Our Team

Lori’s work with the Centre began in the winter of 2009 as Marketing Manager where she worked with Centre staff to build the profile of the organization and the Cape Breton craft sector.

Now as Executive Director, Lori plans to continue to make Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design and the Cape Breton craft sector globally known.

After 3+ years of experimenting with a variety of craft courses and workshops, Lori has accepted that she is a “collector” rather than a maker…which is probably better for the creative economy anyway!

Diane joined the staff of the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design back in 1989 when it was still known as the Cape Breton School of Crafts. Her job has evolved greatly over the years and as a long time employee, her duties are varied and include committee work, financial responsibilities, organizing courses and workshops and supporting other staff in the day to day operation of the Centre. It is often said that Diane is the glue that holds all the different departments of the Centre together.

Working in a not for profit organization has its challenges, but the biggest pleasure Diane gets from her job is the daily interaction with the many people who visit the Centre. The members, the volunteers and the other staff make coming to work every day a pleasure. Their dedication and commitment to the organization is inspiring.

When the 9 to 5 day is through, Diane can most often be found weaving at her loom. However, as an aspiring knitter, occasionally she can be found mumbling and fumbling with a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn.

Tammy Sophocleous-MacDonald is the Office Manager at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, which means she’s at the heart of the organization. Tammy ensures the smooth running of the office, keeps up to date with our members, runs registration for courses, and supports every element of the Centre. Tammy thinks that when you work with such a great group of staff, it makes coming to work an enjoyable pleasure. It’s such an honour everyday to get to meet all kinds of different and talented people.

Tammy likes to take her work home. She spends her out of office hours working on art projects with her daughters who enjoys pottery, drawing, and sewing. Watch for Tammy’s daughters to be future artisans in our Gallery some day.

Elizabeth joined the team at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design in 2013 after completing the Master of Public Relations program at Mount Saint Vincent University. Previous to that, Elizabeth graduated from the Mount with a Bachelor of Public Relations and Certificate in Marketing.

Elizabeth appreciates the creativity, dedication, and hard work demonstrated by the artisans that are represented in the Gallery Shop, in addition to the artisan studios around our beautiful island. As Marketing Manager, Elizabeth aims to promote the profile and prominence of the Cape Breton craft industry – not only locally, but also regionally, nationally and internationally.

As the Craft Retail Supervisor, Cassie works closely with the talented artists on our beautiful island, Cape Breton, and manages the Gallery Shop in Downtown Sydney. She is a visual artist and musician with a background in retail and customer service. A graduate of Dalhousie University and a student of NSCAD University, Cassie is always on the journey of education.

Originally from New Waterford, Cassie spent the last 20 years between Halifax and Toronto. Fun fact – if you’re familiar with New Waterford via the Canadian independent film, New Waterford Girl, you’re familiar with Cassie too! She played the role of Darlene Pottie. Outside of the Gallery Shop, Cassie can be found playing music with her band, Cassie Josephine & the Cry If I Want To’s, as well as painting in her home studio. Cassie loves abstract portraiture and painting with her mom.

Regan started as the Business Development Coordinator in September 2021. Originally from Sydney, she left the island to pursue a degree in Gender Studies at the University of Toronto. She then spent fifteen years working for “the Man” in Ontario before she finally came to her senses. 

A queer settler, Regan brings an intersectional lens to program design and evaluation. She has hosted numerous consultations and workshops, and developed resources and training materials for small business, non-profits and public sector organizations alike. Her transferrable skills will be an asset to Unama’ki-Cape Breton’s craft sector. 

Regan now lives in the woods in Cleveland with her partner, where she spends a lot of time thinking about rural life, her martial arts practice, and how the island has changed – and hasn’t – since she last lived here.

Emily Shaw is the newest member of the Centre’s team! As Emerging Curatorial and Programming Coordinator, she works directly with the Executive Director to research and develop curatorial themes for an annual exhibition program for 2023. She also proposes and supports artistic and educational programming and identifies and drafts funding applications for the Centre.

A graduate of Mount Allison University’s Fine Arts program, Emily is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and humorist. She credits her love of craft to the numerous craft fairs attended on her home of Prince Edward Island (the other island). She loves all things textiles, writing, and her sweet geriatric dog Robert Gordon.