Board of directors

CELA Board of Directors

  • Peter Bailey
    Peter is the CEO of St. Albert Public Library in Alberta. He has served as President of the Library Association of Alberta (LAA) and as Chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA).  
  • Catherine Biss
    Catherine is CEO of the Markham Public Library in Ontario and is currently chair of the CELA Board. Previously, she served as the chair of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council. She has served on the CELA Board since its inception in 2013.
  • Grace Dawson
    Grace is the Regional and Community Services Librarian, Prince Edward Island Public Library Service. She earned her Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Western Ontario in 2011 and held several positions in Prince Edward Island prior to her current role.
  • Mélanie Dumas
    Mélanie Dumas is director of the BAnQ Universal Collection. A graduate of the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of Montreal, she has worked at BAnQ since 2001. She is responsible for the development, document processing and management of the BAnQ Universal Collection.
  • Jefferson Gilbert
    Jefferson is the Executive Director of the Canadian Urban Libraries Council and the Principal at Gap. Point. Reach. Inc., a Canadian-based consultancy that focusses on working with non-profit groups and building leadership and financial capacity within the sector. He is currently the CELA Board Treasurer.
  • Åsa Kachan
    • Åsa is the CEO & Chief Librarian for Halifax Public Libraries. In her role, she oversees 450 staff working across the 14-branch library system. Prior to taking on the CEO role in November 2014, Åsa spent 16 years in senior administrative roles within universities.
  • Amanda Lepage
    Amanda Lepage is currently the Director, Collections and Service Infrastructure at Saskatoon Public Library.  Prior to this role, she led the SPL teams responsible for service to patrons with disabilities, outreach worker support, and community partnerships, as well as a previous career in the education sector supporting students living with visual disabilities.
  • Carolyn Minor
    Carolyn Minor is Section Head - Special Services, Winnipeg Public Library where she provides oversight for accessible services. She has previously served on the CELA Services & Operation and Outreach Committees.
  • Ardis Proulx-Chedore
    Ardis Proulx-Chedoreis the Collection Services Technician at the Cochrane Public library in Ontario. She sits on the OPLA council as the Northeastern Ontario Representative and on the OLS JASI Advisory Council. She is also currently a board member at her local Friendship Centre. Accessibility has always been a passion. 
  • Heather Scoular
    Heather is the Director of Customer Experience at Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) in British Columbia. She was Library Director at Port Moody Public Library and then North Vancouver District Public Library before joining FVRL, where she has held several positions including almost 2 years with oversight for accessibility in her role as Library Manager, Mission Library and Outreach Services.
  • Tara Wong
    Tara Wong is the Chief Executive Officer for Oakville Public Library (OPL). She has a strong passion for community development and innovation. Prior to joining OPL, she held a variety of leadership positions within Ottawa Public Library and Regina Public library. Tara also spent 5 years a sessional instructor for Algonquin College’s Library Technician program, where she developed a love of teaching and mentorship.