Résumé

Synopsis of Relevant Experiences

2002 – Present - Golden, BC

Honoured by the Town of Golden and CSRD Regional District Area 'A' with a 'thank you' plaque at the Golden Civic Centre, November 2024
Coaching and strategic planning process with Board and staff of Vernon District Performing Arts Society, Vernon, BC. October/November 2024
Presented the Raising Curtains Award by BC Touring Council for outstanding career achievement at the annual Pacific Contact conference in Kelowna, April 2024
Bill Usher & The Space Heaters on tour: Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre, The Capitol Theatre (Nelson), The Venables (Oliver) and Golden Civic Centre - January 2024; Butchart Gardens - July 2024; Key City Theatre (Cranbrook), Bailey Theatre (Trail), Silverton Memorial Hall, Dream Cafe (Penticton), Knox United Church (Parksville), Max Cameron Theatre (Powell River), Evergreen Cultural Centre (Coquitlam) October 2024
Coaching and planning process with Board of Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society, Cranbrook, November ’23/February ’24.
Coaching and planning process with Board & Staff, Arts Revelstoke, June and November 2023
Coaching and planning process with Board & Staff Cranbrook Arts, May 2023
Coaching and planning retreat with Board & Staff, Gabriola Arts Council, May 2019
Coaching and planning process with Board and Member Groups, Osoyoos District Arts Council, February 2019
Coaching and planning process with Board & Staff, Hornby Island Arts Council, January 2019
Coaching and planning process with Board & Staff, Key City Theatre, Cranbrook, September 2018
Coaching and planning process with Board & Staff, Dream Café, Penticton, July 2018
Create Value. Become Indispensable Keynote presentation at Pacific Contact, Vancouver, April 2018
Create Value. Become Indispensable. Keynote presentation at ArtsBC annual conference, Uclulet, April 2017
Appointed “Artistic Director for Creative Thinking” and Team Leader of ArtsBC’s Insight Team 2016
Created video “Role of the Arts in Changing Lives” for BC Touring Council nonprofit development meetings, Nelson 2016
Appointed to Social Advisory Committee for the Columbia Basin Trust 2015
BC Arts Council – two term Board Member appointed to Council by Lieutenant Governor; member of Strategic Planning Committee; member of the Dance Advisory Panel and Program Committee; 2007-2011
Castlegar SculptureWalk – Adjudicator; Castlegar, BC, August 2012
Keynote presenter at the Sooke Region Cultural Plan summit planning conference; Sooke, BC, October, 2011
Member of the HomeSeekers Campaign committee with the Mayor and Regional Director. Responsible for visioning and authoring a community economic development campaign. 2010/2011
Writer/Producer of 52 short video profiles entitled Golden Minutes for Golden Area Initiatives showcasing the personal stories of lives lived in Golden. 2010/2011
Keynote presenter and Host at 2010 Legacies Arts Now professional development Summits in Nanaimo, Nelson, Prince George and Fort St. John – 2009 and 2010
BC Touring Council, showcase jury adjudicator, Oct. 2009; Pacific Contact Showcase Host/MC: 2010 through 2019
Alberta Showcase, Banff – workshop presenter, 2007
ArtStarts in Schools, Vancouver – Board Member - 2006/2010
HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector, Ottawa – Board Member, 2008/2009
2010 Legacies Now, Arts Now, Vancouver – Grant Adjudicator, Consultant 2005/2009
Musician, actor, writer, producer, arts in education and touring performing artist

2004 – 2024

Kicking Horse Culture/Golden District Arts Council, Golden, B.C.

As volunteer Chair in 2004 and then Executive & Artistic Director in 2006 worked strategically with the Board, local government, and community partners to radically transform the operations, programming, governance and reputation of Golden’s community arts council.

