Meet the Team - Staff and Board of Directors
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Dionne Powlenzuk
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Matthew Kyba
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Áine Belton
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Desarée Rosskopf
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Noor Alé
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Revital Weiss
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Board of Directors
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Call for new members
The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is seeking applications for its Board of Directors. As a thriving not-for-profit organization, we are looking for new voices to enhance our Board of Directors. Being a part of the VAC Board is an excellent opportunity to give back to the community of Clarington. Board members can be valuable voices for amplifying the diverse needs of our growing population. About the VAC The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) is an established contemporary public art gallery recognized by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Association of Art Galleries, artists and arts organizations in Ontario and beyond. With a 44-year history of supporting artists and educating our community, the VAC continues to provide a dynamic and inclusive space for people and ideas in an environment that promotes creativity, learning, and fun through arts programming. We’re looking for individuals that can demonstrate talent, joy and commitment to our thriving organization. This volunteer position will work in a collaborative environment guided by the VAC’s history, vision and mission. Professional training in the arts is not required. If you have any of the following knowledge and expertise, we’d like to hear from you: visual arts, culture and community, and qualifications in the following fields: finance, fundraising, legal, insurance, board governance and/or the not-for-profit sector. Participation on the VAC’s Board is voluntary with additional time spent supporting the VAC’s exhibitions and public events. Commitments:
Candidates should also be community-minded and possess good communication and interpersonal skills. If you think you’re the ideal candidate, please express interest to board@vac.ca by January 15, 2021. Successful candidates will be contacted for interviews. |
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Executive Board
Mary Anne Slemon - President Anna McQuaid - Vice President - Treasurer Amy Shackleton - Secretary |
Board Members
KJ Jensen Jess MacGregor Zane Piekenbrock Victoria Smyth Joel Yelle |
Council Representative
Councillor Corinna Traill |
Biographies
Mary Anne Slemon joined the VAC Board June, 2016. Prior to this time, she volunteered with the VAC helping to organize the Wall to Wall fundraising event. She previously volunteered for the Project Management Institute Durham Highlands Chapter Board as Director of Education. She currently serves as a Board Member for Feed the Need in Durham. Mary Anne is currently retired, but previously held a Project Management Professional designation, worked as a Project Management instructor and spent many years in management positions with GM, EDS and HP.
Anna McQuaid joined the VAC Board in May, 2018. Her previous volunteer experience has included Brunchkins Children’s Breakfast Club and Big Brothers and Sisters of Clarington. Anna has worked as an Office Manager for the past 30 years in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
Amy Shackleton is a professional artist who grew up in Bowmanville. She joined the VAC Board in spring 2018 and is now the Board Secretary. She has previously volunteered on the selection committee at Gallery 1313 (Toronto) and donated her paintings to Wall to Wall fundraising events. Amy’s background includes a Fine Arts Honours Degree from York University, an extensive exhibition history (including a solo exhibition at the VAC in summer 2017) and paintings displayed in hundreds of public and private collections. Videos featuring her inventive drip painting technique have reached over 15 million people worldwide. Amy is represented by Wall Space Gallery in Ottawa and currently paints from her studio in Oshawa.
KJ Jensen joined the board in January, 2020 out of desire to help our community realize the artistic talent that resides in Durham, and the wonderful work the VAC does in promoting and encouraging it. KJ brings with him a love for anything that can be said to fall under the umbrella of ‘art’. His own endeavours in this field include writing and photography. Balancing KJ’s artistic inclination is a professional demeanour gleaned from many years in the field of communications and professional writing. KJ has written for mainstream magazines and newspapers and also has international experience in public relations. He holds a specialized honours BA from York University in English and professional writing, a graduate certificate in corporate communications management from Seneca College, and a Master’s Degree in communications from the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Jess MacGregor joined the VAC board in February, 2020. Jess has a background in communications, marketing, and fine art, with a focus on communications and marketing for art galleries, including roles with Station Gallery and Winged Canvas Art Hub. She also has experience volunteering with The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, where she assisted the curatorial department and at events. Jess holds an Honours BA from the University of Guelph with a specialty in photography and a minor in English and a graduate certificate in corporate communications and public relations from Centennial College.
