Contact MacLaren staff by email by using the following email convention: firstname@maclarenart.com
MacLaren Art Centre
Board of Directors
Matt Follwell (Chair), is a Radiation Oncologist and Chief of Oncology at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. He is an art lover, collector, and supporter. Matt was a Board member of Gallery TPW in Toronto from 2005-2009, is currently a committee member of Art@RVH (2014 present), and has been a Board member of the RVH Foundation since 2016. Matt is passionate about the arts and the continued success of the MacLaren Art Centre and committed to supporting the Board, leadership, and staff to strive for curatorial excellence and community engagement.
Kathy Chen is the Controller at Canadian Base Operators Inc. and four affiliated companies under Black and McDonald Limited. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Queen’s University (Class 2025). Kathy has lived and worked in Barrie and the surrounding areas since 2007 and enjoys volunteering with focuses on seniors and youth groups. She is currently a Board Monitoring Committee member at Catulpa Community Support Services, a registered non-profit agency serving children, youth, adults and families with special or unique needs. In the past, Kathy was the funding treasurer for Rotaract Club of Barrie as well as a treasurer for Simcoe County Young Professionals Association. In addition to art appreciation, in her spare time, Kathy practices hot yoga and spends time with her husband and daughter.
Angela Aujla is a South Asian Canadian visual artist. Her mixed-media, narrative artwork explores the complexity and interplay of history, memory, culture, and identity with a focus on diasporic and material culture. Aujla’s artistic practice is influenced by her academic study of visual culture, anthropology, and feminist postcolonial theory. She is a Professor of Sociology specializing in Critical Race Studies, Gender Studies, and Postcolonial Theory with a demonstrated history of working in postsecondary education at Simon Fraser University, York University, Humber College, and Georgian College. Aujla has extensive experience in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy and initiatives and currently works in the Equity, Diversity, and Belonging Office at Georgian College. She believes that the MacLaren is an integral part of the community and looks forward to collaborating with other community members, and to contribute her experience and expertise for the betterment of the MacLaren Art Centre and by extension, the community.
Joshua completed his articles at a local law firm in Barrie and worked there as an associate upon his call to the Ontario Bar. Joshua practices in the areas of general civil litigation and employment law. Born and raised in Barrie, Joshua graduated with honours from the J.D. program at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. Joshua previously obtained a Bachelor Arts (Honours) from York University where he majored in Law and Society.
Prior to practicing law, Joshua worked in various capacities for the Federal Government including roles as a Special Assistant to the Member of Parliament for Barrie, a Legislative Assistant to a Senator, and as a Special Assistant to the Minister of National Defence.
During law school, Joshua was a student to the Regional Senior Justice for the Ontario Provincial Court in Ottawa where he was responsible for assisting the Court with research on complicated legal issues. Joshua also continued in the public service by taking on a role as the Special Assistant to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in addition to his legal studies.
Joshua has appeared at both the Ontario Superior Court of Justice as well as the Ontario Court of Appeal on a wide range of complex legal matters.
In 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Josh received the Barrie Advance Readers’ Choice award for Favourite Employment Lawyer. In 2022 Josh also received the Barrie Advance Readers’ Choice award for favourite lawyer.
In his spare time, Joshua enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog, Tonka. Josh also has taken on leadership roles with various different community organizations across Barrie.
Angela Francis (Vice President) studied Fine Arts at Georgian College; Graphic Design and Animation at The Art Institute of Toronto; and Visual Arts at The University of The West Indies in Trinidad. With over 30 years of experience, Angela shares painting in her studio in Barrie and has led art programs for the MacLaren. Angela is interested in growing opportunities for emerging artists and public art around the city. Over the years, Angela has served as a juror for the City of Barrie Arts & Culture Investment Grant Program. She is committed to reaching more communities through her BIPOC and LGBTQ alliances.
Jim Harris is a life-long Barrie resident with a history of giving back to the community. He has volunteered for many local service groups and served as a board member for the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children and Simcoe Community Services Client Rights Advisory, among others. Jim earned the 2018 Chief of Police Award from Barrie Police Services for his research that evaluated the impact of their Crisis Intervention Team Training Program on officers in the field. As a volunteer and in his professional life, Jim has championed a variety of projects within the city, including most recently chairing the City of Barrie Performing Arts Centre Task Force. He is currently the Director of Operations and Planning for New Path Youth and Family Services. Jim completed his undergraduate degree at Wilfred Laurier University has a MPA from the University of Liverpool. He is presently a Barrie City Councillor for Ward 8. Jim joined the MacLaren Board in 2019.
Craig Nixon was elected as Ward 2 Councillor in the 2022 Municipal Election. He is currently serving his first term as Ward 2 Councillor.
Jessica Larche is the Managing Director at Larche.
Michael Kuluva is a fashion designer for his namesake fashion brand. He has shown his fashion collections on the runways at New York Fashion Week for over ten consecutive years. Michael graduated with a degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, CA. Michael is also a retired professional figure skater. While active, he toured over 600 cities and 40 countries with shows such as Disney On Ice and Holiday On Ice. He was part of the 1998 Jr. Olympic Team; the 2001 US Figure Skating Team; and he is the 2004 Major League Figure Skating Professional World Bronze Medalist. Michael currently serves on the patient council for Creaky Joints Canada and has sat on numerous boards for arthritis research and activism. He is committed to expanding fashion in the Barrie and Simcoe community in addition to advancing LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Gary Pearson is the Principal of Pearson Engineering Ltd, a civil consulting and engineering firm providing municipal consulting services and land development services to private sector clients. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Ottawa. Gary is a member of numerous industry associations including Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association and Building Industry and Land Development Association. Supporting the community has always been a top priority for Gary. He is pleased to sponsor local hockey and baseball teams as well as events such as the Barrie Film Festival and the Lakeside Party organized by the Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka. Outside of his professional life, Gary enjoys playing golf and spending time at his family cottage on Georgian Bay. He joined the MacLaren Board in 2018, and is a member of the Marketing and Development Committee.
MacLaren Art Centre
Staff
Curatorial, Collections, Education
Rachel Deiterding
Curator: Exhibitions, Collections & Programs
ext. 236
Natalie Fisher
Education & Community Art Assistant
ext. 232
Aaron Guravich
Preparator & Facility Coordinator
Christina Mancuso
Education Officer
ext. 234
Yasmeen Kazak
Curatorial Assistant
Marlisha Lewis
Community Art Coordinator
ext. 235
Operations, Development
Ashleigh Oke
Director of Operations
ext. 222
Lexus Avila
Executive Assistant, Special Projects
ext. 227
Peter Bogle
Development Associate
ext. 277
Andrea Araujo
Development Associate
ext. 236
Rosalind Naccarato
Administrative Assistant
ext. 278
Marketing, Communications, Event Services
Allison Dobney
Event Services
eventservices@maclarenart.com
ext. 256
Kayla van Zon
Marketing Inquiries
