PRESIDENT

Born and raised in Ontario, Leslie comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts — her father, an architect and sculptor, and her mother, a potter and painter. A graduate of McMaster University on the Dean’s Honour List, Leslie holds a major in English and a minor in Art History.

Her professional journey reflects a lifelong commitment to community engagement through the arts. While raising two children as a single parent, she served as Volunteer Coordinator for the Brott Music Festival and Event Manager for McMaster Children’s Hospital. Her leadership experience continued in the visual arts sector, where she worked as Program Development Manager with Visual Arts Mississauga and, previously, at the Art Gallery of Burlington — first as Education Coordinator and later as Curator of Education.

In these roles, Leslie developed programming that brought artists and audiences together across a wide range of mediums, emphasizing access, inclusion, and participation. After moving to Penticton in 2024 to be closer to her family, Leslie joined the PAG Board in May 2025.

TREASURER

Frank has been a resident of Penticton since 1989 and a member of the Penticton Art Gallery Society since 2018. From 2019 to 2022, he attended the Art Gallery’s Board of Directors meetings in his role as a City of Penticton councilor liaison.

He brings a strong financial background, having worked extensively with municipal governments and school districts across British Columbia, including 21 years with School District 67 Okanagan Skaha. Frank is committed to supporting the Penticton Art Gallery in maintaining its capacity to deliver high-quality services.

SECRETARY

Born in Brisbane, Australia, Rhonda immigrated to Canada in 1981. Her academic background includes a degree in Early Childhood Education (ages 3–8) from Brisbane, a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alberta, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Lakehead University in Ontario.

Rhonda’s professional experience includes five years as an Education Officer at the Thunder Bay Ontario National Exhibition Centre and Gallery of Contemporary Native Art. Her teaching career spanned 14 years, working with kindergarten to grade 3 students in Grande Prairie, Alberta. From 2014 to 2020, she worked in early intervention with non-verbal special needs and neuro-typical children before retiring in June 2020.

With extensive experience in education, a lifelong passion for art and art history, and nearly two years as a volunteer with the Penticton Art Gallery, Rhonda brings a unique perspective and dedication to the Penticton Art Gallery.

DIRECTOR

Blair graduated from UBC with a degree in International Relations in 1972. He owned an auto body repair business in Vancouver and served on the Board of the United Auto Trades Association for fifteen years. He also served on the Boards of two minor sports associations and was the Director responsible for fundraising. He and his wife Olivia are now semi-retired in Penticton, although he continues to work part time as a broker in the life insurance industry. He is interested in learning more about the Arts in Penticton and the Gallery, while assisting with fundraising as a way to give back to the community.

DIRECTOR

With over 9 years of dedicated experience as Founder and Director of a Vancouver based registered charity, Alysha has developed a strong passion for fostering community engagement and advancing meaningful causes.She has organized numerous exhibitions and fundraising events, leveraging creativity and strategic planning to support vital initiatives and inspire change. She has combined her love for visual storytelling with her commitment to the arts and co authored a photography book which is used in schools across Canada.

With over 15 years in the hair industry, Alysha brings a blend of hands-on experience, leadership, and genuine passion for people. She has owned and operated her own barbering business, served as a managing partner for one of Vancouver’s largest barbershop companies, and led the barbering program at Blanche Macdonald Centre. Alysha loves supporting creative talent and helping businesses grow in a way that feels authentic, sustainable, and community-focused. She’s known for her supportive leadership style, her ability to bring ideas to life, and her commitment to community.

DIRECTOR

The Board thanks Ret for his many years of service and respect his need to step down from the Board for health reasons. 

Ret is a retired businessman. He is a lifetime member of the Penticton Art Gallery because of many outstanding volunteer services he offered to the Society throughout the years. He was Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors from 2018 to 2024. He volunteered to chair the Gallery Finance Committee responsible for increasing the amount of grant money received by the Penticton Art Gallery. He believes PAG offers essential services to the City of Penticton and the Okanagan Valley for the well-being of all citizens. Ret has been the Okanagan College Foundation Director and Vice President (2010 – 2016), BC Winter Games Director of Transportation in 2016, Board Director of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, Board Director and HR Committee member of the BC Trucking Association, and a former Director of the Okanagan Historical Society, Penticton Branch. He has extensive experience in communicating with large corporations, in negotiating contracts, in building partnerships, and in finding creative and innovative solutions to business problems.