ABOUT OUR TEAM

The Georgina Centre for Arts and Culture team is committed to providing a wonderfully complete, stellar experience of everything that the Centre has to offer. From initial contact, to queries regarding exhibits, workshops, programs and everything in between, our staff is passionate about ensuring clarity of information, ease of program enrolment, swift contact response, and providing everyone with a joyous, beautiful and welcoming experience.

Team Members

 

 

SHEILA SULLIVAN
Executive Director

Sheila joins the Georgina Centre for Arts and Culture as the new Executive Director, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience from her career with the Ontario Public Service. During her tenure, she successfully led a variety of initiatives, including the Ontario Public Service network upgrade and the adoption of new technical platforms, leveraging effective change management, marketing, and communication strategies. In addition to her expertise in program management, Sheila has a strong background in financial management, ensuring sustainable project delivery and resource allocation. Known for her inclusive leadership style, she has a proven track record of leading diverse teams to successful outcomes.  

An emerging artist, Sheila has recently explored her creative side through photo-encaustic art, blending her long-time passion for photography with her newfound love for the encaustic medium. 

 

CHARLOTTE HALE
Artistic Director

 Charlotte Hale is an established Canadian arts professional with over 20 years combined experience as an independent art gallery owner, curator,  artist representative, writer, professor, associate dean and creative sector developer.  She is an award winning portrait photographer.   Charlotte brings an in-depth understanding of how nuanced and unique an artistic experience may be and maintains that these are enriching for all people, however they may happen.   Her passion for showing art in dynamic spaces and bringing curious people to actively engage with an exhibition is a natural quality.  Charlotte is recognized as a hard worker and a creative thinker with strong visionary qualities. She is dedicated to the next generation of artists, photographers,  and collectors. 

SCOTT GENGE
Administrative Coordinator

 Embarking on an exhilarating voyage of artistic exploration, Scott Genge has rapidly blossomed into a passionate connoisseur. In a mere span of months, he has delved fearlessly into the captivating realm of creativity, navigating diverse artistic expressions with unwavering enthusiasm. From tentative steps within galleries to the exhilaration of discovering hidden gems, Scott approaches art with an insatiable curiosity that breathes fresh life into his journey. Guided by this profound curiosity, Scott found himself drawn to the heart of the art world through active participation in the volunteer program. The experience has not only deepened his appreciation for the arts but has also sparked a captivating fascination with the intricate tapestry of artistic expression. A dedicated resident of Sutton throughout his life, Scott holds a treasure trove of cherished memories associated with the GCAC. Now, as he eagerly anticipates the next chapter of his artistic journey, Scott looks forward to creating new memories and contributing his passion as a valued member of the GCAC team.

 

JULES HAYWARD
Communications Coordinator

Jules is a passionate and creative third-year graphic design student hailing from the small farming community of Goodwood, Ontario. With a keen eye for detail and a love for photography and logo design, Jules is on a mission to support small businesses that often get overshadowed by big-name companies. When she isn’t designing and studying, she enjoys drawing, crocheting, playing D&D, and doing odd jobs for both the family farm and neighbouring farms in her spare time.

 

Board Members

Mary Anne Cooper
Chair

 

Susan Day
Vice-Chair

 Susan Day is a Georgina resident whose family has cottaged on Lake Simcoe since 1897. Susan studied at Ontario College of Art and Design, where she studied material arts, including textiles, drawing, photography, and film history. She was co-owner and operator of a boutique-style retail store in the Beaches after working in Management with HBC and retired from Sobeys in 2019. She has been a member of the Georgina Studio Tour since 2020, sits on the planning committee and is a participating quilter/textile artist. Susan brings a wealth of retail and artistic experience to the GCAC.

 

Linda Lyons
Past Chair

A creative thinker and thought leader, Linda is known for her success in developing and driving corporate culture, collaboration, and strategy. She is well-versed in the art of leadership, communication, and change management. During her professional career, Linda has held senior positions for numerous leading brands both in the private and non-profit sectors, including IBM Canada, Toronto Police Services, Correctional Services Canada, and a consultant for media and video production. Linda has held the role of the Chair for the Whitby Terry Fox Run and is Past-President and Life Member of the Whitby Courthouse Theatre. She has also been very involved with the ACT-CO (Association of Community Theatre, Central Ontario) as President and Gala Chair. As an award-winning Director/Producer, she enjoys being involved with community theatre and currently serves on the Ajax Community Theatre Board of Directors. As a Mortgage Agent, Linda’s expertise in building relationships has allowed her to provide customized, personalized lending solutions to her clients so they can attain their goal of owning a home or consolidating their finances.
Linda is excited to focus on building membership and awareness of the GCAC as well as showcasing the arts and culture and talents of this community!

The GCAC is a jewel in Georgina, and together, we will help her shine!

Madalyn Calzavara
Secretary

 Madalyn Calzavara is a passionate community advocate who is excited to enhance the GCAC and better our community. In her day-to-day life, she is a marketing and creative professional who loves to help businesses better themselves through campaigns and strategies. She believes that the GCAC is integral to making the Town of Georgina and beyond a better place to live, create, and play.

 

Tom Zsolt
Director

 Canadian photographer, Tom Zsolt has been documenting landscapes, towns, and life across North America for 50 years. His exhibition, Ontario Gothic, during Contact ’98 in Toronto, caught the imagination of publisher Kearns, Vander Meersch & Boulton, who in 1999 published County Matters, Zsolt’s first book. Showing the land, villages and people of rural Ontario, Country Matters was short-listed for the Roloff Beny Award for the best book of photography by a Canadian published that year.

Zsolt’s work was selected for a 2009 exhibition in Beijing, followed by a 10-city tour in China, titled Canadian Cameras at Work. Zsolt’s photograph Niagara Falls, depicting Asian tourists being photographed before Niagara Falls in winter, was selected as the poster image for the exhibition.

As part of Contact 2015, The Georgina Centre for Arts & Culture hosted Reluctant Subject, Portraits by Tom Zsolt exhibiting 40 years of his portraits, which was followed by the release of the book of the same title.

The Georgina Gallery (GCAC) selected seven of Zsolt’s images in 2023 for their exhibition and literary contest 7 STORIES. The exhibition, which featured very large photographs, was accompanied by release of the book 7-STORIES, An Anthology, which included Zsolt’s photos with over 80 short stories and essays.

Tom Zsolt lectures on photography. His work has appeared on the cover of novels and in magazines and is collected by institutions, corporations, and private individuals, including The Image Centre at TMU (formerly Ryerson University), OMERS, Royal LePage and Borealis Capital. The largest collection of his photography is housed in the permanent collection of the Georgina Centre for Arts & Culture in Sutton, Ontario.

Tom Zsolt lives in rural Ontario in the Town of Georgina, with his wife Jennifer who is an artistic painter. Besides photography, Zsolt is passionate about sustainability, rural living and enjoys a brood of dogs, chickens, and horses on their farm.

 

Dale Genge
Director

 

Jacques Bergeron
Director

 

Anita David
Director

 

 

Caird Urquhart
Director

 

Charlene Biggerstaff
Town Appointed Director

 

Jodi Pridham
Town Appointed Director, Non-Voting