Granville Island Council

CMHC launches call for Granville Island Council Members

The Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) is seeking qualified individuals for appointment to the Granville Island Council. The submission deadline is December 7th 2023. For information on requirements and the application process, please refer to the ‘2023 Council Notice of Opportunity’ and ‘2023 Council Member Profile’. 

2023 Council Notice of Opportunity

2023 Council Member Profile

Granville Island Council was formed in 2019 in response to a recommendation in Granville Island 2040 to increase local governance and decision-making in the strategic direction and operations of Granville Island: 

‘Looking long term, CMHC should continue to explore options for renewal of Granville Island’s formal governance structure with a redefined role that further strengthens local authority, autonomy and decision-making, while remaining accountable to the
Government of Canada through CMHC.’

            Page 3, Granville Island 2040: Bridging Past & Future 

The establishment of Granville Island Council puts decision-making into the hands of local residents who understand Granville Island and its importance to the community. Council is responsible for key decisions around budgeting, planning, and long-term strategy.

While Council has an active presence on Granville Island through its members, Council is not involved in the day-to-day management of Granville Island, which is the role of CMHC Granville Island Staff. 

Council for 2019-2023

The members of Granville Island Council were selected for their relevant experience and expertise in the areas of arts and culture, community and government relations, leadership, finance, and property management. 

Profession: National Key Account Manager, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

With expertise in governance and oversight, Domenic Caminiti brings a broad background of knowledge and experience important to Granville Island, including finance, risk management, and client relations drawn from roles in portfolio insurance, homeowner insurance, multi-unit insurance, financial risk management, and enterprise risk management, from CMHC and Export Development Canada. He recently joined CMHC’s Financial Institutions Team as National Key Account Manager.

Domenic was an elected trustee of the Ottawa Catholic School Board and Director of the Child Care Corporation, representing both on various committees and public engagements, including teacher contract negotiations, school bus contract negotiations, and the Transportation, Amalgamation and Environment Committees.

An avid runner, Domenic is Director of the Xtra Mile Crew, part of the annual Ottawa Marathon Race Weekend, and is a former coach and trainer for the Nepean Girls Hockey Association.

Profession: Biologist; Former Vancouver City Councillor

A well known figure in local politics, Heather was the Mayor’s lead on Arts and Culture. She has an extensive background in governance, strategy and effective planning and is well known for her ability to engage with multiple stakeholders from divergent backgrounds seeking innovative approaches to success.

As a Vancouver City Council member (2005-2018), she was head of the Arts and Culture Committee, initiating the Creative City and Music City Strategies. She drove public art, launching a $1.5 million Public Art Boost and the Vancouver Mural Fest. During her tenure as Vancouver Park Board Commissioner (2003-2005), Heather was involved with Granville Island on numerous files, including the False Creek Community Centre, water quality, support of arts and education spaces on the Island, and traffic issues.

Previous to her role as a local politician, Heather was with the David Suzuki Foundation where she did marine ecosystem and sustainable shellfish aquaculture research. During this time she also sat on two federal committees, the Species at Risk Implementation Committee and the US/Canada Oil Spill Task Force.

Heather is very active in the choral world. She was President of the Vancouver Bach Choir and currently sings with the Jubilate Vocal Ensemble.

Profession: Director, Managing Director of Cultural Services – City of Vancouver

Branislav Henselmann (he|him) is the Managing Director of Cultural Services, City of Vancouver’s hub for support of arts, culture, and creative life.

As a curator, producer, arts executive, and a former practicing artist, Branislav has more than 30 years of experience in the cultural sector. Prior to his appointment with Cultural Services, Branislav served as Executive Director of Ballet BC, and as the Executive Producer for the Michael Clark Company in London. Branislav previously also served as Artistic Curator for New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute, and Head of Programming and Learning for DanceEast.

Under his leadership, the City of Vancouver unanimously adopted Culture|Shift: Blanketing the City in Arts and Culture, a new, overarching 10-year cultural plan that firmly centers arts and culture in Vancouver city building. Culture|Shift increases support for the sector, champions creators, builds on the City’s commitments to Reconciliation and equity, introduces bold moves to advance community-led cultural infrastructure, and positions Vancouver as a thriving hub for music.

Originally trained as a dancer in Munich, Branislav later deepened his studies at the conservatory level at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University, is a DAAD German Academic Exchange Fellow, and a New York University Dean’s Fellow. He currently serves on Vancouver Foundation’s Board of Directors, and has been recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40.

Profession: Manager, Communications & Sustainability – Strathcona Business Improvement Association

Johanna Lauyanto is a sustainability and communications professional who is currently developing the sustainability and public realm programming for the Strathcona BIA. Through this work she connects and works with other non-profit boards ranging from the Eastside Culture Crawl to Exchange Inner City as well as with city planners, engineers, artists, cultural groups, entrepreneurs and long-standing business owners. She knows the Island well, working as a Vancouver Foodie Tour guide from 2015 to 2017.

