GCEMS held its 2021 Annual General Meeting on February 24, 2021, with 24 members in attendance.

Milestones for the previous fiscal year included the successful execution of GCEMS’ flagship festival projects, Wonderment and NeuzTec, in a year when many festivals were cancelled or postponed due to COVID.  NeuzTec and Wonderment’s evening programming were presented online, and Wonderment daytime outdoor events were presented to a small audience in-person while concurrently being livestreamed.

The GCEMS budget had surpassed $50,000 in 2020, with $37,400 in grant revenues from all three levels of government.  In 2020, GCEMS paid off its remaining debts from the initial start-up costs, and GCEMS’ CRA charitable status had continued to bring significant donations to the organization.  While ticket sales, guarantees for production work with other organizations, and membership were down due to the pandemic, GCEMS nonetheless ended 2020 in a solid financial position.

GCEMS would like to thank Kirk McNally for his years of service as a founding member of the organization, providing insight and connection into the University of Victoria School of Music and its music technology program and students.  GCEMS also bid farewell to board member Riley McPherson, who relocated with his family to Iceland in the summer of 2020.  Riley is still in touch with the board and we are hopeful to make connections with Iceland’s electronic music community through his engagement with the Reykjavik scene.

GCEMS welcomed new board members, Dr. Baven Pillay and Jennifer Tosoff, with a refreshed slate unanimously moved by the membership:

PRESIDENT:  Sarah-Hannah Bedard

VICE-PRESIDENT / SECRETARY:  David Bodrug

TREASURER:  Pascalle Sabine Ricard

PAST-PRESIDENT:  William Shulba

BOARD MEMBERS-AT-LARGE: Quinn Dawson, Sara Gold, Lorne Hammond, Filip Pietruszewski, Baven Pillay, Jennifer Tosoff.

GCEMS looks forward to its 2021 programming, and is hopeful that with vaccination rollout, in-person events will be held again this year.