Meet Our Team
We are proud of our committed and diverse staff driven by our common goal to create meaningful art experiences for our community.
Lawrence Sagar – Director
Lawrence joined the team at Quest Art in June 2023 as the Director where he is excited to continue his journey as an arts administration and arts innovator. Lawrence holds a BFA (Art History & Studio) from Concordia Montreal PQ, Public Relations & Digital Communications (SCS) and Leadership in NFP (SCS) from University of Toronto as well as first year foundations at Ontario College of Art Toronto. He brings over 30 years of visual arts programming and teaching experience, including (but not limited to) being owner and operator of The Art Garage Inc, a private art recreation program, Seasonal Recreational Coordinator and Programing at East York Parks & Recreation, Art Instructor at Museum London, Living Arts Centre Mississauga, City of Mississauga, VAM Riverwood, Toronto Public Library as well as providing Ontario Arts Council approved art curriculum enrichment programs for the TDSB & TCDSB. Lawrence maintains his own artistic practice through drawing, photography, painting and illustration. Although Lawrence is extremely proud to be married and a father of three kids, he also holds a special place at his home for his vintage 1967 comic book rack… you can look at it… just don’t touch it!
Alanna Brousseau – Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Alanna received her BA in English Literature from the University of Toronto. Determined to build a career around her love of books, she went on to complete the Publishing Program at Ryerson University. Since graduating, Alanna has been proofreading regularly for HarperCollins, as well as writing and editing for various brands around Simcoe County.
When she’s not poring over a manuscript or assembling the weekly Quest Art newsletter, you can find her adventuring with her son, Huck, foraging for wild edibles, or curled up with a big book and an even bigger cup of chamomile tea.
Stacey Schinella – Office Manager
Stacey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from St. John’s University, located in New York City. She has over 20 years of experience working in both educational and administrative roles, in both the US and Canada. She is a wife and mother, with a love of photography and design. She is excited to contribute to and support our vibrant art community through her role at Quest Art School + Gallery.
Our Board Members
Peggy Breckenridge – Chair
Peggy Breckenridge was one of the founding members of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Operations Committee for the Midland Cultural Centre. She served as Secretary and an Officer of the Board until her resignation in June 2015.
Peggy formerly served as Mayor of Tiny Township and sat as a Councillor on the Simcoe County Council. She also sat on the Performance Management Committee at County, the Simcoe County Museum Board, the Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce Board, the Physician Recruitment Steering Committee, the Severn Sound Environmental Association and the Severn Sound Sustainability Committee.
Peggy taught at the secondary school level for ten years before launching her business career, which has included senior sales and marketing positions in several major consumer products companies. While President/General Manager of Sunbeam Canada, she was instrumental in a major operational turn-around of the Canadian division of this multi-national appliance manufacturer.
As an entrepreneur, Peggy has been instrumental in the successful start-up of three new ventures, ranging from a food consulting and marketing business, to a manufacturing enterprise serving the automotive industry.
Cathy Tait – Vice-Chair
Cathy Tait is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) who works as a senior advisor and facilitator working with leaders and teams in the public, not for profit and private sectors. I help identify and implement leadership and organizational change, as well as helping clients achieve optimal results in their service, marketing, and sales organizations.
Building on over 35 years of business experience, I have worked across Canadian, American, British, and Australian markets as an executive with Xerox Canada and principal with Western Management Consultants.
Our family has enjoyed life in Tiny Township, for two decades with a recent 5 year stint in Sydney, Australia. Having worked with the Aboriginal/Indigenous community in NSW Australia, has provided me with a unique perspective into their culture, art and values.
I have been an active volunteer with Rotary in Australia and now with Midland Rotary, Ontario. My passion has always been collecting and studying the arts, across several cultures. With this experience I am excited to make a meaningful contribution to Quest Art Gallery and School.
Cristine Huma – Treasurer
Irene Wilson – Secretary
As an active realtor in the Georgian Bay area since 2007, Irene has kept in touch with her local community through her love of local arts and crafts. As a current
Services Committee Member of the Southern Georgian Bay Association of Realtors, she has sat on the board as a director for approximately 7 years and was also on the task force which amalgamated our Midland area board with the Collingwood board. She has also chaired the Education & Member Services Committees, and sat on The Discipline Committee and Finance Committee.
