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. She was a Director and Treasurer at ArtsNB for two terms and is a founding member of the Art Centre Directors Association of New Brunswick.

2025 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 

V.C. 2020

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

SPACER

Jasmine Gavigan

Jasmine Gavigan works in legal at McCain and moved to New Brunswick from Ontario in 2022. With a passion for innovation, she is the author of a book on automation and technology in the legal profession, and is founder of a workflow automation startup. Jasmine is a strong advocate for collaborative and affordable living, believing in the power of community-driven solutions. An active volunteer, she is committed to supporting local initiatives that foster connection, creativity, and sustainability.

SPACER

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

David Bailey

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.

Elspeth Hagan 

Vice Chair

Karen Taylor

Karen O. Taylor, O.N.B. is a dedicated community leader with a lifelong commitment to inclusion, governance, and the arts. A former director of education at the NB Human Rights Commission, she played a key role in shaping public policy and advancing equality. She has served on numerous boards, including UNB, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Kings Landing Foundation. She was the first woman president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Now based in Woodstock, Karen continues to support local organizations, including the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, where she is honoured to serve as a board member. She has an organizational development consulting business and brings expertise in governance, fundraising, and strategic planning to strengthen arts initiatives. In 2024, Karen received the Order of New Brunswick in recognition of her "lifelong dedication to addressing injustice, improving others' lives, and supporting ventures that make her community, province, and country better."