Our Judges Panel
We are pleased to introduce our Panel of Judges! Long time community serving members and artists. Active in our local area, they are happy to participate in this wonderful youth-based contest. Art is an integral part of a child's development in so many ways. It is so delightful to see all the art that our contestants have created! Join us in welcoming our Judges and wishing all the young artists good luck. The chosen artworks will be featured on park benches for the community to enjoy at Kay Cee Gardens, in Orangeville. Results will be published soon!
Bliss was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick in 1937 and came to Ontario 1945. He has been a pillar of our community and an active citizen of Orangeville since 1968. A business owner for 21 years at Blissco; he is also a founding member of the Mono Nordic Club and the Jackrabbits Cross Country Ski Program; founding member of the Orangeville Swim Club; involved for many years with Scouts Canada; an elected chairman of the Orangeville Police Services; an enthusiastic contributor to many Town initiatives and a long-time member of the Optimist Club where he is instrumental in the Christmas in The Park event. He has many hobbies and interests including having his pilot’s license and playing sports of all kinds. He is the recipient of many honours and awards and a delightful personality known to many.
Melody has been living in the Orangeville area for over 35 years.
She has enjoyed volunteering with many organizations (Caledon Meals on Wheel, Orangeville Food Bank, and the Cancer Society to name a few) and is a life member with the Optimist Club of Orangeville. Melody enjoys her work with youth through the Optimist Club and loves being involved in the organization of many Club events. Her favourite being Christmas in the Park.
She enjoys knitting, crocheting, and painting; especially creating new displays for Christmas in the Park. Her other hobbies include playing the bagpipes and being a member of the Sandhill Pipes and Drums band. Melody has also sat on the judge's panel for the Town’s Utilty Box program.
Ian is the current Optimist Club President and has been an Optimist member for 21 years. Ian owns and operates Proforma miComm, a local business providing custom promotional items since 2010. Ian and his wife Maria also operate the Orangeville Wellness Clinic, a massage therapy and osteopathy services clinic in Orangeville. Ian sits on the board of the Green Party locally, helping to build their support for the past 20 years. Ian has a special needs son Matthew who was just awarded a Humans of ODSS award for his efforts to help himself and other special needs youth to learn academics and get a better education while they are at school. Ian and Matt and his mom are working together to help all special needs people get more opportunities and less discrimination.
https://www.facebook.com/ian.mcgugan.90
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-mcgugan-canadaspromotionalheadquarters/
Ricky is a young Canadian artist living in Orangeville. His love of animals, nature, and fantasy is rooted in his early childhood, and serves as the foundation of his paintings and drawings. He works as an artist, art instructor, and community arts advocate in the small town of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. Ricky is self-taught but is always seeking new artistic knowledge and exploring new mediums, to expand his understanding and hone his craft. Current projects include writing and illustrating a children's picture book and creating a new body of artwork including several large-scale oil and acrylic paintings.
Ricky also works as the manager and artist-instructor at Maggiolly Art in Orangeville! He loves to share the joy of art with the community. (Photo by Danielle Arnold)
