The Thunder Bay Art Gallery Board of Directors has 17 members. 13 are elected from the membership, 2 positions are filled by Indigenous Elders, and 2 are appointed by organizations in our community. The Board works to uphold the mandate, implement the Strategic Plan, and make the vision of the Gallery a reality. The Board of Directors meets monthly at the gallery.
CHAIR
CHRISTINE BATES
Christine joined the Art Gallery Board in 2018. Christine served in senior leadership positions until retiring in 2015 from Confederation College where she was Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Organizational Development. Christine brings her passion for excellence in leadership to the Board and her expertise in organizational planning will help guide the Gallery in the coming years.
VICE CHAIR
JOHN SIMS
A board member since 2014, John is retired from the Ontario government where he supported community development in the culture, sport and tourism sectors for over 34 years. He has a keen interest in amateur sport, photography, the arts, and digital communications. John has a strong commitment to growing his community and has volunteered for a variety of organizations including the United Way of Thunder Bay. A lifelong resident, John joins his wife Debbie in striving to make Thunder Bay a vibrant place for all.
TREASURER
GAVIN NELSON
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Gavin is a member in good standing of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He has spent the past 15 years in private practice and is currently President of Halstone Corporate Services, a firm specializing in providing financial reporting services to publicly-traded and private enterprises. Gavin is currently Chair of the Board for Northern Hearts, and a past Board member/Treasurer of the Brain Injury Association of Thunder Bay, and Port Arthur Rotary Club. Gavin’s primary interest these days lies in spending time with his young family and enjoying the cultural and recreational beauty that abounds in this terrific city.
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.
ELDER
SAUL JOHN WILLIAMS
Saul is a well-known Woodland artist from North Caribou Lake First Nation. He was a member of the Triple K Co-operative, the print-making initiative in Red Lake, ON, together with brothers Goyce, Joshim and Henry Kakegamic. Since his first exhibition in 1971, Saul has continued to paint while also doing other work, including carpentry, firefighting, and teaching in northern schools. His vibrant paintings are held in the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg and the Woodland Cultural Education Centre in Brantford, ON, the Royal Ontario Museum, New College in Toronto as well as many private collections in North America. Most recently, Saul co-curated the exhibition Anishnaabeg: Art & Power at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Describing himself as a ‘record keeper’ of his people’s beliefs, Saul is a strong mentor of Indigenous youth, especially those interested in art.
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.
CLINT KUSCHAK
A member of the Art Gallery board since 2015, Clint is a familiar face at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium where he provided administrative leadership for several years. He has also provided management guidance to the Atikokan Intergenerational Centre for Arts & Alternatives, Live from the Rock Folk Festival, and Shelter House Thunder Bay. Clint is a long-standing member of Lakehead Rotary Club. Clint’s experience in fundraising, marketing, and change management is a great asset to the Gallery.
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.
LOUISE THOMAS
A board member since 2014, Louise owns and operates the Ahnishnabae Art Gallery which showcases the work of nearly 200 artists from Northwestern Ontario, Canada, and the United States. The gallery is dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Roy Thomas, who is recognized as one of Canada’s important Woodland artists. An Indigenous woman from the First Nations community of Sucker Creek, AB, Louise is committed to the importance of contemporary Indigenous art. In 2010, Louise was honoured with the Cultural Business Award at the Thunder Bay Arts and Heritage Awards.
TAMMY SQUITTI
Tammy Squitti joined the Art Gallery Board in 2021. Tammy worked in the field of human services for over 30 years as well as 16 years with various boards, restorative justice healing circles, Indigenous organizations, and leadership activities. She is currently working with the Thunder Bay Police Service coordinating mental health and disability management and with the First Nations and Inuit Branch of Indigenous Services Canada providing mental health counselling.
LESLEY BELL
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Lesley returned to the city in 2012 after a successful career as a public library administrator in Southern Ontario. Lesley’s most recent position was as CEO of the Belleville Public Library and John M. Parrott Art Gallery. Before Belleville, she had a 20 year career in the Toronto Public Library system, where she managed programs, collections and services at the Toronto Reference Library. Lesley is an active community volunteer with longstanding membership on the TVOntario Regional Councillors Advisory Board, the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Northwestern Grant Review Team and Thunder Bay Community Foundation.
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.
APPOINTED
BRUCE BEARDY
Bruce is the Indigenous Language Professor at Confederation College. A member of the Muskrat Dam First Nation, Bruce is bilingual in English and Anishininiimowin (Severn Ojibwe). Bruce is committed to the revitalization of his native language and what it can contribute to strengthening the values of Anishinaabe culture. Before joining the College, he was the Coordinator for Aboriginal Education in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. He is also an alumni of Lakehead University. As the appointed representative from Confederation College, Bruce holds traditional knowledge which enriches the cross-cultural connections within the Art Gallery Board.
CONFEDERATION COLLEGE
APPOINTED
KRISTY HOLMES
Kristy is Associate Professor of Art History and Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Lakehead University. Kristy received her PhD in Art History from Queen’s University in 2008 and has taught at Queen’s, Mount Allison University, and Lakehead University. In 2009, she held a Research Fellowship in Canadian Art at the National Gallery of Canada. She has been a member of the Art Gallery Board since 2016.
LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY
Past Presidents
Honourary Presidents – John & Annette Augustine
Mark Clara 2018-19
Heidi Uhlig 2010-18
Heather Decker 2008-10
Christine Bates 2006-08
Laurie Hill 2004-06
Dorothy Piccinin 2002-04
Bruce Stonehouse 2000-02
Gloria Cyr 1997-2000
C. “Butch” Petrone 1996-97
Margaret R. Page 1993-96
Lil Bergamo 1991-92
Christopher Morden 1990-91
Pauline P.A. Tomlinson 1988-90
Marie Clarke 1986-88
John R. Bick 1984-86
Annette H. Augustine 1983-84
Roy H. Piovesana 1979-83
David Delgaty 1978-79
Kenneth Morrison 1976-78
John R. Augustine 1975-76