CREATIVE TEAM

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co-conspirators:
leah horlick & estlin mcphee

Photo by Ray McEachern // REVERB Spring 2016

Leah Horlick (left) is a writer who grew up as a settler on Treaty Six Cree Territory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Her first collection of poetry, Riot Lung (Thistledown Press, 2012), was shortlisted for a 2013 ReLit Award and a Saskatchewan Book Award. Her second collection, For Your Own Good (Caitlin Press, 2015), was named a 2016 Stonewall Honour Book by the American Library Association. 

Estlin McPhee (right) is a writer, magic-maker and collective organizer, who grew up on Stó:lō land and now lives on the lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people in Vancouver. They work with youth and kiddos, and once upon a time ran The Sunday Shortstack, a pop-up pancake and folk music cafe. Estlin’s writing is kicking around in places like The Maynard, Matrix, Plenitude Magazine, SAD Mag, and their desk drawers.

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volunteer co-ordinator:
Ben keane-o'hara

Ben grew up and continues to surround himself with writers; he is finally coming to a place of holding that for himself. He’s taken part in queer, trans & politicized writing courses like Writing Ourselves Alive and The Story We Be. He moves towards stories of unknown mixed and poc ancestry, queer and trans identities. When he’s not writing, he’s scooping ice cream, eating all the things, dreaming of summer and scheming future cafe plans.

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asl interpretation co-ordinator:
laine le vecque

Laine Le Vecque has been working as an ASL/English interpreter for over 10 years. She has provided interpretation in different cities across Canada for queer and trans events. Laine also works with organizations that want to provide accessibility for queer, trans and other community events. Laine is stoked and honoured to be a part of the accessibility precedent that REVERB is so committed to creating.
 
Past: Maggie Harkins

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artist-in-residence 2015 & 2016:
April alayon

April Alayon is a person of few words; she expresses herself loudly through tubes of paint and ink, guitar strumming, and frolicking from place to place. Her journalistic design and graphic work centers on social justice issues. She has written op-ed pieces for The Peak and N magazine about culture, technology, sexuality and bodies. She is currently focusing on her art and exploring her Filipino roots.

Artist-in-Residence 2014: Tiaré Lani Kela Jung

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childcare co-ordinator:
vanessa shanti fernando

Vanessa Fernando is a queer, cis, mixie femme dandy & social worker who loves books and cats. She’s passionate about creating spaces that are equipped to support and nourish kiddos’ multifaceted selves. Her past work has included day camp coordination; workshop facilitation with youth; and crisis intervention. She currently works as a counsellor with youth and adults. Her past experience includes work with the Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students’ Society; the South Asian Women’s Community Centre; the Montreal Childcare Collective; Girls’ Action Foundation; and Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.

Past: aly de la cruz yip

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