Peter Haworth

Peter has been an actor, director, teacher, and dramaturge for over forty years. He has acted in theatres across the country, as well as in film and television. Peter was the founding member and project manager for a theatre created in Toronto called ShakespeareWorks, working with RH Thompson, Rosemary Dunsmore and Christopher Newton. He has also served as Artistic Producer for the Actors Repertory Company.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

Living in Toronto, I had friends living in PAL Toronto, and saw the great value it brought to artists’ lives. I look forward to seeing this dream come true in Ottawa. I am honoured to be serving as Chair to this extraordinary team of talented and experienced board members who are dedicated to the lives of senior arts workers.

Don Gibbons

Don is the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of FreeBalance Inc., a global Government Resource Planning software solution provider – now active in over 25 countries. He has been responsible for the financial, tax, legal and risk management operations of the company for over 20 years. As a professional accountant, he has helped companies grow through acquisitions, restructuring and creative financing solutions, including 10 years in corporate banking with CIBC. Don was a Board member and Treasurer of CUSO-VSO Canada for 4 years, assisting in the merger of the two organizations.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

Securing affordable housing in Ottawa is a very significant challenge. PAL’s focus on helping senior arts workers find independent living arrangements is a worthy and much needed undertaking.

Gaston Cloutier

Gaston spent most of his working life in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). During more than 41 years, he held positions of increasing responsibilities as a pilot, retiring in 2010 at the rank of Brigadier-General. Gaston was privileged and honoured to command 442 Search and Rescue Squadron in Comox, BC, and Canadian Forces Base Trenton, the largest Air Force base in Canada. Gaston accumulated over 6600 hours of flight time on maritime patrol, transport and search and rescue aircraft. Following his retirement from the CAF, Gaston was selected as Director General of the Gatineau Airport. Helped by great employees and supported by a superb board, Gaston led a significant economic development of the Gatineau Airport. Gaston retired from full-time employment in October 2022.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

When introduced to PAL Ottawa, I was immediately drawn to its vision and mission, and to its various programs and services helping artists in need.

Don Monet

Don focuses his art practice on the post-modern landscape. Using photocollage and acrylic paint, he creates sequences of fractured photos which are then unified through traditional landscape techniques. Co-owner and director of Cube Gallery, Ottawa (2005-present), Don has organized more than 200 thematic group exhibitions and solo shows and provided a venue for hundreds of artists featuring visual artists, but including musicians, actors and dancers. In 2020 he reanimated the Cube as a successful virtual gallery. Don has organised many politically motivated open-call art exhibitions and fundraisers, most recently Art Against Genocide at Club SAW. He has taught culture, communications, ethics, and audience research courses at the University of Ottawa. His work is informed by the 13 years he lived and worked with the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en peoples in Northern B.C.  In 1992 he published Colonialism on Trial, a graphic textbook documenting the landmark Delgam Uukw vs The Queen land claim trial of 1987-91.  Colonialism on Trial remains on the required reading list of many Canadian Universities.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

Artists are essential to a dynamic thriving city. However, they are often overlooked, frequently working in solitude, often struggling with their practice, a liveable income and housing. PAL is our opportunity to acknowledge and thank them for their contributions to our community. The Professional Arts Lodges offers affordable housing, dignity and the opportunity to live with other artists at the PAL apartments and Creative Spaces on Rochester St.

David Caulfeild

David is licensed as an Architect and a Professional Engineer and has spent his career devoted to project management in both public and private sectors. David left Public Works Canada in 1998 as Chief Architect to take on the new Ottawa International Airport Expansion Program as Project Director. David has been self-employed since 2004. David served as Project Advisor to the Great Canadian Theatre Company for their new facility beginning in 2004. David has been a member of Board of Governors at Ashbury College for two nine-year terms beginning in 1980, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Perley Rideau Veterans Health Centre Foundation for a seven-year term beginning in 1999. Since 2008, David has been involved with various Parliamentary Precinct projects, including renovations to the Wellington Building, dispute resolutions on the West Block project, and strategic planning for the Senate that led to the Government Conference Centre. Now David prefers the semi-retired lifestyle coupled with travel.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

I was drawn to PAL Ottawa’s critical mission of support to artists in need of affordable accommodation.

Anne Maheux

Anne is a fine art conservator, specializing in the conservation treatment of works on paper, from old master prints to oversize contemporary drawings. Her studies include an Honours BA in Art History and Studio Practice at the University of Guelph, a Masters in Art Conservation (MAC) at Queen’s University in Kingston and an advanced certificate in paper conservation from the Straus Center for Conservation at Harvard University.  Research into artists’ materials and practices, both historic and contemporary, have taken her to the American Academy in Rome (FAAR 1996), and the Getty Museum (guest scholar, 2018).  She enjoys mentoring emerging paper conservators, and has been an adjunct professor in the Master’s program at Queens University, Kingston. Anne has served in many volunteer capacities on boards and committees for conservation organizations and maintains a private conservation practice in Ottawa.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

As an ardent supporter of the arts, the PAL mandate to support artists in need is a critical and worthwhile cause to support in any way that I can.

Marisa Victor

Marisa Victor is an Ottawa-based lawyer and adjudicator. Marisa was called to the bar in 2006 and has primarily practiced civil litigation and administrative law. She has appeared as counsel at every level of court in Canada. Since 2016 she has also been a Vice-Chair at Tribunals Ontario serving concurrently on numerous tribunals. She is currently a Vice Chair of the Fire Safety Commission and a member of the Condominium Authority Tribunal. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Marisa was a professional actor and maintains her membership with ACTRA. She completed a BFA in Theatre (Acting) at York University and then an MA in Text & Performance at the University of London /Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (UK). Marisa has served on several not-for-profit and charity boards including at Nelson House (an emergency women’s shelter) and the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Marisa is functionally trilingual (Eng/Fr/Sp) and identifies as a Latinx woman.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

I am passionate about the arts and Ottawa. I look forward to being able to contribute my skills and experience so PAL Ottawa can fulfill its goals to support senior artists in affordable housing here in Ottawa.

Sandy Smallwood

Sandy is president of Andrex Holdings Limited, a firm which specializes in the purchase and long term management of historic “Grand Dame” apartment buildings from the 1920’s. For his work he has received 6 municipal heritage awards, The Ontario Heritage Foundation “Award for Achievement”, The Heritage Canada Foundation “Award for Exemplary Stewardship of Heritage Architecture”, The Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Metal and the Order Of Ottawa. In addition to his work with Heritage properties Sandy has served on the boards of The Ottawa Arts Centre (Arts Court), Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, Canadian Association of Police Governance and The Ottawa Police Services Board. He was also a member of the City of Ottawa LACAC and Built Heritage committees and was a municipal Councillor in the Village of Rockcliffe Park when it was an independent municipality.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

I have 3 children who are artists and our family has long appreciated the important role arts and artists play in making our City the wonderful place it is today. Many years ago when I sat on the board that established Arts Court in the former historic Courthouse, I was able to work closely with artists from many disciplines and saw their intense dedication to their craft and how they often received little in the way of compensation for their efforts. I think PAL is a wonderful opportunity to in some small way to give back.