[L2022.88] Traveller 3, 2019 mixed media on paper , 90.2 × 58.4 cm , Michelle Bilodeau and Matthew Kingston, Photo courtesy the artist and Patel Brown, © Rajni Perera
Women’s Art Council
The Women’s Art Council provides a forum for women philanthropists with a passion for Canadian art to share their time and talents in support of the exhibitions, programming, and capital development of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection—and to bring the McMichael to greater prominence regionally. The Council also has a specific role to promote and encourage the work of Canadian female artists.
Connect with us
To learn more about joining the Women’s Art Council, please contact:
Roz Heintzman, Associate Director, Special Projects
Council Members
Connect with Us
To learn more about joining the Women’s Art Council, please contact:
David McBride, Acting Director of Development
905.893.1121 ext 2217
dmcbride@mcmichael.com
Isabel Bassett
Isabel Bassett
Isabel Bassett is a former chair and CEO of TVO, MPP, and Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation for the Ontario Government. She was host and producer of award-winning documentaries on CFTO-TV which focused on social issues such as sexual abuse, mental health and teen gangs. Now retired, Isabel is known for using her knowledge and connections as she continues to work for gender parity. She is a champion for increased diversity in senior management and on boards, as well as a strong advocate for youth engagement in politics. She is now adding her voice in support of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection to educate the public about Canadian art.
Barbara Bellissimo
Barbara Bellissimo
Barbara Bellissimo has over three decades of experience in the insurance industry, having held senior positions in sales, marketing, claims, underwriting, general operations and financial services in the United States and Canada at State Farm Insurance Companies. She is currently the Senior Vice President at Desjardins General Insurance, and is responsible for the successful integration of the State Farm into Desjardins.
Committed to giving back to her community, Barbara serves as co-chair of Women United for the Toronto/York Region United Way Campaign Cabinet, as treasurer on the board of the International Women’s Forum and as a member of the Excellence, Impact and Engagement Committee for the Ocean Frontier Institute. She resides in Kleinburg with her husband Maurice and their two children.
Nancy Bruno
Nancy Bruno, CFP, FMA, | Director & Team Lead | Mutual Fund Representative
Nancy Bruno, CFP, FMA is a director of mutual fund representatives at Scotia Wealth with 30 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering customized lending solutions to high-net-worth families. Bruno is a Private Banker who consistently delivers a high level of ethical and competent services to every client she works with.
Valerie Burke
Valerie Burke
For 18 years, Valerie Burke has been the personal assistant of McMichael Canadian Art Collection Honourary Board Member Edward J. R. Jackman. She studied Italian at the University of Toronto, which provided her with an opportunity to research mosaics across the city. Valerie’s professional background is in the manufacturing of flags, as she is the co-owner of The Flag Store in Thornton. She is also the administrator of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association and can be heard singing in several choirs throughout the city, specializing in Renaissance music. Valerie is the proud mother of four adult children.
Jamie Cameron
Jamie Cameron
Jamie has a long association with the McMichael, having served on the Board of Trustees from 2004-2013 (in the final two years as Vice Chair) and also on the Art Advisory Committee for many years. She and husband Chris Bredt are longtime art collectors and McMichael supporters. In 2015, they donated their Northwest Coast art collection to the McMichael. That donation was followed by a large donation of Inuit graphics from Baker Lake; a donation of drawings and prints by Annie Pootoogook; and, most recently, a collection of drawings and prints by Itee Pootoogook. Jamie and Chris also provided leadership and sponsorship for the Annie Pootoogook exhibition, Cutting Ice, and the Itee Pootoogook exhibition, Hymns to the Silence.
Anne-Marie Canning
Anne-Marie Canning
Anne-Marie Canning is a gender empowerment philanthropist supporting the advancement of women through the Canadian Women’s Foundation, the TIFF Share Her Journey Fund, and the Emmy Noether Society at Perimeter. She is also well-recognized for her contributions to supporting research and breakthrough advances in science within the University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s largest health and medical research organization located in Toronto. Of particular interest to Canning is the application of AI – artificial intelligence – to breakthroughs in cardiac research and care. She resides in Toronto.
