Jane Heyman
Acting President

A co-founder of PAL Vancouver and indefatigable worker for artists all her life, Westcoaster Jane Heyman was appointed, at a meeting of the Board on 9 July, to undertake the duties of President of PAL Canada® Foundation. Since Board and Executive meetings are normally held via telephone conference call, Jane has opted to share those and a number of other tasks with her Vice-president, Jeff Braunstein, who lives in Toronto. Mindful of that and aware that her tenure likely runs until Ron Haney is well enough to resume duties with PAL, Jane has opted to style herself “Acting President”. She and Jeff Braunstein have worked closely together before, especially during several terms on Equity Council, the governing body of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA). She has served as the President of the Board of PAL Vancouver and currently sits on the boards of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and The PAL Studio Theatre. Jane is a recipient of a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, CAEA’s Larry McCance Award, the Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance Jessie Richardson Career Achievement Award, UBCP Sam Payne Award, as well as a “Jessie “ directing award.

Jeff Braunstein
Vice President

Allan Macmillan
Secretary

Pianist, arranger/orchestrator, music director, business professional (B.Com. - UBC’52) Life member – Toronto Musicians’ Association (Local 149, A.F.M.) and Vancouver Musicians’ Association (Local 145, A.F.M.).

Allan was born, raised and educated in Vancouver where, during the 50s & 60s, he was a frequent contributor to CBC jazz and music variety shows, and was the pianist in the Cave Supper Club house band for several years under leaders Claude Logan, Fraser Macpherson and Dave Robbins.  In 1964, he and his young family relocated to Toronto.

In 1969, Allan became the Managing Partner in Nimbus 9 Productions Ltd., a full-service music production facility, recording and mastering studio, and music publisher, whose principal founding partners were Jack Richardson, Ben McPeek and Bob Ezrin.

In the following decade Allan was Music Director for the original Toronto production of  “Jacques Brel is Alive….Paris” and was the co-arranger and orchestrator (strings & horns) on many recording sessions in Toronto, London, New York and Los Angeles (The Guess Who, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Lou Reed, Dave Mason, Grand Funk RR, etc.).  He performed on innumerable Radio/TV commercials and served as Music Director and arranger/orchestrator for the 1982 main stage musical “Skin Deep” at the Charlottetown Confederation Centre.

Allan served as Field Services Coordinator for the Toronto Musicians’ Association (TMA) for eight years and was later coaxed out of retirement for a year to restructure those member services areas which were being adversely affected by a difficult economic climate.  Elected to the TMA Board of Directors in 2000, he served as its Secretary from 2003 until 2007.  He has been a member of the Pal Canada Board since 2006.

Ron Zammit
Treasurer

His career has been with the Ontario College of Pharmacists, the regulatory body for pharmacists in Ontario. During his long career, he held numerous positions primarily in the area of communications and continuing education. He initiated and edited a journal on life-long learning that was recognized in the US as the best of its kind.

He was instrumental in the creation of several international organizations related to pharmaceutical education. Consequently, he has travelled around the globe as a keynote speaker at national and international conferences. His contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious provincial and national awards including a university citation.

He and his wife Nellie, in addition to raising their four children, have been foster parents for 34 years and continue to do so. They have been a home for over 500 children in this on-going labour of love.

When he retired from the College, he joined the Board of PAL Toronto in 2005 and two years ago joined the Board of PAL Canada®.

Dominic Clarke
Executive Officer without Portfolio

Dominic T. Clarke is a graduate of Cambridge University, England, where he obtained both an M.A. and an LL.M. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1988, and to the Bar of Ontario in 1992.  At Blaney McMurtry, Dominic practices principally in the area of insurance litigation encompassing both coverage and defence matters. His practice specializes in commercial general liability, directors' and officers' liability, and commercial property policies. Dominic is a frequent lecturer to professional bodies and has published articles on insurance and litigation related topics.

Christina Smith
Executive Officer Without Portfolio

Christina Smith joined Deaf & Hard of Hearing Society (DHHS) as Executive Director in 2007.  Since joining DHHS she has expanded Interpreting Services to the Edmonton Region and Equipment Services provincially.  Overall DHHS has seen a 68% growth in revenue over this time period.

Christina came to Calgary with her husband in 1986 from Toronto and joined the Calgary Olympic Arts Festival as Special Events and Promotion Manager.  For the next 12 years she fundraised and consulted for various organizations in the arts and healthcare including Theatre Calgary and the Calgary General Hospital Foundation, to name a few.

In 1998 she joined the Canadian Cancer Society Alberta/NWT Division as Director of Revenue Development for 8 years.

She has presented nationally and internationally on healthcare philanthropy and healthcare restructuring.  Due to her work in this area she was given the honour of receiving an honorary lifetime membership in the Calgary General Hospital's Nursing Alumnae Association.

As part of her community work, she is a Mentor Consultant with CentrePoint’s Fund Development Plus Program.  She has mentored Inn from the Cold, Autism Calgary Association and The Banff Community Foundation.

In her personal life in addition to two daughters 17 & 24, she is an active volunteer within the community; sitting on various boards in both the arts and community-based organizations.

Gary Vermeir
Executive Officer Without Portfolio

Gary Vermeir serves as the Business Agent of Local 849 of the IATSE Motion Picture Studio Production Technicians.  As such, he represents the "behind the camera" crew in Atlantic Canada, covering such varied positions as Hair and Make-up, Costumes, Lighting, Grip, Marine, Set Construction, Scenic Paint, Set Decoration, Props, Script Supervision, Craft Service, Transport, Sound and Special Effects personnel.  Gary comes to Local 849 after thirteen years as the Branch Representative of ACTRA Maritimes and has served as Chair of the Film Advisory Committee, the Chair of PAL Halifax and is currently the Treasurer of the Nova Scotia Motion Picture Industry Association. In an earlier life, Gary was a performer on stage and film and served as Artistic Director of Mulgrave Road Co-op Theatre. Together with his wife Angela, he has written several hours of documentary, magazine and childrens’ television.

Patty Gail Peaker
Executive Officer Without Portfolio

Patty, coming from a fully musical family started her professional career as a singer/actor with The Smile Theatre Company in 1972.  Ten years later Patty was the office manager for Smile before turning her focus to the Performing Arts Lodges of Canada (PAL) to become one of their founding members and first vice-president.

A Director of PAL (Toronto Chapter) since its inception, she continues to be the chairperson of the outreach program Supporting Cast which she co-founded in1986.  She serves on two PAL Toronto Board committees and is also the PAL Toronto representative on the PAL Canada® Board as well as on their Executive Committee.

Patty is a long time member of Hillcrest Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she has served as an Elder and Chair of The Administrative Board and currently chairs the Health and Wellness committee under the guidance of the church’s Parish Nurse and the InterChurch Health Ministries.  She is also one of four soloists and section leaders in the Chancel Choir directed by David Warrack. Patty is also known to sing at wakes, weddings, fancy balls and PAL Toronto social functions.

Patty is dedicated to PAL and Supporting Cast and hopes to be actively involved for many years to come.

Chris Marston
Past President Without Portfolio

Chris Marston was Executive Director of Canadian Actors' Equity Association when he retired in 1995.  He spent twenty-five years in all with Equity, serving in a variety of senior positions.  The negotiation of the Association's collective agreements and representing it and its members' interests to various levels of government and a variety of national and international organisations were among his many responsibilities.  Prior to that he worked for MacLean-Hunter and The University of Toronto Press.  He describes himself as a life-long cultural bureaucrat, but insists that does not necessarily make him a bad person.