Board of Directors

Diane Gendron - President

Diane Gendron enjoys a vibrant life as a long-time resident of the Township of Langley. Diane cherishes her time with family, friends, and her cats. When not donating her time to the community you can find Diane in the garden, or travelling to visit family. From an early age, Diane has been passionate about performing. She began singing on stage at three years old during her mother’s piano recitals in Langley. Her mother had around 40 pupils each year, a presented a big recital in the community where everyone performed. Every once in a while, Diane runs into people who took music lessons from her mom and these conversations bring fond memories of that time. Diane continued to follow her love for the arts through community theatre around the province, modelling, and music. Diane currently, plays bass guitar and sings in a four-piece rock band called KatMoon.

Professionally, Diane enjoyed a dynamic career at BC Transit from 1979 to 1995, where she played a role during the launch of SkyTrain for Expo 1986 and contributed to celebrations for BC's transit centenary. She later transitioned to architecture, managing communications at the Architectural Institute of BC starting in 1997. Additionally, Diane was a founding board member of Bard in the Valley, serving as co-producer and vice president for the first two years, and then president and producer of the plays until 2019. She has held the role of president and director for the Langley Arts Council over the years and continues to share her professional insight and experiences to support the Arts Council's organizational growth.

Alana Evans - Vice President
Alana Evans is an Emily Carr University Graduate with a BFA in Fine Art and is an expressionistic landscape oil painter. Currently inspired by her nostalgia for the BC terrain and its environment; it moves Alana to capture the lakes, mountains, flora, and the ever-changing skies. She is a professional architectural and design sales representative running Canada for a multinational corporation, and she utilizes her corporate professionalism to assist with her role as a current board member. Alana has lived in Langley for 9 years and she is passionate about encouraging the further development of the artistic community in the Fraser Valley thru the Langley Arts Council.

Ana Bayona - Treasurer

Ana Bayona moved to Canada in 2013 to pursue her post-secondary studies and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from TRU Kamloops in 2017. Her final exhibition featured surreal installations that challenged artistic conventions, reflecting her life philosophy of embracing change and the unexpected.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Ana serves as a Manager of Strategic Initiatives, where her skills in training, compliance management, social media, and safety prioritization ensure effective and safe teams. She is committed to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement in both corporate and community roles.

Ana actively contributes to her community as a member of the Recreation, Culture, and Parks Committee, enhancing services for residents, and as part of the Museum Advisory Committee, where she helps shape policies for community museums. Her involvement on the Board of Directors at Arnica Artist-Run Centre from 2016 to 2019 further showcases her dedication to collaboration and supporting local artists. Ana’s passion for the arts and community advocacy aligns perfectly with the council's mission to promote and support the arts in the Langleys.

Suzanne Erickson - Secretary

Suzanne Erickson is a multi-discipline artist and professional engraver whose work synthesizes ideas and techniques developed over a long and varied career in art. Suzanne started a successful business working with high-level fashion and fragrance companies, engraving perfume, and cosmetic products. With a continued interest in sculptural art and fascinated by the natural beauty, and historical importance of gourds, Suzanne has found a new medium in one of the world's earliest cultivated plants. The masterful carving, painting, weaving, pyrography, and embellishment found in her work, recalls an earlier time when these objects were treasured as possessions of noble people who were deeply connected to the earth.

Freda Lombard - Director

Freda's artistic journey began in 2009 when she moved to Canada from South Africa, receiving art supplies that same year. She has evolved into an accomplished 'fun art/paint night' instructor and a prolific creator of captivating works that eloquently convey narratives through a captivating palette of colours.

As a Certified Therapeutic Arts Practitioner (CTAP) accredited by CIIAT, Freda adeptly conducts therapeutic art sessions for individuals and small groups, focusing on personal development, emotional well-being, and self-awareness. She's also known for crafting team-building art workshops. Her artistry, a fusion of creativity and therapeutic insights, reflects her belief in the profound potential of art.

Throughout her time living in the lower-mainland Freda has supported the Arts Council as a volunteer, member of staff, and as a member of the Board of Directors. Freda is passionate about sharing her passion for arts and culture and connecting people within the community.

David Williams - Director

Dave Williams is a dedicated educator with 35 years of experience, having served as an elementary and secondary school teacher, technology coordinator, and school administrator. He holds a master’s degree in technology studies in education, specializing in new technology.

In addition to his educational career, Dave is passionate about painting and theatre. He primarily works with oils and acrylics, often in larger formats. His love for theatre has evolved from spectator to active participant, taking on roles as an actor, set constructor, designer, producer, and director.

Dave has been a long-time leader at the Langley Players Drama Club, serving as both director and president. He played a key role in the successful amalgamation with Surrey Little Theatre, forming Langley Little Theatre, where he currently serves as president. Dave is passionate about the arts within the Langleys, supporting the arts infrastructure in the community, and creating robust arts and cultural space.

Yasir Ali - Director

Born and raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Yasir’s journey with art started as an exploratory process of understanding the real through the abstract. His work is aimed at exploring fragments that reflect the state of change that we are constantly in whether dictated by nature, human action, or a combination of both.

Having an engineering background rooted in processes and systems, Yasir has been working in the Design-Build industry in BC for over 10 years and has worked in residential, tech, commercial, institutional, and healthcare construction sectors. He currently runs a construction department called Self Perform Operations at Turner Construction. In his spare time, he enjoys painting at his art studio and co-parenting two young cats with his wife.