What's New

2003 / 2004 Council Nominations

The Nominations Committee composed of Marilynn Havelka (Chair), Kathryn Pankowski (elected member representative) and Anne Chafe (Council representative), is pleased to bring forward the following slate of Council nominations for consideration by the membership at the Annual General Meeting:

Carrie Brooks-Joiner, President

(First year of a two-year term)

Carrie Brooks-Joiner has been on the OMA Council for the past three years and most recently served as Vice-Chair, Chair of the Human Resources Task Force and Co-Chair of the Infrastructure Taskforce. Carrie is Director of Planning, Policy and Board Coordination at Royal Botanical Gardens and is frequently called upon to share her expertise in grants, governance and policy at workshops and conferences.

She is a graduate of the Museum Studies Program, University of Toronto and York University's Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management. Previously, Carrie worked for the federal Department of Canadian Heritage and several community museums and galleries across Ontario.

"I am honoured to serve as President of the Ontario Museum Association. The dedication of the staff and volunteers of Ontario's museums in a year filled with such unforeseen challenges as SARS, West Nile and the drop in tourism is inspiring. I look forward to working with the members, my colleagues at the Secretariat and on Council to develop new opportunities in 2004."

Ed Driedger, Vice-President

(First year of a two-year term)

Ed Driedger has a long-standing interest and involvement in museums that has included a range of responsibilities in both small and large organizations throughout the province. This range of experience has included work with Parks Canada at both the regional and national levels, municipal organizations and his current position as Director/Curator of the North Bay Area Museum and his role as Chair of the North Bay LACAC.

"My time to date as an OMA Councillor has been very useful and informative. I look forward to serving the museum community in the coming year and working to improve the profile and impact of the association and its members."

Michael Herrera, Treasurer

(Second year of a two-year term)

Michael Herrera is a chartered accountant with a desire to make a difference in the not-for-profit sector. After several years of specializing in the not-for-profit industry at Ernst & Young, Michael left public practice in 2000 to serve in the not-for-profit world. He has served as the Controller of the National Ballet of Canada and the YMCA of Greater Toronto. Currently, Michael is on a Sponsored Employee Loan to the United Way of Greater Toronto where he is actively supporting the 2003 Annual Campaign which hopes to raise $82.5 million this fall. In addition to the OMA, Michael also serves on the board of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. You can learn more about Michael at www.michael-herrera.com

"With the changes in funding levels and reporting requirements, financial sustainability is a critical topic for all organizations. I am privileged to serve the wonderful museum community and to support the wonderful work of this sector."

Anne Chafe, Past President

(First year of a two-year term)

Anne Chafe has been working in a variety of curatorial positions in Ontario museums since 1989, the past five years as curator of the City of Waterloo’s Heritage Collection. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Masters of Museum Studies, Anne has been on OMA Council since 1995 serving on numerous committees and task forces. At the local level she is actively involved in many heritage and cultural organizations.

"As Past President, I am looking forward to continuing to work on behalf of members to meet the OMA’s mandate to "foster and promote our museum community."

Tammy Adkin, Councillor

(First year of a two-year term)

Tammy Adkin has enjoyed every minute of the last eight years that she has spent working at the London Regional Children's Museum. Currently serving as Executive Director, Tammy began her work at the Museum as the Director of Marketing and Fund Development, followed by an appointment as Associate Director.

Prior to joining the Children's Museum team, Tammy worked as a journalist and in senior communications roles within the non-profit and corporate sector. Tammy co-chaired the 2000 OMA conference committee and served on the 2002 conference committee. She is proud to have been part of the Children's Museum team which received a 2002 OMA Award of Merit for Museum Management, and she is also proud to have recently been awarded a scholarship from the Canadian Museum Association, funded by Canadian Heritage, to conduct a study of early years learning in museums and science centres.

"The Ontario Museum Association is such a valuable resource to the Children's Museum and to me personally. I feel very fortunate to work as part of this great community of museums in Ontario, and I hope to be able to contribute back to the Association and to the museum community through my involvement on the OMA Council."

