I grew up in Terrace, BC, and came to Vancouver in 1994. I’ve spent over 25 years in music, entertainment and hospitality. Live music and nightlife are real industries and real communities. They need to be seen and supported.
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What’s new
- Oct 2026Two panels at Canada After Dark, National Arts Centre, Ottawa: a town hall on nightlife, and one on licensing laws.
- Sept 2026Listed as Chair of the CLMA executive committee for 2026-27.
- Summer 2026World Cup on Granville Street: a pedestrian zone and new patios, including one at Blueprint’s Good Co. Granville.
- Jan 2026My appointment as Chair of the Canadian Live Music Association was announced.
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Current roles
Blueprint
Director of Business Development
An independent concert, festival and hospitality company in Vancouver. I joined in 2012 as Director of Marketing.
My role: partnerships, sales, community work, and public and government relations.
Canadian Live Music Association
Chair
The CLMA works to grow, sustain and highlight live music across Canada.
My role: Chair of the board and of the executive committee for 2026-27.
Hospitality Vancouver Association
Chair
I was on its executive board in 2023.
My role: Chair.
Downtown Van
Board member
The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.
My role: board member.
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What I did before
- 2025Co-chair of the Vancouver host committee for the 2025 JUNO Awards.
- To 2024President of Music BC.
- PastBoard member, ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Collective.
- Pre-2012Director of brand and marketing at the Donnelly Group.
- Late 90sSelf-produced club nights and hip-hop shows, and managed local artists.
- 1994Moved from Terrace to Vancouver for the energy and diversity of a bigger city.
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What I’ve been part of
Mental Wealth
I co-founded Mental Wealth, a free seminar series on mental health in the creative, entertainment and hospitality community. Mental Wealth II ran online on June 18, 2020, for BIPOC professionals. I co-hosted it with Garret Louie.
Vancouver’s nighttime economy
In 2023 the Hospitality Vancouver Association, Destination Vancouver and Downtown Van ran roundtables and a survey on the city’s nightlife, work that could lead to a Nighttime Economy Office. I was on the HVA executive board at the time.
Granville Street and the World Cup
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Granville Street got a pedestrian zone. Good Co. Granville, a sports bar Blueprint operates, planned a temporary patio for it.
Blueprint’s festivals and venues
These belong to Blueprint, the company I work for: FVDED in the Park, Contact, Badlands Music Festival, Celebrities, Venue Nightclub, the four Colony bars and Good Co. Granville.
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In the press and on air
- Canada After Dark: two panels on nightlife and licensingCapital Music Week, Ottawa, Oct 7 and 8, 2026
- Canada’s World Cup run helps Vancouver restaurantsCanadian Press in The Globe and Mail, July 2026
- Erin Benjamin leaves the CLMA for the Ottawa Board of TradeRoots Music Canada, March 6, 2026
- Vancouver music industry veteran Nate Sabine appointed new chair of CLMAVancouver Sun via Yahoo News Canada, Jan 8, 2026
- Nate Sabine Steps Into Role as Chair of the CLMABillboard Canada, Jan 6, 2026
- Nate Sabine named chair of Canadian Live Music AssociationGeorgia Straight, Jan 5, 2026
- Does Vancouver Have a Nightlife Scene? (46 min)Hey, Downtown Van! podcast, Sept 10, 2025
- How do you fix a problem like Vancouver’s nightlife?Georgia Straight, March 21, 2023
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What I’ve said
“If we’re going to actually be a world-class city, then we need a world-class nightlife that is safer and more inclusive.”
Georgia Straight, March 21, 2023
“Live music in particular is one of the few experiences in life that never loses its lustre or relevance and live music needs to be nurtured and given room to thrive.”
CLMA board page
“We’ve never had a business in our 30-year history that did this type of sales volume in a single month.”
Canadian Press, July 2026, on the World Cup
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