Home Routes

About Us

Homes Routes is a not-for-profit organization with the traditional structure that most arts organizations have. We have a small founding Board of Directors all of whom are experienced people, all with a significant knowledge of folk-roots music and an abiding interest in performance and human interaction.

The Board

The Chairperson is Derek Black a twenty five year veteran of the Winnipeg Folk Festival including eight years as its Board president. Imbued with the tradition of the folk revivial, Derek plays guitar and sings the old songs with passion

The members include Chris White the former Artistic Director of the Ottawa Folk Festival and a fine songwriter, Troy Greencorn, Artistic Director of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, NS, Quebec songwriter Steve Schellenberg, Robert Lyons of Regina owner of nightclubs and restaurants, a very decent lyricist and guitar player and an old hand at producing house concerts and les siemieniuk the general manager of the Calgary Folk Festival and a long time broadcaster including being the producer of CBC Radio’s Simply Folk.

The Staff

The Artistic Director is Mitch Podolak founder of the Winnipeg and Vancouver Folk Festivals and Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre. Home Routes originated as a concept in his brain and he pursued the involvement of everybody else.

General Manager Ava Kobrinsky is a knowledgeable lover of folk music. One of the three founders of the Winnipeg Folk Festival and founding General Manager of Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre, Ava brings a wealth of experience in the arts to Home Routes.

The Operations Manager is Tim Osmond who doubles as the banjoist for "The Doug and Jess Band" at night. Tim has quarterbacked the development of the entire presenter component of Home Routes. He has initiated and maintained ongoing relationships, encouraging and coaching presenters on house concert production.

Vivian Gosselin is a Franco-Manitoban music lover from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has worked in the community development field and been involved in research and development of fair work and trade practices abroad. Viv brings a community-minded philosophy to our Canada-wide operation!

Besides knowing a heck of a lot about music, Volunteer Coordinator Josey Krahn also wears lots of great shirts. Rumor is he’s also a great guitar player and super singer for the band Ultra Mega. He has been sighted in the daytime, on the phone and on the computer recruiting new volunteers.

Volunteer Coordinator Ali Hancharyk is a Creative Communications graduate with a BA in Communications from the University of Winnipeg. Her experience in the music industry was fostered by time spent working with Manitoba Music. She is allergic to bad jokes and will not crack a smile if you try any funny business.

	About Us Homes Routes is a not-for-profit organization with the traditional structure that most arts organizations have. We have a small founding Board of Directors all of whom are experienced people, all with a significant knowledge of folk-roots music and an abiding interest in performance and human interaction. The Board The Chairperson is Derek Black a twenty five year veteran of the Winnipeg Folk Festival including eight years as its Board president. Imbued with the tradition of the folk revivial, Derek plays guitar and sings the old songs with passion The members include Chris White the former Artistic Director of the Ottawa Folk Festival and a fine songwriter, Troy Greencorn, Artistic Director of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, NS, Quebec songwriter Steve Schellenberg, Robert Lyons of Regina owner of nightclubs and restaurants, a very decent lyricist and guitar player and an old hand at producing house concerts and les siemieniuk the general manager of the Calgary Folk Festival and a long time broadcaster including being the producer of CBC Radio’s Simply Folk. The Staff The Artistic Director is Mitch Podolak founder of the Winnipeg and Vancouver Folk Festivals and Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre. Home Routes originated as a concept in his brain and he pursued the involvement of everybody else. General Manager Ava Kobrinsky is a knowledgeable lover of folk music. One of the three founders of the Winnipeg Folk Festival and founding General Manager of Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre, Ava brings a wealth of experience in the arts to Home Routes. The Operations Manager is Tim Osmond who doubles as the banjoist for "The Doug and Jess Band" at night. Tim has quarterbacked the development of the entire presenter component of Home Routes. He has initiated and maintained ongoing relationships, encouraging and coaching presenters on house concert production. Vivian Gosselin is a Franco-Manitoban music lover from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has worked in the community development field and been involved in research and development of fair work and trade practices abroad. Viv brings a community-minded philosophy to our Canada-wide operation! Besides knowing a heck of a lot about music, Volunteer Coordinator Josey Krahn also wears lots of great shirts. Rumor is he’s also a great guitar player and super singer for the band Ultra Mega. He has been sighted in the daytime, on the phone and on the computer recruiting new volunteers. Volunteer Coordinator Ali Hancharyk is a Creative Communications graduate with a BA in Communications from the University of Winnipeg. Her experience in the music industry was fostered by time spent working with Manitoba Music. She is allergic to bad jokes and will not crack a smile if you try any funny business.