Janice Armstrong - Director

Annie Burik - Director

Annie Burik is a dynamic business owner, and one of a kind artist whose creative journey weaves through graphic design, fine arts, and entrepreneurial ventures. Originally from Montreal, Annie now proudly represents the vibrant art scene and culture of Alberta, where her multidisciplinary talents have flourished over the past 25 years.

Annie Burik is a proud member of the Red Deer Arts Council and serves on their board of directors. Her skills and events coordination experience set her apart in her community involvements. Annie is also vice-president of the Penhold Museum & District Society, where she also teaches weekly art classes. Her love and dedication to her local community is shown and reflected in her personal and career path as a business owner.

Annie Burik's diverse portfolio and entrepreneurial spirit illustrate her passion for art and design.

Marnie Blair - Vice-Chair

Marnie Blair, she/her is a white settler from Northwestern Ontario. She received a BFA with distinction from Lakehead University and an MFA from the University of Calgary. Her current practice in print media aims to recontextualize early modern medical flap anatomy.

She has studied at the Royal College of Art in London, UK, the Studio Art Centres International in Florence, Italy and has interned at Manhattan’s Lower East Side Print Shop. Blair has worked as the Print and Paper Facilitator at the Banff Centre, taught at Thompson Rivers University, and is currently an instructor in the School of Creative Arts at Red Deer College, located in Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and the Metis ancestral lands.

Michael Richard - Chair

Michael Richard is a Tree House Youth Theatre alumni and he’s been performing with Central Alberta Theatre since 1996. Through high school he studied drama, exploring lights sound and directing for zones festivals then continuing his training with Red Deer College’s Technical Theatre program. His lifelong passion for the arts drives him to pursue filmmaking and photography work, play guitar, and promote his designs through a variety of platforms including his YouTube channel DarkflameStudios. Michael works as a professional chauffeur, taking care of VIP clients on the most important days of their lives. He’s looking forward to working with the Arts Council in the upcoming year to bring new insights with fresh ideas.

Hi, my name is Janice Armstrong and I am excited to work with the Red Deer Arts Council. We are planning bigger, better and exciting things starting with our new home. The visibility, location and workable space will help us to more forward in the future.
I have lived in Red Deer for 8 years now and truly love our little city. Over the past years I have sat on many boards while raising my family, and although they were mostly sports oriented, I also reached out to the arts through pottery, sewing and painting lessons.. I began sewing at age 6, taught by my Mother on my Grandmothers treadle machine, and have moved on to modern technology and learning something new every day. Another passion is painting…..mostly on rocks, but I am enthralled with flowers, so I never run out of ideas. I served on the Board with the Rocky and District Victim Services Unit for a few years until I finished my VSU training, and was then hired to do Victim Advocacy and Court Support, as well as front line crisis aid which I did for 10 years. This was a very rewarding and fulfilling time of my life and the education I received both in training as well as “real life” prepared me for most anything.
My husband is a musical artist and we have enjoyed many events over the years, here in Red Deer, and I a looking forward to expanding “Creative Red Deer” with the Red Deer Arts Council.

Jason O'Connor - Director

Jason O'Connor, a Métis visual artist based in Alberta, specializes in 'Urban Tribalism' art, fusing global cultures, cities, animals, and mystical symbols. His studio is on an acreage just outside of Sylvan Lake.

By day, he's a marketing professional skilled in graphic design and copywriting. By night, he's a dedicated artist. Jason's unique blend of art and business acumen makes him an useful addition to the Red Deer Arts Council board, where he's eager to contribute his creativity and marketing expertise.

Kevin Enright - Director

Retired from the food service and food production industries, Kevin Enright is a local singer songwriter, and luthier. Kevin is also "Pop Pops" to three young grandchildren who mean the world to him and his wife Barb. Kevin and Barb came to Red Deer over thirty years ago, and now with children and grandchildren living in the area, they call Red Deer home.

Kevin has been a board member since March 2023, and enjoys volunteering and giving back to the arts community.

From small and large venue music events, to theatre, improv, art exhibits, written and spoken word, much of Kevin's "spare" time is spent enjoying the arts community in Red Deer.

Suzanne Hermary -
Executive Director

she/her/elle

Suzanne Hermary grew up in Red Deer on lands farmed by her northern French immigrant family and Scottish settlers via Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She is grateful to reside on the lands of Treaty 6 & 7 territory, which is also home to a Métis gathering place where stories, arts, and culture have been shared for innumerable generations. She studied French Immersion and performed in shows at a school that was built upon her family’s homestead on the North Hill. She loved to perform from a young age and worked with Tree House Youth Theatres in her teen years while also participating in school productions.

She studied music and completed the Theatre Studies Performance diploma program at Red Deer College, then continued her studies at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, eventually graduating with Honours from Sheridan's Bachelors of Musical Theatre Performance Program after completing their degree expansion program in 2018.

Living in Toronto and Paris with many travels abroad developed Suzanne’s love of fine arts, architecture, food, history, culture, music, and literature. Her desire to share these passions with others led to her career as a travel agent, helping others to discover new experiences at home and abroad. Suzanne has volunteered with local theatre companies to direct, perform, and produce plays and musicals since her return to her hometown.

Red Deer has both a vibrant music community and a theatre community, so she developed the Broadway Open Mic sessions for people to share their love of musical theatre. During the day, she works with artists of all genres in her role as Executive Director for the Red Deer Arts Council and she is excited to share her passion for arts and culture with the broader community.