It’s time for the 2021 FMO Board of Directors Election!
ONLY FMO MEMBERS are able to vote in this election. Each member in good standing will be receiving a unique ballot and link via email.
Festival Members – with one vote cast 15 votes
Organizational Members – with one vote cast 3 votes
Individual Members – with one vote cast 1 vote
There are 11 candidates for 6 positions on the 2021/2022 FMO Board. The candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.
For those who can vote, Please make your six selections below before Friday, September 3, 2021!
For more information, or if you haven’t received your email link, please contact Joel at office@folkmusicontario.ca.
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Emma Cloney – Winnipeg Manitoba
Professional, creative, motivated, and a good dose of humour.
Emma Cloney has been an established member of the Folk community for more than ten years. With several musical projects to date and best know for her role as one half of the Winnipeg MB based duo The New Customs. A diversified “Jill of Trades”, Emma not only works as a full-time musician touring North American with her duo but, also works as a registered nurse. In addition to her work as musician and a nurse Emma also operates Safety Lemon Designs and works as a graphic and web designer. The skills for design and web creation were born out of her work as an independent musician. Emma is often sought after for her organizational skills, professional management and business savvy, and limitless creativity.
Reason I am running for the Board:
Emma Cloney is an outspoken advocate and an established change maker. There is nothing more powerful that a positive attitude and a willingness to get something done. Emma is a natural born leader and tends to inspire those around her. Full of creative ideas and outside the box thinking and educated to boot! Emma would make an excellent addition to any professional organization.
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Cécile Doo-Kingué – Montreal, QC
Award-winning artist Cécile Doo-Kingué is considered one of Canada’s finest guitarists and singer-songwriters. First generation from Cameroon, the NYC-born Montrealer has released four albums to critical acclaim, received 8 Maple Blues Awards nominations and has extensively toured domestically and internationally, including most major folk, blues and jazz festivals in Canada, earning a reputation for blistering live sets, strong social commentary and guitar prowess. She has opened for, shared a stage and/or recorded with Montreal Jubilation Choir, Canned Heat, Angelique Kidjo, Ruthie Foster to name but a few.
In 2008, Cecile and Gern Vlchek co-created Chick Pickin’ Mondays, offering a safespace and equitable gig for women and genderqueer artists. Cécile has since expanded the concept to curate and present private showcases at music conferences including FMO and FAI.
Reason I am running for the Board:
As a director, I’d be bringing not only an independent artist’s perspective but that of an artist stemming from multiple, still underrepresented groups in the industry. I believe it could be a good opportunity to advocate for more equity and accessibility for the diverse folk community through both policy and programs. Having participated for over a decade as an artist, a youth mentor, a panelist and private showcase presenter, I’m also familiar with various aspects of the conference. Improving outreach to more diverse and younger folk community members as well as finding ways for more intergenerational and cross-cultural exchanges would be main focal points of working towards more inclusion, representation and empowerment of the full spectrum of our community.
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Umair Jaffar – Toronto, ON
Umair Jaffar is the Executive Director of Small World Music, one of Toronto’s pioneering and most significant presenters of culturally-diverse music. Since arriving in Toronto in 2014, he has worked in curatorial and management roles at cultural institutions including the Aga Khan Museum and Harbourfront Centre. Prior to immigrating, he was the CEO & Artistic Director for IPAC (Institute for Preservation of Art and Culture), a Pakistan-based non-profit social enterprise that focused on developing sustainable solutions for preserving and promoting indigenous, folk and traditional performing arts. Umair also serves as a board member for several non-profit art organizations including CAPACOA, North York Arts and MusiConnect Asia. He has an MBA from University of Adelaide, Australia and a MSc Cultural Anthropology from University of Oxford, UK.
Reason I am running for the Board:
I believe my training in business management, finance, and strategy coupled with experience working in the culture sector will make me an asset to the board. I have been in a leadership role at small world music, through which I have gained nonprofit management experience and funder relationships that can benefit FMO.
I have extensively worked with diverse music forms and numerous cultural communities, most of whom are absent from stages across Canada. I believe that I can play a role in building bridges – such that there is an equitable representation of these communities, artists, and music at FMO and its members.
