2023 Annual General Meeting

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we introduce this year’s nominees. A highly accomplished, professional group with an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Below is an overview of their impressive background and why their nomination to our esteemed Board of Directors would be an invaluable addition.

Their unique blend of experience, expertise, and values align closely with our collective vision, and we are confident they will contribute significantly to our continued growth and success.

Should you require any additional information or wish to discuss this nomination further, please do not hesitate to reach out at the AGM.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Annie Wong-Harrison -Owner of National Car & Truck Sales

Annie is the owner of National Car & Truck Sales, Leasing, and Rentals for Vancouver Island and North Vancouver.  Annie operates 13 rental offices and 4 car and truck sales offices in 6 cities and is the largest franchise operator for National in Canada.  Annie is also the owner of the 52-room, Arbutus Inn in Victoria.

Active in her community, Annie is the past President of the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission where she has served as a board member for over 14 years and worked with Producers, Production, and Location Managers.

Under Annie’s term as President, the Film Commission in 2020, when we were dealing with an economic crisis with COVID, saw its best year to date with approximately $50 million in direct spending.

After months of work, the Commission was successful in convincing Warner Brothers to bring the Netflix series Maid to the CRD. These productions brought in tens of thousands of hotel room nights, often in shoulder and off-season, supported hundreds of well-paying jobs and spent millions of dollars with local businesses.

Another achievement has been after years of relentless work securing the 6% Distance Tax Credit.

Annie is a past board member of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (where she served on the finance and audit committee), is currently on the Board of Golf Vancouver Island, and is a founding member of 100Women Who Care Victoria.

Providing a desirable place to film in Greater Victoria and competitive tax credits are Annie’s top priorities as well as maintaining stable funding for the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission and supporting our Film Commissioner Kathleen Gilbert, who has been working tirelessly for years, to get a proper film studio built in the CRD.

Networked and negotiated with many diversified and challenging stakeholders (e.g. Environmental groups, Mayors, Ministers, First Nations, etc.) Government Division Chair/Board Member for the Greater Victoria United Way Campaign.

She has served on Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission – Board members Jan. 2009

Beth Hanham – Occupational Health, Wellness, Safety and Disability Management

I have lived in Victoria for almost 3 years now, am recently retired, and have extensive management and board experience both in film (Vancouver Film Industry) and TransLink / Lower Mainland.

Film Industry & Board Experience:

• IATSE Local 891 (IATSE)
• Active Member 1990 – Current – FACS
• Board Member – Corresponding Secretary (1993-1996)
• Manager of Occupational Safety & Health (1995-2003)
• Acting Business Rep – 1995 (covered for Business Rep as required)
• BC Council of Film Unions – Negotiating Committee Member (1995 – 2003) WorkSafe BC Regulation Review Committee (1996-1998) – ActSafe Safety Association (previously SHAPE) – Founding Director (1998 – 2003)
• Covid-19 Health & Safety Specialist (Bron Studios / Solitary) 2020

*All film-related activities over the years have required working actively and cooperatively with Municipal and Provincial authorities (operations and regulatory) and allied learning institutions (Capilano University, BCIT).

Also, with all film community representatives including the American and Canadian Producers Associations, the DGC, UBCP/ACTRA, Teamsters Local 115, and associated Film Commissions.

Translink: Varied Working Committees and Boards

BC Rapid Transit Co. – Manager of Occupational Health & Wellness (2016-2020) Coast Mountain Bus – WorkSafe Claims Advisor (2014-2016)

Volunteer Board Activity

Stand Up for Mental Health Board of Directors (2016-2019)

Hazel Braithwaite – Oak Bay Councillor

Hazel Braithwaite is currently serving her fifth term as a Municipal Councilor in Oak Bay. Some of her many roles on the Council include the Public Arts Advisory Committee, Royal and McPherson Theatres Society, Canadian College of Performing Arts, Oak Bay Tourism, the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association, and she is the council liaison to the Parks, Recreation & Culture Committee.

Hazel loves giving back to the community through her involvement with organizations like United Way, Kiwanis Pavilion, Sovereign Order of St. John, Greater Victoria Festival Society, and the Oak Bay Tea Party. She was named the Oak Bay News, Women in Business, Community Leader of the Year in 2018 and was awarded the Black Press Community Initiative Award in 2019.

