2014 – 2015 Board of Directors
Marg Gurr
President
Marg is an artist specializing in stone sculpture and carving. She has participated in Streets Alive for the past four years. She has a background in the Youth Justice system, with experience as both Regional Training Manager and Project Team Management.
Marg joined the Arts Council in 2011, and has served on the board since then. She joined ODAC because she strongly believes that a healthy community is one that embraces creativity, mutual support, and recognition in order to flourish. She also believes that Orillia is uniquely rich in this regard, and she is committed to improving the overall profile of the arts in this city and surrounding area.
Anita Purcell
Treasurer
Currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Authors Association, Anita is a writer, editor and former teacher and management consultant, over twenty-five years of experience in communications, marketing, strategic planning, board government and education.
Anita has been on the Arts Council board of directors since 2009, and she also sits on two national boards – The Book and Periodical Council and Access Copyright: The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency.
Frances Helyar
Secretary
Frances is an Associate Professor at Lakehead University. While living in New Brunswick, she was involved in a number of community events and served as the Master of Ceremonies for the annual music event, Festival by the Sea, for three years. She has a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Seneca College’s Radio and Television Broadcasting program.
Frances firmly believes that the arts community is stronger when a non-profit organization exists to help create and sustain the lines of communication, to promote the sharing of expertise and energy and to develop a strong awareness of the importance of the arts in the life of any town.
Kathy Manners
Kathy is a Social Innovation Consultant with experience in strategic and operational planning, organizational development, cultural transformation, leadership development, and marketing. She was the consultant of choice in the Arts Council’s recent sustainability study, and has worked with a variety of arts and social purpose organizations over the past several years.
Kathy is a director on The United Way of Simcoe County board, and Chair of the board of directors of The Sharing Place.
Jacqueline Soczka
Jacqueline is a graduate of Dalhousie University’s Masters of Arts Program and has been employed with the City of Orillia since 2013. As the Manager of Culture, she is dedicated to working with the community to strengthen and advance the city’s cultural sector through projects like artsVest, the designation of Peter Street South as the “Arts District”, and Culture Days.
Jacqueline moved to Orillia in 2013 with her husband, Robert, and their two children and is thrilled with the area’s natural beauty and four-season activities. She is particularly looking forward to participating in OMAH’s upcoming Festival of Banners with her daughter.
Samantha Vessios
Samantha is a photographer and graphic artist. In 2013, she won the People’s Choice Award for her work in the Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibit and was published in an independent American magazine. She has worked for various non-profit organizations including the Orillia Museum of Art & History, Canadian Authors Association, and the Orillia Area Community Development Corporation.
Samantha joined the Arts Council board in September 2014 and hopes to reach out to youth in the community and get them more engaged in local arts.