Led the growth of the Society from $50,000 revenues and 35 Members in 2004 to $640,000 annual revenues with $389,000 in reserve and 700 members in 2023/24
Led the creation and production process of the new Swiss Guides mural for Town of Golden's Resort Municipality Initiative, finalized August 2023
Leadership transition at Kicking Horse Culture announced, May 2023
Awarded Presenter of the Year by BC Touring Council at Pacific Contact 2014
Keynote speaker on Culture as a Social and Economic Catalyst at the Mid-Size Communities Forum, Union Of BC Municipalities, Sept. 2013
Awarded the 2012 Peter Bowle-Evans Award for Community Development by Golden Area Initiatives
Change agent and leader of Golden Civic Centre Restoration process 2006 through completion in 2012. Researched and wrote grants to attain $1.1 million to support the $3.3 million cost.
“Rural, Small Town Creative City Success Story” Keynote presenter at Creative City Network of Canada annual conference in Fredericton N.B., Sept, 2009
Creator and author of Adventurers & Settlers art exhibit in the Art Gallery of Golden, 2007. Subsequently made into a book.
Creator, art director GOLDEN. We Call This Home Poster exhibit. Prints of these iconic 12 posters have sold in the thousands at AGOG and travelled around the world in the ensuing years.
Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance Steering Committee – Vice Chair 2005/2010
Golden Cultural Scan and Consultation, 2010 Legacies Now Creative Communities Program – consultant, facilitator - 2005/2006
Producer of video “Why Does Golden Invest in the Arts?” commissioned by 2010 Legacies Now, 2010
Led the process to create the initial Art Gallery of Golden in 2007 and then in 2008 the Art Gallery of Golden & Studio Gift Shop in its current location at 516 9th Ave. N. In 2024, AGOG sells the wares of over 100 local and regional artists and artisans and welcomes 12 - 14,000 visitors annually
Led the strategic process to collaborate with Town of Golden and CSRD Area ‘A’ star and elected officials to initiate annual municipal cultural services delivery funding of $60,000 in 2006 growing to current funding of $190,000 annually based on a 5 year renewal term - 2004/2024
Beginning in 2004 created new Kicks Programs annually producing 24 performing arts concerts, 10 visual arts exhibits, 6 to 10 film nights, annual Christmas craft Faire, the Snow King’s MasqueParade winter festival and the Christmas Craft Faire
In 2004 created branding of the GDAC to Kicking Horse Culture in 2004 leading the Society over the next 10 years from a Lifecycles’ capacity assessment of Decline, to Turnaround, into Growth and achieving the Mature stage - 2004 through 2013

02/2000 - 10/2002 - Toronto, ON

Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture & Recreation (MCzCR)

Served as Ministry consultant to 9 southern Ontario communities, developing and implementing community initiatives celebrating International Year of the Volunteer

Toronto Arts Council, Toronto

Proposed, designed and implemented a business strategy for the development of a branded cultural tourism, arts advocacy campaign for the City of Toronto. Funded by MCzCR and the Toronto Arts Council Foundation.

Centre in the Square (Kitchener Waterloo), River Run Centre (Guelph)

Devised the business model, created the name and brand for a multi-partnered student ticket discount program entitled eyeGO To The Arts. Instrumental in start-up resourcing of private and public sector revenue streams. The brand is now utilized by dozens of theatres across Canada. www.eyeGO.org

CCI Ontario Presenters Network

Consulted to strategically plan and write a transformational strategy for this provincial arts service organization.

02/1997 – 01/2000

Ontario Arts Council, Toronto - Market Developer Officer

Inaugurated this entrepreneurial position with the mandate to expand the dissemination of the work of Ontario artists and cultural industries, both at home and around the world. Pro-actively developed connections with public and private sector colleagues to identify gaps/needs and developed appropriate resources, strategies and opportunities to fill these needs. Duties also included tactically revamping and producing OAC’s Ontario Contact annual performing arts conference. Granting and professional development officer for Ontario's performing arts community presenters. Seconded as an arts consultant to the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (Ministry of Tourism) to help develop and support a variety of cultural tourism initiatives.

1981 – 2002

Bam Boom Productions, Toronto Founder, Managing Partner

Production company for personal creative projects and freelance contracts in record production, film & television, and theatre.

Responsibilities include:

creative concepts, writing and performing/touring across Canada
scoring and producing film music for 10 x 30-minute documentaries
producing, raising capital and project management
devising branding, marketing and distribution strategies
creating and implementing promotional campaigns

1981 – 1990

The Best For Kids Inc., Toronto Founder, CEO

(Kids’ Records / Kids’ Entertainment)

Established and guided the company to becoming the leading independent children’s recording and artist management company in North America. Founded as a Limited Partnership with 4 records, the company grew to a staff of 12 that produced and distributed a catalogue of 44 masters and booked and toured some of North America’s leading young audience artists. The assets were sold in 1990 to the multi-national Golden Books. Spearheaded all matters of business development and day-to-day management including artistic direction, new ventures, branding, contract negotiations, HR, promotional writing, distribution, and sales. Kids’ Entertainment was the first agency of its kind to represent and book touring artists for young audiences and will soon celebrate its 30th anniversary.

1980 – 1983

Troupers Entertainment Inc., Toronto Co-Founder, Artistic Director

Conceived the family television variety show called Troupers. Formed a partnership with Oscar-winning Atlantis Films (Alliance Atlantis) to co-produce, write and direct 26 half-hour TV episodes of performances by Canadian touring artists for Global Television Network.

1977 – 1980

Elephant Records Inc., Toronto Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Formed a Limited Partnership with Sharon, Lois & Bram to finance and produce the record One Elephant Deux Eléfants. Over the next four years, developed a company and artistic product that has become the foundation of a 40-year career for the trio. Worked collectively on all matters of day-to-day business including strategic planning, artistic direction, touring, contracts, promotional writing, marketing, licensing and distribution, staff administration. Arranger, performer, and producer of the first four SL&B albums.

1974-1978

CBC Radio, Canada, USA, UK Freelance Producer, Radio Host

Created, researched, produced and hosted more than 60 radio documentaries, ranging in length from 15 minutes to 2 hours for a variety of CBC shows including Peter Gzowski on FM, The Entertainers, Sylvia Tyson’s Touch the Earth, On Tour with Bruce Cockburn and the public affairs program Concern.

