On behalf of the Ontario Historical Society Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to announce that, after an open and competitive hiring process, the Board has selected Mr. Daniel Dishaw for the position of Executive Director.
Daniel holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and a Masters in History from Trent University, specializing in Canadian political history. Daniel may be familiar to many of our members and affiliates as he has worked for the Society in the role of Communications & Outreach Manager since 2015. In that role, Daniel managed the Society’s communications portfolio, overseeing and drafting the Society’s reports, publications, and media releases. Daniel has led several of our flagship programs, including Honours and Awards and Heritage Conservation. Daniel also has experience traveling across the province to meet with OHS members and affiliates, as needed, to determine how the OHS can support their work.
Daniel has been instrumental in maintaining the historic John McKenzie House, working closely with the City of Toronto, overseeing all on-site conservation and restoration work, including project management, grant writing, and acting as the general contractor for the Society.
Daniel has also helped to foster new relationships and partnerships for the Society, including the OHS Student Placement Program, wherein the Society works with university faculty members across the Greater Toronto Area to provide valuable culture and heritage sector experiential education opportunities to university students. Further, throughout his career in the heritage sector, Daniel has successfully designed and/or supported public programming and education initiatives for other organizations as well as the OHS, including The Ward Museum (Not Just Numbers), Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), and Heritage Toronto.
In addition to his outstanding personal and professional credentials, Daniel was able to clearly illustrate how his vision for the Society will carry it forward—continuing to maintain the incredible foundation and core operations developed over the Society’s long history, but also incorporating new ideas and evolving the OHS to maintain its relevance, to attract new members, and to ensure the longevity of the Society into the future.
Daniel said, “My goal is to uphold the critical role of the OHS in preserving our provincial heritage and advocating on behalf of the public interest in Ontario. I have a strong working relationship with my colleagues, and our team is capable of doing great things together. I know I can deliver the integrity and consistency that this position demands, building upon the solid foundation left by the departing Executive Director, Rob Leverty.”
Mr. Dishaw will begin in this new role, taking over from departing Executive Director Rob Leverty, on February 1, 2023. Mr. Dishaw can be reached at ddishaw@ontariohistoricalsociety.ca.
Kristin Ives
President
Ontario Historical Society
kives@erca.org 519-738-2029 ext. 4