TEAM & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MOLLY
JOHNSON, OC
Executive Director
Known as one of Canada’s greatest voices, award-winning jazz vocalist Molly Johnson is a mother, singer-songwriter, artist and philanthropist. Dedicated to supporting communities in need, Molly established the Kumbaya foundation and festival in 1992, raising awareness and funds for people living with HIV/AIDS, and continues to work with several other charitable organizations each year. Molly has been awarded the queen's diamond jubilee medal and in 2008, was named an officer to the order of Canada.
CÉLINE
PETERSON
Website Development
Artist representative and Producer Céline Peterson has worked behind the scenes on such projects as the Kensington market jazz festival, music Monday, and multiple events for the Bravo Niagara! Festival of the arts. Abroad, she has presented concerts in Barbados, Denmark, Switzerland, South America, and the United States. she manages some of Canada's most acclaimed artists in jazz music, including Robi Botos, Dave Young, and Jackie Richardson. In 2019, Céline joined the roster of hosts at jazzcast.ca where her weekly program airs on tuesdays and Saturdays.
MARGUERITE CAMPBELL
Board of Directors
Marguerite Campbell has over 30 years of experience in education with the Toronto District School Board. She began teaching junior kindergarten to grade six, and then moved to school administration as vice-principal and then principal. She has been seconded to both York University and Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto as a course director; both of these cohorts were focused on equity, diversity, and urban education.
J. MICHELLE FARRELL
Board of Directors
Lawyer, mediator, equity specialist. An experienced senior litigator, skilled at effective communication and conflict resolution. Pragmatic. Empowering. Her clients receive unique support to handle conflicts with confidence and to create exceptional outcomes. Michelle's work reflects her ongoing commitment to access, equal participation, meaningful collaboration and a dedication to progressive political and social development.
LESLIE
LESTER
Board of Directors
Leslie is currently the Vice President St. Lawrence Centre Redevelopment for TO Live. The "re-imagining" of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is a city Council directive to work with the Arts and Culture sector and St. Lawrence neighbourhood community to conceptualize a transformational state-of-the-art civic space that will be a vibrant nexus for the city's future.
Keenly engaged in the local arts community, Leslie has served on peer juries at the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts; on the Community Advisory Committee for the development of Regent Park Arts and Cultural Centre, and was a member of the steering committee for the Canadian Arts Summit for Business for the Arts.
RAINE
LILIFELDT
Director & Secretary Treasurer
Raine Liliefeldt is a communications professional and relationship builder with over 16 years in the nonprofit sector built on a solid background of event planning and sales in the corporate sector. A creative organizer, educator, project manager and event planner, she has extensive experience in program planning, organizing grassroots initiatives, youth conferences, producing concerts and cultural festivals.
BARBARA
HALL, CM
Board of Directors
Barbara hall was formerly the chief commissioner of the Ontario human rights commission. she was appointed on November 28th, 2005 after more than 30 years as a community worker, lawyer, and municipal politician.
Barbara is a long-time advocate for safe and healthy cities. as mayor of Toronto from 1994 to 1997, Barbara worked hard to build a stronger city. during her time as mayor, Toronto was recognized by Forbes magazine as the best place in North America to live, do business, work, and raise a family.
BEVERLEY
SALMON, CM OOnt
Board of Directors
Beverley Salmon is an exemplary model of civic engagement. As Toronto’s first Black female councillor, she advocated for more inclusive policies and practices within municipal government. Her extensive career comprises work with the Toronto Board of Education, the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and the Ontario Status of Women Council. Notably, she has been a dedicated champion for the social and educational well-being of Black communities in the city.