Catherine Cowley – Fundraising
Catherine Cowley has had a successful 35-year career as a Sales Executive in the software industry working for major enterprise software companies. She led many strategic sales cycles resulting in multi million dollar contracts. As a result of her business success, she has strong relationships with an extensive C-Level network across multiple verticals. Catherine has led and mentored global sales and account management teams. She has been an active member of the Women’s Executive Network and the Retail Council of Canada.
Art and volunteering are two of Catherine’s many interests and passions. She is an active volunteer with the Red Cross, Meals on Wheels and the Karma project. Catherine was awarded the Heroes award for Volunteer & Community Service from SAP. One of her most memorable volunteer experiences was her work in Africa with the J9 Foundation. This work allowed her to share her business expertise with young entrepreneurs preparing to launch or expand their micro-enterprises.
Catherine has been collecting art for many years and is looking forward to helping improve our community through art and connection.
The Cowley family have been coming to Tiny Township for decades. Catherine and Paul are now permanent residents of Tiny and are enjoying retirement and having more time for community, friends and spoiling their grandchildren.
Adam Podolski – Youth Education
Adam Garry Podolski is a teacher-artist-author-poet and pet lover. His doctoral dissertation Towards a personal philosophy of curriculum: Approaching currere and narrative inquiry within an Aokian paradigm of reciprocity was recognized as an original and unique contribution to the field of values and leadership in education, receiving runner-up for the Paul T. Begley Award. Adam has presented his poetry, art, and curriculum theory at The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and McGill University. His research is beginning to garner interest in America, the UK, and Australia. At Quest, Adam is involved with educational initiatives and in audience engagement.
Rodrigo Moreno – Fundraising
Rodrigo Moreno was born in Santiago, Chile and has been a professional corporate and documentary photographer in Toronto since 1992. While servicing a multitude of clients that include Ontario Tourism, Glucksteinhome, City of Toronto and Scholastic Canada his work has carried him to various parts of the globe. Moreno has received National recognition for his travel work in Cuba from the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators and is the main subject in an award winning documentary called “Shift Focus,” which features his inner city community where he grew up and the collaboration with youth in the Amazon in Peru. He has been awarded countless grants for his work and has peaked the interest of major newspapers in Toronto, while appearing on City TV, Sun Television, CTV and CBC radio on numerous occasions. He has also received an Honourable Mention, from Canadian Living Magazine, in the “Me to We” awards, for creating a photography club that empowers youth in the Lawrence Heights community. He has exhibited work in various galleries across Toronto and one of his collections of work was selected as one of the must see exhibits, among the Contact Photography Festival, while receiving a four star (NNNN) rating from Now Magazine. Moreno’s imagery, of the Lawrence Heights community has now become a part of a permanent collection at the City of Toronto archives and has been featured in the editorial piece titled “The Picture Man,” which earned him a nomination for a National Magazine Award in Portrait Photography in 2021. Moreno continues to document his old community for over thirty years.
Stephen Sagar – Fundraising
My name is Stephen Sagar Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager at Midland Golf & Country Club. I first moved to the Georgian Bay area in 2008 and have worked at the golf course for 13 years with two separate hiatuses during that time. My first education was in Integrated Media and Fine Art while attending the Ontario College of Art and Design from 1994 until 1998 and graduated with honours. My interest in art and design date back to my earlier teens stemming from a very creative family with several artists, both novice and professional. My education took a turn after OCAD and I decided to study the culinary arts and graduated from George Brown in 2003 in Culinary Management. My cooking career took me all over the GTA from the CN Tower to the National Ballet School of Canada. I have volunteered previously with the Toronto Consort located at St. Paul’s United Church. My duties were rudimentary but I was committed to helping the ancient music orchestra in any way I can. I currently work and live in Midland and I look forward to working with the Quest Gallery in any capacity that will utilize my expertise and talents.