About Us
Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham
Established in 1992, the roles and responsibilities of the Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham (Registered charity 891618373RR0001), include to provide advisory contributions on matters pertaining to the education and promotion regarding the public’s appreciation of the fine arts in the City of Markham through the use of the Varley Art Gallery; to maintain and expand the existing collection of art works, objects and documentary material in respect of the collection; and to preserve and exhibit the collection.
We are active in the community through:
Volunteer program
fostering community involvement, skill acquisition, socialization and artistic expression
Gallery Animateur program
offering free, welcoming and inclusive art experiences to all gallery visitors
Wallace Joyce Scholarship
awarded annually to a graduating high school student from York Region pursuing post-secondary art education
William J. Withrow Bus Bursary
helping schools and community organizations access art education by assisting with transportation expenses
Board of Directors
Top Row: Amin Giga (Treasurer), Paul Cicchini, Craig McOuat (Vice-Chair), Nik Mracic, Jim Schmidt (Chair), Reid McAlpine (Ward 3 Councillor, Unionville)
Bottom Row: Francesca Dauphinais (Staff, Development Officer), Arpita Surana, Josy Jamieson, Connie Leclair (Governance Chair).
Not pictured: Sophia Sun
About the Board
The Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham consists of a board of ten directors:
Jim (he/him) is the Chair of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham and has been a member since 2019. Jim is a business owner in the printing industry.
Craig (he/him) is the Vice-Chair of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham, and has been a member since 2013. Craig is the President of McOuat Partnership, a marketing firm in Markham.
Amin Giga has been on the Board of Directors of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham since November 2016, and appointed Treasurer in June 2018.
Amin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and is partner with Bansal & Giga – Chartered Professional Accountants. The firm provides both individuals and corporations with a wide range of services including accounting, taxation, business consulting services and related matters.
Amin has a passion for community involvement, having served with numerous organizations, including as past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Business Development Centre, where he worked with the organization in various capacities.
Over the years, Amin has been a lecturer on small business topics, been interviewed for articles in print media, and has appeared on television as a small business authority.
Amin graduated with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. He also obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Reid (he/him) is the City of Markham Ward 3 Councillor, and has been a member of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham since 2019.
Connie (she/her) is a Chartered Professional Accountant. She is a result-driven finance and business advisor, with over 25 years of experience in the Energy Industry, and is a member of Women-in-Nuclear. Connie volunteers as a mentor to support other members achieve their professional goals. She also volunteers to serve the Markham community in various capacities, including the Catholic Women’s League. As the Governance Chair of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham, Connie is committed to being a trusted Board member, and promoting art and culture.
Nikola (Nik) was appointed as a member of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham in 2023. Nik is the Senior Vice President of Lindvest, a GTA Builder / Developer.
Arpita Surana (she/her) joined the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham board in 2023. Arpita has an MBA and provides Process Re-engineering and Strategy Business Consulting within banking and financial services. An artist herself, she is a certified primordial sound meditation instructor.
Josy Jamieson is a Director and Engagement Lead who specializes in change management, learning and development, and executive coaching. She has led large-scale transformation initiatives across the finance, healthcare, and telecommunications industries and guided organizations through complex change. Josy holds a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education, and multiple global certifications.
Sophia Sun is a director of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham, and the Vice Chair of the Flato Markham Theatre. Sophia supports organizations such as the SickKids Foundation, Princess Margaret Foundation, and Markham Stouffville Hospital. She has received several awards, including the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award, the Canadian Chinese Professional Achievement Award, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award. Sophia’s expertise is in Finance.
Paul Cicchini is the owner of the Duchess of Markham and a dedicated community volunteer. For over 25 years, he has contributed to Markham through various leadership roles, including 20 years on the Markham Village BIA board, nine of them as Chair. He has also served on the Main Street Markham Committee and the Markham Sports Hall of Fame Board. As a founding member of the T&T Foundation, he helps support Jumpstart, providing funding for youth sports programs.
Our Staff
Francesca Dauphinais, Development Officer
Francesca (she/her) oversees the day-to-day operations of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham. She develops, implements, and manages our fundraising events, provides administrative support to the board of directors, and is the volunteer coordinator for the Varley Art Gallery’s programs and events. Francesca holds an M.A. Museum Studies and a B.A. (Hons) History of Art. To contact Francesca, please email FDauphinais@markham.ca.
Our Support of the Varley Art Gallery
Our fundraising efforts allow us to support the mandate of the Varley Art Gallery in offering outstanding exhibitions, public events, workshops, art camps and curriculum-based educational learning for all ages and abilities, and assist the Gallery to acquire works of art to enhance their collection. We seek to promote the love of art and culture in our community.