Gina Puntil

Artistic Director / Program Coordinator of the Work Plays Schools Program at the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre

Gina is a proud Filipino-Canadian based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan on Treaty 6 Territory in an area that has been colonially claimed as “Edmonton, Alberta.” As a first generation born in Canada she continues to navigate through her relationship with this land; the celebration, the gratitude, and the shame.
Through her work Gina is always trying to expand the relation space on the Venn diagram of Community, Workers’ Rights, Arts Practice, Social Justice, and Basic Life Needs. Being a member of the artEquity 2016 cohort helped solidify her charge with their value of ‘art cannot exist without community, and community cannot exist without justice.’
For the past 11years Gina has been permanent staff with the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre (anniversary is April 1st – no foolin’) and was an occasional contracted worker with them for 3 years prior as a Stage Manager. Since 2013, she has been the Artistic Director and Program Coordinator for the AWHC’s Work Plays Schools Program which brings the important message of Workplace Safety and Workers’ Rights wrapped in a professionally sculpted live theatre production to students and new workers. Most recently the WPSP has been kindly recognized with a couple of Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards and the 2019 Canadian Union of Public Employees National Safety Award.