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Saskatoon city council isn’t publicly clarifying why they didn’t ask some members of the Remai Modern art gallery board of directors to return, as more resignations continued to pour in on Monday.
In total, seven board members are leaving — including board chair Scott Verity and secretary Alison Norlen, who were reportedly forced out by the city.
After news emerged of Verity’s ouster, five other Remai Modern board members indicated to the city they were either resigning or retracting their bid to be re-appointed.
The entire executive of the board is included in that list, with vice-chair Trent Bester and treasurer Jenna Richards indicating their intentions to leave.
Karen Chad, Veronica Gamracy and Garnet McElree are also leaving.
All but Verity submitted emails to be included on the city council agenda Monday clarifying their intentions.
Gamracy included her full resignation letter in the email, but the text of the letter was redacted by the city before being released to the public.
McElree wrote he “regretfully withdrew” his application for re-appointment, while Chad said she had signalled her plan to leave the board back in October.
Norlen, who said she was not re-appointed, said in her email she wished for her name to be publicly released.
650 CKOM reached out to all the departing board members, but did not receive a response by time of publication.
Mayor Charlie Clark declined to say why certain board members weren’t reappointed when asked by reporters.
“It’s just not appropriate for me to comment on the decisions of council on which appointments we have going forward,” he said.”I’m very grateful to all the hard work that many, many people have put into the gallery to get it open and have a tremendous first year.”
When asked about allegations of political interference, Clark didn’t say whether there had been any.
But he did say that isn’t council’s role in their relationship with the Remai Modern.
“That is not our job … and I want to be clear we’re not interested in getting involved in decisions around programming,” he said.
City councillors Cynthia Block and Mairin Loewen, who sit on the Remai Board as council representatives, told 650 CKOM they weren’t authorized to discuss the situation and directed comment to the mayor.
Council voted unanimously, without discussion, to appoint five new board members on Monday, and to approve the return of two existing members — Fatima Coovadia and Grant Stoneham.
Clark believed the other board member, lawyer Beau Atkins, would continue to serve as well.
The turmoil over the Remai Modern board comes as the art gallery continues their search for a new CEO, with Gregory Burke set to leave for a similar position in his home country New Zealand in March.
Clark touted the gallery’s success when asked how the controversy would look to any potential CEO.
“We have a gallery that has got off on a very good start, that is helping to put Saskatoon on the map,” he said.
“There’s lots going for this art gallery.”