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James Keelaghan – Perth, ON
Current Artistic Director of the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival and the Stewart Park Festival as well as a touring and recording singer-songwriter. I have JUNO Awards and Nominations and ditto for the CFMA’s. I have made my living in the music industry as my sole source of support for 35 years regularly touring Canada, The United States, Australia, Nw Zealand and Europe. I served on the board of FMO for a number of years, but had to resign 3 years ago for personal reasons. I am more steady now in my personal life and would like to get get involved with FMO again, especially at this time. I believe my perspectives as a presenter, a performer, a fan and a journalist allow me to see the industry from a unique vantage point.
Reason I am running for the Board:
I believe my perspectives as a presenter, a performer, a fan and a journalist allow me to see the industry from a unique vantage point. As mentioned above, I did serve on the FMO board previously so I am familiar with the workings of the organization. I am accustomed to heavy work loads and deadlines and I work well with others.
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Mat Landry – Toronto, ON
Mat Landry is a Canadian drummer, percussionist, producer, and composer. His touring and session work experiences include performing on impressive stages and studios in Canada and Europe for artists such as Patrick Watson, Robert Paquette, Moscow Apartment, Marie-Clo, and MCLEAN. Landry also represents artists such as Stef Paquette, Céleste Lévis, and AfrotroniX as their agent at Groupe JKB.
Landry graduated with a bachelor’s degree from The School of Creative Industries at Ryerson University in the spring of 2021. With an additional minor in Music & Culture, combined with his continued dedication to his musical craft, Mat Landry is a new age triple-threat. Mat Landry is knowledgeable and experienced in notions of governance, facilitation, business structure, financial statements, contracts, business in the music industry, policies, and the impact of associations/organizations like Folk Music Ontario, Folk Music Canada, and Folk Alliance International.
Reason I am running for the Board:
With more than a decade’s experience as an artist entrepreneur, Landry is sensitive to what artists and their surrounding team expects from an organization like FMO, FMC, and FAI and events that are produced by such bodies. He has also participated in multiple yearly conferences as a backing musician for Moscow Apartment, Stef Paquette, Marie-Clo, and Martine Fortin. His active involvement in the francophone music scene and his Northern Ontario roots would also be an asset to the FMO board and its members.
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Jorge Miguel – Toronto, ON
I am a Spanish Canadian Flamenco Guitarist, composer, producer and budding singer. I have played over 1000 shows from coast to coast including countless Folk Festivals. I have released 3 CD’s of original material over 20 years. I won the 2013 CFMA for Global Artist of the year. I won the FMO Songs from the Heart – Global Roots in 2019. I have attended and showcased at FMO, Mundial Montreal, and many Contact events from coast to coast. I have been a full time professional musician since 1995.
Reason I am running for the Board:
I have the utmost respect for Artists and those that present Artists, having been on both sides of the equation. I would like to help FMO remain relevant by adapting and including musics of the world. I have been a Board Member of FOSP (Friends of Sorauren Park) for over 10 years, which has included taking the musical and cultural lead in our public events. I have also been teaching Music Business part time at Seneca College’s IMP (Indie Musician Program) since 2004.
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Teresa Nelson – North Vancouver, BC
Teresa is an Artist Manager and co-owner of Traverse Music Management, representing Indie/Folk/Roots artists from all across Canada. Based in North Vancouver, BC, Teresa is an avid outdoor enthusiast who believes in helping artists grow their career in an effective and sustainable way. She has always been surrounded by music and the arts and is proud to be a member of the vibrant Folk Music Community.
Reason I am running for the Board:
I’ve been working in the Folk Music industry for the past 5 years or so and have found the FMO conference to be a particularly special event with a strong sense of community. I would love to bring some new ideas and a fresh perspective to the board during the amalgamation of FMO and FMC, and am very excited to see what this new organization can accomplish nationally. I have some policy governance experience, as I was briefly the agent/manager representative on the board for the BC Touring Council in 2019/20. I believe this is a truly exciting time in the music industry and I’d like to be a part of an organization that believes in opportunity and professional development for both artists and industry. Thank you for your kind consideration.
