Gillian Bénard

Director, Student Services & Administration
Owner

Gillian Bénard is the student’s primary administrative contact at Lost Boys Learning, handling enquiries, registration, housing assistance, job search assistance and resumés. She also arranges studio tours, guest speakers, social events and promotions for the school. Gillian coordinates the traditional art concepts studies, leading the students in drawing exercises and arranging drawing and sculpting workshops with guest artists. She advises on composition, editing and student demo reels.

Biography

Gillian has been working in the entertainment business for over 20 years. Her first jobs were in theatre publicity and administration for Western Canada Theatre, Arts Club Theatre and Vancouver Playhouse. She worked in television, animation and commercial production at Polaris Entertainment, Knowledge Network, Finale Editworks and Walt Disney Animation Canada in Vancouver. As a video editor, she cut dozens of commercials and demo reels, and was both a Clio Award and Bessie Award finalist.

At Lost Boys Studios from 1997 – 2005, she managed all aspects of administration, human resources, finance, production management and editing. She has met, managed, or corresponded with hundreds of applicants, employees and students over the years.

Gillian has a Fine Arts Diploma from Langara College, Vancouver and is currently pursuing her BFA in painting at Emily Carr University. She is a previous Director of Women in Film & Video Vancouver and the Women’s Business Network in the Comox Valley. Her artwork has recently shown in galleries including the Comox Valley Art Gallery, The Muir Gallery and the Pearl Ellis Gallery in the Comox Valley.