Since retirement from the railroad in 2007, Ken has been active in several volunteer positions in the local community and beyond, including the past 11 years as a director on the board of the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation. There he has held the positions of Vice-Chairperson 2009-2010, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2010-2012 and Secretary 2012-2019.
Judy has always liked variety in life, which shows in her past business careers as well as her personal hobbies. Past work experiences include event management, print media and advertising, and proof reading. Now that retirement has opened up all kinds of time and opportunities, she explores her creative talents through the making of sterling silver and fashion jewellery, as well as creating macrame wall hangings and knitted accessories. Judy looks forward to applying her work experience to benefit the SSAC as a whole, its members, and to help continue educating our community through the arts.
Taylor has a passion for painting, focusing in acrylics. She believes that all forms of art are a great way to express oneself. With a background in accounting she brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. She hopes to help the SSAC be successful in providing everyone access to discovering the arts and all they have to give.
Born in the United Kingdom, Jackie Warmelink has lived in the Mulmer hills for over 35 years. Originally trained as a Home Economist and Cordon Bleu Chef, Jackie started collecting pottery while working in South Africa in the late 1970's. She was drawn to the organic colours and shapes and loved how they showcased her food creations. She took her first pottery lessons in Africa, working with clays from the Masai Mara plains.
I started on the Potters Wheel at age 16 learning with my students and went on
to graduate from Seneca College with a Visual Arts Instructor's Diploma in 1981. After successfully completing a four-year apprenticeship with a Master Potter of FINE Porcelain, I continue to teach pottery in my studio and showroom.
Isolde is both a visual artist and author. She best known for her landscapes in oil and likes to combine them with abstracts. Some work is for sale. Isolde became a member of the South Simcoe Arts Council and went on to win the People's Choice Award in 2010 for painting and was the 1st place winner in the 2015 and 2017 Battle of the Brushes. Isolde is a member of the Wordsmiths writing group and is working on her first novel. She is also a contributing author in the 2017 edition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Canada.
If you are passionate about promoting the Arts in our community and would like to learn what is involved in being a SSAC Board Director, please contact SSAC President Ken Burns at k.burns@southsimcoeartscouncil.com.