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Yasmina Proveyer – Ottawa, Ontario
I immigrated to Canada in 2008 seeking a way to further develop my artistic career, after having a solid background in performing arts. Since 2011 I have been actively working not only as an artist manager for several musicians in the region but as an arts administrator and cultural connector. I have served as a jury for the City of Ottawa, the OAC, and FACTOR. Since 2015 I have participated regularly in WOMEX and Mundial Montreal. After 2 years co-chairing the Juno Awards Advisory Committee for the world music category I am currently the chair of the committee transitioning into the Global music category. Early in 2019, I co-founded along with Claudia Balladelli, the Axé Worldfest, an initiative that hosts concert series to promote and present world music artists in Ottawa, the National Capital Region of Canada. Early in 2021 we produced the first edition of Empowering Women in the Music Industry, a two-day online program that included webinars, talks and female artists spotlights.
Reason I am running for the Board:
I am aware of the current challenges of the Canadian music industry and from my angle as a black women who is a cultural connector and an arts administration I can contribute and add value as an individual. I enjoy working with a diverse team towards making the most effective decisions for an organization. I believe I can be a great asset to the Folk Music Ontario as this position would be not only a great opportunity to continue supporting creativity but also to nurture a diverse, equitable and inclusive framework.
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Jesse Reid – Yellowknife, NT
Seeking out a climate where it can hurt to breathe, Jesse moved to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories over a decade ago. Coming for the frostbite, but staying for the amazing arts community, Jesse has spent the past 7 years working in various capacities in Yellowknife’s Music industry. Her primary roles have been managing award winning Yellowknife artist, Digawolf, and providing contract work to the largest local music festivals including: Artist Relations Manager for Folk On The Rocks (2016, 2017, and 2018), and Sponsorship Manager for the Snowking Winter Festival (2018). Jesse has additionally worked with other organizations and artists in the capacity of communications, grant writing and event organizing.
Reason I am running for the Board:
Jesse has experience working on virtually every side of the music and arts scene. As an artist, an industry professional, and from the role of a festival and event coordinator, Jesse understands the different needs of people working in the different aspects of this industry. Jesse works as a communication professional, and additionally offers a wide range of skill sets that are commonly under demand: event management, web editing, social media management, and project management. Additionally, having lived in Canada’s North for over a decade, Jesse offers a unique perspective for musicians and artists who live and work in remote communities.
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Candace Shaw – Toronto, Ontario
Candace Shaw is a Feminist, Cultural Producer, and Activist who has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene for almost thirty years. She was the long-time Artistic Director for the Peterborough Folk Festival, Chair of the Shelter Valley Folk Festival, and Booker for the Music City Summer Series in The Distillery District, Toronto, amongst other roles. She is a thoughtful, engaging, and provocative commentator and advocate for women, the arts, and arts workers’ rights, and in 2019 was a candidate in the Federal election. Candace is the founder of Secret Frequency.ca, a not-for-profit advocacy and education organization working with under-represented people in the Canadian music industry. ”
Reason I am running for the Board:
I believe I am an excellent candidate for the FMO Board of Directors; I am a long-time advocate on behalf of artists, and have been involved in music presentation, promotion, and booking for almost 30 years. I’ve been a strong supporter of FMO, including a term on the Board in 2008-2009. I have many years of experience on Boards of Directors, and a history of supporting and promoting Folk music in Canada and abroad. My strong ties throughout the community, my life-long passion for arts and culture, and my experience throughout my long career mean I have a deep skillset and am ready for the challenges facing the organization in these exciting but uncertain times.
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Tara Williamson – Victoria, BC
Tara Williamson is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and was raised in Gaabishkigamaag (Swan Lake, Manitoba). She is a singer/songwriter with 2 EPs and 1 full length album under her belt that have garnered acclaim across Turtle Island, including an Indigenous Music Award nomination for Best Pop Album in 2017. Her newest album, Enough, was released in June of 2021. Tara also holds degrees in social work, law, and Indigenous governance, is a Senior Researcher at the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria and a Research Fellow with the Yellowhead Institute.
Reason I am running for the Board:
Tara has experience of various boards as a director and officer – including arts organizations and social service agencies. She is also a trained facilitator and has worked as a consultant in the fields of Indigenous governance, law, policy, and strategic planning. Tara also has a law degree (although is not currently practicing and cannot provide legal advice to the board).
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