Meet the MASC Team

Micheline Shoebridge has worked in cultural industries for the past 25 years. Starting off in the world of arts education, Micheline managed the Canadian Screen Training Centre, an Ottawa-based film and television training organization for 6 years. She then spent the next fifteen years managing and producing documentaries, dramatic series, short films, music videos and commercials, in both English and French, sharing stories from Nunavut to Tajikistan.

Micheline was part of the team that founded the internationally award-winning Awesome Arts Program in 2009, bringing it to the MASC umbrella from One World Arts in 2012.

Micheline was also MASC’s Seniors Program Director for 7 years before joining forces with Wendy Hartley as Co-Executive Director from March 2019-June 2021 when Wendy retired. Micheline believes strongly in the power of art as a catalyst to bring people together and improve the communities we live in.

Alejandro Salgado Cendales is an arts administrator, artist, advocate, and active member of Ottawa’s BIPOC and immigrant artistic community. He is the founder and director of the Multicultural Artists’ Coalition (MAC-CAM), and is a former member of the City of Ottawa’s CFSS – Equity and Inclusion Committee. Pulling from his rich cultural background as a Colombian shaped by the intersections of Western, Indigenous, African and popular knowledges, Alejandro has a commitment to equity and diversity issues, especially for cultural, political, social, and economic decolonization.

His research and community-based work aim to facilitate dialogues between academic, institutional, and marginalized communities through policymaking, cultural programming and community development. Alejandro has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (2013) and a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) from Queens College, City University of New York (2017).

Karine Lévesque has built a career in arts administration, arts education and community engagement, having worked in different areas of the arts and culture sector for over 15 years with organisations of artistic excellence such as the Shenkman Arts Centre, MIFO and the Ottawa School of Theatre.

Her passion for community-engaged arts education was sparked when she was given the opportunity to work with Arts Network Ottawa on the Neighbourhood Arts Ottawa program in 2019, supporting artists and community organisations to deliver diverse and engaging arts programming in our city’s neighbourhoods. As a proud franco-ontarian, she was thrilled to return to her francophone roots in 2020 to take up the lead coordinator (and later, executive director) position at the Conseil des arts Prescott-Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC), where she worked on arts, culture and heritage programming, as well as innovative digital tools to help guide the organisation and its members through the pandemic years.

Karine is an advocate for equitable access to arts programming in local rural areas, and works to foster opportunities for francophone multicultural arts programming in communities and schools in eastern ontario. She has a B.A. with honours, Art History and Theory / Arts Administration and Anthropology focused on Indigenous Studies (2013).

Katryn Hepworth is an arts and education professional dedicated to building meaningful connections between artists, schools, and communities. Throughout her career, she has worked with the Shenkman Arts Centre, served as Coordinator of Knowledge Mobilization for La ruchée at the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF), and held the role of Booking Manager at MASC.

She is excited to return to MASC as Artistic and School Director, where she continues her work fostering collaborations between artists and school partners. Passionate about learning through the arts, Katryn believes that creative experiences help build engagement, curiosity, and lasting connections for students and educators alike.

A graduate of the University of Ottawa with studies in Theatre and Psychology, Katryn has a lifelong love of the arts, including theatre, improv, and music. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her camping on a sunny day and enjoying the outdoors.

Valerie is thrilled to be rejoining the MASC family!

Some of you may remember Valerie from her role as MASC’s Residency Program Coordinator from 2006-2012. In her new position as MASC’s Community Program Director, Valerie is pleased be overseeing the delivery, growth and development of the Community Program that features performances, workshops and festivals delivered by MASC’s artists to children, youth and seniors throughout the region. In addition to expanding MASC’s community bookings and working to nurture new community partnerships, Valerie is also delighted to be coordinating Awesome Arts en folie and the MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival.

Valerie brings over ten years’ experience in non-profit program management and community development. Her background in International Studies and Indigenous Studies (Trent University, 2003) has afforded her the opportunity to work closely with locally based community organizations in Thailand, Bolivia, Switzerland and in Northern Ontario in the areas of conservation, population health and the arts.

Valerie is eager to reconnect with the many talented artists and dedicated community partners from her prior time at MASC but is also equally excited to meet and work with everyone who has joined the organization in more recent years. “It is a joy and a privilege to once again work with the incredible team that are the MASC family, and I can’t wait to dive-in”!

Amina Touré brings a rich cultural perspective to MASC, having been born and raised in Senegal before making Canada her home. A graduate of the University of Ottawa with a B.A. in Communications, Amina has a deep passion for storytelling, drawn to the intrigue of crime and mystery, the boundless imagination of fantasy, and the spine-tingling thrill of horror literature.

