Sheila James Email and Phone Number

Provided strategic advice, research, policy and planning, facilitation and training in equity for government, non-profit and private arts and culture organizations. Clients include Art Canada Institute, Atlantic Presenters, British Columbia Arts Council, Canadian Public Arts Funders, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Cultural Attraction Fund.

Leading the Indigeneity, inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and social justice initiatives and outcomes at CHEO. Responsible for implementing the EDII Task Force Considerations and Roadmap for Change and building the office. Current portfolios include the Newcomer Navigation Program, supporting the Indigenous Circle,French Language Services, Accessibility, SOGIE Advisory Committees and Workforce I-IDEAS Initiatives.

Provides strategic advice in the development and implementation of the Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Plan, EDI policies, programs, and projects across all departments to affect a workforce of over 17,000 people. Includes leading innovative processes and initiatives, delivering training, and facilitating forums, meetings and public events.

Leads approach to the Council's implementation of equity and diversity across programs and activities. Provides strategic advice, writes policy and funding strategies to integrate equity across funding programs, supporting culturally diverse, Deaf and disability arts communities. Dynamic presenter for high level meetings and public forums including Department of Canadian Heritage, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (Oct 2017), British Columbia Arts Council Board (Sept 2017), Canadian Magazines- Mag/Net Conference (April 2017).

Led the Equity Office to advance the principle and practice of equity and increase equity of access to Canada Council’s grants and services. Accomplishments in this position: Managed ground-breaking national, multi-disciplinary programs including the design and implementation of the Cultivate Initiative (2014-17) and the Capacity Building Program for Culturally Diverse Arts Organizations (2007-14), involving a multi-million dollar matching investment with the Department of Canadian Heritage.Co-chair of Corporate Plan Strategic Direction Committee on Equity (2007 and 2011) that developed objectives and performance indicators for consecutive corporate plans. Developed strategy to integrate equity policies and practices across programs, resulting in greater public accessibility in the transformational New Funding Model (2014-17).Led the development of and implemented equity and diversity policies for Board of Directors, staff and stakeholders. Foundational documents include: Equity Policy, Expanding the Arts, Deaf and Disability Arts, Access and Equality Strategy/Guidebook.Organized Presence, a national forum on culturally diversity in Toronto, which drew 200 participants including representation from arts councils, international guests, government representatives and artists.Dynamic presenter for high level meetings and public forums including Multiculturalism Champions Network (Nov 2014) and Canadian Public Arts Funders (Sept 2012), Canada Council Board of Directors, including former Chair J. Rotman (June 2012).Instigated, collaborated and acted as a content expert for funding partnerships with governmental organizations including the British Council, Arts Nova Scotia and CALQ.

Managed grants program for theatre organizations/artists, including contributing to program design, delivery, outreach, administration, file management, evaluation processes, allocation of funds and client communication and reporting. Facilitated peer assessment and community consultation processes. Managed files from large many mid-sized and independent theatre companies across the country.

Educator/facilitator with four-member academic team to design and implement a comprehensive program to build a coalition and manage conflict within non-governmental women-centred organizations in the lower Mainland, Vancouver. Included collaboration, facilitation, writing and directing popular theatre performances and animating workshops for public events and social justice forums.

• responsible for directing and producing season for independent professional theatre company• organized tours, produced and facilitated popular theatre workshops at schools, conferences and community centres• dramaturged various scripts by playwrights• designed and produced an eight-week popular theatre training course, Staging the Revolution• wrote grant applications to foundations and arts councils including three operational grants• contributed to artistic content, wrote plays, directed plays, composed music and performed