Facilitation, strategic planning, event management, project management and administration, I have extensive experience to assist your organization in reaching its potential. Creative and innovative solutions, the ability to bring clarity to discussions and writing, and a deep passion are all assets I can bring to your company, your organization. Integral to the design of the innovative young audience programmes – eyeGO to the Arts and River Run Centre’s Linamar for the Performing Arts, I believe that the investment in youth is core to a successful community. I have managed organizations as diverse as the national Association of Cultural Executives, the Open Ears Festival of Music & Sound, Elora Festival, Fusion Dance & Wellness and Waterloo UpTown Jazz Festival and have written a manual for young audience presenters, Raising the Curtain.
As a facilitator I have worked with organizations with local, regional and national mandates. Clients have included CRCH
I teach a dance class for those with neurological and/or physical challenges, adjusting the curriculum to meet the needs of the students.
I appreciate the time, energy and commitment invested in the cultural field as well as the challenges that face the sector. As project manager for two provincial performing arts conferences and a cutting edge marketing research project, the Values & Benefits Study, I have an overall perspective to the assets and resources of the cultural sector. An active volunteer within Waterloo Region, I have curated a contemporary dance series and served on the boards of Dancetheatre, David Earle, JM Drama/Registry Theatre and Dance Nova Scotia and was on the founding board of an arts enabling organization, Creative Waterloo Region (CWR). In recognition of my community service I have received the Canada 125 Medal for Community Service (1992), KW Arts Awards (1998), and 2009 Oktoberfest Women of the Year (Arts & Culture). I bring strong facilitation skills, passion, an ability to engage others in my sessions, whether training or planning, and an intense interest in communicating the value of the arts in our communities.
Active on the board of JM Drama for over two decades, one of my roles was to direct a show every second summer.
Working with the Cabaret cast I was reminded how important the arts are to our communities. One cast member learned more about his heritage as a result of his parents attending the performance and having their memories stimulated by what they saw. We all need to talk about the impact of the arts on our lives so that they are seen not as a frill but an essential element of healthy communities. Follow this link to see a clip posted by The Record, our local paper.
I have the pleasure of co-chairing this team which works with a Rotary Club in Nogales Mexico. See the attached for information on the project which as appeared on local tv. For the viewpoint of the team see the attached.