Executive Director & Curator

Jennifer Stead, BFA, Dip in Art Ed, MFA  joined the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery as Executive Artistic Director & Curator in 2017.  Along with a successful professional art practice, Jennifer has over 25 years of art education experience having worked in five provinces and at all levels of visual art education.

She received her BFA at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, completed an Arts Education degree at McGill University and completed her MFA at the University of Calgary, winning the 2007 Chancellor’s Medal for her thesis. She is a Director of ArtsNB and Treasurer since 2020.

2023 Board of Directors

Karen Birnie

Chair of the Board of Directors

Karen Birnie is a retired educator who dedicated her career, spanning over 30 years, to working with and advocating for children with Learning Disabilities.  As a special education teacher, literacy lead and Vice Principal, in Toronto, Karen worked to build the literacy skills and confidence of elementary children.  Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University, a Bachelor of Education from Queens University, followed by Specialists in Special Education and Reading from the University of Toronto and then her Principal Qualifications from the Ontario Principal’s Council. Upon retirement in 2016, Karen returned to her Carleton Country roots, where she continues to support the development of literacy skills, as a volunteer Tutor Co-ordinator and Board member with Northern Carleton Laubach Literacy Council.  Karen is honoured to be an ALMAG Board member, supporting the Gallery’s mission of increasing the access, awareness and appreciation of art in her community.

Nancy McCauley

Vice-Chair

Nancy grew up in Montreal where she received her Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University. In 1992, she and her husband Mark moved to Florenceville. In 2005 as a municipal councillor, Nancy joined the Andrew & Laura McCain Library and Gallery board, which originally operated as one entity. Nancy has been involved with the Gallery board ever since and loves the art journey that she is on. In that time, she has witnessed the Gallery and cultural community flourish in the Town of Florenceville-Bristol, a place that she is proud to call home.

Carol Brennan, Treasurer

Carol grew up on a farm in the Annapolis Valley and spent her career working in the agricultural industry. After graduating from the University of Maine, Orono with a degree in Agriculture & Resource Economics she was employed the the federal and provincial departments of agriculture for ten years, becoming the first female District Agriculturist in New Brunswick. Carol went on to work for ten years with the Mutual Insurance companies and twenty years with Farm Credit Canada.
Carol was a long-time 4-H leader, a founding member of the Bath Access Centre and the Northern Carleton Minor Basketball Association, served as a member and chair of the CNHS Parent Support Committee, was treasurer for the CNHS music program for many years. She is a member of the Catholic Women’s League and the Florenceville Rotary Club.
She and her husband, Joe, have four children and six grandchildren. They recently retired from thirty -five years of farming and enjoy still living on the farmstead in Johnville.

Helen Pickard, Secretary

Susan Galbraith

Originally from Saint John, Susan studied Art and Art Education at Concordia University in Montreal, and has an MEd from UNB, Fredericton. She moved to Carleton County in 1990 to take on the position of art teacher at Carleton North High School, where she has built an award-winning art program. She has served on provincial curriculum development committees for elementary and high school visual arts and took on the role of Visual Arts Lead Teacher for Anglophone School District West from 2019-2023. She is a practicing artist and currently displays her work at the ALMAG Gallery Shop. Susan has been a member of the gallery board since 2018, but she has partnered with the ALMAG since her arrival in 1990. The gallery provides an important opportunity for high school students to view quality art of regional, provincial, national and international acclaim. Susan has inspired and developed the Art in the Classroom Program with the Gallery and continues to make sure all Carleton County  students have access to art and art education.

Laurel Bradstreet

Laurel Bradstreet joined the Gallery Board in 2023 as the representative from the District of Carleton North. A dedicated volunteer, Laurel Bradstreet has been a resident of the District of Carleton North for over 35 years. He brings to his new role a strong enthusiasm for volunteering, arts and culture.

Joy Lockhart

Elspeth Hagan

David Bailey

Karen Taylor

Kevin Flanagan, Ex Officio

Kevin Flanagan, Ex Officio, was former Chair for many years. During his tenure the gallery developed and grew. Kevin remains dedicated to the success of the gallery and continues to volunteer in many capacities.