She worked as a geophysicist in the oil and gas industry in Calgary, taught Mathematics at the University of Lae in Papua New Guinea, facilitated Adult Learning at Coast Capital Savings for 20 years, and until recently was the Director, Donor, and Partner Relations at United Way Greater Victoria.

Hazel is an avid long-distance backpacker and has tackled trails all over the world along with her husband Rod.  She has been a longtime supporter of the Film Commission and was instrumental in supporting funding for the commission from Oak Bay.

Mary Hartlieb – IASTSE 891 / ACFC Permitee

After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City with a BFA in Illustration, Mary decided to move to British Columbia to pursue a career in the film industry.

She is an active member of IATSE 891, with her primary department being Set Decoration. While she has several years of experience as a Set Dresser, she has also worked in Props and the Art Department. In her free time, she is learning about screenwriting and is in the process of revising her first TV pilot.

For Mary, film is not just a job but a passion. She would love the opportunity to use her creative talents and years of film experience to help market and expand the industry here on Vancouver Island.

Michael Reid – Location Scout

After covering Victoria’s film and television production industry for the Times Colonist for 36 years, Michael drew upon that skillset, his long-established connections with readers and industry stakeholders, and his familiarity with the region to begin his new film industry career five years ago.

Michael has since actively worked as a location scout on films and television series shot in and around Greater Victoria, with credits including Hallmark’s Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series, Guiding Emily, Making Waves, and An Island Light; Lifetime’s Landry Saga series of films based on V.C. Andrews novels, Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone and American Dreamer. He has also drawn upon his media experience as a host and collaborator on EPK (electronic press kit) projects.

He feels honoured to have been able to serve on the commission’s board of directors over the past few years, a challenge he looks forward to continuing as part of his ongoing involvement with the capital region’s film community. When he isn’t promoting the local industry, Michael occasionally appears on camera and writes about show business for various publications. Other past credits include his position as public relations liaison for the Canadian College of Performing Arts, capitalizing on his passion for musical theatre and the performing arts.

Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Michael moved to Victoria in 1980 from Montreal, where he began his newspaper career writing TV listings at The Montreal Star before going on to cover film, theatre, and television, mentored in part by the late Doris Giller. He also wrote for Montreal’s Sunday Express and was active on Montreal’s theatre scene, founding his own theatre company, Theatrix.

During his media career, Michael has interviewed a who’s who of show business luminaries, including George Clooney, Bob Hope, Sir Ian McKellen, Ricky Gervais, Oscar Peterson, Billy Connolly, Kim Cattrall, Robin Williams, and Sean Connery.

In 2019, he received the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission’s annual Victoria Film Award in recognition of his contributions to the regional film industry.

Networked and negotiated with many diversified and challenging stakeholders (e.g. Environmental groups, Mayors, Ministers, First Nations, etc.)

Government Division Chair/Board Member for the Greater Victoria United Way Campaign.

She has served on the Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission as a Board Member since Jan. 2009.

Paul Rayman – Producer

Paul Rayman has worked in the Film and Television Industry for 20 years, including a stint from 2001-2003 when he served as the Alberta Film Commissioner. After moving to Victoria, he has worked for the past ten years as a producer and production manager. During the past eleven years, he has served on the Board of the Film Commission, first as a director and as the Vice President. He has made himself available to the Film Commissioner as a resource, being both a producer and former Film Commissioner. He has attended almost every regular scheduled board meeting over the last eleven years and has served on several committees. He hopes to continue to offer his time and expertise to the Board as the Film Commission moves forward.

Sally Chan – Director of Sales  – Tour & Travel and Film/Entertainment Industry

Over 3 decades of hospitality and tourism industry experience, primarily in senior management positions in sales, events management, front office, and accounting.

• Manage tour and travel accounts globally and film/entertainment industry accounts at all 8 of our hotel destinations at Accent Inns (Victoria, Richmond, Burnaby, Kelowna, Kamloops) and Hotel Zed (Victoria, Kelowna, Tofino).  Also formerly managed corporate accounts.
• Current Executive Member of Victoria Entrepreneurial Club Association for over 5 years managing the association’s events and financials.
• Current Dance Victoria Volunteer for over 13 years.
• Association Member of Destination Greater Victoria, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Burnaby, and Tourism Richmond.
• Former Board of Director Member and Events Volunteer at Canadian Inbound Tourism Association – Asia Pacific (CITAP)
• Former career experience in the banking and retail industry.
• Personal passions include health and fitness, travel, performing arts, events management, culture and culinary experiences, real estate market, fashion trends, volunteering, and local, national, and international news.
• Results-driven professional with an extensive list of accomplishments and awards.

