a converted tractor showroom at 9th Ave and 8th St SW that later became known as the QR Centre. In its first two decades, Theatre Calgary presented a mix of classic and new plays, including premieres by Canadian writers such as John Murrell, W.O. Mitchell, and Sharon Pollock. In 1985, Theatre Calgary became the resident company of the Max Bell Theatre in the new Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts (now Werklund Centre). In this striking new performance space, both grand and intimate, the company dedicated itself to large-scale productions of classics, period pieces, and musicals. On March 13, 2017, Stafford Arima was announced as the 11th Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary. The Canadian-born Arima arrived at Theatre Calgary following a successful career in New York, where he most notably directed the musical Allegiance on Broadway. Since his arrival, the theatre has staged world premieres of Honour Beat, Mary and Max A New Musical, The Louder We Get, Forgiveness, Selma Burke, Awoowaakii, The Tale of the Gifted Prince, and the international premiere of Beaches the Musical. Additionally, Theatre Calgary has launched Creative Learning and TC Learning, which provide classes and training to both young adults and experienced artists, respectively. In June, 2025, Theatre Calgary welcomed Calgary's Stephen Schroeder as its new Executive Director.
Have questions about any of the promos or the conference?
📧 Reach out to victoria.reid@fineartsata.ca