Joan Richoz - Chair

Joan Richoz grew up in Vancouver, received a Master’s degree at UBC, and has lived in Whistler since 1974 with her husband Marcel and raised her two children here. Her strong belief in the importance of fine arts in the education of her children led her to become involved in the first Whistler Arts Council Children’s Art Festival in 1983. She was on the Arts Whistler board until May 2022 when she reached her 6-year term and is taking a year off. Joan started the Whistler Public Library in 1986 and worked there until 2006. She has served as a board member for Arts BC, Association of BC Public Library Directors, Whistler’s Mature Action Community and is a current board member of the Whistler Farmers’ Market and the Sea to Sky Arts Councils Alliance. Joan is passionate about the arts and is excited to see the growth of the arts and culture in the Sea to Sky corridor and is eager to work with the Pemberton Arts Council and the community of Pemberton.

Susan Holden - Treasurer

Susan Holden is strategic, creative, and caring. She strives to have a positive impact in the world through sharing compassion and supporting people and projects. She has a Master of Counselling Psychology degree and has worked and volunteered in community services and healthcare for over twenty years. Her arts and culture experience includes; senior arts organization administrator, creative hub board director, event organizer, arts and culture funding strategist, and twenty years as a professional musician. She has guided teams in healthcare, hospitality, financial services, social services, and arts and culture. She is gratified to find ways to support others to do their best work.