Written by: Chris Kizlyk, Capacity Research Coordinator
My artistic journey began at the tender age of seven years old when I first began taking piano lessons. From that day forward, music has played an important role in my life. I began playing guitar at ten, and experimented with a variety of instruments, including the trombone and clarinet. Although I’ve never considered myself an expert in any one instrument, I have a strong passion for performing, creating my own versions of songs other people have written, and writing my own music. I’ve yet to be brave enough to record anything
Art is just one aspect of what makes me the individual I am. I am currently a second year Master of Science in Finance candidate after being awarded my Bachelor of Commerce in June of 2016. My research focuses on Credit Unions, specifically loan delinquency rates compared to traditional financial institutions (your CIBCs, RBCs, and TDs). I am expecting to defend my thesis in June or July of 2018!
I am also a proud member of Enactus University of Saskatchewan, a not-for-profit student-led international organization that promotes social wellness through entrepreneurial action. I am very pleased to be managing CentsABLE – Enactus University of Saskatchewan’s financial literacy workshop – for the second year. Last year, I oversaw the expansion of the project to include four times as many partnering organizations, ten times as many participants, and our first ever award for the project at the Enactus Western Regional Conference. CentsABLE works with high school students, university students, underserved community groups, and really any individuals and organizations that feel overwhelmed by words such as budgets, RRSPs, income taxes, and interest rates! Feel free to get a hold of me if you or your organizations would like to run a CentsABLE workshop.
This summer, I get the pleasure to work between the Saskatchewan Craft Council, Dance Saskatchewan Inc., and artSpace Saskatoon on their partnered endeavour to create an artistic community centre in Saskatoon. The project is still in its infancy, but has the potential to be one of the most significant developments Saskatoon has ever seen! The project consists of creating a creative organization office space, shared artist and maker spaces, live/work studios, commercial space, affordable living components, and performance and gallery space (just to name a few of the ideas)! I’ve had the opportunity to meet with some of the most successful and distinguished individuals in Saskatoon and their enthusiasm for this partnership is truly inspiring. The goal is to repurpose the former Saskatoon Transit Facility (the “Bus Barns”) into this shared artist space and I’m incredibly excited to be involved.
My role in this joint endeavour is to facilitate research in various aspects of the project. Consultants will need to be hired to conduct a feasibility study, and part of my role is preparing the models that consultants will conduct the study on. These models include the ownership structure of the venture, the financial projections, and different site layouts. I’m also working closely with the partnering organizations and their anchor tenants to determine how best to meet the needs of everyone involved. My duties also include examining potential grants, their requirements, and consolidating the information needed to apply. Overall, it is my responsibility to conduct the research needed to get the wheels turning on the artSpace intitative.
If you have any questions or wish to contact me, feel free to send me an email at scc.artspace@sasktel.net or call me at (306) 840-0513 and I’ll be happy to talk!