OTTAWA, October 31, 2006 - The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced the appointment of Francine Girard, of Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, as a part-time member of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada.
"I am confident that Ms. Girard's experience in the arts will be an invaluable asset to the National Gallery of Canada," said Minister Oda.
Ms. Girard taught art history and photography at the Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe from 1969 to 2004. In 1996 and 1997, she taught "L'univers des musées," a course offered by the Université de Montréal in cooperation with the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. In 1996, she led a series of workshops for guides of the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal. Ms. Girard also taught a course in public speaking at the Faculty of Education at the Université de Montréal, from 1986 to 1995.
Ms. Girard co-founded Expression, Centre d'exposition de Saint-Hyacinthe, in 1985. She was also an art history consultant for the Musée de la civilisation in Québec for the exhibition "Sacred Money, Cursed Money!" in 2005. She has been a member of the Conseil de la culture de Saint-Hyacinthe since its founding in 1994, and has been its president since 1999.
The National Gallery of Canada Corporation is responsible for the management of the National Gallery of Canada and its affiliate, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. It develops, maintains, and promotes, throughout Canada and internationally, a collection of both historic and contemporary art with special, but not exclusive, reference to Canada. It furthers knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of art in general among all Canadians. The Corporation's website address is www.gallery.ca
Information: Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Status of Women
819 997-7788
