Meet the Team

The Blue Mountains Public Library has a team of over 50 people! This includes our staff and volunteers as well as the BMPL Board, and Arts & Culture Council. We could not achieve our level of success without this full group.

Library Board

Carol Sackville-Duyvelshoff

Board Member
Carol has retired from the Ontario Public Service where she held several executive positions. She brings her strong leadership skills with a focus on strategic planning to the Board. In addition to this, she has vast experience in labour relations,…

Joanne de Visser

Board Member
As a relatively new resident of the Blue Mountains (2022), Joanne  de Visser is grateful for the opportunity to work with the Library staff and Board team and to become an active member of her new town. Libraries and books have always played a…

Julia Scott

Library Board Vice Chair

Kris Wichman

Board Member
Kris is a retired pharmacist having worked in a number of health care environments as a hospital clinician, manager, consultant, educator and administrative executive. She has a long history of volunteerism - while working, she was very involved in…

Laurey Gillies

Library Board Chair
Laurey Gillies has an extensive background in public libraries, having worked in the field for over 30 years. She has a Master’s in Library Science and was CEO of Southern Ontario Library Service for 20 years. Laurey has experience with strategic…

Marie Swift

Marie Swift is a  semi-retired educator who lived and worked in Simcoe County for many years. After taking on the role of Teacher Librarian in an International School in Dubai, she relocated to the Town of the Blue Mountains with her husband in the…

Shawn McKinlay

Shawn is a member of Town Council and the Council representative on the Blue Mountains Public Library Board.

Staff

Alessia

Museum Curator
Alessia went to university for Archaeology and Heritage, it was during this period that she was given the opportunity to work with the Craigleith Heritage Depot team in cataloging an extensive collection; one that took over two summers and part of a…
Andrea Blais

Andrea

Student
Andrea is currently finishing her studies at Lakehead University for History. Her favourite part of working at the Museum is looking through the archival documents, photographs, and helping others find lost family history through genealogy. One of…

Ashley

Library Specialist - Tech Programmer
Ashley has been with BMPL for over 5 years. Ashley brings her experience in one-on-one tech help and passion for technology to her position. Ashley graduated from Confederation College with a Library and Information Technician Diploma in 2019. She…

Elisa

Manager of Technical Services
Elisa has loved libraries ever since she won a carton of ice cream at the Saltfleet Public Library when her mom correctly guessed how many books and entered the contest in Elisa’s name. After graduating with a Master of Library and Information…
Emma

Emma

Manager of Public Services
Born and raised in Meaford, Ontario, Emma has been part of The Blue Mountains Public Library team for the past decade. During this time, she has worked as a Library Assistant, the Desk Services Assistant Coordinator, and she is now our Manager of…

Franz

Administrative Assistant
Franz is a graduate of Georgian College’s Executive Office Administration program, and in his current role at the L.E. Shore Library, he provides administrative support to the Library CEO and Arts and Culture Council.  No two days are alike – just…

Jamie

Library Clerk
Jamie was born in Orangeville, Dufferin Country. Her family moved to Ravenna, Grey Country in 2010. Jamie was born and raised Deaf and with Cerebral Palsy, she uses America Sign Language (ASL). Jamie attended Ernest C. Drury School of the Deaf at…

Jen

Library Specialist - Children's Programmer
Jennifer has been with The Blue Mountains Public Library since 2018. She enjoys planning fun, exciting and educational programs for children and teens, and can often be found working on outreach programs within the local community. She loves the…
Jennifer Murley

Jennifer Murley

CEO
Jennifer Murley has worked in public libraries for over ten years. A graduate of the University of Alberta's MLIS program, she also has a BA in History from Carleton University and a project management certification from the University of Toronto.…
Josh Skelton

Josh

Museum Interpreter
Josh recently graduated from Carleton University with a bachelor’s degree in history and archaeology. During his time there he specialized in researching and digitizing medieval manuscripts in the university’s library special collections. He has…

Ken

Library Specialist
Ken Haigh has lived in China, Bhutan, and on Baffin Island. His memoir of life as a teacher in eastern Bhutan, Under the Holy Lake, was published by The University of Alberta Press in 2008. Ken enjoys hiking, reading travel narratives, and playing…

Mary

Manager of Community Engagement
Mary Dodge started at BMPL in December 2019 as a Library Assistant, where she helps community members with in-branch services, readers’ advisory, reference questions, and facilitates Family Storytimes. Since 2012, Mary has worked in libraries,…

Monica

Museum Technician
Monica graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Rhetoric & Professional Writing. She then received her Diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Museum Management and Curatorship. She has…

Natashia

Library Specialist - ILLO
Natashia joined The Blue Mountains Public Library in June of 2020 as a Library Assistant. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology and Sociology at Trent University and in 2018 began working at the Meaford Public Library as…

Arts & Culture Council (ACC)

Beverley Smith

Beverley Smith

ACC Chair
Beverley Smith has been a professional artist since graduating from Sheridan College (The School of Design) and textile design college in Stockholm Sweden in the early 70's. She moved from Toronto to the Beaver Valley in 1980. She has become well…

Diana Bick

Diana retired to the Blue Mountains in 2018. Her love of Arts and Culture combined with her Education led to her position as the Director and Educator of the Art Curriculum at Hillcrest Progressive School in Toronto. Although an educator by…

Gerard Bueche

Gerard Bueche joined the Arts & Culture Council in October of 2022. He studied graphic art and interior design in Switzerland. He retired from a 35 year career at CBC as Creative Director. Gerard also ran Gallery 533 in Toronto for 5 years. He…

Helen Forrest

Helen's professional background is in Public Health Nursing. Following retirement, she had time to channel her energy in to areas of her own interest. As a local resident who recognizes the value of a strong community focused library, Helen was…

Sandra Whitehead

Sandra is an entrepreneur and has over the years owned and operated her own business. She loves to paint and has come to consider this more than just a hobby. Sandra has supported the arts and artists for over 50 years. She loves to watch the…