Tania Carnegie
Tania Carnegie
Susan Chant
Susan Chant
Susan Chant is originally from Toronto and is a University of Guelph graduate in Family Studies. She has worked and lived in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario. Her career has focused on social services, fundraising and freindraising. As a member of the Junior League of Toronto and Montreal, she has been involved with service organizations and fundraising events including JLT Designer Showhomes. Recently, she completed her term as Chair of the Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation Board in Newmarket. Susan and her husband Ted have two grown children and currently live in King City.
Nancy Coldham
Nancy Coldham, Chair
Nancy is the Founder and Strategic Communication Practice Lead of The CG Group. She holds a Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication from Royal Roads University.
Nancy’s social and charitable pursuits focus on the advancement of women in business and politics. She is a member of UN Women and Global Compact Canada, as well as the Advisory Council to the Institute of Economic Empowerment of Women, where she is a Mentor in the Peace Through Business Program. She is past co-chair of Equal Voice Toronto and a former Equal Voice National Director. Nancy has led the Women’s MasterMind program at the Verity Women’s Club in Toronto for a number of years.
Awards, Achievements and Accolades
- UN Women Global Compact Canada 2017 Gender Equity Award (2017)
- Ontario Leading Women Building Community Award (2017)
- 2016 Persons Case Award Nominee (2016)
- YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction Award for Advocacy and Political Action (2014)
- Governor General of Canada Gold Medal Award for Academic Excellence (2013)
- Excellence Award by the Walk-With-Me Foundation (2010)
- Canadian Women in Communications Award Nominee (2009)
- Markham Board of Trade Business Excellence INNOVATION Award (2007)
- Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Award for Lifetime Achievement Two-Time Nominee
- Cross-Cultural Business Models with an International Cultural Awareness Profile Licence
- Chief Champion of the EVE Society
- Ontario’s Girls’ Government Program sponsorship
Giuseppina D’Agostino
Giuseppina D'Agostino
Giuseppina (Pina) D’Agostino is a law professor, lawyer and legal scholar at Osgoode Hall Law School specializing in intellectual property, technology and innovation law and policy. Pina is regularly called by the Canadian and Provincial governments for advice, is a widely published author and a cited authority at the Supreme Court of Canada and in various media. She is the Founder and Director of IP Osgoode, the IP Intensive, and the Innovation Clinic, the first legal clinic of its kind helping start-ups. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the IPJ, and founder and Editor-in-Chief of the IPilogue. She was an Associate for a large Toronto firm and recruited into the Canadian Government by the Recruitment of Policy Leaders as a Senior Policy Analyst. She serves as Director to the Alectra Inc. Board. Pina is the recipient of various honours and awards, has a Masters and Doctorate in Law (University of Oxford), an LLB (Osgoode Hall Law School) and is a LSUC 2001 call. Her two books, Copyright, Contract, Creators: New Media, New Rules and The Common Law of Intellectual Property: Essays in Honour of Professor David Vaver are widely available. She currently serves as a member of the McMichael Board of Trustees.
Anna Dowbiggin
Anna Dowbiggin
Anna Dowbiggin is an accomplished business executive, author, entrepreneur and academic. She holds a PhD from Edinburgh Business School and actively consults to many groups in Canada. She is the academic author of Climate Risk and Business, published by Springer Science. Her forthcoming business book Decarbonizing Business: a guide for strategists is due out Fall 2022. As an entrepreneur, she founded a health care publishing house, a unified telecommunications solutions group and a marketing practice focused on consumer perception research modelled after her work at Polaroid Corporation.
Anna has served on multiple boards and is an active supporter of the visual and performing arts in Canada.
The Honourable Gloria Epstein
Gloria Epstein
Justice Gloria Epstein graduated from law school in 1977, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992. She was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 1993 and has served as a judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal since 2007. Throughout her career, Justice Epstein has been active in the broader community, including involvement as Director of Women’s College Hospital Foundation, Special Advisor to the Canadian Association for the Riding Disabled, member of the committee established to facilitate access to the courts for people with disabilities, Director of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Director of the Starlight Foundation, Co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Justice Education Network, and Chair of the Alumnae Association of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
In 2007, Justice Epstein was awarded the University of Toronto Arbor Award for volunteerism and in 2013, was recognized as a YWCA Woman of Distinction. She currently serves on the National Board of Directors of Pathways to Education and on the Smith School of Business Advisory Board.
