We are most fortunate to have a talented and diverse group of leaders in their respective fields judging the TMAC 2023 Awards.  You can read more about each of our judges below.

Our thanks and appreciation to Zane Buchanan, Ursula Beamish, Rebecca Bollwitt, Nancy Bleck, Marc Williams, Jantine Van Kregten, Don Genova, Dr. April Liu, and Andrea Rees for lending their time, expertise, and insights to make the TMAC 2023 Awards possible.

Andrea Rees

Andrea Rees began her career as a portrait photographer in Toronto in 2003 and is known for her natural, artistic, and emotional portrait photography. Television networks CBC, W, and Splice and magazines such as Shutterbug and Marie Claire Brazil have featured her portrait work.

Today, Andrea is a smartphone photography and wildlife photography educator and founder of The Heart of a Woman Project (THOAW). THOAW is a women’s mobile photography development initiative that partners with non-profit organizations and community development projects. In 2020, Andrea was named one of the Top 100 Women Founders by Travel Massive for The Heart of a Woman Project. 

Andrea has 20 years of experience curating and editing images. She curated an exhibition, Strong Women of Cape Town, for 30 journalists from magazines such as Vogue and Elle in collaboration with L’Oréal Germany.

Dr. April Liu 劉詩源 (she/hers)

As an author, cultural programmer, and media producer, Dr. April Liu works extensively with Chinese Canadian artists and storytellers to revitalize diverse forms of cultural heritage. She's an expert in Cantonese Opera who published the first book length study of the opera’s visual and material culture (Divine Threads, 2019).

She is currently the Manager of Education and Public Programs at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in Vancouver, BC, where she produces exhibits, films, educational initiatives and cultural programming. She previously served as an expert consultant for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage section and the Curator of Public Programs at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.

Her media projects have been featured on CBC Gem, CBC Arts, CBC Radio Canada, Guangzhou Radio and TV, Chinese National Radio (CNR), and at the Pasadena International Film Festival.

Don Genova

Don Genova is a Victoria-based award-winning freelance writer and broadcaster specializing in food and travel. He has written for the Globe and Mail, National Post, enRoute magazine and many other publications, and created many food columns for CBC Radio.  He also teaches a food and travel writing course for UBC Extended Learning and is a founding member of the Canadian Freelance Guild.  

In 2014 Don published ‘Food Artisans of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands’, a guide to local food which tells the stories behind passionate food artisans. Work on the second edition of this book is now underway. 

Jantine Van Kregten

Before retiring in June 2023, Jantine Van Kregten served as Director of Communications with Ottawa Tourism for almost 20 years.  She loved the fascinating people she met and diverse places she travelled to because of her position. She grew up in southwestern Ontario and spent a year in (West) Germany   as an exchange student before taking a political science degree at the University of Ottawa. Following graduation, she worked with two separate Ottawa City Councillors and spent six years representing the businesses of the bustling ByWard Market neighbourhood. 

Jantine is known for her love of craft beer, quirky experiences, and arcane trivia. She lives in the  eclectic Hintonburg neighbourhood in Ottawa with her husband Jerry. 

Marc Williams

M.V. Williams is a Skwxú7mesh/ Wet’suet’en 2 Spirit, photo-based artist. Their work focuses on memory, personal narrative and documentation, while working through various mediums, photography, print media, and weaving. They graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design     with a BFA in visual arts.

Nancy Bleck

Nancy Bleck works with lens-based art practices embracing social innovation, including large format photography, found footage, installation, and embodied cultural knowledge. 

Co-founder of the award-winning project, Uts’am–Witness, 1997-2007, the Squamish Nation recognized her with the name ‘Slanay Sp’ak’wus’ in 2001. She was awarded the YWCA ‘Women of Distinction’ in Arts, Culture and Design in 2007. 

A hardcover book titled, Picturing Transformation, Newx-ayanstut, showcasing her photography over fifteen years, was released in fall 2013 by Figure 1 Publishing. She holds a BFA (Emily Carr University), MA in Fine Art (MaHKU, The Netherlands), and was a photography instructor at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, from 2006-2017.

Nancy has exhibited internationally and has lived in Toronto, Berlin, Prague, Utrecht, and currently resides in North Vancouver, on the traditional lands of the Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

Rebecca Bollwitt

Rebecca Bollwitt has been writing about events and travel in BC since 2004 on the internationally recognized and multi award-winning blog Miss604.com. With 25 years of digital publishing experience, she has co-authored and technically edited five books on the subject, and is the CEO of her own agency which assists clients across North America with their social media strategy and website development.

Community is at the heart of her mission, and Rebecca partners with and sponsors campaigns for over twenty charities each year. She is also a columnist for Megaphone Magazine and serves as a Board Executive for two nonprofit organizations.

Ursula Beamish

Former Media Manager, North America for Switzerland Tourism, Ursula Beamish was born into the hospitality industry growing up above their family’s restaurant. Over more than three decades with Switzerland Tourism, she supported content makers of all media to create the best possible     stories for their audiences.

She is an emeritus member of the Society of American Travel Writers and serves on the SATW    board of the Canadian Chapter. She continues to be involved in the travel industry, working as freelance tour director for incoming visitors to Canada. 

Zane Buchanan

A Métis writer, producer, and digital creator based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Zane Buchanan initially pursued a career as a freelance journalist. However, his trajectory shifted when Tourism Saskatchewan appointed him as the 2019 Saskatchewanderer, propelling him into the realm of travel media. Through this role, Zane not only cemented his presence in the tourism sector but    also secured his current position with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

As part of his responsibilities at ITAC, Zane serves as the editor of Nations Magazine, contributes   to renowned publications like Canadian Geographic, and holds a fellowship with the prestigious Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Zane's expertise extends beyond the written word; his captivating public speaking engagements have taken him to international stages, including notable events such as SXSW, The SEE conference, IITC, and Impact.

Furthermore, he is the visionary Founder and Creative Director of CIVL Creative, a digital agency dedicated to addressing the unique needs of nonprofits and social enterprises.