Our Board

ELDER

BRENDA MASON

Brenda Mason’s Anishinabe name is Imprint Hanging Standing Woman. She belongs to the Red Sucker–Fish Clan is Oji/Cree and speaks her language. Brenda is a proud grandmother and belongs to a large family.  Her home today is in Thunder Bay, and she feels she belongs to this community. Brenda has been working in the Mental Health field for 30 years providing Traditional Culture and Spiritual Services with the Mental Health Outpatient Program at St. Joseph’s Health Centre.

JOHN HODSON

Dr. John Akweniiostha Hodson (York University) is of Mohawk descent, turtle clan, and director of the Maamaawisiiwin Education Research Centre in Thunder Bay. For more than 20 years, Dr. Hodson has worked in Indigenous education and has published widely on the subject. Dr. Hodson is also an accomplished Indigenous artist working in various media, including birch bark, porcupine quills, leather and bead work.

PATRICIA LANG

Patricia Lang is a nationally recognized post-secondary education leader who has worked in progressively responsible positions for forty years at five colleges in Quebec and Ontario. As a creative, innovative and visionary leader committed to student success, academic quality and integrity she has a strong track record of building community capacity and deepening an understanding of Canadian/Aboriginal relationships. She has expertise in policy governance, strategic planning and advocacy. Pat retired in 2011 after eleven years as President of Confederation College.

MITCHELL MALCOLM

Mitchell brings 12 years’ experience in civil engineering and infrastructure development to the Gallery Board. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Mitchell has spent his career focusing on civil design, construction, and maintenance. Mitchell is passionate about the outdoors, Northern Ontario, and our community. He is excited to be involved with the New Waterfront Gallery project and looks forward to the positive impact the project will have on city residents.

MARTIN MASCARIN

A board member at the Art Gallery since 2015, Martin has participated in the arts in Thunder Bay in many capacities. He is the president of the North of Superior Film Association. Almost always carrying a camera, Martin is a regular contributor to The Walleye. Martin was the Communications Officer at Fort William Historical Park until his retirement in 2015. He received a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 from the Ontario Public Service and a Thunder Bay Achievement Award for outstanding community service.

MARK NISENHOLT

Mark has enjoyed a rich career in the visual arts as an educator and artist. He served as Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Lakehead University until his retirement in 2015. He helped to develop the vibrant visual arts program that now attracts more than half its students from outside Thunder Bay. A talented printmaker who earned his MFA from the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York, Mark has participated in dozens of group and solo exhibitions.

SHELLEY CRAWFORD

As a former development professional in the arts and cultural sector (opera, symphony and visual arts) and a post-secondary instructor and program director of arts management in several universities and colleges, Shelley brings a wealth of experience and passion to her volunteer work as board member and capital campaign chair at the gallery. She is the current president of the Port Arthur Rotary club where she devotes time to community projects that support local charitable organizations.

BEVERLY SABOURIN

Beverly Sabourin has had a distinguished professional, entrepreneurial, and volunteer career that has spanned more than 50 years and included time as a human rights advocate, professional counsellor, senior educational administrator, and more. Raised by her mother and grandparents in the Ojibwe community of Pic Mobert, Beverly later went on to acquire degrees in sociology (Lakehead University) and social work (McGill University), and a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (University of Windsor). She has made many outstanding contributions to the social, cultural, and educational advancement of her people and to the communities in which she has lived.

KEVIN CLEGHORN

Kevin Cleghorn is a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay who currently is engaged in a general family law and mediation/adjudication practice. Kevin is a Lecturer in Lakehead University’s Faculty of Law and is very active in the community as a volunteer board member and sports enthusiast.

LARRY WATRAL

Dr. Larry Watral is a general dentist and has been practicing in Thunder Bay for over 33 years.  He is an active member of the Professional Staff, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and is a part time Oral Health Demonstrator in the Dental Hygiene and Assistants program at Confederation College. He has extensive leadership and board governance experience with the Thunder Bay and Ontario Dental Association and was awarded the Ontario Volunteer Service Award for 25 years of community service in 2013. Dr. Watral joined the Art Gallery Board in 2021.

SHAWN BELL

Shawn is a partner at Edwards Bell Jewitt LLP, a law firm in Thunder Bay that mostly serves First Nations and Indigenous organizations from Treaty 9, Treaty 5, Treaty 3 and Robinson Superior Treaty territories. Shawn was in the first class at the Lakehead Law School, and before that had a career as a journalist in the Northwest Territories, northern Alberta and northern Ontario. He grew up in southern Ontario, but has settled in Thunder Bay and feels blessed to have his children born and raised in our wonderful community.

Shawn works with Indigenous organizations in the health, education and social services sectors, represents not-for-profit corporations, does governance and policy work, and has a litigation practice. Shawn also conducts workplace harassment and violence investigations both provincially and federally and is a member of the Roster of Investigators through the federal government’s workplace harassment and violence regulations.