Kathleen Freeman
Kathleen Freeman
Kathleen Freeman has over 40 years’ experience in the public benefit sector as a professional, board member, and volunteer. She has served in local, provincial and national organizations. Professionally, Kathleen was a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada where she heard and decided applications from asylum seekers from around the world. As Ontario Director for the Canadian Unity Council, she dealt with government relations, educational programs, and issues related to national unity. Kathleen has also taught at Seneca College and worked in child welfare with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, and the Metropolitan Separate School Board. On a volunteer level, Kathleen was Associate Vice Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation; Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto; Member of Human Rights Watch, Canada Committee; Chair of Markham Public Libraries; and served as a board member of the Musical Stage Company, The Canadian Club of Toronto, Canadian Stage Company, and York Central Hospital. She currently sits on the board of Necessary Angel Theatre Company.
Susan Hodkinson
Susan Hodkinson
Susan Hodkinson is the Chief Operating Officer at Crowe Soberman. She is chair of the International Women’s Forum’s Toronto chapter and sits on the organization’s National Board. Susan is also chair of the Board of Directors for Nightwood Theatre, the oldest professional women’s theatre company in Canada. She sits on the board of the Women’s Brain Health Initiative and is also an honorary chair of One Walk to Conquer Cancer.
Ani Hotoyan-Joly
Ani Hotoyan-Joly
Ani Hotoyan-Joly is a chartered professional accountant and a chartered accountant. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, as well as the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She was selected as a 2016 Diversity 50 candidate by the Canadian Board Diversity Council. Most recently, Ani was the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Coventree Inc.
Ani is a member of the Board of Directors, the Audit and Risk Committee and the Compensation, Leadership and Governance Committee at Ontario Power Generation. She is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. Ani is currently serving as a member of the Executive Board at the Armenian Relief Society’s Roubina (Toronto) Chapter.
Bonnie Rosenberg
Bonnie Rosenberg
Bonnie Rosenberg is the owner of B.R. Interiors, an interior design company specializing in residential homes.
Bonnie is currently a board member of Best Buddies Canada.
At present, Bonnie is chairing Mind Matters, an event to raise funds to build a classroom for the Fresh Start Program for Sunnybrook Hospital Brain Sciences Centre.
Bonnie was a former director of Sunnybrook Foundation. Bonnie also sat on both the Donor Relations Committee and the Common Marketing & Communications Committee for Sunnybrook.
Bonnie is an art enthusiast who is particularly interested in contemporary Canadian art.
Diana Janosik-Wronski
Diana Janosik-Wronski
Diana comes from a professional background in communications, including community and government relations, as well as internal communications and marketing. Her experience spans three provinces, and a spectrum of sectors and industries. In addition, Diana has undertaken property development and management, and written for several publications. She holds an Honours BA in Geography from the University of Toronto, and a Master in Environmental Studies from York University. A long time volunteer with the International Association of Business Communicators, she helped found and was a Director for the West End group of the Toronto Chapter. For over a decade she was a Board Member with Toronto Operetta Theatre, and also for several years of the Kids and Horses Foundation charity. Arts have always been a passion for Diana, and amongst volunteering for many organizations she has been a member of the Gala Committee for DAREarts. Now retired, Diana has been appointed to the Heritage Caledon Committee.
Jane Knop
Jane Knop
Jane Knop is a Managing Director at First Swiss Group, a diversified firm specializing in the real estate and financial sectors. Previously, Jane worked in the CPP Investment Board’s private equity group in Toronto and in Morgan Stanley’s high yield group focusing on the consumer products, retail and food & beverage industries based in New York. She has also worked for ING Clarion in the real estate servicing and private equity groups in New York and has been actively involved in the build-out of family-owned real estate development and senior care businesses. Jane is actively involved in various non-profit organizations supporting the arts and veterans. Jane holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree from the HAAS School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. She currently serves as a member of the McMichael Board of Trustees.
Deborah Maw
Deborah Maw
Deborah Maw has been the executive director of Open Arms to International Adoption, a licensed adoption agency that specializes in adoptions from the People’s Republic of China since 1998. She has been actively involved in volunteer activities with numerous non-profit and charitable organizations, including the Garden Club of Toronto, Rosedale-Moore Park Association (Mooredale), the Junior League of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Elizabeth Fry Society, Girl Guides of Canada, the Psychological Foundation of Canada and the Costume Society of Ontario. Deborah has a professional background in history and museum studies, and resides in Toronto.
