In addition to the three winners profiled last month, here are more volunteers recognized not only for their long service, but outstanding contributions to the AGO.

We asked our winners about their background, what inspires them, and maybe a little something people may not know about them…

 

Stephen Edson, Daytime GG

I came to volunteer at the AGO for two reasons.  Firstly, I have always had a casual interest in art due to my family background and, secondly, I wanted to learn more about art; Canadian art in particular.  It was on the advice of Jack Carr, who was a docent at that time, that I applied in 2001 to the Education Department as a volunteer.  I also volunteer with an organization called “Living and Learning in Retirement” (LLIR).  This is a volunteer run educational program that plans and offers university level courses (without term papers and exams) to retired persons.  It has been operating on the Glendon College campus of York University since 1973.

I am a retired high school teacher (Business Studies) and a former market analyst in the textile industry.  When not at the AGO I enjoy reading, gardening, occasional woodworking projects, and spending time with my family.

I do not have a single favorite work at the AGO, but I do, however, have a distinct preference for the Canadian collections.  I am looking forward to a number of exhibitions that are coming to the AGO, but “Revealing the Renaissance” (March) would be my pick if I had to name a favourite.

One of the strongest memories from my years at the AGO concerns Mr. Ken Thomson. I was in the old Val Stock area where tours used to assemble (2003/4) and was preparing to take visitors on a tour of the “Thomson Collection”, when I was surprised to see Mr. and Mrs. Thomson approaching.  I couldn’t resist the urge to ask them if they would be interested in a tour of the Thomson Collection. Mr. Thomson smiled and said that they were sorry, but that they were going to the Agora to have lunch before a Board meeting.  He then added, “It’s too bad because I might learn something.” What a nice thing to say, but I have regretted missing the opportunity to hear Mr. Thomson talk about his collection.

Little known fact about me:  I like to draw images of birds on bracket fungus, but good specimens are very difficult to find in the ravines of Toronto.

 

Maureen Timmons, School Groups Gallery Guide

“He who does nothing for others does nothing for himself.” Goethe

My first visit to the AGO with my grade 3/4 French immersion class really impressed me.  A staff person and volunteer introduced the theme of the tour and involved the students with hands-on activities; small groups were then taken into the gallery for an hour long tour. When I retired, after 35 years of teaching, I remembered those great experiences and applied to become a volunteer docent, although I had little formal art training.  I have since been involved with both the Ambassador Program and school group tours.

I also volunteer at the Islington Senior Centre, where I lead a French conversation class every Friday afternoon, as well as at the Toronto International Film Festival every September.  When not volunteering I like to travel, read, cook, and attend films, theatre, symphony and the opera.

I continue to volunteer after ten years for many reasons. One of the most compelling is the opportunity to keep learning through curatorial presentations and education training sessions as well as shared study groups organized amongst ourselves.  Friendships are easy to establish within this group of like-minded gallery guides. Most important is the deep satisfaction and joy that occur when a teenager enters an artist’s name in her cell phone for further research or a child’s face lights up with “I get it!”

One of my most memorable moments at the AGO was the evening that the AGO dinner for the National Symposium was held in the newly transformed gallery. After months of preparation and planning, it was very satisfying to witness the fruition of all those hours spent in preparing this. To see all my fellow volunteers gathered around Walker Court was very emotional.

A young volunteer at a conference in London summed it up best when she said, “I do get paid for my volunteer work; I just don’t get money.”