ABOUT US
We are a diverse group of local artists and Arts lovers who desire
to add to the existing cultural richness of the Cowichan Valley.
Our non-profit Cowichan Public Art Gallery Society (CPAG) intends to create a World-class public art gallery in the Cowichan Valley to host ongoing international, national and local art exhibitions and associated programming currently not available.
The building will be built to “A” level standards that have the correct environmental controls required to bring to the valley World-class historical and contemporary art exhibitions this area is currently unable to host.
We are a dedicated team, intent on raising awareness and funding in order to realize this project.
Become a member of our group and have your say in
changing the course of history in the Cowichan Valley.
Jock Hildebrand DipFA
President
Jock Hildebrand is an internationally acclaimed sculptor who works around the world. With many monumental sized public art sculptures, Jock has spent 40 plus years at his art form.
Russell Wintersgill, C.E.T. MBA
Vice President
Mr. Wintersgill has over 30 years’ experience in the Canadian Natural Gas Utility industry and has worked in positions of increasing importance in both gas operations and construction. Mr. Wintersgill is currently principal of Wintersgill & Associates and is past President of Stratocom Solutions Corp. after retiring as the Vice President of Corporate Services for AltaGas Utilities Inc. Prior to this he held the position of Vice President, Operations & Engineering at AltaGas Utilities for several years. He is also past Chair, Standing Committee on Operations for the Canadian Gas Association and past Chair of the Board of Directors for Alberta One Call Inc. Mr. Wintersgill holds an MBA in Executive Management in addition to an Engineering Design diploma.
Mark Hazell
Treasurer
Born in BC but raised mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mark enjoyed a long career in commercial real estate management, first in San Francisco and then, from 1988 until 2006 in Halifax. In 1995 he became a member of the senior management team that created and grew Summit REIT, which became the largest owner of light industrial property in Canada and generated an average annual return of 22% while growing its net assets from $30 Million to $3.5 Billion.
Mark developed a strong interest in art at a young age; both of his parents were artistically inclined, and his mother became a well-respected artist. He has lived a life surrounded by art and artists (both his wife and his daughter are accomplished artists) and has had the good fortune to visit galleries and museums around the world.
Chris Warren
Membership
After 30 years with the City of Vancouver, Chris retired in 2011 as the Director of Development Services. In both that department and in Social Planning where she worked as a Social Planner for 15 years, Chris worked closely with the Cultural Services group, which developed and administered Public Art, cultural grants and cultural policy. While in Development Services, Chris devoted much of her time to her priorities of customer service, organizational development and staff development.
Since retirement, she has undertaken some consulting work, most recently on childcare, and also ran an organic garlic farm in the Shuswap with her husband. The Warrens have 4 kids and 5 grandchildren ranging from 2 months to 19 years old.
David Coulson
Director
David (owner of David Coulson Design Ltd.) is enjoying his 33rd year in the design and construction business. He is passionate about green building practices making each project healthy and efficient.
Rebecca Hazell
PR/Marketing Committee, Programming Committee
Rebecca Hazell is an award winning author and artist who has penned eight books for adults and children and illustrated four of them. Her latest childrens’ book is “The Sweeper: A Buddhist Tale”, from Shambhala Publications.
Dayna Obbema
Co-Chair, Programming Committee
Dayna grew up in Ontario, where she obtained her Honours Bachelor degree in Art History and Museum Studies, and more recently, her Master’s degree in Art History. Dayna’s thesis titled “Climate vs. Culture: How Museums are Confronting the Climate Crisis,” was one of the first Canadian studies to accurately assess whether or not museums across Canada are aware of their environmental impact, and what plans they have in place to mitigate it. Aside from her research on museums and climate change, Dayna specializes in Western Contemporary art and has a passion for fostering arts and culture in her local community. With over 8 years of professional experience in the arts and culture sector, Dayna is excited to help shape the legacy of the arts community here in the Valley.
Peg Ainsley
Co-Chair, PR Committee
Peg’s career as a Corporate Communications Specialist was spent in both the private and public sectors. Community Relations, Public Relations, Media Relations and Internal Relations covered the spectrum of her duties.
Retired now, she has turned from writing to the visual arts, and has already been juried into a show in Ladysmith! Learning, growing, and laughter are Peg’s constant goals.
Peg’s juried piece: “Life’s Like That’ hangs in a private collection in Calgary, AB.
Anne Brunet
Secretary
Anne’s professional life, focussed mostly on financial management, administration, and program development, has included working within non-profits as well as private business.
Currently Associate Executive Director for Canadian Mental Health Association-Cowichan Valley Branch, Anne’s career experiences range from managing performing and visual arts organizations and facilities to owning/operating a photographic studio and a printing/graphic design business and teaching photography.
Throughout, she has been an advocate and volunteer for the arts in her community and has served on various local and other boards, including the BC Arts Council and Canadian Association for the Performing Arts.
Recognizing the significant role that the arts play in a thriving, healthy community, Anne is eager to play a part in bringing a renowned public art gallery to the Cowichan Valley.
Dorian Melton
Director
Dorian has experienced a variety of creative roles from a position in the graphics department of Vancouver CBC Television News to producing illustrations for casino slot machine games played around the World.
Dorian’s fine art has been accepted to several juried exhibitions:
2019 LensCulture Discoveries 2019, Galerie Joseph, Paris, France.
2019 Sooke Fine Arts Show, Sooke, B.C.
2019 Salt Spring National Art Prize, Salt Spring Island, B.C.
2019 Sidney Fine Art Show, Sidney, B.C.