Jo-Anne Raynes
Jo-Anne Raynes
Jo-Anne is an architect of change and transformation. She has held senior executive positions at Canadian and international banks. Jo-Anne created one of the first high-tech financing practices in commercial banking, for which she was nominated for an Entrepreneur of the Year Award. At Shell Canada, she launched a socio-economic forecasting capability, and independently created the first psychographic study of Canadian women. Jo-Anne is currently investigating the impact of human consciousness on decision-making. She is an aficionado of art galleries and museums around the world.
Cristina Rizzuto
Cristina Rizzuto
Cristina Rizzuto is the author of a poetry collection, The Music Makers (Blaurock Press, 2012). A graduate of the University of Toronto (Hons. Bachelor of Arts), her writing has appeared in magazines, journals and anthologies in Canada and Europe. She is the 2012 recipient of the City of Vaughan RAVE Award, which recognized her as a rising star in the literary arts; 2012 recipient of the Mattia International Poetry Prize; and shortlisted on CBC Canada Writes. In 2014, Cristina was honoured to be selected as Artist-in-Residence at La Macina di San Cresci in Tuscany, Italy.
Laura Rosati
Laura Rosati
Laura is a busy mom of two beautiful daughters, a local resident of Kleinburg, and a practicing lawyer. She devotes her spare time on various boards including the Barrie Real Estate Lawyers Association (BRELA) and the Child Advocacy Centre Simcoe/Muskoka. She is a member of the Simcoe County Law Association, the Simcoe County Young Professionals Association and a member of the Business & Professional Women (BPW) of Barrie. Laura is a passionate supporter of The Olive Branch for Children, which is a charity based in Tanzania, Africa, supporting children living with HIV/Aids.
Rose Savage
Rose Savage
Rose Savage is an accomplished business development executive currently working in the financial services industry. Rose sits on the board at the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women. She holds a degree in Business and Administration Studies from Ryerson University and an Executive Administration Studies diploma from Seneca College.
Rose serves as a board member at Sheena’s Place, where she received the 2011 Volunteer Award. She plays an active role at the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario, serves as Scotiabank’s Breakfast Committee Member, and is also a United Way Ambassador. She has previously served as IBM Country Club Director, United Way Chair, Terry Fox Run Chair and IBM’s Media & Community Donations Chair.
Penny Shore
Penny Shore
Penny Shore is a business consultant, publisher, gerontologist and a social entrepreneur. For the past 30 years, she has been an innovative and creative business leader across Canada. Penny has brought products and organizations from concept to full operation, in both the public and private sectors. She has applied her exceptional creative abilities as a custom publisher to business and mass-market educational programs. Penny, an experienced public speaker, has completed North American media tours and extensive national training programs.
Tracy Simpson
Tracy Simpson
Tracy Simpson is a former investment banker, now community volunteer. Originally from the United States, she lived and worked in New York and Paris before relocating to Toronto with her husband and three sons in 2000. Her professional background was in the field of venture capital. Tracy’s volunteer activities focus on human rights, education and the arts. She co-chairs the Governor’s Program at the Trans Canada Trail, is actively engaged with Human Rights Watch and serves on the Advisory Committee of their Disability Rights Division. Tracy works with Habitat for Humanity in Toronto and has served on local school and club boards. She holds an MBA in International Studies from the Wharton School and an MA from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.
Shokheen Singh
Shokheen Singh
Shokheen Singh is a successful legal professional who has built a thriving family law practice in Peel Region, focussing on child protection matters. Her love of the arts predates her law career and victim advocacy work. After she discovered the works of the Group of Seven and the beauty of Northern Ontario, Shokheen redoubled her efforts to share her passion with others and embarked upon a quest to give back.
She sits on a number of boards and committees, including the governance board of Caledon Dufferin Victim Services, the Peel Aboriginal Education Committee of the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse and the St. George’s Society of Toronto Board. Shokheen feels strongly about the plight of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and is passionate about promoting the art and culture of First Nations artists against a backdrop of reconciliation.
