Agnes Kindrachuk (nee Agnes Quizon Umali) was born in 1962 in Manila, Philippines to Mario Elias Umali and Dionisia Javier Quizon, both school teachers. Agnes and her 3 sisters had an idyllic childhood in the small town of Tipas, Taguig before emigrating to Montreal ,Canada in 1971. The family was very active in the Filipino Community of Montreal, where Mario was a founding director of the city's first ever Filipino Community Centre. Agnes graduated from McGill University in 1985 with a Bachelors of Commerce, Accounting receiving the Stephen Goldbloom Memorial Award. In 1987, after having passed the Board exams and the French Proficiency exams, Agnes became the 1st Filipino Canadian CPA CA licensed in Quebec by the Ordre des Comptables Agrees du Quebec/ Order of Chartered Accountants of Quebec. She is also a member of CPABC and CPA Canada.

Agnes is married to Paul and has 3 young adult children. Following her husband's job, Agnes and her family lived abroad in 4 different countries (HK, Oman, UK and Russia) for 16 years, returning to Vancouver in 2014. Agnes did not start drawing or painting until later in her life. Her father, Mario was a self-taught watercolour artist and was her initial inspiration for Agnes. Agnes enjoys trying different media and styles, having been exposed to many varied artworks in the family's travels.

Agnes was lucky to have met Sym once in his home during a holiday celebration but sadly was not able to receive instructions from him. However, her participation in Dimasalang III Vancouver has provided her much inspiration to continue and honour the legacy of SYM as not only a great Filipino artist but a great Canadian artist.

agnes.kindrachuk@gmail.com