We have a number of updates to share with our community.
In Memoriam: we're announcing, with great sadness, the passing of our longest-serving Board member and Bright family representative, Emily Bright. Emily died peacefully on January 31, 2025, surrounded by her family. Always a positive force for good, she was known and respected by generations of Willowbank students and by the many Board members over the years who valued her insights and contributions. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Board and Staff: There have been some key Board and staff changes in recent months.
Julian Smith – who with Shelley Huson helped create and develop the Willowbank School in its present form – has returned after a ten-year absence to take on the role of Board Chair. In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Canada in recognition of his work as a heritage architect, planner and educator.
At the same time, President Dr. Faisal Arain has stepped down, having ably accomplished the principal tasks related to his hiring – in particular, adjusting the Willowbank program to meet evolving Ministry requirements, and identifying related new resources and strategic partners.
There have been other significant Board changes. Clinton Brown has retired after many years of valuable service. As a noted heritage professional, Clinton was able to provide important assistance both to the Board and to Willowbank students. Frank Racioppo is also stepping down, after serving as Board Treasurer during the critical nascent years of the program. Frank will continue to serve as an important financial advisor to Willowbank as part of the advisory committee to the Board on sustainability.
Three new members have joined the Board: Willowbank alumnae Ashleigh Bell and Theresa Felicetti, and local resident Conor MacNeill. Ashleigh Bell works for the Ontario Heritage Trust as Capital Project Manager, and will serve as Alumni Liaison; Theresa Felicetti is Director of Programming for the Brown Homestead in St. Catharines, and will serve as Board Treasurer. Conor MacNeill is a Professor at Niagara College’s School of Media Studies, and is currently planning to work with Willowbank and Niagara College students on a shared Virtual Reality project. All three have been involved at Willowbank as faculty associates and advisors.
Marie-Louise Bowering, who has nurtured an important relationship between the Willowbank community and the local Indigenous community, is the new Board Secretary.
Board and staff responsibilities will be evolving, with continuing emphasis on the strength and sustainability of the Diploma Program. There will be renewed engagement with students, alumni and faculty.
Willowbank continues to pursue its unique blend of theory and practice, and we are now accepting applications for September 2025!