Sunder Singh
Sunder Singh
Sunder Singh is a Local and Regional Councillor for the City of Vaughan. Having immigrated from the South Asian sub-continent with her family 47 years ago, her experiences have forged her identity as a champion of social justice and an advocate for immigrants and vulnerable groups in society. She has worked towards the integration of art and culture in community programs available to newcomers within diverse and volatile communities in Toronto and Vaughan. To promote cultural and local art in the community, Councillor Singh established the Peacock Art Studio, where youth, women and seniors are encouraged to participate in art therapy. The Councillor introduced the Reduce Abuse program, which has aided 1,500 women suffering from domestic violence since 2008. Councillor Singh is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2014 York West Centennial Citation for her outstanding dedication to the community.
Rosemary Speirs
Rosemary Speirs
Rosemary Speirs is a writer and former political columnist, who took an early retirement from journalism to become a leader of the Canadian women’s movement, and an advocate for environmental protection. She was awarded an honorary doctorate for her activism by Trent University, and a Governor-General’s award for service for her advocacy regarding the acceptance of additional women in politics. She holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Toronto, is a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and is an honorary board member for the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
Rosemary’s love of art was inspired by her aunt and uncle, who were considerable art patrons, and well-known experts on flora and fauna. She has continued to write occasional commentaries for various publications, most recently an extended note of family history regarding her aunt Doris Huestis Speirs’ purchase of Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting The Eggplant.
Nalini Stewart
Nalini Stewart (Chair, Friends of WWF Canada)
For over 30 years, Nalini Stewart has held leadership roles on local, provincial and national boards in the arts and education fields. She has been chair of the Ontario Arts Council, chair of the Writers’ Trust of Canada, acting chair of the Canada Council for the Arts and president of the Canadian Club of Toronto. She is a founding member of the Asia Pacific Foundation, the Ontario Arts Foundation, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and the Power Plant Art Gallery at Harbourfront. She has been on the boards of OMNI TV, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Tourism Toronto, the Stratford Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. She is currently chair of Necessary Angel Theatre, a founding patron and board member of the Art Canada Institute, an honorary governor of York University and a member of the governing council of the National Theatre School of Canada.
For her “tireless work, exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions to the arts, communications and education in Ontario and across the country; for her efforts to promote diversity awareness, inclusion and equality; for her vision in strengthening international ties, assist those in need and champion the environment,” Nalini received the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship and the Order of Ontario. She also has a lifetime achievement award from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce.
Tina Tehranchian
Tina Tehranchian, MA, CFP®, CLU®, CHFC®, MFA-P™(Philanthropy)
Tina Tehranchian is among the first-ever group of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professionals in Canada to receive the FP CanadaTM Fellow (formerly FELLOW of FPSC™) distinction from the Financial Planners Standards Council in 2011. This distinction was established to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to furthering FP Canada’s mandate to lead the advancement of professional financial planning in Canada.
An award-winning financial advisor since 1991, Tina is a senior wealth advisor and branch manager at Assante Capital Management Ltd. and specializes in assisting business owners and self-employed professionals in building wealth and developing sound financial and estate plans. She also specializes in charitable tax planning strategies and helping philanthropic Canadians multiply their bequests to charities while reducing their taxes and leaving more money for their heirs.
In addition to numerous community, academic and professional awards, in 2019 Tina was the recipient of the Financial Adviser of the Year award from Women in Finance Canada, The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) award in the community category, as well as the inaugural Assante Community Leadership Award.
Tina has often been quoted as an expert in her field in The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The National Post, and Metro, as well as in financial industry magazines. She has also been featured in national radio and television shows such as BNN, CBC and CTV as a financial planning expert and is a frequent contributor to the Canadian Business Journal. She has taught personal financial planning at Centennial College’s Center for Entrepreneurship for over ten years, and has been the recipient of numerous academic, professional and community service awards.
Tina has also been actively involved in her community and has served as a director of the Markham Board of Trade and JVS of Greater Toronto, the treasurer of the Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation, a founding member and first chair of the board of IC Network, a governor of Seneca College, a trustee of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, a director of Mackenzie Health Foundation ,Fort York Foundation, and Art Canada Institute, a member of the Research Campaign Cabinet of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, and the campaign cabinet for the King campus of Seneca College. She has also chaired the signature fundraiser for McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the McMichael Moonlight Gala, in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017, and has co-founded and co-chaired the Joy of Aging fundraiser for Mackenzie Health Foundation since 2009. Tina is also the founding chair of ONE LIFE gala for Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.