Erich and his wife came to Oakville three years ago and have been thoroughly enjoying the vibrant and warm community. They both enjoy a variety of art forms, Erich as a patron and Cynthia as a practitioner (in photography, clay design and textiles). Erich recently completed a 3½ year contract as Executive Director of Executive Development at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Not from an artistic background, Erich sees his contribution to the OAC from the “business side” and sees his substantial volunteer experience as a real asset. Erich is an active volunteer with non-profit organizations including the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Board of Directors of the Canadian Opera Company and the Harvard Business School Association of Toronto. Erich is married to Cynthia Blanton, a freelance photographer.

Victoria L. Behune,
1st Vice-President
vbehune@otec.org

A resident of Oakville for over 15 years, Victoria has previously worked within the arts/cultural sectors. As a successful executive in the public, private and not for profit sectors, she has participated on or led numerous not-for-profit Boards and committees, and has extensive Board experience. In her current position as President and CEO of a not for profit organization, OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation), she reports to a Board of Directors and manages all Board relationships and reports. Victoria has utilized research and market analysis extensively to deliver strategic marketing plans and targeted direct marketing and e-marketing programs, experience that could help build markets including donor, consumer and corporate. Her experience directing acquisition and retention activities for large membership-based organizations attests to her understanding and expertise in efforts to help increase membership and attract community members. Victoria was the originator of "Toronto for the Arts", which established and marketed packages for the Arts/Cultural and Tourism Sectors. Victoria has served on the Oakville Waterfront Festival for three years, and has volunteered for the Oakville Galleries, and Oakville Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about the arts, which is evidenced in her prior affiliations and is focused on making a difference in the cultural life of Oakville.  Victoria has served as a Director of the OAC for coming up to two years and has held the position of Vice-President for one of those years.

Jyl Ashton Cunningham
info@jaacevents.com

Jyl comes to the OAC with considerable past experience in fine arts. She worked with Waddington & Gorce Art Gallery in Montreal for 10 years.  She has an honours degree in History of Art, Design and Film from Sheffield University, England. Whilst with Waddington & Gorce, Jyl liaised with artists, museums, government bodies, media, specifically in relation to sale and promotion of artworks and grant applications. She also handled press releases and public relations.

Jyl worked with Carlson Wagonlit and Carlson Marketing Group as an Event Manager before starting her own business in 2001. She owns JAAC Events Inc., a successful company specializing in Conferences, Incentives and Special Events. Jyl continues to work with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, as the Officers’ Mess Manager and Event Planner in Montreal.  Recently the Black Watch followed the tradition of many New York armouries, by hosting its first art fair, Papier 10, which will become an annual event.  A second art fair is being planned for the fall of 2010.

Jyl is a member of Oakville Chamber of Commerce. She has been on the committees of several fundraising events in Oakville, including Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion (under contract in 2005/06) Charterability and Halton Police’ popular event, "Real Men Can Cook" raising funds for DARE.

Jyl works with the Sustainability and Technology committees.

Dina Dametto,
Secretary
dldametto
@sympatico.ca

Dina is an active participant in the Oakville arts community, as a performer, teacher and activist. Although her vocation is sales and customer account management, her avocation remains dramatic acting. She has extensive experience with sales and marketing campaigns.

Dina brings sales knowledge and experience and an artist's perspective to the OAC Board.

Peggy Jasper
peggyjasper
@sympatico.ca

Peggy has recently retired as the head of drama at St Mildred’s-Lightbourn School and is looking to continue her engagement with the arts community through the OAC. During her teaching career she was heavily involved and leading many musicals, plays and arts festivals. A highlight of her career was achieving a “real program” and a Studio theatre” at St. Mildred’s and seeing the confidence and skills that this instilled in the students. A people person and a fibre artist herself, she sees a gap in the OAC’s outreach, especially to the youth sector and has a real interest in filling this and potentially creating a mentorship program.

Aimee Kain
aimeekain
@hotmail.com

Aimee is a longtime resident of Oakville. She has managed to combine a love of sports with a career in the media industry, working in sports broadcasting and production with the CBC, Rogers, Score, Cogeco, and WTSN. She has extensive experience with the editing and production tools of the video industry and a strong background in public reporting and speaking. She is a member of the Oakville Trafalgar Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Oakville Golf Club. Aimee brings youth, vitality, and a widely varied set of communications skills to the OAC Board.

Karen Korody
karenkorody
@cogeco.ca

Karen Korody is an independent financial advisor and has been for over 10 years. Previously she worked in the legal profession as a Law Clerk for over 16 years. Karen was born in Toronto, Ontario and has lived there most of her life. In September of 2005 she and her husband moved to Oakville and in this short time has become deeply involved in the community by starting the Lakeshore Woods Community Newsletter and assisting in establishing the newly formed Lakeshore Woods Residents’ Association. Karen has also just completed a year as First Vice President with the Oakville Newcomers Club and is now serving as Secretary of that organization. Karen’s interests include painting and she favours watercolour.

