After 21 years with OAC, first as Associate Dance Officer then Dance Officer and since 2001 as Director of Granting Programs, Billyann Balay has decided to retire. Her last day will be May 10, 2013. “Billyann is a tremendous asset to the Ontario Arts Council. Neither the board nor I wanted her to leave, but we certainly respect her decision. I am extremely grateful that Billyann has given us a long time to prepare for her departure and has also agreed to participate in the process for hiring her successor,” said Peter Caldwell, Director & CEO.

“I have been privileged to serve the arts community through my work at OAC for so many years. I’m proud that throughout both good times and bad, OAC has always been a champion of the arts and the needs of artists and arts organizations everywhere in Ontario,” said Billyann Balay.

Before joining OAC, Billyann was principal of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT). Previously, she was a dancer and rehearsal director for TDT and danced with various chamber ballet companies. OAC has begun an internal recruitment process, and if no internal candidate emerges, an external search will be launched