The last two years have brought many changes to the W.D.C.A., including many new faces on our Board of Directors. Please take a moment to get to know them here:
Chair – Brenda Mann:
Raised on the family farm in the former Chatham Township, Brenda grew up singing in choirs and playing the piano. While attending W.T. Laing P.S. she was a member of the instrumental music program and began to play the French horn. During her years attending W.D.S.S., Brenda was part of the senior band with teacher Andy Botai, the keyboard player in the big band “Brass with Class”, and the director/performer of one of the final Tartan Revue talent shows.
Presently, Brenda plays keyboard with the “Brass Factory” big band, plays French horn in the Wallaceburg Community Band and sings in her church choir.
Brenda retired from the Lambton Kent District School Board following a 34 year career in education. She shared her love of music with her students as their music teacher, director of musicals, Christmas Concerts, and talents shows. As an administrator, Brenda continued to promote the arts by supporting school wide art projects, open houses to showcase students. Brenda is pleased to have the opportunity as a member of the Arts Council to again support our local artists and provide enjoyment and entertainment to the residents of Wallaceburg and the surrounding communities.
Vice Chair – Brent DeNure:
Bio Coming Soon!
Treasurer – Lynne VanderVeeken:
Bio coming soon.
Secretary – Audrey Hind:
Bio coming soon.
Director – Dave Babbitt:
Dave has long been associated with the cultural fabric of Wallaceburg. Recently retired after serving as Music Director at WDSS for 31 years, he now serves as the Music Director for the Wallaceburg Concert Bands which he helped establish 4 years ago. He is also the founder and playing-leader for The Brass Factory Big Band and a member of the Wallaceburg Brass Quintet. He served as President of the Wallaceburg and District Council for the Arts for several years, was Music Director for several large-scale musicals, is a former member of The Lounge Lizards, Music Director for the WAMBO Interdenominational Church Service, is active in the Music Ministry in his own church and contributes an Arts column in the local Courier Press.
Director – Jane McGee:
A little about Jane McGee
I was born in Chatham (Wallaceburg didn’t have a hospital when I entered this world), and raised in Wallaceburg. I attended Central Public, W.T. Laing and WDSS. Received a diploma in Recreation Leadership in 1977. I have worked in Municipal Recreation for the Town of Wallaceburg and subsequently the Municipality of Chatham-Kent ever since.
One of my more formidable assignments upon securing the Community Recreation Manager’s position with the Town of Wallaceburg was to work towards the organization and development of an Arts Council for the Wallaceburg area. I have continued to be involved throughout the years with the exception of the small hiatus or period of inactivity the Arts Council took in the mid 2000’s.
I am pleased and excited that through the efforts of many, in 2012 the Wallaceburg and District Council for the Arts regrouped and re-energized.
My gift for the Arts is NOT in music, nor visual arts, nor performing arts. Honestly, I have no artistic talents at all. What I do have is a great appreciation for those who do. I very much enjoy being in the audience, gallery etcetera enjoying their craft.
Director – Rebecca Rynsoever:
By day, Rebecca is a Mechanical Engineer at an engineering consulting firm in Sarnia, by night she is passionate about the arts. Rebecca moved to the area in 2006 from Oakville and loves small town life.
Rebecca’s love for playing instruments began when she was five and her family inherited her Oma’s organ. Her babysitter taught her to play the M*A*S*H theme song and she was immediately hooked on making music. Rebecca started with piano and eventually picked up flute, guitar and ukulele. She played flute in the University of Guelph Orchestra as a break from her engineering studies. Currently Rebecca plays the flute in the Wallaceburg Concert Band and is the Music Librarian for the group where she organizes and distributes the sheet music and makes way too many spreadsheets.
Rebecca trained in ballet for 16 years and continued dancing into adulthood by participating in musical theatre productions. She picked up jazz and tap along the way and annoys her husband by tap dancing around the house. Locally Rebecca has worked on and off stage for Theatre Kent, Dances in the Park, TK CabCo, Theatre Sarnia and the short-lived Glasstown Players. When not on-stage, she has worked back-stage producing, directing, stage managing and constructing sets. Rebecca has also worked as a producer and script supervisor for an award-winning web series and other small film productions.
Rebecca has sat on several arts boards including Theatre Kent, Wallaceburg Concert Band and Curtain Call Productions (Guelph). Rebecca is excited about joining the W.D.C.A. and looks forward to promoting the arts in the area.
Director – Sue Baert:
Bio coming soon!
Director – Becca Gardiner:
Even as a small child I grew up attending events held by the Wallaceburg & District Council for the Arts. My dad and his wife are honorary lifetime members, and I am delighted to give back to my community the way I saw my parents do when I was growing up. I developed a love for creating visual art at a young age. I received support from family and teachers in town along the way and graduated both grade school and high school with awards in the subject. I was fortunate enough to have art displayed in local galleries as a young artist as well. After a brief hiatus focusing on a career with children and busy with my own small children, I am creating happily again.
My heart beats to music. I have been surrounded by rich musical experiences my whole life.
Whether it be local music, musicians from across Canada, musical theatre, or blues & folk festivals
and jamborees, I have enjoyed a wide variety of genres growing up. There are musicians in my
family, and I sing in a local band. Our house is full of music all the time and I wouldn’t want it any
other way!
I look forward to helping be a part of the arts scene here in the community in an even more hands-
on way as WDCA board member.
Director – Nancy Mahoney:
Bio coming soon.
Director – Kate MacLaggan:
Bio coming soon.
OTHER
Web Design/Tech Support – Sonya De Naeyer-Louzon:
Hello, I am Sonya De Naeyer-Louzon. I recently served as the W.D.C.A. Treasurer from January of 2020 to December of 2023. During that time, I also assisted by developing and maintaining our website, which I currently continue to do quietly in the background for the next short while.
I was born and raised in Wallaceburg. My love of music was inspired early by Mrs. Shirley Sewell while attending A.A. Wright, and further developed by Mr. Dave Babbitt while attending W.D.S.S. What phenomenal mentors!
I currently live in Chatham with my amazing husband Gary. I have three wonderful children (Jesse, Joshua, and Hannah), each grown and living away from home.
I have worked for the LKDSB for many years as a teacher, and currently as a vice principal in our elementary system. I have been a part of the Wallaceburg Concert Band since its’ inception, both as a performer (playing flute) and as part of its’ executive. I more recently joined the Brass Factory, and enjoy the challenge of learning to play some “very difficult to me” guitar pieces.
After helping to see the W.D.C.A. through the challenges of COVID, I look forward for great things to come in Wallaceburg, while supporting the Arts through my “behind the scenes” role within the W.D.C.A.