Board Of Directors

President: Brenda Koch

Brenda first fell in love with the Carnival Band at the Parade of Lost Souls in 2000 or so. She had never encountered such a massive and joyful community celebration–a chance encounter that would go on to shape a large part of her life. It wasn’t too long before she became involved both as a drummer and an organizer. She has held the positions of Vice President and President of the society and is the Executive Director for The Greenhorn Community Music Project. She is also an Indigenous Educator at Vancouver’s only Aboriginal Focus School as well as a sometimes visual artist and researcher.

Vice President: Helen Spaxman

Helen has been working as an arts instructor at Britannia Centre for over 25 years. She joined the Canadian Union of Public Employees in 2012 to assist in the Britannia Arts and Culture Office, and has since held other positions for the Britannia Society and Parks Board in Arts Programming, Volunteer Coordination and Facility Rentals/Wedding Liaison.

An avid gardener and multidisciplinary artist, Helen instigates community projects in the neighbourhood such as International Yarn Bombing Day, Children’s Knitting Clubs, Banner Painting, Greening the Bunkers and Mural projects and restorations.

Helen came to the realization that she was in the band in July 2014.

Secretary: Max Bogard

Max is an avid musician with performance and teaching experience on trombone, euphonium, and tuba. He is also an experienced arranger, with works performed by high school, university, and community ensembles across Canada and the United States. Max can be found in many different bands in the Vancouver area (and occasionally beyond), but his home will always be with the Carnival Band.

In addition to music, Max is passionate about urban transit and land economics, and is an advocate for making Vancouver a more inclusive and accessible place for everyone to live, work, and enjoy life.

Treasurer: Yonathan Uriel

Yonathan is a full-time Masters student in SFU’s Biology Department, where he studies insect evolution and genomics. He is passionate about science communication and education, and gives talks for classrooms and organizations on a variety of biological topics. His favourite bird is the house finch.
Yonathan is a dedicated Carnie clarinetist, having been absorbed into the band one dreamy summer evening in August 2017.

Member At Large: Joy Cundy