In the past four years at the Strathcona Business Improvement Association, she has supported the Board of Directors with strategic development of the organization’s sustainability priorities and area marketing programs; led the development of a Mobility Advocacy Plan; helped create and implement public realm programs and services based on strategic priorities, member needs and opportunities, and facilitated community and member consultation and engagement on a variety of topics including the creation and launch of Illuminate Strathcona, an exterior lighting grant program for property owners aimed at improving building sustainability and aesthetics.

She also heads up the Hastings Urban Tree Nursery, an implementation of new tree planters along East Hastings that included commissioning local artists to paint murals on the planters. Johanna has been involved with Car Free Day Main Street as a volunteer Green Team Leader.

An avid “foodie”, Johanna brings a millennial perspective to her role on council.

Profession: President & CEO, Arts Umbrella

Paul Larocque, who has over three decades of involvement in the cultural sector, assumed his current post as President & CEO of Arts Umbrella in the spring of 2016, taking on a major building project as Arts Umbrella moves to a vast new 50,000 square foot space on Granville Island. The project revitalizes the former Emily Carr University of Art + Design South Building, and with that, the expanding arts programs, playing a pivotal role in creating an exciting future for the Island.

Engaging with colleagues throughout the arts and culture sector, Paul’s goal is to improve access to the arts for Metro Vancouver youth that will encourage creative thinking and artistic expression. Arts Umbrella assists students of all socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds and ensures that they have access to a number of free community art programs.

Prior to joining Arts Umbrella, Paul held the position of Associate Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery for more than a decade where his portfolio included administration, fundraising, government relations, strategic planning, education, and the Gallery’s relocation efforts.

He is an active member of Vancouver’s cultural community and has sat on the boards of several organizations, including the Volumes Project, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, Boca del Lupo and, for several years, has served as a Mentor and Selection Committee Chair with the Loran Scholars Foundation.

Paul is a member of the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir.

Profession: Housing Development & Consulting / Venture Capital CEO

The former Chair of the Granville Island Trust for ten years, Dale was also a member of the Granville Island 2040 Implementation Committee.

As CEO of VanCity Credit Union’s affordable housing subsidiary (1995-2001), Dale developed market and non-market housing throughout the region. Dale continues to provide housing research to numerous civic, provincial and non-profit agencies. He is currently CEO of a mineral company and Lotus Ventures, Inc., a cannabis production business.

His volunteer activities include Sanford Housing Society (Director) with previous volunteer positions with the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, Langara College, Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation and as Chair of the City of Vancouver Planning Commission.

Dale spends weekends building and restoring small wooden boats with the Oarlock & Sail Club.

Profession: Vice President, Partner – Wasserman + Partners

Andeen Pitt is a senior marketing-communications professional with extensive local, national and multinational experience. She has worked with Ontario Place in Toronto, the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver as well as Tourism Whistler, Tourism Kelowna and Tourism Richmond. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Andeen grew up in Toronto and moved to Vancouver in August of 1996, following a career in both Ottawa and Toronto.

Andeen studied Fine Arts at York University and Musical Theatre at Sheridan College, passing on her love of the arts to her daughter, who attended Arts Umbrella for many years while Andeen spent hours at the Emily Carr University’s library researching her quilting passion.

Andeen is a current Board Member of the Civic Affairs Committee, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade; former board member of the VanDusen Botanical Gardens Association; past president of the Vancouver Media Directors’ Council and past chair of the Douglas Park Youth Support Committee.

Andeen is a talented and accomplished quilter, a ukulele player and is passionate about jazz.

To contact Granville Island Council, please email council@granvilleisland.com

Granville Island Council Strategic Priorities

Granville Island Council has identified key priorities for implementation in 2022 and 2023, which reflect what Council has collectively heard from conversations with tenants, visitors, and other members of the Granville Island Community over the years, and Council members’ personal connections, love and passion for Granville Island.

In identifying its strategic priorities, Council has placed highest consideration on those actions that will:

  • Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
  • Address COVID-19 and recovery
  • Achieve multiple goals and co-benefits
  • Allow for substantial progress over the next two years
  • Deliver the greatest value for money

Through the implementation of these Strategic Priorities, Granville Island Council will work collaboratively with and support CMHC-Granville Island Staff, the Granville Island community, and the public in making progress towards the goals of the Granville Island 2040 vision.

The Strategic Priorities will support project planning, and will be used in communicating the key areas of focus for implementation of Granville Island 2040.

Granville Island Council Strategic Priorities 2022-2023