As our Season comes to a close, we’re taking the opportunity to recognize some invaluable members our Bard community – our volunteers!
Each year, Bard welcomes over 300 new and returning volunteers, who assist with everything from welcoming patrons to the Village to running our concession and Boutique and more. We wouldn’t be able to put on our Festival without them, and we’re so grateful for their ongoing support.
This week, in the lead-up to our end-of-Season Volunteer Recognition Dinner, we’ll be highlighting some of the incredible individuals who have volunteered their time with us this summer. In this instalment of our Volunteers of Bard series, learn more about volunteers Melanie Zarowny, Tarb Sunder, Conni Bagnall, and Jacob Richardson!
Melanie Zarowny
Photo of Melanie.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a people lover, dog lover, and a Shakespeare lover!
What first brought you to Bard?
I’ve always been taken by the magic of theatre. That’s what it seems like to me… absolute magic! I attended Bard last summer and the idea of being involved as a volunteer really appealed to me. I wanted to spend some time around the magic and was drawn to the idea of meeting other people who were as excited about this magical place as I am! I searched out volunteer opportunities at Bard, applied, and voila! I’ve had the best summer here meeting lots of new people, both fellow volunteers and the wonderful patrons!
What is your favourite part of being a volunteer at Bard?
My favourite part of volunteering at Bard is meeting so many fabulous people! The volunteers are so friendly and I felt welcomed right away – the new volunteer orientation was great! You really feel like part of a team while you’re here, a part of something super special! The managers are all so friendly and helpful, it’s amazing what you can learn from them.
When you aren’t volunteering at Bard, what do you like doing in your spare time?
In my spare time I volunteer with Elderdog Canada. I walk little dogs for elderly people. I also volunteer at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital. I love reading, volunteering, coffee dates, skiing, hiking, music, and spending lots of time walking the Seawall.
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Tarb Sunder
Photo of Tarb.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I am semi-retired and working casually at BC Cancer’s PET scan department. I am also getting more fit and working out at the gym. I have three children, and my daughter Kimberly Sunder has also volunteered at Bard for past five or six years. I love to travel, read, and watching movies and theatre plays.
What first brought you to Bard?
I first started coming to Bard for my birthday in the last 15 years or so. I really love watching all the plays.
What is your favourite part of being a volunteer at Bard?
I love volunteering at Bard, it’s a very positive and fun place to volunteer and meet people. Everyone is so kind and helpful and training is provided to do the different jobs. I have also made some friends of all ages and background. I call it my happy place.
When you aren’t volunteering at Bard, what do you like doing in your spare time?
When I am not volunteering, I am relaxing and spending time with family and friends or working casually. I also want to learn a new language like Spanish or take salsa lessons. I am trying to find what makes me happy. I might try yoga also or learn to paint. I go to the gym to stay healthy. I am trying to be patient and be kind to myself.
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Conni Bagnall
Photo of Conni.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m married, mum to three, gran to five, sister to two, and retired after working in the criminal courts for 35 years.
What first brought you to Bard?
Bard has been in my life since one lined up, wrote names on stickies, and raced inside for good seats in the tent. Thank the goddess for assigned seating. Currently I’m proud to be a Member, a patron, and a volunteer at this wonderful Festival. I love being close to the theatre.
What is your favourite part of being a volunteer at Bard?
My favourite part of being a volunteer is the other volunteers, of course. What an awesome gaggle of people!
When you aren’t volunteering at Bard, what do you like doing in your spare time?
Life is full: family (lots of family), friends, book club, maintaining a household, volunteering at the Museum of Anthropology, walking (lots of walking), and reading (lots of this, too).
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Jacob Richardson
Photo of Jacob.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m twenty-four and a high-school math teacher. I grew up as a young person in Huntsville, Ontario, but my family moved to Salt Spring Island when I was nine, which was just a wonderful place for me. I went to school at a yoga centre and took classes like gardening and non-violent communication. In high school, I took as many theatre classes as I could get my hands on and had a particular love for Shakespeare, both his plays and his poems. In university, I also followed a strange path, attending Quest University, during which time I continued to study both math and theatre, eventually combining the two into a thesis project that is a play about mathematical problem-solving.
What first brought you to Bard?
I heard of Bard first through the theatre program at my high school. A number of students and guests had participated in either Bard programs or shows over the years. I’d been to the Stratford Festival back in Ontario, but living on Salt Spring as a student meant it was rare that we would visit Vancouver. I also worked each year at a summer camp in Muskoka, which meant I wasn’t around when Bard was running. After last summer, I decided that I wanted to spend some time in Vancouver this summer and since I wasn’t teaching, went looking for something fulfilling to do with my time. It was at this point that I remembered Bard and, missing being a part of a theatre community, decided to sign up. And I’m so thrilled that I did!
What is your favourite part of being a volunteer at Bard?
As I spoke to briefly earlier, the community at Bard – both staff and volunteers – is absolutely wonderful. I suppose that I’m biased, but there’s something about fans and supporters of theatre that I find builds a very friendly and welcoming community. Unlike some more experienced volunteers, I haven’t tied myself to a regular shift, so I’ve bounced around enough to meet a plethora of other volunteers and build some great connections with them. I also love interacting with the patrons who come to see shows. Being able to speak with genuine love and admiration about the phenomenal performances at Bard is such a great way of connecting with folks who are new to the Festival much like I was up until recently.
When you aren’t volunteering at Bard, what do you like doing in your spare time?
When not at Bard and not working, I try to fill my time with other things that connect me to communities. I moved to Vancouver in 2020, which was a tough time to build friendships and participate in group activities, so the last year has been a real opportunity to start exploring what the city has to offer. I’ve started playing volleyball, both in a beach league and at local community centres, which is a sport I loved growing up and had neglected for a few years. I’ve also had the chance to coach at the schools I’ve worked at, both volleyball and Improv. Working with young people is a passion of mine, especially when it means I get to build excitement, joy, and self-confidence through activities like team sports and theatre. I also spend lots of time doting on my cat, Ozymandias, who is a real love bug! Finally, I get my own fix for acting and playing pretend by participating in lots of role-playing games with friends, such as Dungeons and Dragons or other similar tabletop games.
Thank you so much to Melanie, Tarb, Conni, and Jacob for chatting with us today! Stay tuned for the next instalment of our Volunteers of Bard series later this week.
Special thanks to People’s Group for sponsoring our Volunteer program.