Ashley Wey is a multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist, and educator with a dynamic career spanning performance, recording, and music education. A graduate of Humber College, she completed a triple major in Jazz Performance, Arranging, and Composition.

Ashley has released four critically acclaimed self-produced albums and has collaborated with a range of distinguished artists, including Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila and Juno Award winners Brandi Disterheft, Mae Moore, and The Parachute Club. She has also toured internationally, including performances aboard cruise ships with Grammy Award-winning musicians.

As an educator, Ashley has taught extensively in Toronto and now on Vancouver Island, where she is part of the Contemporary Music Program at Camosun College. She specializes in piano, ensemble coaching, and music theory, and is passionate about mentoring young musicians. Ashley also serves as co-artistic director for the Universal Jazz Advocates and Mentorship Society, where she leads youth programming and summer workshops, inspiring the next generation of artists.

Bob de Wolff brings more than four decades of leadership, organizational expertise, and artistic passion to his role as President of the Saanich Peninsula Folk and Fiddle Festival Society. His professional career began in planning and decision analysis with NOVA Corporation, where he worked internationally on major pipeline projects across Canada, Asia, and South America. He later continued as a consultant with Decision Strategies Inc. and as Principal of de Wolff Consultancy.

Bob’s contributions to the arts are extensive. He is a founding member of the Calgary Folk Music Festival, where he served in multiple leadership roles including Volunteer Coordinator, Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chairman over two decades. He also co-founded the Nickelodeon Music Club in Calgary, serving as President for nearly 30 years. Since relocating to Vancouver Island, Bob has been a director of the Deep Cove Folk Music Society and has produced more than 40 concerts.

A lifelong musician, Bob has performed since the 1960s as a singer and guitarist and continues to play in several groups. In 2019, he co-founded the Society with the vision of building a vibrant, internationally recognized festival on the Saanich Peninsula.

Caleen Taylor is a retired Chartered Professional Accountant with over 27 years of financial management experience in the British Columbia provincial government. Her career included leadership roles in systems implementation, financial policy, and large-scale budgeting. She played a central role in implementing Oracle Financials systems and led province-wide training initiatives, including the development of one of BC’s first mobile training classrooms.

Caleen’s expertise spans auditing, risk management, policy development, and financial reporting. She was instrumental in establishing consolidation and reporting processes for the Ministry of Health, overseeing financial frameworks for multiple health authorities and hospital societies representing billions in public funding.

Since retiring in 2018, Caleen has remained active in community service. She served as Volunteer Coordinator for the Victoria Highland Games, recruiting and managing more than 150 volunteers for a major annual event. She joined the Society’s board in 2023, bringing her extensive financial expertise and enthusiasm for music and community engagement to support its continued growth.

Gordon Sim is a retired Chartered Accountant whose career spans financial consulting, systems implementation, and corporate financial management. He spent over a decade advising clients on the design and implementation of PeopleSoft Financials systems, and later specialized in training clients, consultants, and software professionals in their effective use.

Throughout his career, Gordon has held responsibilities for budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting within a major resource company. His expertise also includes business valuation for tax and corporate restructuring, litigation support, and financial analysis in insolvency and receivership contexts. In addition, he has provided audit, accounting, and tax services across a wide range of industries.

Gordon has long supported the arts through volunteer service, including board membership with the Chamber Music Society of Calgary and involvement with the Calgary Ski Club. He also contributed to the operations of the Nickelodeon Music Club. His strong financial acumen and commitment to community organizations make him a valuable steward of the Society’s fiscal health.

Jo-Anne Davis is a retired entrepreneur with a strong background in marketing and sales.

Since 2021 Jo has been acting as Vice President on the North Saanich Folk’n Fiddle Society Board of Directors. Fundraising has been Jo’s focus which has contributed to the success of the annual Seaside Music Festivals.

Although not a musician, Jo has been a supporter of Folk Music and attending Folk Festivals since 1974.

Kelly Nakatsuka is a lifelong advocate for live music and a seasoned broadcaster with extensive experience in programming and production. During his 15-year career with the CBC Radio-Canada, he worked on every English-language program originating in British Columbia, including several national broadcasts, as a producer, co-host, and music programmer.

Following his time at CBC, Kelly joined the Islands Folk Festival in Duncan, where he spent four years contributing to its success, including three years as Artistic Director. In that role, he curated festival lineups, supported year-round programming, and contributed to grant writing and media relations.

Kelly now works as a registered therapeutic counsellor, using nature-based approaches to support clients of all ages. He remains deeply connected to the music community, presenting concerts, emceeing festivals, and supporting grassroots events across Vancouver Island. His diverse experience in media, programming, and community engagement enriches the Society’s board and its artistic vision.

I’ve lived on the west coast for nearly 30 years, I retired and moved to Sidney in 2017 where I live with my wife Maggie and our whoodle, Luci. My degree is from McGill University and I’ve had an interesting 17-year career as an executive in the private education sector, creating and overseeing the operation of language schools and vocational colleges internationally. Prior to that I spent 20 years as a restaurant owner and executive in the hospitality industry. When not working I enjoy travelling, music and volunteer work in my community. I spent 15 years with RCMSAR as a Marine Search and Rescue Coxswain and have served on many Boards and Commissions. Since moving to Sidney, I volunteered with the Sidney Museum and Archives and served as Board Chair for 5 years, I spent 2 years serving on the Sidney Advisory Planning Commission and am currently Board Secretary of Friends of Dominion Brook Park Society as well as a Councillor for the Town of Sidney. I am Chair of the Peninsula Water and Wastewater Commissions and am on the Executive and Audit committees of Vancouver Island Regional Library.