O’Neil Edwards - Executive Director

O'neil Edwards, MBA (he/him) is an award-winning education professional who has two decades of senior leadership as a Global Education administrator for non-profits, secondary schools and post-secondary institutions. During his over twenty dedicated years of post-secondary leadership, O’neil has been instrumental in guiding planning processes in supporting the development of innovative programs and services that promote student retention, engagement, and success, and has led interdisciplinary teams in addressing emerging priorities.  He has led collaborative work on implementing access departments, international student foundation programs and strategies at the post-secondary level in Canada. O’neil has experience leading government working groups in addition to university and high-school boards in policies, programs and professional development towards organizational excellence. O’neil has had the privilege of living and working in many different countries, bringing unique insights to his work. Building on a passion for developing people’s potential through education, O’neil continues to be part of programs that bring real social change.  O’neil is the Board Chair for Kick Start Arts.

"Long ago, I made a promise that I would never act against the best interests or the excellence of my own people – that I would do my best to ensure that we were worthy of the stewardship of our community and country. I made a promise that we leave a better world for generations to come. To make and keep such a promise is to understand that money and position are tools - not goals. Now is not the time for a failure of imagination."

Marissa Rasmussen - Program Coordinator

Marissa Rasmussen is a performer, educator, collaborator, director, and producer whose career spans theatre, film, and television. She is the Kid’s Program Coordinator at Randolph College for the Performing Arts and the Executive Director of Wren Theatre Company. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Windsor with a foundation in classical training, and her work has been featured with networks such as Discovery+, Vice Studios, and a number of independent production companies. On screen, she has appeared in projects including A Night with Nathan and the award-winning feature film The Lurker.

In theatre, Marissa has directed productions such as Peter Pan, Sheranthropes, and The Neighbourhood; assistant directed Little Women, Dangerous Liaisons, and Doubt: A Parable; and written, directed, and produced her original work, The Ultimatum. She has also worked with organizations including Original Kids, University Players, the University of Toronto, and Fridge Door Live, where she directed a traveling production.

As the Kid’s Program Coordinator at Randolph College for the Performing Arts, Marissa is deeply passionate about nurturing young artists. She believes children thrive when given the chance to collaborate, take creative risks, and discover the transformative power of storytelling. Her philosophy is simple: try everything and anything you never know what will turn into magic.

Lauren Brett - Kids Program Founder

Lauren Brett’s passion for nurturing human potential—whether on stage, in sport, or in life, has guided a remarkable career spanning nearly 40 years. For almost two decades, Lauren managed the day-to-day operations of Randolph College for the Performing Arts (RCPA), overseeing staff, policy, and student services with a deep commitment to excellence in arts education.

In 1998, recognizing a need for something more imaginative, heart-centred, and empowering for children, Lauren founded the Randolph Kids Performing Arts Program—a pioneering initiative that redefined performing arts training for young people. What began as a bold idea has grown into a vibrant community of hundreds of children weekly, joyfully singing, dancing, and acting in Randolph’s halls.

Lauren’s impact reaches far beyond RCPA. In 2011, she was invited to design the performing arts curriculum at Stardust Academy in Amman, Jordan. She has also served in various leadership roles at RCPA, including Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Managing Director and more recently, Executive Director from 2017 to 2019. While she is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, Lauren continues to contribute to the growth and vision of RCPA in her current role as Strategic Advisor.

Prior to her work in the performing arts, Lauren was a national team rhythmic gymnastics athlete and later national team coach, leading athletes to the World Championships and Pan Am Games, and receiving Coach of the Year from the Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation.

Today, Lauren is a Certified Professional Coach and leads a thriving leadership coaching practice that supports leaders, teams, and organizations to cultivate trust, resilience, and authenticity. She is also a Leadership Coach with Sport Law, a trusted partner in advancing leadership across Canada’s high-performance sport landscape. Her work brings more humanity to sport, business, and the performing arts—championing people to lead with heart and live into their full potential.