CAHEP Board, 2019-2021
Chair: Mr. Robert Magnusson, Thunder Bay, ON is a retired Secondary School Educator, Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and Practicing and Professional Visual, Fibre, and Culinary Artist. Mr. Magnusson utilizes his decades-long Board volunteer experience, high school administrative and teaching experience, and creativity to support CAHEP in its work to spread the joy of art far and wide. He is highly respected, knowledgeable, transparent, reliable, and trustworthy in his stewardship of CAHEP. He was appointed May 2013; and, his position as CAHEP’s Chair was extended during CAHEP’s March 22, 2019, AGM.
Treasurer: Lindsey Torma, Thunder Bay, ON, is an Associate Lawyer at Edwards Bell Law Offices (Thunder Bay), is passionate about community and capacity-building in Northwestern Ontario, and is an expert in: intercultural awareness (via her Master of Arts work at the University of Waterloo); Labour Relations and Employment Law; and, Indigenous Law. Ms. Torma is from Thunder Bay, is a trained theatre arts-educator-artist, and avidly follows art, film, and literature, especially by Canadian and Indigenous authors. She has volunteered with many organizations that promote and strengthen the arts and culture, particularly in Canada’s North and within the region of Northwestern Ontario. Lindsey is thrilled to be able to contribute her legal and theatre arts expertise, knowledge of Indigenous literary arts, training in intercultural awareness, and know-how of Labour Relations and Employment Law, Indigenous Law, and Civil Litigation to support CAHEP in its work. Ms. Torma joined the CAHEP Board on March 18, 2021 and was appointed as Treasurer on June 9, 2021.
(Former) Treasurer: Alicia Costanzo (Carrano), Thunder Bay, ON, works at Anishnawbe Mushkiki Community Health, was a former Policy Analyst for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and has extensive experience in the medical field. Ms. Costanzo shares her legal, policy, and project management know-how with CAHEP. She also utilizes her connections with local Indigenous communities and in the medical field to support CAHEP’s programming and governance equity commitments. She was elected to the Board in September 2019, appointed as Treasurer in November 2019, and resigned May 28, 2021 (due to COI issues).
(Former) Treasurer: Danielle Williams; Elementary School Educator, Lakehead Public Schools, Thunder Bay, ON was appointed in December 2015. Ms. Williams resigned in Nov 2019 as she started a full-time job with the Lakehead Public School Board and could not commit the time required to serve as a volunteer CAHEP Board member.
Secretary: Dr. Isabelle Lemée, Thunder Bay, ON, is an Associate Professor and Chair of Languages, Lakehead University, and a Practicing and Professional Francophone Visual Artist. Dr. Lemée, who was appointed in October 2018, supports CAHEP’s administrative operations (in her experience as an administrator at Lakehead University) and extends her connections to the local Francophone community to help CAHEP operationalize Francophone-centred programming. She also delivers on-the-ground programming when called upon to do so, most especially in situations that required French-language art instruction.
(Former) Secretary: Louisa Costanzo (former Games Manager, Special Olympics, Canada Winter Games, 2020), Thunder Bay, ON was appointed in April 2017. Ms. Costanzo resigned from the Board on June 17, 2019, as she took up a full-time job with the City of Thunder Bay, Culture Division.
Director: Anne Winkworth, Thunder Bay, ON, is a Visual Art Teacher, Lakehead Public Schools, Professional Artist and Graphic Designer. Ms. Winkworth brings her extensive experience in arts education and connections with the Thunder Bay Public schools to support CAHEP’s In-school Program. She also brings her decades-long experience as a professional artist to assist CAHEP in decisions wrt professional development opportunities for local artists. Ms. Winkworth was appointed in January 2020.
Director: Catherine Forbes, Thunder Bay, ON, is the Chair of Student Services, Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and Eleanor Drury Children’s Theatre Board Director. Ms. Forbes brings a wealth of experience in youth education in her position at the Lakehead Public Schools and with her work in children’s theatre to CAHEP. She was appointed in January 2020.
Director: Veronica McGuire, Thunder Bay, ON, is of Ojibwe and Irish descent. Ms. McGuire has worked: on many Youth and Elders’ Forums with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization; with the Associate Director for Indigenous Natural Resources, Lakehead University’s Indigenous Initiatives Office, and Lakehead University’s Geology department to develop a geological certificate for Indigenous youth in remote areas in Ontario; and, with the Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association (OMAA) to provide information about Metis rights within Canada. She will graduate from Lakehead University’s Anthropology Department in Spring 2021 and will pursue a Master of Science degree in Archaeology and Environmental Studies. Ms. McGuire supports CAHEP’s equity commitments regarding the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and will help CAHEP form new partnerships with different youth groups and Indigenous communities. She is most passionate about using art as a way to promote healthy outlets for youth. Ms. McGuire was appointed to the Board on Feb 8, 2021.
(Former) Director: Ms. Gomez, Thunder Bay, ON, was appointed to the Board on Feb 8, 2021. She is an Indigenous person and works as a Community Services Manager for Anishnawbe Mushkiki Community Health, a holistic healthcare organization that serves Indigenous people of all ages and that works to empower them to achieve optimal health and well-being via traditional Indigenous health knowledge. Ms. Gomez holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education and Teaching. Her experiences working with Indigenous Peoples and her training in education support CAHEP’s commitments to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. She also loves art. Ms. Gomez resigned her Directorship on June 30, 2021.
(Former) Director: Rebecka Angell, Lawyer, Henderson Family Law, Thunder Bay, ON was appointed in January 2017. Ms. Angell resigned in October 2019 as she moved to Ottawa for a full-time job.
(Former) Director: Aaron Cava, Hair Artist, Fundraising Expert, Thunder Bay, ON was appointed October 2018 and resigned in February 2020 due to work and work-related training responsibilities.
Advisor (non-voting): Dr. Lisa Korteweg, Education Faculty, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay ON. Dr. Korteweg has agreed to serve as an advisor for the next four years for our Speak Up Program. She brings her vast experiences and expertise working: with the three school boards in Thunder Bay; with Indigenous organizations and groups; at the university; and, on various program evaluation methods and techniques to support CAHEP in its equity commitments and administrative responsibilities.
Advisor (non-voting): Dr. Elizabeth Birmingham, Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON. Dr. Birmingham has agreed to serve as a non-voting advisor for CAHEP and to deliver social justice, gender-based workshops for artists interested in participating in our Speak Up Program. She brings her experience working with girls and female youth and her administrative, legal, and human resources knowledge (and connections to experts in these fields via LakeheadUniversity) to CAHEP. She is also a poet.
(Former) Advisor (non-voting:): Pauline Sameshima, Professor & Canadian Research Chair in Arts Integrated Studies, Lakehead University, Curator, and Practicing Artist, Thunder Bay, ON. Dr. Sameshima served as an Advisor from Spring-Fall 2019 re: program evaluation methods.