WOMEN IN BUSINESS
▲ Mary-Ellen Davis, Director of Development
IT'S A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Meet a few of the exceptional women behind the scenes of Confederation Centre of the Arts.
for a capital campaign to renovate the South Pavilion. Fundraising is always challenging, but Davies has high praise for the generous donors of PEI, a place she has lived her entire life. “The donations and sponsorship help us create children's smiles, create a sense of home and belonging for many, support vibrant artists and create meaningful moments for people across our country.” Among those vibrant artists is dancer and choreographer Dawn Dames, the Associate Artistic Director of the Charlottetown Festival. Dames first studied dance at the Bahamas Dance Theatre in her hometown of Freeport. After a brief stop in Trinidad for additional dance education, she moved north to attend Holland College, then Acadia University, where she studied English literature and theatre production. Her first experience with the Centre
Mary-Ellen Davies had always planned to lend her skills to a charitable organization before retiring. Having worked in the
accommodations and golf sectors, she had envisioned a second career in health care. Instead, she ended up at Confederation Centre of the Arts and couldn’t be happier. “I feel very fortunate, as the arts play as much a vital role in our community as health care and education,” she says as she reflects on her six years as Director of Development at the Centre. In her senior management role, she oversees the Centre’s fundraising activities and is currently gearing up
By Crystal Smith Photos Evan Ceretti
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www.pei-living.ca SPRING 2023
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