Marty Brent, Councillor

(First year of a two-year term)

Marty Brent has been involved in the business of history for 25 years. She has installed collections at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, co-ordinated museum training and education programs for the OMA, advised boards and staff of community museums throughout the Province of Ontario; developed government museum policy, granting programs, and operated a conservation lab, and served on provincial cultural committees and federal peer review grant assessment teams.

"As museums face greater challenge in today's changing environment, I see increasing need for wide-ranging skills and advocacy by the Ontario Museum Association. Having a diverse and broad background, I hope to assist OMA move its agenda forward during the 2004/2005 term."

Joanne Charette, Councillor

(Second year of a two-year term)

Joanne Charette has been working in the cultural sector since 1996, as Manager of Communications Services at the Canadian Museum of Nature, and since 2000, as Director of Public Affairs at the National Gallery of Canada. As Director, she oversees the areas of Education and Public Programs, Marketing and Communications, Publications and Visitor Services.

Joanne has a degree in Communications from the University of Ottawa and a Master in Project Management from l’Université du Québec à Hull. She has taught in the Public Relations Program at the Cité collégiale in Ottawa. Joanne has worked for several school boards and non-profit organizations in key communications positions.

"It has been my pleasure to work on key projects including May is Museum Month. I look forward to another fascinating year as councillor. I welcome the opportunity to bring my experience and interest in marketing and communications as well as education to OMA projects."

David Goode, Councillor

(Second year of a two-year term)

David Goode has been working in museums and heritage institutions for over 16 years, and has experience in both large institutional museums and smaller community based museum in the UK, Ontario and British Columbia. Throughout his career, he has been interested in examining how museums become and remain relevant to the various communities they are to represent.

"In the capacity of OMA councillor, I would foster a strong belief in the value of a well-organized professional body to represent the view of museums and museum professionals in Ontario.

Diane Imrie, Councillor

(First year of a second two-year term)

Diane Imrie has been the Executive Director of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Museum since moving to Thunder Bay in 1986. Actively involved in the cultural community at the regional and local level, Diane's involvement has included positions with the Ontario and Northwestern Ontario Archives Associations, the Thunder Bay Children's Festival and Arts & Heritage Thunder Bay. A Past-President and current Treasurer for the Canadian Association for Sport Heritage, she served as President of the International Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame from 1997-99, at the time becoming the first female and only the 5th Canadian to hold the position throughout the Association's 28-year history.

"I am indeed honoured to continue to serve on the OMA Council and look forward to representing the region of Northwestern Ontario and the sports heritage sector within the Association. There are a number of issues facing museums today and I believe that by working together, and in a proactive fashion, the OMA is the agency best suited to ensure that our province's rich history is preserved for future generations to learn from and take pride in."

Gilles L. Séguin, Councillor

(Second year of a two-year term)

Gilles Séguin is with the Office of Cultural Affairs, People Services Department, City of Ottawa. His responsibilities as Manager, Heritage Development, include strategic planning, heritage community support and development, city-wide heritage events and the City Archives program. Over the past 20 years, Gilles has worked in the archival, information management, and information technology fields.

"The City of Ottawa and its museums benefited from the great success of the May is Museum Month campaign. As a heritage planner within a municipal structure, I look forward to bringing my experience to the work of the Association."

Jeanie Tummon, Councillor

(First year of a second two-year term)

Jeanie Tummon, curator of the Ontario Provincial Police Museum in Orillia at OPP General Headquarters since 1997, received her Master's in History at York University and did her undergraduate work at the University of Toronto. She also holds a Certificate of Museum Studies from the Ontario Museum Association.

Appointed by Council to fill the second year of Councillor Leah Gardner’s term of office, she was pleased to be able to build upon her previous experience as part of the OMA’s Program Committee for the 30th anniversary conference in 2002, and to further contribute to the work of the Association. During this term, she chaired the Strategic Alliances Task Force. Formerly the curator of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, she has also worked at Nancy Island Historic Site, The Museum of the History of Medicine and Black Creek Pioneer Village.

"I would welcome the opportunity to support the OMA’s work as it plays a critical role in providing the diversity of Ontario’s museum workers with resources, professional development opportunities, and collegial support. I am particularly committed to making the hard work of previous Councils bear fruit by not only continuing to define our strategic directions but making sure we measure all that we do by focused, common aims."