Leah Cogan

Leah has worked as an actor, musician, facilitator and program developer in Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Boston, creating and leading initiatives that bring together multiple stakeholders to create art, promote social equity and build community. Since graduating from Brown University, she has trained in asset-based community development with the Tamarack Institute, and Movement for Trauma with Jane Clapp, to further explore how communities empowered through story and knowledge sharing can do the hard work of collaborative leadership, and transform their neighbourhoods. For the last several years, Leah has worked in communications, engagement and outreach within the affordable housing space, designing opportunities for stakeholders to come together to scale and advocate for community-led innovative housing solutions.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

As PAL enters this new phase of project development and the vision becomes reality, the culture that is established within and around the community becomes that much more critical. I am proud of how PAL continues to care for, empower and celebrate the artists in our city. And by focusing that care on contributing to the long-term affordability of life for our artists, we hope to see their natural leadership guide us to an even more vibrant, sustainable, and connected city.

Shormila Chatterjee

Shormila is a professional engineer and has worked on large-scale public infrastructure projects for most of her career, including the Confederation Line Stage 1 LRT in Ottawa. She has a passion for giving back to her industry and community and serves on the Organizing Committee for the Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) Ottawa Chapter, as well as participating with the Engineers in Residence program – a program that partners engineers with schools to educate students about the various types and applications of engineering. She has always loved the arts, and in her spare time enjoys going to the various festivals and concerts the city has to offer. She leverages her expertise in complex project management to benefit the PAL Ottawa Board.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

The importance of the arts in a community was instilled in me at a young age, and PAL Ottawa’s vision of supporting senior artists is something that resonates with me.

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.

Sandy Mackay-Smith

Sandy is a retired corporate entertainment lawyer and former President of Invicta Capital Canada, a film and TV financing company. Prior to that, he practised as an entertainment lawyer and served as a Vice President and General Counsel of Nelvana (purchased by Corus Entertainment). While living in Montreal, Sandy was a former Chairman of the Centaur Theatre Company. He is now actively involved as a family member of Juniper Farm in Wakefield, a certified organic vegetable farm with an online farm store with a large variety of organic products serving Gatineau and Ottawa food and restaurant outlets. Sandy has been a PAL Ottawa Board Member since 2018.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

I decided to join PAL Ottawa because of my own interest in the arts and my family’s involvement in the entertainment industry. I therefore have some first-hand knowledge of how difficult it can become financially for senior arts workers.

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.

David Whiteley

An actor, director, musician, playwright and theatrical producer, David Whiteley has been active in Ottawa’s theatre community since moving here in 1998. He has served as Artistic Director of two theatre companies, spanning two decades: Mutatis Mutandis (2000-2010) and Plosive Productions (2011-present), the latter a founding Resident Company of The Gladstone Theatre. He spearheaded The Gladstone’s formation as a shared venue for independent theatre companies, serving as its volunteer Coordinator from 2011 until it was able to incorporate in late 2016, at which time her served as its founding Theatre Manager. He has performed across Canada and the USA, and is the author of several original plays, translations, and adaptations, including rhymed verse adaptations of plays by Molière and Rostand. He also serves as the Director of Operations for the St. Leonard’s Society of Canada, a federally incorporated registered charity.

Why join PAL Ottawa?

I am constantly exposed to the struggles of my fellow artists to make ends meet, which often leads to addressing present concerns at the expense of making headway for later years or retirement. PAL Ottawa meets this need, both through affordable housing but also its Supporting Cast program. I wanted to do what I can to support those much-needed contributions.

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.