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I A New Stage for Ian Forsyth 1 an F o r s y t h , the for North new NORTH d i r e c t o r of C u l t u r a l A f f a i r s Vancouver, new graduating relishes taking on roles. Since from U B C with a B F A in Theatre, he has accumulated credits as a freelance actor, director, writer, teacher, and c o n s u l t a n t / a d m i n i s t r a t o r in the field of arts and culture. H i s achievements are many. H e was instrumental in establishing the N o r t h Peace C u l t u r a l Centre in Fort St. J o h n . H e was K e l o w n a ' s first C u l t u r a l Services Manager. M o s t recently he spent the last six years as Burnaby's Arts Services Manager, where he raised the profile of the Shadbolt A r t s Centre f r o m a suburban facility to a major L o w e r M a i n l a n d arts venue. A c c o r d i n g to F o r s y t h , his newest role as Director of C u l t u r a l A f f a i r s for the D i s t r i c t and C i t y of N o r t h V a n c o u v e r p r o m i s e s t o be h i s m o s t r e w a r d i n g one yet. " T h i s is a very unique o p p o r t u n i t y , to create a new d e p a r t m e n t . . . a n d to d o it w i t h i n a b i - m u n i c i p a l f r a m e w o r k is p r a c t i c a l l y unheard o f , " says F o r s y t h w h o recently took the helm of the newly established O f f i c e of C u l t u r a l A f f a i r s ( O C A ) i n September. " T h i s is a great o p p o r t u n i t y to m a k e a s i g n i f i c a n t change and impact a n d , because the C i t y and District recognize the importance of 'art' in society, ( O C A ) is a core funder. Plus there is an established supportive arts c o m m u n i t y . " In M a r c h , the t w o municipalities dissolved the A r t s and Culture C o m m i s s i o n of N o r t h Vancouver, w h i c h has delivered the funding of arts and cultural services since 1 9 8 9 , in f a v o u r of a m o d e l that p r o v i d e s a single entry point for all arts and culture development services. T h e c r e a t i o n of F o r s y t h ' s p o s i t i o n a n d the O C A signals a new more focused a p p r o a c h to arts a n d culture by the C i t y of N o r t h Vancouver and District of N o r t h V a n c o u v e r . " T h i s is g o i n g t o be y o u r one stop art s h o p , " 4 November|December Office of C u l t u r a l Affairs everything w i l l flow through this office." D u r i n g the f i r s t t h r e e t o s i x m o n t h s i n o f f i c e , F o r s y t h ' s m a i n f o c u s is o n " t h e nuts and b o l t s . " U s i n g the recently c o m m i s s i o n e d C u l t u r a l Plan as a road map, his priorities are to get a handle on rolling all the funding programs under one umbrella, identify gaps a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s , r e v i e w c u r r e n t staffing infrastructure and set up a new office. But as an arts and culture advocate at heart, Forsyth emphasizes that it's the future that's d r a w n him to N o r t h Vancouver. "It was important to me that North V a n c o u v e r has made this a stand-alone department. C r e a t i v e cities are the most l i v a b l e a n d desirable places in the c o u n t r y , and have a m u c h easier time r e c r u i t i n g w o r k e r s and artists. We live in a unique environment, on the side of a mountain bordered by the ocean; this i n f o r m s w h o we are, h o w we work, play, raise our c h i l d r e n and express ourselves. Arts and C u l t u r e is an essential service, it's integral to who we are as a c o m m u n i t y . " WHO: Ian Forsyth, Director of Cultural Aflairs. North Vancouver INFO: www.arts-alive.ca or 604.980.3559 e x p l a i n s F o r s y t h . "Just about