Her journey with MASC began as a Social Media Coordinator intern in 2021, where she honed her skills in connecting audiences to the arts. She then took on the role of French Tour Coordinator from 2022 to 2023, showcasing her dedication to fostering meaningful cultural exchanges. Now a full member of MASC’s team, Amina continues to bring creativity, passion, and a global lens to her work.

In addition to her professional experience, Amina holds certifications in accessibility and diversity, violence prevention, respect in the workplace, and workplace health and safety. She has also volunteered with organizations to help strengthen and refine their communications strategies, further reflecting her commitment to inclusive, effective, and community-focused engagement.

With a passion for cross-cultural dialogue and creative collaboration, Devika has built her career by harnessing the power of storytelling and strategic event planning to honor multifaceted viewpoints, amplify diverse voices, and foster meaningful connections.

Her work spans international organizations such as Global Affairs Canada, All India Radio, Institut français, and the Embassy of Belgium, where she has honed her skills in crafting compelling content and orchestrating captivating events that unite people from varied backgrounds. Fluent in both English and French, she thrives in navigating spaces where cultures converge, believing that language is not a wall to climb, but a bridge to connect communities. She is committed to curating artistic experiences that reflect the plurality of identities, ensuring that each initiative resonates with and engages audiences from all walks of life.

Having lived and studied across India, France, Italy, and the UK, she brings a truly international perspective to her work, embracing hybridity and celebrating the complexity and richness of our shared human experience. Devika looks forward to leveraging this global insight to contribute to MASC’s innovative and impactful initiatives, further enriching Ottawa’s cultural landscape.

Born in Ottawa, Canada to Japanese immigrants, Kenji Toyooka is a web developer, graphic designer and illustrator who has been in business for over 20 years in the overlapping worlds of application development, digital media and visual arts.

A software programmer by training and a multi-media visual artist at heart, he thrives on the challenge of combining different platforms and mediums to create fresh, innovative and engaging applications and artwork. A varied skill set has enabled him to work in a wide variety of fields, including web development, mobile game design, branding, marketing campaigns, product packaging, digital art and traditional painting. He has partnered with corporations, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, music festivals, entrepreneurs and independent artists throughout Canada and the US, with a particular interest in supporting the arts, charities and social programs that benefit society and culture.

Always eager to broaden his repertoire of skills and techniques, Kenji loves to engage with new topics, technology and mediums that are stimulating and far-reaching. He also loves to travel and experience novel places, people and food.

Margo is delighted to join the MASC team as Operations Manager. A former business owner with a strong background in hospitality, she brings extensive expertise in client and stakeholder relations, event planning, internal systems improvement, and day-to-day operations.
Margo’s professional background includes serving as Executive Director of the Prescott-Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC), where she developed a strong aptitude for efficient organization, creative problem-solving, and collaborative team leadership.
She holds a BA in Art History from Carleton University and has worked with a range of cultural centres and arts organizations across Eastern Ontario. Margo also holds a Professional Certificate in Not-for-Profit Management from Western University, as well as the Professional Administrator, NPO designation from the Centre for Excellence in Organizational Governance. Together, these qualifications directly support her work at MASC by enabling the development of effective systems, clear processes, and operational practices that strengthen program delivery.

Margo is pleased to be part of a purposeful organization and shares MASC’s commitment to making the arts accessible to youth through schools and communities.

Throughout her more than 20 years at MASC, Wendy Hartley has held many roles and is still learning, always learning! Joining the organization as the Bookings Coordinator in 2001, Wendy then took on the role of English Program Director role for 12 years. The best part of her work is appreciating the connections between artists and their audiences through their inspiring artforms, as well as fostering rich relationships with artists, partners, volunteers and staff. Wendy has been the strong guiding force behind the MASC Arts Awards for 15 years and in 2015, founded Your Story, MASC’s popular teen literary event. In 2019, Wendy and Micheline Shoebridge joined forces as Co-Executive Directors at MASC until June 2021. Wendy is now enjoying her retirement while keeping her connection with MASC strong as an Executive Consultant.

Aicha is pleased to join the MASC team as Bookings Coordinator. With a strong background in the arts and a passion for creative work, she brings a diverse range of experience as a freelance woodworker and illustrator, along with four years of experience in the local film industry.

Her hands on experience across a variety of artistic disciplines has given her a strong appreciation for the creativity, collaboration, and community that the arts can foster. She is excited to bring this perspective to her work and is committed to making meaningful arts experiences accessible to young people and communities.