Meet Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds, she holds both a Wardrobe and Stage cards as a member of Local 471. Reynolds first show with IATSE was as a Local crew for Showboat in 1997 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Canada.
Jonquil says growing up Dominican-Canadian in Ottawa was challenging, without a lot of Latin culture or Spanish around to reinforce pride in my identity and culture.
“I was constantly asked “What are you?” and “Where are you from?” and it was hard sometimes to feel like I belonged anywhere,” she added. “Theatre gave me that place and sense of belonging, first as a performer, and then as an IATSE stagehand and wardrobe technician.”
Reynolds admits her Local has changed a lot in terms of diversity over the last 25 years, and it is so gratifying to now see women, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC getting more opportunities to belong, be leaders, and make change for our union.
“Diversity means seeing people for what they can do,” she says. So, who is Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds? She’s a proud IATSE union member, a proud Dominican-Canadian, and a human being.
