In Focus | Siobhan Barker

Meet Siobhan! She immigrated to Canada in 1993 and is passionate about the arts.



Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I was born in Durban, South Africa, immigrated to Canada in ‘93 and settled in Kelowna shortly after. I’ve moved away several times but keep coming back to Kelowna.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My mum, we’re so close we don’t even need to speak.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Water Garden Boutique - I love their eclectic mix of unique artisan treasures!

Describe yourself in one word.
Bubbly.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town watching a performance at their open air amphitheatre. It is the most idyllic setting.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Basking in the summer sun by the pool or the lake.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I once performed a musical number at drama school that was incredibly under rehearsed. We didn’t even know the words properly. It was a collective embarrassment!

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I recently worked Front of House at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden - I watched all my ballet idols perform every night. All ROH employees share the back of house spaces, so I was also eating lunch at the table over from said ballet idols! I love to surround myself with inspiring people!

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Summer vacations on Savary Island. Spending all day every day on a virtually private beach is the dream!

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I work at The Clubhouse Childcare Center, a nonprofit, charitable organization offering child care to around 450 families in Kelowna year round. They have also started the first outdoor education program in BC, The Clubhouse Farm, which focuses on connecting the children to the land, supporting biodiversity, improving the local ecology, and growing farm fresh produce.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Inequality in all its forms.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Kopje Park in Carrs Landing.

Where would you like to see a positive change in Kelowna and why?
I would like to see more support for the arts. We have many high calibre artists in town who play a fundamental role in creating a healthy, vibrant and safe community. Art is a ‘common language,’ a way to communicate and connect with others even if we have different social, cultural or economic backgrounds.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Living amongst the orchards, vineyards, forests and lakes is quite unique.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1- Swim in every ocean and major sea
2- Complete and produce the play I started writing
3- Attend Marianela Nunez’s retirement performance from the Royal Ballet (whenever that may happen)

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I started my first professional contract at the age of 15 with Ballet Kelowna and a year later with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Instagram is my favourite! @shivbarx @ubiquearte

What is the name of your business/organization?
Ubique Arte

Why did you get into this business?
Performance art has always been my livelihood and I would like to contribute to the production of creative, inclusive, and accessible theatre in our community.

What is the goal of your business?
Our ambition is to make brave theatre. Through the ethos of collaboration, empowerment, creativity and artistic integrity, we aspire to produce truly authentic performance art.

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
Living with a complex chronic disease, my health has set me back greatly a number of times but I just keep coming back!

If you could start all over again, would you do things the same or would things be different?
I often wonder what my life would be like if I had done things differently when I was younger but I believe obstacles and tough situations make us stronger, so I don’t wish for anything different.

What do you always find yourself saying?
My most frequent response is “jazzy!”

Tell us your best piece of life advice.
I’m a big fan of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Ten Seconds at a Time is excellent, she says “a person can stand just about anything for ten seconds!”

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Kevin O’Hare, Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet. He is genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met and is one of the most influential people in dance and performance today. I admire his ability to cultivate progression within an established art form all while remaining a positive light for everyone at the Royal Opera House.

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Keeping the community unique!

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Becoming a Canadian citizen in 2000!

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Audrey Hystad - The Clubhouse Farm is providing children in Kelowna a very essential learning opportunity to develop independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy, motor skills, self-discipline and initiative.

My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Audrey Hystad

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Ubique Arte is hosting auditions for our 50th Anniversary production of Jesus Christ Superstar! We want to welcome everyone who is musically inclined to come and jam with us!

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!