BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Nelly W. Ng
Chair
Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture
4040 Finch Ave. East, Suite 208,
Scarborough, Ontario M1S 4V5
Dr. Nelly Ng practices family medicine in Scarborough, Ontario. For more than 20 years, Dr. Ng has devoted much time and energy outside her busy medical practice, championing greater access to community health care and health services for the old and the sick as well as promoting deeper appreciation of Chinese cultural treasures across Canada, winning support from Canadian and Chinese sectors.
Together with the late Canadian federal minister Hon. Martin O’Connell, Dr. Ng launched in 1993 the Canadian Foundation for the Preservation of Chinese Cultural and Historical Treasures. Milestones of the Foundation’s work include:
- technical assistance to preserve cultural treasures in China’s Three Gorges Area with the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada technology;
- the widely acclaimed three-city exhibition of the Masterpieces of the 20th Century Chinese Painting, celebrating Canada’s Year of Asia Pacific in 1997. Chinese President Jiang Zemin made his first public appearance in Canada at the exhibition’s Vancouver opening in the same year; and
- the spectacular seven-city tour of Jade: the Ultimate treasure of Ancient China which was announced in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji in Ottawa in 2000.
Her volunteer work has been recognized by many awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Commemorative Medals 2003 and 2012 for outstanding community contribution for the betterment of Canada, Canadian Asian of the Year 2009 in Volunteerism, Woman on the Move 1988, and City of Toronto Award for Promotion of Race Relations, 1998.
Dr. Ng with committed volunteers founded the Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture (Can4Culture) for the promotion of relations through culture.
Ms. Monique Horth
Vice President
Canada Science and Technology Museum
P.O. Box 9724, Station T
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5A3
Ms. Monique Horth is the Vice President, Collection, Research and Corporate Governance at the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation whose mandate is to foster scientific and technological literacy throughout Canada. Before joining the CSTMC, Ms. Horth was the CMA’s Deputy Director for over 5 years, and enjoyed success working at the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Centre for Exhibition Exchange specializing in traveling exhibitions and education. With a Masters degree in Project Management, Ms Horth enjoys planning and developing dynamic, cross-cultural projects and exchanges for the arts and heritage sector. She was Vice-Chair of ICOM’s International Committee for Exhibition Exchange for six years and served two board terms on ICOM Canada. She currently serves on the board of the Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
John G. McAvity, C.M., D.Litt.
Executive Director and CEO
Canadian Museums Association
280 Metcalfe Suite 400
Ottawa Ontario K2P 1R7
A native of New Brunswick, Mr. McAvity is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick. He began his career in 1968 as a Researcher for the Canadian Inventory of Historic Properties and in 1972 as Assistant Curator at Kings Landing Historical Settlement. He has since become a leader in Canada’s museum and arts community.
Mr. McAvity was New Brunswick’s Provincial Museum Advisor, then the first Executive Director of the Ontario Museum Association and, since 1981 he has been Executive Director of the Canadian Museums Association (CMA). Under his direction, the CMA has grown greatly and become a strong and respected national organization.
Mr. McAvity advocates for Canadian museums, from public appreciation to important legislation. He has served on many Boards and Advisory Commissions including the Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture. He has visited China over a dozen times as well as more than 30 nations around the world.
In 2015 he was recognized by receiving Canada’s highest award, The Order of Canada. In 2003 he received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and in 2012 he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He is active with the International Council of Museums, (ICOM) was Secretary-Treasurer of ICOM’s International Committee on Museum Management, and is currently the past Chair of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs (2008-2014).
In 2007 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of New Brunswick in recognition of his work on behalf of museums in Canada and internationally.
Sylvie Morel was until November 2008, the Vice-president, Exhibitions and Programs Branch for the Canadian Museum of Civilization (now the Canadian Museum of History) where she worked for 35 years. The mandate of the Exhibitions and Programs Branch was to disseminate knowledge to as broad a public as possible through high quality exhibitions, programs and products on site as well as elsewhere in order to educate and entertain visitors. Ms. Morel obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (mathematics major) from the University of Ottawa in 1972 and joined the Museum in 1974 as the Loans Officer for the National Education Program. She has held a number of positions within the museum and was appointed Director General of Exhibitions and Programs Branch in 1989.
In 2007, she became President of ICOM Canada (International Council of Museums Canada). Ms. Morel is a member of the Canadian Museums Association, the International Council of Museums and the National Capital Sommelier Guild.
Ms. Morel is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
She retired in late 2008 and was co-owner of a sheep farm and cheese making operation for several years. She continues to do work for museums and cultural foundations as a consultant and a volunteer. She has been a member of the board for a number of organizations including the Hnatyshyn Foundation, the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums, and is currently a member of the Advisory Committee for the Algonquin College Sommelier Program, the board of the Ottawa Humane Society and the board of the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum.