HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-12-08, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016. PAGE 23.
Entertainment & Leisure
Lamb hired as Festival's Dir. of Development
Welcome
Jennifer Lamb will serve as the Blyth Festival's new Director
of Development, which means she'll be in charge of
procuring fundraising and partners for the Festival going
forward. She comes to Blyth by way of Stratford and a life-
long career in theatre. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
For the first time in over 10 years,
the Blyth Festival now has a full-
time Director of Development to
help with fundraising.
Jennifer Lamb of Stratford began
her time with the Blyth Festival last
week as part of a personnel shift at
Memorial Hall that will see both
Lamb and incoming General
Manager Rachael King start at the
Festival within the next month.
It has been some time since the
Festival has employed a full-time
Director of Development, Lamb
says, dating back well over 10 years.
Lamb will work with potential
sponsors both close to home and
further afield, as well as securing
grants and ensuring that the
Festival's financials stay in good
shape.
Lamb has been around the world
and back before making her way to
the Blyth Festival, spending time in
Toronto, Stratford, China and
England before coming back to
Ontario and returning to Stratford
and then eventually taking a job with
the Blyth Festival.
The theatre was ingrained in
Lamb's life very early on, growing
up near the Stratford Festival. Lamb
worked as an usher at the Stratford
Festival when she was younger
before studying English Literature at
the University of Waterloo.
After she graduated university,
Lamb began her time with the
Stratford Festival with a four-month
internship that eventually translated
into full-time employment with the
festival, the largest repertory theatre
in North America.
Lamb began working in the
Stratford Festival's marketing and
promotions department, eventually
shifting to a Toronto-based office.
Lamb was the Festival's Toronto
events manager, specifically charged
with organizing the Festival's annual
Toronto fundraiser called the
Stratford Express.
From there, Lamb worked for
Stratford Summer Music, followed
by an international move to China
and then to England for five and a
half years when her husband Simon
Marsden took on the position of
Head of Production with the Royal
Shakespeare Company. While in
England, Lamb took on a position
with the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust and then the Royal
Shakespeare Company as its first
U.S. Development Manager.
Lamb returned to Canada last year
and wanted to spend time resettling
her family before re-entering the
work force. When she was first
contacted about coming to the Blyth
Festival to be its Director of
Development, she didn't feel she
was quite ready, but when those at
the Festival got in touch with her
again earlier this year ahead of
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posting the job again, she decided it
was time to take the job.
Lamb looks forward to learning
more about the community and
meeting its supporters and partners
in the coming months in hopes of
doing all she can to help the Festival
going into its 2017 season.
While Lamb says she hasn't
attended many Festival plays over
the years, she has been to Blyth and
has seen plays years ago. Coming
from Stratford, however, she knows
of the Blyth Festival's "rich history"
and great reputation throughout the
world of Canadian theatre.
Because the Festival focuses on
presenting new Canadian creations,
she says she's happy to be a part of
such a unique organization.
After some time away from
Canada and with the country's
sesquicentennial coming next year,
Lamb feels there is a renewed
sense of patriotism and the
Festival fits perfectly with those
feelings.
For more information on the
Festival's 2017 season, visit
The Citizen's website and read the
Nov. 17 story on the season or
visit the Festival's website at
blythfestival.com.
Letter to the Editor
161st anniversary a success
THE EDITOR,
The recent 161st Battalion
Anniversary would next have been
possible without everyone who
helped out, supported and
participated in one of the events that
took place this fall to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of the
deployment of the 161st Battalion
and the remembrance of all those
who served in the First World War
from Huron County.
Over 100 community volunteers
produced and installed 551 ceramic
poppies. That project would not
have happened without their
dedication and commitment. Thanks
to Shelly Johnston, the GDCI Jazz
Band, Mary Smith, Duncan
McGregor, Allan Livingstone,
Hunter McCullagh and Bev Dietrich
for joining us on Sept. 22 for the
dedication ceremony of the poppies.
The participation of the Laketown
Band, Seaforth Girls Marching
Band, Celtic Blue Highlanders,
Clinton Legion Pipes and Drums
Band, Brussels Legion Pipe Band,
Exeter Cadet Corps and members of
the Great War Society in the Victory
Parade on October 8 in Goderich
really made the event special. The
Women's Auxiliary of Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 109,
Goderich took on the task of re-
creating a menu from 100 years ago
for the Descendants' Dinner and
thanks also to thatotherchoir and
Seaforth Harmony Kings for
providing entertainment at this
event.
The Huron County Museum staff
hosted the Speaker's Series which
included notable talks about World
War I and Huron County's role in
the war by Norm Christie, Andy
Robertshaw, Jim Rutledge, Jeanette
Elliott and David Yates.
Finally, thank you to the clergy of
Trivitt Memorial Church in Exeter
and the members of several local
branches of the Royal Canadian
Legion for participating in the
Remembrance Service and re-
dedication of the 161st Battalion
Colours on Oct. 30.
The project was sponsored by the
Huron Arts and Heritage Network,
the County of Huron and the
Department of Canadian Heritage.
Our committee set out with a goal
to mark this meaningful anniversary
and honour and remember all those
that served in the First World War
from Huron County and we feel that
we accomplished that goal with your
help and support. Many thanks!
Members of the 161st
Anniversary Committee are: Claire
Carter, Tim Gillies, Ron Helm,
Wanda Keith, Jenna Liefso, Ruth
Anne Merner, Yvonne Reynolds, Pat
Rowe, Rick Sickinger, Bonnie Sitter,
Deb Sholdice, Alma Westlake, Joe
Wooden and David Yates.
Sincerely,
Rick Sickinger
Cultural Development Officer,
County of Huron.
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Thursday, December 15