Staff Members
Executive Director
Laurie Gillis
Atlantic Presenters Association
Halifax, NS
DIRECTOR of Operations & Programs
Lisa Gleave
Atlantic Presenters Association
Rose Bay, NS
BLOCK BOOKING MANAGER
Crystal Laffoley
Atlantic Presenters Association
St. John’s, NL
Logistics Manager
Kai Bryan
Atlantic Presenters Association
St. John’s, NL
Communications Coordinator
Dani MacDonald
Atlantic Presenters Association
Ottawa, ON
Bookkeeper
Lisa Stitt
Atlantic Presenters Association
Executives
Raeesa Lalani
President
Raeesa Lalani
President
Raeesa Lalani (she/her) is an arts professional flourishing as the Artistic Director of the Prismatic Arts Festival. After an extensive volleyball career, the arts industry called her back as a professional, as Raeesa has long been active as an actress, singer and has been known to tickle the ivories too.
Some of her performance credits include: Tammy Fae - Cinderelly (Shakespeare by the Sea, Theatre), Titania/Hippolyta - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare by the Sea, Theatre), Gillian - Dinoasipen (BBC Worldwide, TV), Host - Ocean Playground, Season 1 & 2 (Eastlink, TV).
Passionate about all things fine art and communications, she earned an Arts degree from Dalhousie University and a graduate Journalism degree from the University of Kings College.
Raeesa feels immensely fulfilled being part of an organization that has enabled her to grow personally in the arts but also be a part of a greater cause that continually strives to help the growth of Indigenous and culturally diverse artists. She believes in the importance of supporting the arts sector, and cares about making a difference and enriching the lives or her colleagues, ensuring that ALL voices are heard!
She is active as a board of director for multiple non profit organizations, with the intention of giving back her time to support members of the community. Raeesa is determined, focused, and passionate in all facets of her life, which has propelled her to be the successful young professional she has become.
(Photo credit: James MacLean)
Janet Larkman
Past President
Janet Larkman
Past President
Janet Larkman (she/her) is honoured to serve as President of APA — an organization that challenges, inspires, and enriches what we do as presenters. She is grateful to live in the Kespukwitk region of Mi’kmaki/Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, where she has worked in community and the arts for the past 30 years. Janet is Executive Director of King’s Theatre, a 220-seat historic venue that uses contemporary technologies to present a packed schedule of year-round programming. Her work with both King’s Theatre and APA is focused on diversity, community engagement, and a passion for the performing arts. She loves being a part of the APA ecosystem, where all things are possible.
Darcy Campbell
Treasurer
Darcy Campbell
Treasurer
Darcy Campbell is returning to the Atlantic Presenters Association Board, bringing with him many years of steady involvement in the region’s presenting community. He previously served on the APA Board from 2003 to 2012, including a term as President, and has continued to participate in APA programs and gatherings in the years since.
Darcy’s professional foundation is rooted at Confederation Centre of the Arts, where he built a multifaceted career shaped by front‑line experience, strategic leadership, and a commitment to exceptional guest engagement. He began their journey at the Centre working in Front of House and Box Office roles, gaining firsthand insight into audience experience and the operational heartbeat of a national arts institution. Over time, Darcy advanced to become Director of Guest Services, a role in which he oversaw customer service strategy, visitor experience, and cross‑departmental coordination for one of Canada’s most prominent cultural centres.
Darcy has also represented the Centre in broader industry settings, including serving as an export buyer and Director of Programming for national and regional music and arts events. Throughout his career, he has been known for his practical approach, collaborative style, and steady support for artists and presenters.
His return to the APA Board reflects a continued interest in strengthening connections across Atlantic Canada and supporting the organizations that bring live performance to communities of all sizes.
Cathy Green
Secretary
Cathy Green
Secretary
Cathy (she/her) has over 13 years experience in the Sport and Entertainment sector. In her current role as Assistant Manager of Jack Byrne Regional Sport & Entertainment Centre, she is involved in the financial management, marketing & communications, human resources and special events programming for the facility. Cathy has served on multiple committees within her community and is currently Treasurer of the Atlantic Presenters Association. With her two boys pursuing their post secondary education, Cathy was inspired to return to Memorial University full time to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
Board of Directors
Mary Dennis
Board Member
Mary Dennis
Board Member
Mary Dennis spent 10 years as a professional musician throughout the Maritimes and Ontario before returning to Summerside, PEI in 1996 to find a new theatre being built in her hometown. She joined the team that opened Harbourfront Theatre that year, and has been there ever since, serving in various key capacities, mostly as Director of Operations, and assuming the role of Executive Director in January 2023.
With her small but mighty team of 4 full time and 10 part time employees, Mary brings an unwavering passion for the performing arts and a deep commitment to creating meaningful, memorable experiences for audiences. She is dedicated to strengthening community ties through collaboration with other organizations, while advancing Harbourfront’s mission to be a driving force in the nurturing, development, and appreciation of the performing arts. Under her leadership, Harbourfront continues to thrive as a vibrant cultural hub and long-standing member of APA. Now serving on the APA board, Mary brings insight and perspective amassed from nearly three decades in the performing arts, that she is eager to contribute in support of the organization’s ongoing goals and vision.