1974-1977

Mariposa Folk Festival, Toronto Performer, Producer, Editor

Volunteer activities evolved into contracts to create two compilation record albums (1975; 1976) and the book For What Time I Am In This World published by Peter Martin & Associates (1977)

1965 - Present

Freelance Musician, Actor and Record Producer -- Toronto/Golden

Performed on stage and recorded with a who’s who of Canadian and US performers including Willie P. Bennett, The Boss Brass, John Allen Cameron, Bruce Cockburn, Phil Ramone, Shirley Eikhard, Jim Galloway, Ronnie Hawkins, Marc Jordan, Colin Linden, Nexus, Phil Nimmons, Robert Paquette, Pied Pumpkin, Raffi, Zachary Richard, Stan Rogers, Irish Rovers, The Sattalites, Sunnyland Slim, Valdy, Phil Dwyer, Chris and Ken Whiteley
Produced over 60 record albums for artists as diverse as Sharon, Lois & Bram, Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch, Veronica Tennant, Mary Lou Fallis & James Campbell, Martha Henry, Gordon Pinsent, and the Nexus Percussion Ensemble
Founded and led The Space Heaters (featuring Don Francks and Kevin Breit), and played at Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD Festival and Festival Rythme Du Monde
Writer of dozens of songs, some of which are recorded on the albums Drums!, Tuning In To Different Waves, Hand Dance, Baby Boomers Go Boom and Slowdancing in the Ballroom of Life
Writer/producer of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life theme song Tonight I Walk For You
Writer/performer of the theatrical stage productions Drums!, Son of a Drum and Lover. Father. Husband. Son. Baby Boomer with a Drum! and most recently Good-Getting-Older Songs & Stories in hundreds of performances in theatres and community halls across Canada
Performer of concert shows that include songs from Slowdancing in the Ballroom of Life and stories from personal repertoire of plays

Award-winning creative work in music, theatre, publishing, visual arts, radio & television

Trail-blazing entrepreneur and manager in the for-profit and social profit cultural industries

Years of practice at business development, branding, marketing, fundraising, and management in both non-profit arts organizations & for-profit cultural industries

Consultant to support artists and community development practitioners to crystallize and realize goals

Intuitive and experienced capability to identify opportunities and solve complex challenges through collaborative, empowering, innovative approaches

Inspiring team process management that moves an organization from confusion through the design process of identifying and reaching goals

Contemporary knowledge of digital technologies with a practical understanding of their current and potential impact on marketing, building networks and sharing of information

Bill Usher is an artist and cultural worker who moved from Toronto to Golden, BC in 2002. Throughout a 50+ year career as a musician, writer, performer and producer, Bill has received numerous awards including Gold & Platinum Records and four Juno Awards.

As a cultural worker, Bill has produced dozens of record albums, CBC Radio documentaries, and television shows. He's the co-author of two books and the writer / producer / performer of three plays. As a musician, he has performed and recorded with a who’s who of Canadian and American artists including Bruce Cockburn, Ronnie Hawkins, Stan Rogers, Willie P. Bennett, Sharon, Lois & Bram and Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch!

Bill has remained entrepreneurially active in the cultural industries working in both the private sector as the co-founder and managing owner of two record companies, the television series Troupers, and in the public sector as a strategic development officer at the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the Ministry of Culture (Ontario). Bill has served on the boards of the HR Council of Canada (Ottawa), ArtStarts in Schools (Vancouver), the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (Nelson) and the BC Arts Council (Victoria).

Since 2004, Bill worked as the change agent for the nonprofit Golden District Arts Council aka Kicking Horse Culture to grow the Society from 35 Members and $50,000 in revenues to 700+ Members and $640,000 in revenues and, in so doing, achieve two long-held community dreams: the creation of the Art Gallery of Golden and the $3.3m restoration of the Golden Civic Centre as Golden’s dedicated performing arts centre. As Executive & Artistic Director of KHC, Bill, his staff, and volunteers produced about four dozen community arts events annually.

In recognition for the role he played in transforming Golden’s cultural life, Bill was awarded the Community Development Champion award by the Town of Golden in 2012. Bill was also awarded the distinction of Presenter of the Year by the BC Touring Council in 2014. ArtsBC named Bill Artistic Director for Creative Thinking in 2016.

Bill's time at Kicking Horse culture came to an end in 2024 and he went back out on the road performing his Good-Getting-Older Songs & Stories show with his band The Space Heaters in BC theatres. In April 2024 Bill received the Raising Curtains Award by BC Touring Council for outstanding career achievement at the annual Pacific Contact conference in Kelowna.

In November 2024 Bill was honoured at a community celebration by Mayor and staff of the Town of Golden and Regional Director, CSRD Regional District Area 'A' with the placement of a 'thank you' plaque in the Golden Civic Centre,

Bill continues to coach and support nonprofit organizations and cultural workers.

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