President and Director of Training
M.Ed. (specialist in cross-cultural and conflict resolution)
B.SW. (focus on Community Development)
Provincial Instructor Training Certificate
Lee-Anne has received local, national, and international acclaim for her work as a specialist in cross-cultural, communications, teambuilding, evaluation and conflict resolution training. Her lively, engaging workshops have been serving the not-for-profit, community-based, and corporate sectors for more than 19 years. Original, adaptable and ever inspiring as a trainer and teacher, her work has taken her to Africa, Asia, the Arctic, India, Mexico, from coast to coast in Canada, and to the United States.
Lee-Anne is the President of RPS and Director of Training (for Community Works and Laughing Matters – the training divisions of RPS).
On a personal note:
I believe:
- that creativity is inherent.
- being human means being socially responsible.
- for most of us, suffering is optional.
- for all of us, humour is our golden ticket.
- in differences that make a difference and similarities that are significant.
- that to see myself and others fully I have to get out of my own frame.
I think:
- the world could use more whimsy
- cookie dough should be a food group unto itself.
I know being Canadian rocks.
I’m passionate about making a living doing what I love; creating engaging workshops that help people laugh, learn and lead.
Community Works & Laughing Matters
Lee-Anne celebrates the richness of diversity by helping people and organizations achieve success in ways that respect individuals, communities, cultures and social responsibility. She strives to enhance self-awareness among workshop participants and to increase awareness and appreciation of diversity through her work as a trainer, facilitator, evaluator, program leader, and researcher.
Lee-Anne loves to adapt workshop material often improvising on the spot to meet the unique interests of participants. Her work in all sectors has demonstrated that improved business practices and organizational effectiveness are the result of strong team building and inclusive, values-based leadership. Lee-Anne passes these values on through her patience, compassion, indomitable spirit, and transferable teaching and training practices.
Volunteer & Community Affiliations
Lee-Anne is an active community volunteer; donating her professional expertise to the BC Human Resource Management Association and a variety of non-profits. She is a veteran volunteer with the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, a former Member of the Board of Governors at Vancouver Community College, and former board member of the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies & Services Agencies of BC (AMSSA), a provincial multicultural organization. As a mother of two young boys, Lee-Anne is active in her son’s community school.
Awards:
Graduate – Forum for Women Entrepreneurs E-Series Program
Finalist– YMCA Power of Peace Award, International Category, 2009
Featured– Crave Vancouver, a book that celebrates women entrepreneurs and “showcases some of the most creative, interesting and gutsy proprietors in the city”, publication 2009
Finalist– Entrepreneurial Spirit, Burnaby Business Excellence Awards, Burnaby Board of Trade and City of Burnaby, 2008
Winner – Abhi Ahluwalia Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution Award, 2006
Winner – Entrepreneur of the Year, Consulting Category 2006
Finalist – Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 and 2005
Winner – Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40
SJ Moore Award, YMCA National award for Community Leadership
Gerald B. Houston Award for Outstanding Work in the International
Development field, YMCA International Association of Professional Directors
YMCA Caring and Sharing Award; presented to a YMCA staff person who brings an extra commitment to their work and genuinely cares for people
Professional Affiliations:
* Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, member
* BC Human Resource Management Association, member and volunteer
* Canadian Evaluation Society, member
* Conflict Resolution Network Canada, member
Client acclaim for Community Works
Client acclaim for Laughing Matters
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Diana Frances
Vice-President and Director of Entertainment
Improviser, Comedy Writer, Producer Pretty Funny Lady and Really Good Parallel Parker.
Diana Frances has been a staple of the Vancouver comedy community for over 12 years. She is a Gemini nominated writer for CBC TV’s ‘The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos’ and has also written for CBC TV’s ‘This Hour Has 22 Minutes’ and CTV’s ‘Comedy Inc.’
As an improviser, Diana has been nominated for 7 Canadian Comedy Awards for ‘Best Female Improviser.’ She has entertained our Canadian soldiers in Bosnia, Egypt, Israel and most recently Afghanistan.
Diana is an award winning writer for CBC Radio and can be heard regularly on ‘The Debaters,’ ‘Definitely Not the Opera’ and with her regular column ‘Dating Diana.’ She was a finalist for a Writer’s Guild Top Ten Award and is a Silver Medal winner of the New York Festival Awards for her work with CBC Radio.
Diana is also an award-winning writer for CBC Radio, and has been heard on “The Round-up,” “Madly Off In All Directions,” “Definitely Not the Opera” and “That’s Capital.” She was a finalist for a Writer’s Guild Top Ten Award and is a Silver Medal winner of the New York Festival Awards for her work with CBC Radio.
As the Vice-President, Director of Entertainment and principle performer for RPS, she has created original comedy scripts, sketches and improv shows for clients such as Tourism BC, Tourism Halifax, Telus, The Young President’s Organization, Vancity and many many other happy clients!
And Diana is serious when she says she’s a really good parallel parker.
Awards
Gemini Award Nomination – The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos (CBC TV)
Winner – Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 Nominated 7 times for ‘Pretty Funny Female Improvisor,’ Canadian Comedy Awards Writer’s Guild Top Ten Awards, 2002 (for comedic writing for CBC Radio 1) Silver Medal, New York Radio Awards (for comedic writing for CBC Radio 1) Gold Medal, Lower Mainland Speed Typing Competition, 1986 (78 words per minute net)
