Sandra Laronde

Sandra Laronde is an accomplished and prolific innovator in the artistic and cultural sector, working for the past 15 years as a director, producer, choreographer, performer, and creative leader. In February 2008, she became the newly appointed director of Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre. She began her connection with The Banff Centre as a participant in the dance program, which then grew into various disciplines at the Centre. She is also the founder and artistic director of Red Sky Performance, Canada's leading company that shapes contemporary world Indigenous performance in dance, theatre and music. Renowned for her deep passion and commitment to Indigenous artistic and cultural expression, Sandra has been a guest speaker and panelist at dozens of forums and universities pertaining to Aboriginal art and culture across North America. She was awarded the Ontario Good Citizenship Medal for exemplifying excellence and achievement (2006), a Paul D. Fleck Fellowship at The Banff Centre (2006), and a Toronto City Council's Aboriginal Affairs Award (2004). In 2004, Sandra was named one of 225 Canadians chosen to participate in the Governor-General's Canadian Leadership program, and has been listed in the Canada's Who's Who which features notable living Canadians. She has a bachelor's degree (honours) from the University of Toronto and studied overseas at the University of Granada in Spain. Sandra is from the Teme-Augama-Anishnaabe (People of the Deep Water) in Temagami, Northern Ontario.