Cynthia is recently retired from an active and fulfilling career in public education. She has been a teacher, a teacher union leader at both the local and provincial levels, a school administrator, and a superintendent of education working in human resources and special education. Cynthia would profess to be somewhat of a political junkie and has been active in election campaigns and both municipally and provincially. She completed a four-year term serving as a councillor for the Municipality of Meaford. Cynthia enjoys and absorbs music, whether it be that which is playing in her home north of Annan, or the bird song that she savours as she sits on her front verandah of her country home. Cynthia is delighted to be now working with and serving the Sweetwater team and looks forward to the many musical opportunities that will be provided within our community.

Originally from Ottawa, Andrea has lived in Thornbury for almost thirty years. She recently retired from a career in education with the Bluewater District School Board. Over twenty-five years, Andrea served as a teacher, administrator and superintendent with the board. Andrea’s children benefited greatly from music programs both at Bluewater schools and privately and play several instruments. Her son is a singer/song-writer and often performs at local venues. Her daughter plays guitar and sings when she leads wilderness kayak trips in the Northwest Territories. Andrea enjoys a wide range of music from opera, she recently attended Medeo at the Canadian Opera Company, to Stan Rogers and John Prine, and Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Her favourite piece of classical music is Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor played by Jacqueline de Pre, although Yo-Yo Ma is also a favourite artist.

Gwynne is a partner at Baker Tilly SGB LLP, chartered professional accounting firm in Owen Sound. She is currently past president of the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce, just finishing up her seventh year on the board. Gwynne is also actively involved in all her children’s minor sports organization. Gwynne jointed the SweetWater Board in late 2021. 

Jen is a passionate arts advocate who recently relocated to the area from Toronto. She spent her career working with inner city youth, heading up the arts department at Jarvis C.I. and Victoria Park C.I., respectively. In addition to training teachers and running arts events for youth, for several years Jen ran the Sears Ontario Drama Festival for the city of Toronto (now the NTS Festival). She has worked on two arts boards – Necessary Angel and Shakespeare in the Ruff – and has been on the Educational Advisory Committee at both the Tarragon and Canadian Stage Theatre Company.

Jen believes strongly in the power of the arts to transform communities and enrich lives. Her post-teaching life is allowing Jen to pursue some of her own artistic passions. She plays flute and violin in the band Miss Grundy and is currently a member of the Georgian Bay Symphony in the violin section. In addition, Jen is working with a local artist on a writing project for youth and enjoying giving back by fundraising for the Words Aloud Poetry Festival and supporting the Women’s Center of Grey Bruce.

She is a strong collaborator and brings energy, ideas, and her creative experience in working with a range of artists in dance, drama, music, film, spoken word, and visual art forms over the years.

Vivian, who relocated to the Owen Sound area from Toronto,  now retired, spent her professional career employed by a teachers’ union focusing on government relations, political action, and political action training. Much of her work

involved policy development and issues management. She was delighted to discover the rich arts scene in Owen Sound and surrounding area. After attending Sweetwater for the first time in 2019, she became totally enthralled by the brilliance of the musicians and excellence of the festival program. Vivian grew up in a household where either classical music or jazz played constantly on our stereo system. She studied piano and violin and joined the Ottawa Youth Orchestra during her high school years. Vivian joined the Board in late 2020 and has been actively involved in many areas of SweetWater including serving on the Resource Development Committee. 

Gail is an accomplished writer of fiction and non-fiction, with extensive TV production experience predominantly in factual and documentary programming, as a writer and story editor, as well as series producer, producer and director. Following her university studies where she earned a Masters, she began her work in broadcast journalism as a researcher and later a producer on CBC Radio’s Morningside. She is currently working with a production company specializing in Indigenous programming and is working a consultant on a series being developed for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. She has lived with her husband in Annan since 2003. Two of her published supernatural thriller novels are set in and inspisred by Grey County.

Arlene is a retired marketing and communications executive with experience in both the non-profit and financial services sectors. A graduate of Western University, Arlene has held executive positions at Bank of Montreal, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Women’s College Hospital Foundation, and the Aga Khan Museum.

Prior to retiring, Arlene was Head, Marketing and Communications at Toronto’s highly acclaimed Aga Khan Museum. As a member of the Museum's leadership team, Arlene was responsible for building awareness of the Museum, and driving revenue generated through a wide range of programs and services — from its exhibitions, performances, and education programs to its restaurant and shop.

Arlene’s previous volunteer positions have included Canada’s National Ballet School, the Gardiner Museum, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the York School Guild. Arlene divides her time between Owen Sound and Toronto. Volunteering at the Sweetwater Music Festival during the 2023 fall program and attending several concerts, she fell in love with the genius of the musicians and the quality of the program.

Jacqui and her husband moved to Owen Sound two years ago from Johannesburg, South Africa. As a psychologist with a master's degree, Jacqui has spent the last six years working in private practice and at psychiatric care facilities. She has an interest in couples therapy and the influence of attachment styles on relationships and functioning within the workplace. She continues to consult with her South African clients online and looks forward to opening an in-person practice in Owen Sound. A lover of nature and animals, Jacqui is a committed wildlife conservation volunteer and finds inspiration in her role model, Jane Goodall. She delights in various styles of classical music spanning the Common Practice Period and plays the violin in her free time. After attending Sweetwater in her first year in Owen Sound she became an avid supporter.  

Mike was raised in Owen Sound and, like many others, went off into the wide world as a boy only to come back to his roots as an adult with a few interesting experiences under his belt. He started playing music casually with friends while living in East Asia but more so made a name for himself organizing live music events and booking tours for musicians in Taiwan. This eventually evolved into founding and directing a city wide multi-venue music and arts festival. Today Mike is living in Owen Sound close to family for the warmer months and plans to travel back to Taiwan to continue his passion for bringing great live music to the people of that beautiful island.