Anya Gansterer, Artistic Director
Anya is a curator, arts advocate, maker and promoter of rural cultural and economic development in the Ottawa Valley.
Anya is adept at identifying community needs and finding innovative ways to address them. She has over 25 years of experience managing large- and small-scale projects involving multiple partners and specializes in understanding the challenges and opportunities of working in arts and culture in rural communities. She has curated more than a hundred art exhibitions, including working with solo artists, collaborations, groups, traveling exhibits and open community exhibitions. In her position as Artistic Director for Ottawa Valley Community Arts she enjoys the versatility of arts administration, dreaming of new ways to engage people in artmaking, curating exhibitions, facilitating workshops, hosting events and whenever possible joining in to make art with other people. Anya lives near Killaloe, Ontario, with her family where they enjoy the best of rural living.
Christine Luckasavitch, Algonquin Cultural Consultant
Christine Luckasavitch is Madaoueskarini Algonquin and mixed settler, living in her ancestral territory at the headwaters of the Madawaska River. Her work is centered around creating spaces for Indigenous peoples to share their knowledges, both in physical and digital spaces, and encouraging the re-emergence of ancestral kinship ties.
She is the owner of Waaseyaa Consulting and Waaseyaa Cultural Tours, two small businesses dedicated to reviving and celebrating Indigenous ancestral knowledge and culture-based practices through educational opportunities. Waaseyaa Cultural Tours an Indigenous tourism company located in the Algonquin Park region. She is also the co-owner of Algonquin Motors, a
woman-led motorcycle clothing company that celebrates the land now also known as
Algonquin Park.
Christine is a graduate of Acadia University, and she is completing her Master’s Degree in Indigenous Studies at Trent University, her thesis offering a critique of Algonquin Park as a wilderness space and the continued impacts on her Algonquin community.
Claire Mahaffy, Admin & Communications
Claire Mahaffy is the admin and communications support for Ottawa Valley Community Arts. With 10 years experience in programming planning and administration for nonprofits and small businesses Claire is motivated by removing barriers and finding ways to bring people together. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Art, from OCAD University Claire went on to work for two Canadian magazines, PhotoEd Magazine, and Paddling Magazine. Claire currently lives and works in Eganville.
Maureen MacMillan, Social Media & Photography
Maureen MacMillan is a professional photographer who lives and works in the Ottawa Valley. She has been professionally photographing people in the Ottawa Valley region for the past 8 years, and has recently ventured into the world of photography as an art form. In 2021 Maureen completed the “Honouring Seniors – Creative Photography project” where she created artful portraits of over 50 seniors. The exhibit focused on elevating the status of seniors in our communities by challenging stereotypes. The collection was exhibited in the Pop Up Art – Ottawa Valley Galleries from 2021 to 2022.
Her company Madawaska Media is a one stop shop for branding, photography, websites and social media support. Here she offers services and learning for businesses and people across the Ottawa Valley. Maureen’s goal is to empower business owners and brands to learn, and support them wherever necessary to help them be as successful as possible in this ever changing online landscape.
Mary Hellingman, Secretary
Tavia Charlton, Treasurer
Anne George, Director