NOT THE REGULAR NEWS...
BUY TICKETS | DONATE | 2026 RAFFLE TICKETS
Dear Friends,
With all that reaches our attention these days through sources digital and otherwise, I thought I would spend today bringing you some good news!
For more than 25 years, Stratford Summer Music has been lucky to have some serious heft as board members! The list isn't short, and if I attempted to single out some people over others, a firestorm of controversy would surely head my way in short order. However, this past New Year's Eve one of our past board chairs was named to the Order of Canada. Patricia O'Malley, our board chair from 2013-2015, has been recognized for her leadership in developing and implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards, which ensures greater consistency and transparency in accounting practices. The citation also recognizes the fact that she was one of the first women to serve in senior roles that were traditionally held by men. I asked Patricia (Tricia) for some more information about her past with SSM and she kindly wrote the following, which I am very happy to share here. The story begins with a young man named Freddy, the son of one of her friends at International Accounting Standards Board, looking for a summer job. After speaking with her good friend Judy Matheson about possibilities in town, Freddy was connected with John Miller...
“John was happy to have an extra pair of hands, especially since Freddy would be staying with us and his dad was picking up all his expenses. Even better, 2006 was when SSM was celebrating Mozart, and Freddy, besides having a perfect German accent, bore an uncanny resemblance to the Mozart portrait on that year’s coffee mugs. So Freddy spent a lot of that summer wandering around downtown dressed as Mozart, promoting SSM events.
Shortly after, John began trying to recruit me to join the SSM Board. I successfully resisted until 2010 because I was still working in London (until 2008) or Toronto (late 2009) and did not think I could make the necessary time commitment. But once I started, it turned out there was lots to do. I was chair of the Board from 2013 to 2015, then stayed as past chair to help with the transition from John to Mark.
Because of my background, my contributions mainly related to governance – we re-did the bylaws and continued SSM under the new Non-for-Profit act, revamped the financial statements and had the audit qualification removed from the financial statements, started preparing an annual report with reports from John and the general manager as well as summarized financial information. Most importantly, we inaugurated the “sustainability” fund (now named for John) intended to provide for SSM’s continuity, and arranged for the fund’s investments to be managed by the Ontario Arts Council. I should point out that throughout my time as chair, Judy was SSM’s general manager. None of this would have been possible without her hard work and ability to smile through crises! We also had a good Board team, who worked hard and pulled together to develop and implement strategic plans.
Ron and I have been supporters throughout and were initial contributors to the sustainability fund. Because of Ron’s lifelong love of jazz, we have lobbied for more jazz programming and are enthusiastic supporters of the jazz academy. We are happy to see performances outside the normal summer season too – it’s good to have music in the winter too!”
Our Congratulations to you, Patricia!!
I happen to know that Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is one of Tricia's favourite pieces of music, so am adding this little fun clip here. Something that I hope brings a smile to everyone's faces!
It is worth noting that the year Tricia became board chair of SSM, another board chair of ours was ALSO named to the Order of Canada. Mary Hofstetter was made a Member in 2013 for her outstanding contributions to the arts, culture and post-secondary education in Canada. Mary helped steer us through Covid (no small feat!!) and has been a devoted advocate for the arts for decades.
You'll forgive us if we feel just a little chuffed here today...
Happy New Year, everyone!
Mark and the SSM Team