Mary’s other passion is the team she leads along with her husband, Denton – a busy family of 2 grown children, 6 grandchildren, 5 grand-dogs and the star of the show, her Cavapoo puppy, Pepper. When she’s not booking the latest show for the Harbourfront stage, Mary enjoys swimming, cooking, walks with Pepper, and getting behind the microphone for an occasional musical performance.
Lesandra Dodson
Board Member
Lesandra Dodson
Board Member
Lesandra Dodson is the Programs Manager at the Playhouse, a premiere 709 seat multi-disciplinary performance venue in the east coast of Canada - Fredericton, New Brunswick. She oversees six different education, residency, and outreach programs including the flagship multi-disciplinary Spotlight presenting series, curating up to 35 international & national artists each season. Lesandra serves on the APA and CAPACOA boards.
A former professional dancer from Vancouver, Lesandra is an independent contemporary choreographer/director with 25 years of experience in arts administration - before the Playhouse she was Executive Director of the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, an educator in the Fine Arts Department at Saint Thomas University, and co-artistic director of the coop- a physical theatre company. Throughout her cross-country career she has been committed to creating key initiatives and opportunities that support, and mentor emerging artists.
Danny Everson
Board Member
Danny Everson
Board Member
Danny brings a unique creative management style and perspective to the APA Board of Directors with broad experience in managing international productions and leading large creative teams of artists, technicians, designers, and directors.
Danny holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Producing for Film & Theatre from the California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Tampa. He has garnered almost two decades of arts management experience in the US and in Canada. Danny currently fills a creative leadership position as the Executive Director for Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia and Creative Producer of MermaidTV. His background includes professional theatre, television and film experience in creative development, financial administration, post-production, and producing. Danny has worked at NBC/Universal, Shine-Reveille Productions, Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center, and Holland America Line prior to his leadership role at Mermaid.
Danny is a current board member for the Windsor Elms Village (long-term care facility) and is a PACT Human Resources committee member. He is also a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Atlantic Presenters Association, International Performing Arts for Youth, Theatre Nova Scotia, and invited delegate of Contact East, CINARS, IPAY, ISPA, and APAP.
Travis Ford
Board Member
Travis Ford
Board Member
Travis Ford (He/Him) is a proud Inuk in his second year as the Manager of the Lawrence O'Brien Arts Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL. He has had 10+ years experience in health education, recreation and sport before coming into the Arts sector. He's been a life-long volunteer in sport, and community-based programs in his area, and currently sits on the board of the Atlantic Presenters Association. In his free time you can find him on the sidelines coaching the high school male basketball team, or spending time with his 3 golden retrievers. Travis has thoroughly enjoyed his transition into the arts sector, and is excited to be a part of the APA board.
Christian Gallant
Board Member
Christian Gallant
Board Member
Christian Gallant, founder and owner of Triquetra Entertainment, has two decades of experience in event production and event management. A graduate of the Music Industry & Performance program at the College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Christian has played an important and fundamental role in both developing and fostering the artistic and cultural scenes of Prince Edward Island and beyond.
Over the years, he’s played an integral role as part of the senior management team of the East Coast Music Association (ECMA) and has worked on an impressive number of major artistic and cultural events including Cirque du Soleil, Canada Games, the Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to name but a few.
In 2008, he developed the Mont-Carmel Summer Concert Series and has been its Artistic Director since its inception. Over the years, this concert series has presented over 150 shows which have showcased thousands of musicians, dancers and comedians. This concert series quickly found its rightful place in the artistic and cultural community of Prince Edward Island and continues to thrive, expand and grow on a yearly basis.
Liliona A. Quarmyne
Board Member
Liliona A. Quarmyne
Board Member
My body is a conduit, a link to past and to future generations.
It takes me back, it takes me forward, it carries the present.
My body is story.
Based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), on the powerful, unceded and unsurrendered land of the Mi'kmaq people, Liliona is a dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, community organizer, and activist. Originally from Ghana and the Philippines, she has an eclectic background that has taken her through many performance styles on four different continents. Liliona performs across the country and internationally, creates original works as an independent artist, facilitates community programming, and is the Artistic Director of Kinetic. The scope of Liliona’s artistic work is broad, but is particularly focused on the relationship between art and social justice, on the body’s ability to carry ancestral memory, and on the role the performing arts can play in creating change. Liliona loves to work in collaboration and community, and is mom to two wonderful kids.
Bethany Stout
Board Member
Bethany Stout
Board Member
Bethany (she/her) is the Assistant Executive Director at Imperial Theatre. She has been with the Theatre since 2015 and manages Marketing & Communications as well as Programming. She prefers dogs to cats but realizes cats are also pretty cool, just not her first choice.
She agrees she has a whole lot to learn and values the incredible team of presenters and arts nerds in Atlantic Canada because they are so generous with their knowledge and experience. She works with a wonderful team at Imperial Theatre and strives to continue to connect her home town and artists through quality live and/or virtual entertainment.