'We were shocked and saddened to hear that Carmen Garcia passed away Sunday, December 13th, 2020 after a short battle with bone cancer.


Carmen had been a member of Local 118 since 1998 and worked in the Make-Up, Hair, and Wardrobe Departments.  Carmen worked on many publicity photo shoots for the Arts Club Theatre.  She also did makeup for Vancouver Opera publicity photoshoots, as well as being the Head Makeup Artist and Makeup Designer on Vancouver Opera productions for many years.  In more recent years, Carmen added wardrobe calls and stitching to her skills list, working on ballets, musicals, and other productions.

Carmen added a special element to the backstage atmosphere - she always had a smile on her face, and a giggle in her voice.  The performers loved her, and Carmen always went out of her way to make the performers look and feel great, even if it meant arguing on their behalf with an opera director or designer!  

In recent years, Carmen spent more time in her native Barcelona, Spain, where she had an apartment (which she generously shared with some of her IATSE sisters and brothers).  She had to travel to Spain in March to deal with a flood in her apartment and, due to COVID, was stuck in Spain during the lock-down.  After several attempts to book a flight home to Canada were canceled, Carmen was finally able to return to Vancouver in late July.

Carmen leaves her husband Chris, who sings with the Vancouver Opera Chorus, her son and daughter-in-law and their two beautiful twin daughters (who meant the world to Carmen), and her pug Aida.'

- Provided by Sister Margaret Underhill