What's New > 2011 CITT BOARD ELECTION – PRELIMINARY BOARD SLATE
The Board Development Committee has submitted the following members for election:
- Treasurer - Thierry P. Fletcher (Montréal QC)
- Secretary – Al Cushing (Whitehorse YT)
- Director at Large - Michael Dickinson (Toronto ON)
- Director at Large – Michael Harris (Toronto ON)
- Director at Large – Tom Heemskerk (Victoria BC)
- Director at Large – Sarah Zeilstra (Toronto ON)
Additional Nominations and Election Ballot
- Additional nominations for each position may be made by written nomination accompanied by the signatures of at least 4 members, verified as those of members in good standing. Such additional nominations shall be accepted for a period of 30 days from the publication of the preliminary slate, but in any case, must be submitted no later than 120 days prior to the Annual General Meeting, that is by April 16, 2011. Nominations may sent to the National Office by email at info@citt.org
- If there is more than one candidate up for election for any of the positions the election ballot will be sent out to each member on May 16, 2011. The announcement of the election results will be made during the Annual General Meeting to be held on August 13, 2011 Victoria, BC.
Election Timeline:
- Additional Nominations until April 16, 2011
- Ballot sent on May 16, 2011 if applicable
TREASURER
THIERRY POULIOT FLETCHER – Montréal QC
Sales director of MDG Fog Generators Ltd since 2006, Thierry Pouliot Fletcher began his career as a stagehand well over 20 years ago, in Quebec City, as a former apprentice to the IATSE local 523. In 1993, he moved to Sainte-Thérèse, north of Montréal, to attend and graduate from Option-Théâtre du collège Lionel-Groulx, in Theatre Production. After signing a few productions as lighting designer and production manager, he was hired in 1997 by Solotech, in Montréal, as a lighting product specialist and, later, as a system designer/integrator, more specifically in theatres, touring and cruise ships. Part-time musician, avid fictional novel reader, his recreational time is best spent in a cigar lounge or in a wine tasting event, talking about politics, hockey, and... other concerns.
SECRETARY
AL CUSHING – Whitehorse YT
Al Cushing is a founding member of CITT and a member of USITT. Presently, he is a CITT Director at Large, and has in the past served as Treasurer of both the national board and the CITT Alberta Section Board. After a 35-year career that embraced scenic design, stage management, carpentry, technical direction and production management, Mr. Cushing was drawn to Canada’s North, where he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Yukon Arts Centre, a performance and visual arts centre located in Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory. Prior to his move, he was the vice president of operations for the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, a five venue complex located in Calgary, Alberta, where he had to live with the decisions he had made fourteen years before, as a project consultant on the equipping of the facility. Early in his career, Mr. Cushing co-founded the Ottawa theatre company Penguin Productions, and turned a number of found spaces into performance venues for the company. Later, that experience proved useful when he project managed the re-building of the MTC Warehouse Theatre and when managing large-scale system upgrades and renovations at the EPCOR CENTRE. In addition to his professional duties, Mr. Cushing is Chair of the Board of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival and sits on the Board of the Cultural Human Resources Council.
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
MICHAEL DICKINSON – Toronto ON
Michael Dickinson is a freelance theatre and live events technician in the Toronto Area. A graduate of Langara College in Vancouver, he currently gets employment as a lighting crew chief, moving light programmer, rigger and flyman. He joined CITT in September of 2005, and was part of the host committee for the 2007 conference. He was elected to the Board in 2007 and has held the position of secretary for two terms. In his spare time, Michael is a decent forward on his hockey team, a Vancouver Canucks fan, and enjoys an active lifestyle. Michael is a member of IATSE Local 891.
MICHAEL HARRIS – Toronto ON
Michael is managing partner of CETEC Group, the Canadian sales representative for ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls). ETC is a global entertainment and architectural lighting company dedicated to providing customers with the best and most innovative lighting products, services and solutions. Michael began his career in the entertainment industry as a technical director and production manager, before moving into sales. For more than twenty years, Michael has crafted his sales expertise, managing and representing various lighting companies. Michael is an active member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and of CITT.
TOM HEEMSKERK – Victoria BC
Tom Heemskerk is the Head Carpenter and Assistant Technical Director for the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society in Victoria, BC. He has worked backstage in various capacities for over twenty-five years. Tom has been a subject-matter expert for competency analyses for Entertainment Rigger and Stagehand for the CHRC, for Stage Carpentry for the Banff Centre, and, most recently, for an ETCP arena rigging exam review panel. He holds ETCP certifications in both stage and arena rigging, and a BC 'Full Entertainment' electrical ticket.
SARAH ZEILSTRA – Toronto ON
A graduate of Rose Bruford College with a BA (hons) degree in Technical Theatre, Sarah has been a freelance carpenter for theatre and television at several large scenic workshops in London, England, including Russell Beck Studios, Robert Batchelor Scenery, AB Scenery, Almeida Theatre and Andy Beauchamp Scenery Construction. Credits include: Tommy, Company, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, Fame, Storm and Our Country’s Good. Recently, Sarah was technical supervisor for Nuit Blanche 2008, 2009 and 2010 in Toronto. Sarah has taught scenic construction for 13 years at Mountview Academy of Dramatic Arts and Guildford School of Acting in England, and has been head of scenic construction at Sheridan since she moved to Canada in 2002. Since 2005, Sarah has been the program coordinator and has represented the program at various councils, associations and conferences. Sarah is President of COUCTP (Council of Ontario Universities and Colleges Theatre Programs) and a National Board member of CITT (Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology). Sarah is currently in the process of completing her Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at York University, incorporating the disciplines of theatre technology, education and technical theatre history.