Our Team

Will moved to Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo for the arts. He arrived in 2006, and has lived in this community longer than anywhere else in the world – and he wouldn’t dream of leaving.

Will believes in the power of art, and has experienced first-hand all the benefits of being a part of the Arts Council Wood Buffalo community. A community that brings possibility, connection, acceptance, empowerment, inspiration, and transformation. It also cultivates good health and well-being, great friends, and unforgettable memories. He believes that Arts Council Wood Buffalo has something to offer literally everyone – from artists, to arts lovers, to those who don’t quite know what to think of art.

Will joined the Board of Directors to help build a thriving community through the arts. He brings his skills as a professional writer and communicator, his experience working in several areas of municipal government, his lessons learned as a world traveller and educator, and, of course, his obsession for the arts.

Having been a resident of the region for over twenty years, Theresa is deeply committed to improving the quality of life for all those who call Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo home, whether through her volunteer or professional roles.

She believes ACWB plays a critical role in the region. In a community often identified solely by a commodity, the development and fostering of a vibrant arts community is essential not only for the many artists who have chosen to live here, but to address the external image we often encounter. She believes her previous experience on the ACWB board was a gift for her own personal and professional development. After having been away from the board for several years, she believes she has further honed her personal skills and experience and has come back to board with a fresh perspective. Theresa brings experience from several different sectors of her personal and professional life, including municipal governance and administration understanding and strong relationships with Indigenous Peoples in the region.

Luie is a passionate father of two and a hard-working leader at Suncor. He is particularly interested in theatre, music, and graphic arts as an observer and audience member rather than as an artist. Luie values the positive impact the Arts can have on a community. He has seen the benefits the arts provide through his daughters experiences in speech and theatre arts, growing their confidence, and making them more well-rounded people through these creative outlets that bring them happiness.

Luie is a seasoned leader with experience managing projects, leading diverse teams, providing budget oversight, and making difficult decisions. Luie’s diverse experiences and current role leading large turnaround events at Suncor planning and executive large-scale events to repair and enhance the operating facilities which takes years of preparation to achieve safely and efficiently. These experiences would help Luie to guide ACWB's projects and initiatives in a similar manner.

Mitchel (he/they) is a two spirited Métis artist who uses drag as their main artistic medium. They use their drag persona Simma Downe to embrace and express their feminine spirit. Mitchel grew up in Ontario where they were taught traditional hunting and fur harvesting. As an artist Mitchel has experience working with traditional mediums including wood, clay, furs and painting as well as theatre and technical arts. Mitchel is the founder of the local drag troupe the Oil Royals, where they produce, host and perform at local events throughout the region. They are also an activist for equality in Wood Buffalo as the Executive Director of Wood Buffalo Pride and serve on the Regional Advisory Committee on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RACIDE), a council-appointed committee.

Ashley Brockway has been a music educator in the Fort McMurray Public School Division for over a decade, offering programming for Grades 7-12 instrumental music, musical theatre, and general music at Ecole McTavish High School. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University, a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Thomas University, and a Masters of Education degree in Curriculum Studies with a focus in Music Education from Acadia University. Through her work as a teacher she has co-directed numerous musical theatre productions here in Fort McMurray, and has travelled internationally with her instrumental ensembles and choirs to perform and compete in festivals. In the community she is a member of the Fort McMurray Community Concert Band as a flutist and percussionist, and enjoys volunteering and collaborating with various non-profits, especially arts organizations. She is passionate about fostering safe and inclusive spaces for youth in our region, and is a fierce advocate for the arts and arts education.

Celia grew up in the Fort McMurray region and is proud to call it home. From an early age, she immersed herself in the performing arts, including dance, musical theatre, and piano, taking every opportunity to be on stage. She has also explored photography and other creative outlets over the years, further fueling her artistic passions.

Recognizing the region’s limited artistic opportunities during her childhood, Celia is now dedicated to fostering a thriving arts community. She is excited to join Arts Council Wood Buffalo board of directors, supporting its mission to build a thriving arts community. Celia remains an advocate for the arts community, ensuring it continues to grow and thrive for future generations.

Dawn Booth is a community journalist, communications expert, storyteller and poet. With 20 years of experience in the print media field, the Humber College journalism graduate has worked as a newspaper and magazine editor in the Wood Buffalo region for over a decade. She was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley but Fort McMurray is where she made her career and started her family of five, including her husband, two sons and daughter.

In the community, she is an ambassador for the literary arts and the President of the Northern Collective Society of Writers, which is a volunteer-based committee that publishes the literary magazine, NorthWord, bi-annually. As a poet, she won awards and accolades from organizations and institutions, including the Arts Council Wood Buffalo, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Wood Buffalo Regional Library.

Jeffory Magson is a graduate of Keyano College’s Visual and Performing Arts Program. After studying Cultural Management at the University of Waterloo, Jeffory began work at the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. In his 8 years there he had a hand in Fundraising, Volunteer Management, Community Engagement, and was the go-to tour docent at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music. Having returned to Fort McMurray in 2021 with his wife and children, Jeffory has been blown away with the growth and diversity in the RMWB arts scene. Now working for Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to advocate for the Arts as part of the ACWB Board.

Nabil is a progressive and creative contributor (in a small way) to the cultural fabric of our region. He is a strong advocate of the arts' vital role in placemaking, creating vibrant communities, and fostering a sense of identity and belonging.

He has witnessed the impact ACWB has had on the local arts ecosystem and the broader region. As Chair and Vice-Chair of the RMWB Public Art Committee, Nabil has had the opportunity to see how well ACWB works with partners to make lasting and meaningful opportunities for artists. He has always thought of ACWB as an essential institution within our region; however, as a Board Member with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, he has also realized its importance within the broader provincial arts ecosystem. Since moving to Alberta from Ontario, he has had the honour and privilege to serve on many boards for organizations. Many of his appointments have been with organizations in transition, and he believes that ACWB is currently going through a transition as it looks to establish the region’s first arts incubator. Nabil has the experience to support the path that ACWB will be taking from a governance perspective and through his professional understanding of the developing process within the region. He believes the next few years are very exciting for ACWB, and would like to play a role in the excitement. He has deep roots within the community, and is proud to call the region his home. It is his fundamental belief that it is through the arts that great communities are built. The work that ACWB does daily helps support and strengthen our region’s cultural fabric for the betterment of all residents and visitors.