VocalEye is the first dedicated live description service for people who are blind and low vision in Canada. Originally launched in Vancouver by Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture in 2009, the program became a separate non-profit society in 2012. Since its inception, VocalEye has described over 300 live events including theatre performances, dance, opera, parades, fireworks and public art tours for people who are blind and low vision. VocalEye has also trained description teams in theatres and art galleries across Canada. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, VocalEye adapted its programming to include online accessible arts events via Zoom, attracting attendees from across the lower mainland and beyond.
Mission
VocalEye’s mission is to provide greater access to theatre, arts and cultural events for people of all ages who are blind and low vision.
Recognition
Mary Phillips Award for Behind-the-Scenes Achievement, from the Jessie Richardson Award Society, 2019
Achievement Award in Audio Description (International), from the American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project, 2014
team members
Managing Director: Ava Forsyth (she/her)
Associate Director + Event Host: Amy Amantea (she/her)
Event Manager + Volunteer Coordinator: Donna Soares (she/her)
Marketing + Communications Coordinator: Lindsey Adams (she/her)
Tech Support + Event Photographer: Rick Lin (he/him)
Event Support: Gail Ritter (she/her)
Artist in Residence 2023-24: Deanna Gestrin (she/her)
Founder: Steph Kirkland (she/her)
describers
Image: A woman with shoulder-length wavy red hair and light blue eyes smiles gently at the camera. She is wearing a denim jacket over a purple top. The background is softly blurred in neutral tones, drawing focus to her warm and expressive face.
Eileen Barrett (she/her)
Eileen has been a Describer with VocalEye since 2013, and absolutely loves it!
She is an actor and writer. A graduate of Studio 58, Eileen has performed with large and small theatres across Canada and internationally. She enjoys working in film, television, podcasts, radio drama, audiobook narration, and is the recipient of a Jessie Richardson theatre award.
She also enjoys teaching, and has instructed with the Gateway Academy, Carousel Theatre, Presentation House Theatre, Langara College and the Arts Club Theatre, working with students from ages 5 to 90.
Eileen has a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Simon Fraser University.
Image: A black and white portrait of a woman with long, straight hair parted slightly to the side. She is wearing a textured, dark-colored top and gazes confidently at the camera with a subtle smile. The background is dark and softly blurred.
Jill Sharpe (she/ her)
Jill is a visual storyteller who works in film, paint and interactive space.
As a filmmaker, she has created an award-winning body of work which has been presented internationally at film festivals and broadcast in over 30 countries. As a painter, she shows her work in public and private galleries in Canada and Abroad. And she also writes and produces audio guides for Museum exhibits and heritage sites.
Jill has been describing with VocalEye since 2017.
Image: A white woman in her early forties, she has wavy brown hair, parted and flipped to one side that reaches her jawline. She has light brown eyes and a wide smile which shows off her high cheekbones. She is wearing a dark pink sweater and a navy polka dot jacket.
Stacie Steadman (she/ her)
Stacie began her work as a Describer and Table Manager in 2022. Her theatre background has taken many forms over her career; she is a classically trained actor and has also worked behind the scenes as a designer and in the wardrobe department. Her love of writing and voice-over makes live theatre description a natural fit and she has enjoyed the challenge of learning a new craft. Stacie also loves home design and learning how to build things through trial and mostly error. On any given day you can find Stacie rummaging in the aisles of a thrift store or digging up the garden with her two daughters. Stacie is a graduate of Studio 58 in Vancouver and The Birmingham Conservatory at the Stratford Festival.
Image: Anika, a white woman in her early 40’s is standing in front of a cherry blossom tree with white blossoms. Her blacer has a geometric black and white pattern which contrasts the stripes of colour on her glasses and through her wavy blond hair.
Anika Vervecken (she/ her)
Anika is a white settler born in Belgium. Her work testifies to an ongoing pursuit of new ways to invite people to experience and participate in the arts for which she has had a passion, (especially performing arts) for as long as she can remember. Be it through her work and research in surtitles, her work as a live describer at VocalEye, a training facilitator or access connector, she has been a champion and leader who continually questions how we invite people into arts spaces.
She works both locally, nationally and internationally with organizations and artists such as the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver Recital Society, VocalEye, Axis Theatre, Revolver Festival, Kidd Pivot, Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussel, Peter Brook in Paris, and CDN d’Orleans in France amongst others. Another ongoing passion is working with people with lived experience, supporting them to develop their skills and careers as consultants.
Anika balances her career with life as a single mother living with ADHD and brain injury while supporting a Deaf man with a developmental disability.
Cas Wanden (they/them)
board members
Kristy Kassie, Chair (she/her)
Susan Vallance, Vice-chair (she/her)
Wan-Li Gibson, Treasurer (she/her)
Linda Weber, Secretary (she/her)
Shawn Kirkpatrick, Director at Large (he/him)
Richard Marion, Director at Large (he/him)
Anne Mok, Director at Large (she/her)
