Board of Directors
The OCFF Board of Directors is a dedicated and enthusiastic group of thirteen volunteers, elected democratically by the membership via advanced balloting during the summer and at the annual conference in October. Directors serve a three-year term. The Executive Committee is elected by the directors, and each position on the Executive Committee is held for one year.
Board Elections
This is a very exciting time for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. We are in the fourth year of a five-year Strategic Plan that seeks to better serve the folk music community.
In accordance with the OCFF’s bylaws, the Board’s Nominating Committee is responsible for vetting and recommending a slate of candidates to the Board, for democratic election by the membership.
Of the Board’s current members, six directors are completing their terms this fall. New directors will be elected by the membership at the October conference in Mississauga.
Executive Committee
President
Alex Sinclair, pmsinc@interlog.com, term ends 2014
Alex is a long-time musician and songwriter with deep roots on the Ontario folk scene, both as a solo artist and with the folk group Tamarack. Alex also works as an administrator/ bookkeeper for the likes of Borealis Records, and sits on the board of the ArtsCan Circle.
Vice President
Katharine Partridge, katharine.a.partridge@gmail.com, term ends 2015
Katharine is a founder of Shelter Valley Folk Festival. She volunteered as business and production manager for its first five years and served as Chair of its inaugural board. She has given presentations on governance, board/staff relationships, and green initiatives at OCFF and Folk Alliance conferences. Katharine is a communications and stakeholder engagement specialist, managing a Toronto-based boutique consultancy advising international clients on sustainability issues. In past lives, she was a journalist and prior to that a production stage manager for Canadian theatres.
Treasurer
Jan Cody, festival@sheltervalley.com, term ends 2015
Jan Cody has worked extensively as a creator, writer, and executive producer for music-based projects, many for radio and television. With the CCMA for a decade, her role as Executive Director included producing a national awards broadcast program, overseeing the jurying and Hall of Fame process, and financial management of the organization’s annual events held in “host cities” in Canada. These events included a full conference slate, trade fair, and the securing of significant national sponsorship and broadcast partners. Her work in the arts has included the creation and management of annual marketing and communications plans and development of outreach programs for clients and partner groups. Jan is currently the Executive Director of Shelter Valley Folk Festival.
Secretary
Tamara Kater, tkater@me.com, term ends 2014
Daughter of an instrument-builder father and a community activist mother, Tamara grew up surrounded by musicians and people building community organizations. A passionate music enthusiast, Tamara has worked in arts management and community outreach for more than a decade. Within the folk music circle, Tamara has worn the hat of agent, artist manager and festival director. She is the Executive Director of Folk Music Canada.
Member-at-Large
Dan Greenwood, greenwoodd@socan.ca, term ends 2013
Dan Greenwood, inspired by his passion for music, has worked on behalf of songwriters and publishers for over twenty-five years in various roles at SOCAN, Canada’s performing rights organization. He is currently responsible for strategic & corporate planning and operational change (re-engineering), in the role of Vice-President of Corporate Planning and Business Change at SOCAN.
Member-at-Large
Jerry Switzer, jswitzer@feehelygastaldi.com, term ends 2013
Jerry is the chair of Tottenham Bluegrass Festival (1991 to present) and legal counsel for several arts organizations, clubs, charities, foundations and associations. In addition, Jerry is a Director and Officer of community organizations relating to business and cultural events and a member of the South Simcoe Ramblers bluegrass band. Jerry is involved in the musical community at all levels, and is a songwriter and performer.
Directors
Adam Brown, abrown@uottawa.ca, term ends 2014
The son of Alistair Brown, one of the Friends of Fiddlers Green and a founder of London’s Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club, Adam has carried a love for folk music into his adulthood. Adam is an active participant in music and dance, and in the folk music community itself. He has been a director on the board of the Ottawa Folk Festival, and ArtsScene Ottawa, and co-founded the Maple Morris dance troupe.
Shawna Caspi, info@shawnacaspi.com, term ends 2015
Shawna is a singer-songwriter from Ottawa, now based in Toronto. She is currently touring and promoting her second release, Skyline, and is a great supporter of the Canadian folk scene. Shawna has experience in funding and marketing for artists and arts organizations. Her work with the Ontario Arts Council, Roots Music Canada, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, Bravo!FACT, and CARAS have given her a familiarity with the marketing, administration and promotional aspects of the music business at the grass roots level.
Richard Flohil, rflohil@sympatico.ca, term ends 2013
Richard has worked full-time in the music industry as a writer, editor, publicist and concert promoter for some 40 years. A former festival artistic director and event coordinator (Mariposa, Southern Comfort Blues Festival), he continues to work with a wide variety of roots music artists, from Loreena McKennitt to Downchild, from Justin Rutledge to Jeff Healey. He was the 2006 recipient of the OCFF’s Estelle Klein Award.
Jane Harbury, jane@harbury.ca, term ends 2013
Jane Harbury began work in publicity in the early ’80s, founding Jane Harbury Publicity in 1988. From 1988 until 2000, Ms. Harbury ran her own company – small, versatile and effective. She worked on contract for some clients, and on a project basis for specific clients or events. Late in 2000 Ms. Harbury formed Planet3 Communications Ltd. with Joanne Smale. In January 2004 Harbury stepped down from the partnership and reactivated Jane Harbury Publicity, returning to focus more strongly on her first love – the arts and developing artists.
Brad McEwen, mill_race@yahoo.com, term ends 2013
Brad McEwen is the Artistic Director of the Mill Race Festival of Traditional Music. The festival’s focus is on traditional forms of folk music and dance from a variety of cultures. Because it was inspired by similar events held in the UK, a significant part of the content is British and Irish music. However, an equally significant number of acts represent a variety of world cultures and the multinational character that is Canada today. In his spare time, Brad is an avid musician in his own right, helping to preserve and spread trad music well beyond his home community. In August 2012, Brad received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.
Scott Merrifield, smerrifield@eastlink.ca, term ends 2015
A founder and past Artistic Director of Northern Lights Festival Boréal for 14 years, Scott was also involved in OCFF in its early days and gave workshops at early conferences. Since 1992, he has been presenting approximately 8 house concerts per year in Sudbury. Scott retired from his job as Director of Policy & Planning for FedNor in 2008 after 33 years in the federal public service, delivering community-based social and economic development programs throughout Northern and rural Ontario, including extensive work with Aboriginal communities and the Community Futures Program.
Kuljit Sodhi, kuljit@galitcha.com, term ends 2013
Kuljit Sodhi is the creator and leader of the very successful world music ensemble Galitcha. After ten years of civil engineering Kuljit embraced music full time in 2002. Since then Galitcha has traveled around the world sharing music made in Canada. Kuljit divides his time between practicing, writing, promoting and performing his music. As manager and, until recently, agent for the group, Kuljit has been booking Galitcha for performances in concert halls, festivals, schools and community events nationally and internationally. Kuljit has served as past president of a housing co-op; sits on peer assessment committees; is a FACTOR juror; teaches dance; and serves as consultant and coach to music artists across Canada and United States.