Virginia McEwen
O'Hara
jv.ohara
@sympatico.ca

Virginia has long been associated with theatre in Oakville through the Oakville Drama series and has performed at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, since 1994, in at least 23 productions. As a former television host of After Four on the CTV Network, Virginia has been in front of the camera as well as working behind the scenes at the CBC for 30 years. She retired from the CBC in 2004 after spending the last 10 years as Manager of Network Scheduling. Virginia was a founding member of West End Studio Theatre in 1997, was President for 3 terms of BurlOak Theatre Group, President for 2 terms of the Mississauga Players and serves on the Board of Directors for both of the latter mentioned groups. She has reached out to the artist community of Oakville and has made a considerable effort to become acquainted with performers and organizers of artistic activity. This has allowed her to anecdotally understand the needs of the community where the performing arts are concerned. Virginia sincerely believes that the arts are an important part of all of our lives and would like to do her part to keep them vibrant and alive in the town of Oakville.

Keith Penfold
penfk@hotmail.com

Keith and his wife Gail are longtime members of the Oakville community. Keith grew up in England where he received an engineering degree. He spent nearly forty years in project management and engineering consulting with a Canadian firm that eventually became AMEC. Following his retirement, Keith serves as the Area Representative for the Opimian Society, the largest wine-importing club in Canada, with over 20,000 members. Keith enjoys local theatre and concerts and is an active volunteer with the Canadian Club of Halton Peel, the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, the Oakville YMCA, and St. Jude's Church in Oakville. Keith brings formidable management skills and a broad network of local contacts to the OAC Board. 

Danielle Simpson
daniellesimpson
@yahoo.com

Danielle grew up in Oakville and retains a solid connection to the community. Following a career in information technology and systems development she has successfully diversified into communications, interning in public relations with the AGO and now taking on a combined communications/IT role at the University of Toronto's Medical School. Her love of the arts currently manifests on her blog: www.DanielleSimpson.com.
Danielle brings youth, IT expertise, and a love of the arts to the OAC Board.

Stacey Sinclair
ssinclairzhahary
@cogeco.ca

Jeff Stephens
jeff
@thinkpostcards.com

Jeff has been an active volunteer with the arts communities west of Toronto, including Mississauga'a Heritage Group and Waterfront Festival. Presently, he and his company provide printing and artwork to the OAC at discounted rates. he has a broad background in marketing and media production and experience with many online and e-commerce applications. Jeff brings innovation and a "digital" mind to the OAC Board.

For the past 32 years Maureen has been actively involved in the Telecommunications industry. Her diverse experience in the evolution of Canadian Cable Television includes the ongoing development of Community Television production and operations, along with marketing initiatives such as launching and overseeing the production of a customer information Barker Channel, initiating a Pay per View Sales team and the strategic planning and implementation of corporate branding and acquisition communications.

Currently, she is the Senior Director of Cogeco Communications and Programming, responsible for provincial community relations and information, media and government relations, company outreach and event programs, sponsorships and donations, and local advertising and promotions. She is also responsible for twenty-one local television stations operating under the TVCOGECO brand. Maureen’s voluntary activities have included provincial and national industry committees, including the Ontario Cable Communications Committee, President of the Ontario Cable Television Producer’s Association and Chair of the Canadian Cable Television Association National Programming Committee. She was recognized by the Canadian cable industry with the 'CCTA Award of Excellence' outstanding contributions and industry leadership. She has been actively engaged with community committees such as Performing Arts Burlington and the Halton Round Table on Funding Matters, and is currently a member of the Hamilton Tiger Town Council, Canadian Women in Communications, President of the Board of TV Hamilton and a member of the Oakville Chamber Board of Directors and the Oakville Arts Council. A passionate supporter for community development and inclusiveness, Maureen is a recipient of the Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellowship for her contributions to the community.

A proud Canadian by choice, (Maureen’s family immigrated to Canada from Great Britain), she is married to Don Dyment, (born and bred in Ontario), and is the proud mother of son Jonathan and daughter Erin – and doting grandmother to two beloved Aussie grandchildren.

She is a graduate of McMaster University, with a B.A. in Sociology & Fine Arts, and gained her teaching accreditation from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Education.

Claire Loughheed,
Ex-Officio
Senior Manager Cultural Services,
Town of Oakville
cloughheed@oakville.ca

Claire Loughheed has over 20 years experience in cultural administration ranging from teaching in the Royal Ontario Museum's Creative Arts program to working as a programs specialist for various museums in Canada and the U.S. including the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago), and the DeCordova Museum. Trained in technical theatre, Ms Loughheed has also worked at the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival and Soulpepper Theatre. In her spare time she writes, enjoys photography and is happy playing in anything to do with books or textiles. She is currently employed by the Town of Oakville in the capacity of Senior Manager, Cultural Services, Recreation and Culture.