Our Board

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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.

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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.