Shaw Festival Board Welcomes New Members

Shaw Festival Board Chair Peter E.S. Jewett welcomed today two new ex officio members to the Shaw Festival Board of Trustees: Betty Disero, newly elected Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Laurie Harley, Shaw Guild president.

Mr. Jewett also thanked and acknowledged retiring board members Shauneen E. Bruder (Executive Vice-President, Operations, Royal Bank of Canada), Kristian O. Knibutat (Partner, COO and CFO, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP), Pat Darte (former Lord Mayor, Niagara-on-the-Lake) and Julian Rance (former president, Shaw Guild) for their contributions and dedicated service during their tenures.

Current board members Ian M.H. Joseph (CFA, President, Paradigm Capital Inc.) and Kevin J. Patterson (Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Technology and Operations, CIBC) will step in as Vice Chair and Treasurer, respectively.

Lord Mayor Betty Disero served as a council member for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake from 2014 until 2018 and a council member for the City of Toronto from 1985 to 2003. She is the first woman to hold the position of Niagara-on-the-Lake's top politician.

Laurie Harley is an experienced executive with a career in the technology sector that spans over 30 years. A graduate of the University of Toronto with an Honours Degree in Sociology, she has spent the majority of her corporate career with IBM Canada including management and executive roles in government relations, recruiting, leadership development; and diversity and workplace programs. After retiring from IBM in 2000, she launched a second career as managing director of a niche global consulting firm focused on diversity and human equity. Since moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2007, she has engaged in a variety of local volunteer opportunities, including the Shaw Festival. In 2013, Ms. Harley joined the Shaw Guild and has served on its executive committee in a number of positions. She became president of the Shaw Guild in November 2018 and is a current Governors Council member.

The Shaw Festival's Board of Trustees is comprised of individuals possessing relevant skills and experience working together to support and further the mission and well-being of the Festival.

The Shaw Festival's 2019 season is on stage April 6 through December 22 featuring a playbill that includes The Horse and His Boy, Brigadoon, The Ladykillers, Man and Superman with Don Juan in Hell, Rope, Getting Married, The Russian Play, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Glass Menagerie, Sex, Victory, Secret Theatre, A Christmas Carol and Holiday Inn. Tickets for the 2019 Festival season are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW and online at www.shawfest.com.