The Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) named two new members to its board of directors at its recent annual general meeting.
Jessica Allen is already known to the museum as a volunteer and is co-chair of a committee, OMAH stated in a news release.
Allen has a diploma in recreation and leisure services and a post-graduate diploma in museum studies, both from Georgian College. She has extensive volunteer experience, including with the Georgian Grows program and Georgian College, as a special event volunteer at the Ontario Winter Games and as a transcriber for Library and Archives Canada. She is currently employed with the Township of Oro-Medonte as an operations and community services assistant.
“I am particularly drawn to the OMAH board’s role in providing strategic direction and oversight to the museum’s operations, including fundraising, programming, and community outreach. I believe that my skills and experience in administrative support, event planning, and record management would be valuable assets in helping to achieve the museum’s goals and objectives,” she said in the release.
Abby Sirisegaram-Cole recently moved to Orillia and is already in love with the community. Her desire to join OMAH stems from a long history with the arts. In addition to formal training in Carnatic vocal music and the classical Indian dance style bharatanatyam, she has an honours bachelor of science in biology and psychology, a bachelor of science in radiation medicine, and is currently working on a master of science in organizational leadership through Johns Hopkins University.
She is currently working at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) as a radiology technician. She has a number of publications, has done numerous presentations at conferences, and has been a board member of the research ethics board of RVH. When asked why she wanted to join the board, she replied, “I would like to be a part of our local arts community to effect positive change and be a part of something creative. As a health-care worker in cancer for over a decade, I have developed a great sense of empathy and understanding around the power of art in healing the human spirit.”
Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear Mayor Don McIsaac speak about the value of the arts to the community and how OMAH is a cultural leader.
Board president Stephen Davids and past president Ted Duncan thanked outgoing board members Janet Houston and Don Philip for their leadership, dedication, and contributions.
Executive director Ninette Gyorody provided an overview of the museum’s 2022 programs and exhibitions and gave highlights of what to expect throughout the rest of 2023. She acknowledged the importance of the ongoing support of the City of Orillia as well as the value of community partnerships, such as the one with Parklane Landscapes.
Gyorody has been at the helm of OMAH for 10 years, and Davids thanked her for her commitment to the museum. He also told attendees a search has started for a new treasurer to take over before current treasurer Doug Frost’s term ends.