Zane Piekenbrock joined the VAC board in the summer of 2020. He was raised in Bowmanville, Ontario. Zane has a Bachelor of Fine Art, a Bachelor’s of Art History from Queen’s University, a Master’s of Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London UK, and a post graduate diploma in publicity and public relations from the University of Toronto. He previously sat on the board of the Toronto outdoor art exhibition. In the 1990s Zane worked at a world class commercial art gallery in Toronto representing artists such as Michael Snow, Joanne Tod, Ian Wallace, Cindy Sherman. As well as bringing Emerging British artists like Damian Hirst, the Chapman Brothers and Tracey Emin to Toronto. He also has experience in the charity and not for profit sector and was Managing Director of the charity organization Canada Company. While serving with the military Zane was involved in humanitarian, security, and disaster relief operations around the world. He also has a background in public service, financial services and the advertising industry at senior levels.
Victoria Smyth joined the VAC Board in August, 2020. She has a degree from the University of Guelph from their Studio Arts program, with a focus on painting, and contemporary practices. Victoria spent the last 15 years working in the arts and culture sector, working at the Oshawa Museum, and the Clarington Museums and Archives; and while living in Calgary, joined the teams at TELUS Spark, and the Hangar Flight Museum. Victoria works from home raising her two children and exploring new art practices.
Joel Yelle joined the VAC board in May, 2015. He is a Financial Planner/Investment Retirement Planner at RBC Royal Bank. Previous to this he was a Branch Manager, Assistant Manager and he also held other roles at branches in Oshawa & Bowmanville. In addition to being a board member at the VAC, Joel is the Treasurer and a board member of Community Living Oshawa Clarington (CLOC). Joel is a believer in giving back to his community. Through his work, Joel has been a multi-year supporter of the Firehouse Youth Centre in Clarington (charity fundraising BBQ, Mics on Fire/Battle of the Bands). He is an annual participant in the Heart and Stroke Big Bike ride, as well as an annual participant in the Port Perry Polar Bear Plunge. Joel lives in Bowmanville with his wife and 3 young children, 2 boys and 1 girl. Joel believes that the VAC is a great organization and feels strongly about its vision.
Corinna Traill is our Council Representative. Corinna is the local Councillor for Ward 3, she was born and raised in Bowmanville who has a close connection to the community in which she grew up. Corinna started her own practice “Traill Law” with the goal of making Bay Street expertise available at affordable rates. She has experience in many aspects of law, including family law, estate litigation and civil litigation. She also has extensive expertise in the following fields of labour and employment law. She is also active as a member of the Board of Directors on the Tyrone Community Hall Board, the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Advisory Committee, the Jury Lands Committee, and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority. As a proud member of the Bowmanville Business and Professional Women’s Club, she also serves as the Club’s Young BPW Representative and she is an avid target shooter and member of the Pineridge Target Sport Club.
Anna McQuaid joined the VAC Board in May, 2018. Her previous volunteer experience has included Brunchkins Children’s Breakfast Club and Big Brothers and Sisters of Clarington. Anna has worked as an Office Manager for the past 30 years in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
Amy Shackleton is a professional artist who grew up in Bowmanville. She joined the VAC Board in spring 2018 and is now the Board Secretary. She has previously volunteered on the selection committee at Gallery 1313 (Toronto) and donated her paintings to Wall to Wall fundraising events. Amy’s background includes a Fine Arts Honours Degree from York University, an extensive exhibition history (including a solo exhibition at the VAC in summer 2017) and paintings displayed in hundreds of public and private collections. Videos featuring her inventive drip painting technique have reached over 15 million people worldwide. Amy is represented by Wall Space Gallery in Ottawa and currently paints from her studio in Oshawa.