Todd Webber – Accountant

Todd is a Chartered Professional Accountant who provided financial services to not-for-profit organizations for over fifteen years. He was born and raised in Victoria, has lived here all of his life, and loves everything that Victoria has to offer.

Todd became aware of the Commission early in his career when he worked on the audit of the Greater Victoria Film Commission (as it was then) when the Commission was in the Temple Building on Fort Street. His involvement in the audit continued until he left public practice. When a spot on the board came up, Todd excitedly offered his services to provide not only financial skills but an understanding of the history of the organization. Todd has served in the crucial position of treasurer on the Film Commission’s Board for six years. He is currently working as the controller for Edwards Electric.

Tracy Traeger-Gatabaki – Producer

Tracy has a varied history in the Canadian Film and Television scene that spans more than 20 years. She has produced four feature films, two of which were with industry icon, Guy Maddin (Archangel, 1990 and Careful, 1992) the latter of which won several awards both nationally and internationally. Tracy has also line-produced three television series, one of which was for MGM/Showtime/and Disney and another for the BBC that won an Emmy award. As a production manager member of the DGC, Tracy has managed more than 15 feature films, long-form episodic television series, and other notable projects.

At one point in her career, Tracy was the Financial Analyst for Telefilm Canada’s Feature Film and Broadcast Fund. Tracy has also served as Vice President on the board of the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association and the Women in Film & TV International, British Columbia branch.

Victoria Clements – Marketing Manager

Since the age of six Victoria has been involved in every aspect of stage and theatre, from acting, dancing, and musical theatre, to directing. At seventeen she became a runway model and for the next 18 years had herself immersed in every professional position offered within the fashion industry from professional photo stylist to Large Scale Show Producer. Requests were coming in from New York for her skills and she was being flown across Canada for her show choreography.

In the early 90’s she moved to Vancouver and secured herself a position as a talent consultant, extra’s casting agent, and runway model instructor. In 1991 she began volunteer work at Rogers Cable where within 7 months of beginning her career in media she produced 14 six-minute magazine shows.

Missing her hometown of Victoria, she moved back and managed to secure herself a position as a producer through a one-day acting job.  For the next 5 years, she was writing, producing, casting, and directing for commercials and corporate films. She then opened her own talent agency for 2 years where she promoted actors and models for television, film, print, and runway work.

In /97 she moved back to Vancouver where she landed a position as a Production assistant on most of the major television series. This chameleon has been a 1st AD, Location Scout, Producers assistant, Personnel assistant to the Stars, and Director’s Assistant. She worked with the Wayans Brothers as one of their personal assistants on their first smash hit, “Scary Movie”.

In January of 2000, she began working with Prospero Entertainment. Within the first few months of being with Prospero, Victoria had become studio manager, opened the LA office, and coordinated all LA meetings with the top Executive Heads of each of the major studios in LA. She then ran the LA and Vancouver offices for the next 2 years as Head of Independent Feature development, handling all marketing, packaging, and promotions for the company. She has a running dialogue with hundreds of contacts in the film and television industry in Vancouver, and LA.

In February of 2002, she left Prospero Entertainment and went on her own to perform in the Vagina Monologues at UBC where she received a standing ovation in the middle of the show 3 nights running for her comedic performance as “The Angry Vagina”. As a result of that performance, she has been encouraged to develop herself as a professional comedian.

Victoria is now concentrating on developing several projects with an eye for Business Development, Social Media Marketing, and branding with key people in the Art, Film, and Fashion industries which are her passions. She hosts her own Victoria Film Industry Networking & Events group on FB with over 4300 members. Eight of the FILM MIXERS she has hosted in the last 9 months have been sold out and she always promotes and supports the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission at each of these Mixers strongly suggesting to attendees that they join as members of VISFMC (to which Darlene Tait can attest) and which I believe at least 10 people or more have joined so far.

Using the wealth of her experience in Marketing, Promotions, and Events as an asset, Victoria is a vital and successful part of any team.