Red Sky Performance. Red Sky People.

Sandra Laronde - Artistic Director & CEO

Founder and Artistic Director of Red Sky, Sandra Laronde is also an actress, dancer, writer, producer and director. She is also the director of Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre. In 2006, Sandra was awarded the Ontario Good Citizenship Medal that pays special tribute to those Ontarians whose lives exemplify excellence and achievement in the finest order. In addition, she was nominated for the 2006 K.M. Hunter Artists Award in Theatre and was a recipient of the 2006 Paul D. Fleck Fellowship in the Arts from the Banff Centre for the Arts. In 2004, Sandra was one of 225 Canadians chosen to participate in the Governor-General's Canadian Leadership program that celebrates promising leaders who are making a significant impact on Canada. In the same year, Sandra was also the recipient of Toronto City Council's 2004 Aboriginal Affairs Award for her contribution towards improving the quality of life for the Aboriginal community of Toronto. She is also listed in the Canada's Who's Who which features notable living Canadians. Sandra hails from the Teme-Augama-Anishnaabe (People of the Deep Water) in Temagami, northern Ontario and resides in Toronto.

Photo: Paula Wilson, 2005.

Sandra recently performed in Caribou Song with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall, and in its touring chamber version in Switzerland, Australia, China, Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Washington, D.C, San Diego, and Connecticut, USA. Sandra has also performed in The Rez Sisters at Winnipeg's Prairie Theatre Exchange; as Kahentiiosta in Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis on CBC Television; as Molly Brant in Chiefs on the History Channel; in Red Sky's Dancing Americas at the National Arts Centre and Harbourfront Theatre Centre; as Ariel in The Tempest at Lorraine Kisma Young Peoples Theatre; as Andrea Palmer in the feature film The Poet for 9th Life Productions; Rescue Heroes for Nelvana Entertainment, and recently narrated Veronica Tennant's Northern Light: Vision & Dreams for CBC, Opening Night for CBC, and Andrew Gregg's Locked Horns for CBC's Witness. She was a Play Creator at Canadian Stage in 2004, and has worked on numerous projects in Canada, the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, China, Iceland and West Africa.

Sandra is a leader in creating innovative links with First Peoples, culturally diverse, world Indigenous peoples, and mainstream communities. Recently, she was a Guest Lecturer at Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, York University, the University of New Mexico, and the National Theatre School. She was one of 500 artists invited to meet HRH Prince Charles on his latest Royal Visit to Canada. Sandra has been involved in many engagements: she served as a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee for Toronto's Olympic Bid; contributed to a national consultation with Aboriginal leaders in the area of education and training at the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation; moderated a panel at the 2002 National Gathering of Aboriginal Artistic Expression for the Department of Canadian Heritage; and was a guest speaker on Perspectives on Innovative Management Practices to the board, officers and staff at the Canada Council for the Arts in 2003. Sandra has also served on numerous arts juries including the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, The Dora Awards, and has assisted in the design of the First Peoples Dance and Music Program at Canada Council. For six consecutive years, she has also served on the Toronto Arts Council board.

In 1993, Sandra founded Canada's only organization for First Nations, Inuit and Metis women artists, Native Women in the Arts, and has played a significant role in fostering the careers of thousands of Aboriginal women artists. From 1993 - 2006, she has helped to produce an immense ripple effect of artistic growth, confidence building and proliferation of performing arts, literary arts and publishing, visual arts, and community development projects through Native Women in the Arts.

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto, and studied Spanish Language and Literature overseas for one year at the University of Granada in Spain.

Andrea Raymond – Company Administrator

Andrea Raymond is the Company Administrator for Red Sky Performance. She studied Journalism at Ryerson University, and after graduation, embarked upon her career in arts administration. Andrea spent six years working with the Scarborough Arts Council (SAC), as editor of its monthly publication, Surface & Symbol, and as the Community Outreach Coordinator. In her role as editor she interviewed, and wrote about, artists, performers, writers and arts practitioners, as well as editing the work of other writers. As Community Outreach Coordinator, Andrea marketed the organization's activities, planned events and coordinated community-engaged projects.

Other previous work experience includes marketing and communications with the City of Toronto's Culture Division and working at Stouffville's Latcham Gallery as Fundraising/Community Development Coordinator. Andrea began her career with the City of Toronto's Culture Division at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre. As Program Coordinator, she developed new programs and workshops, oversaw staff and maintained day-to-day operations of the facility.

Andrea's work to date provided her with a breadth of experience that led her to her position today. She continues to be an active member of the arts community, serving on the Toronto Arts Council's Community Arts Committee, the City's Art Committee for Public Places and a planning committee with the Artists' Network of Riverdale. She has also been a member of various art juries and continues to write on the arts for various publications.

Mark Stainback - Tour Manager

After earning a BSc and being an instructor at the University of Toronto, Mark Stainback embarked on a long and diverse career in the arts, working with over seventy artists in a 30-year career. He has worked in theatre (Annie, Peter Pan, HMS Pinafore), popular music (Robert Plant, Willy Nelson, Kiss), classical music (David Helfgot, Mark DuBois) and children’s shows (Sharon, Lois and Bram). After founding Canada’s largest concert merchandising company, he has been a tour accountant, tour manager, general manager of SoundScan Canada, and a consultant to industry associations, recording companies, theatres, and arts presenting groups. Mark also managed the careers of Saga and Tom Cochrane, producing recordings and concerts throughout North America and Europe and earning over twenty platinum records and two Juno Awards. He received the City of Peterborough’s “Community Betterment Award” in recognition of co-producing a concert that raised over $1.5 million for the victims of the 2004 flood.

A long time and active supporter of Canadian culture, Mark came to Red Sky seeking the challenge and satisfaction of contributing to the artistic expression of our Aboriginal culture.

Red Sky Partners

John McKellar, Q.C. WeirFoulds
Sam Marinucci, C.A., Marinucci & Company
David Hou, David Hou Photography
Carolyn Quan, Dream World Media
Pietro Siciliano, TechnicAid

Productions • Red Sky at Night • Community Connections • Press Kit • Research