KJ Jensen joined the board in January, 2020 out of desire to help our community realize the artistic talent that resides in Durham, and the wonderful work the VAC does in promoting and encouraging it. KJ brings with him a love for anything that can be said to fall under the umbrella of ‘art’. His own endeavours in this field include writing and photography. Balancing KJ’s artistic inclination is a professional demeanour gleaned from many years in the field of communications and professional writing. KJ has written for mainstream magazines and newspapers and also has international experience in public relations. He holds a specialized honours BA from York University in English and professional writing, a graduate certificate in corporate communications management from Seneca College, and a Master’s Degree in communications from the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
Jess MacGregor joined the VAC board in February, 2020. Jess has a background in communications, marketing, and fine art, with a focus on communications and marketing for art galleries, including roles with Station Gallery and Winged Canvas Art Hub. She also has experience volunteering with The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, where she assisted the curatorial department and at events. Jess holds an Honours BA from the University of Guelph with a specialty in photography and a minor in English and a graduate certificate in corporate communications and public relations from Centennial College.
Zane Piekenbrock joined the VAC board in the summer of 2020. He was raised in Bowmanville, Ontario. Zane has a Bachelor of Fine Art, a Bachelor’s of Art History from Queen’s University, a Master’s of Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London UK, and a post graduate diploma in publicity and public relations from the University of Toronto. He previously sat on the board of the Toronto outdoor art exhibition. In the 1990s Zane worked at a world class commercial art gallery in Toronto representing artists such as Michael Snow, Joanne Tod, Ian Wallace, Cindy Sherman. As well as bringing Emerging British artists like Damian Hirst, the Chapman Brothers and Tracey Emin to Toronto. He also has experience in the charity and not for profit sector and was Managing Director of the charity organization Canada Company. While serving with the military Zane was involved in humanitarian, security, and disaster relief operations around the world. He also has a background in public service, financial services and the advertising industry at senior levels.
Victoria Smyth joined the VAC Board in August, 2020. She has a degree from the University of Guelph from their Studio Arts program, with a focus on painting, and contemporary practices. Victoria spent the last 15 years working in the arts and culture sector, working at the Oshawa Museum, and the Clarington Museums and Archives; and while living in Calgary, joined the teams at TELUS Spark, and the Hangar Flight Museum. Victoria works from home raising her two children and exploring new art practices.
Joel Yelle joined the VAC board in May, 2015. He is a Financial Planner/Investment Retirement Planner at RBC Royal Bank. Previous to this he was a Branch Manager, Assistant Manager and he also held other roles at branches in Oshawa & Bowmanville. In addition to being a board member at the VAC, Joel is the Treasurer and a board member of Community Living Oshawa Clarington (CLOC). Joel is a believer in giving back to his community. Through his work, Joel has been a multi-year supporter of the Firehouse Youth Centre in Clarington (charity fundraising BBQ, Mics on Fire/Battle of the Bands). He is an annual participant in the Heart and Stroke Big Bike ride, as well as an annual participant in the Port Perry Polar Bear Plunge. Joel lives in Bowmanville with his wife and 3 young children, 2 boys and 1 girl. Joel believes that the VAC is a great organization and feels strongly about its vision.
Corinna Traill is our Council Representative. Corinna is the local Councillor for Ward 3, she was born and raised in Bowmanville who has a close connection to the community in which she grew up. Corinna started her own practice “Traill Law” with the goal of making Bay Street expertise available at affordable rates. She has experience in many aspects of law, including family law, estate litigation and civil litigation. She also has extensive expertise in the following fields of labour and employment law. She is also active as a member of the Board of Directors on the Tyrone Community Hall Board, the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Advisory Committee, the Jury Lands Committee, and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority. As a proud member of the Bowmanville Business and Professional Women’s Club, she also serves as the Club’s Young BPW Representative and she is an avid target shooter and member of the Pineridge Target Sport Club.