About | Medalta

Vision Statement

The Friends of Medalta Society is dedicated to developing the Historic Clay District as “A world-class cultural district with a heart of clay”.

Mission Statement

The Friends of Medalta Society (the “Society”) fosters an understanding and appreciation of the Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District (known as the “Historic Clay District”), its importance in the development of Medicine Hat, and its impact across Canada through collection, preservation, exhibition and interpretation.

Medalta Staff

The Friends of Medalta Society is a not-for-profit organization established in 1986 which is dedicated to the restoration and development of Medalta Potteries National Historic Site and the 150 acre Historic Clay District as a world-class artistic and cultural hub. Within the District are the historic Medicine Hat Potteries, Hycroft China Provincial Historic Resource, the Medicine Hat Brick and Tile Provincial Historic Resource and the National Porcelain Site. Together, Medicine Hat’s clay industries formed one of Western Canada’s earliest and largest industries.

*Staff photos taken by James Farrell

View our 2018-2022 Strategic Plan

Mike Onieu

Executive Director

Laurie Switzer

Executive Assistant

Adeana Jesse

Finance Coordinator

Wendy Struck

Education Coordinator

Noriko Masuda

Residency Coordinator

Lisa Miklash

Production Coordinator

Alice Osmond

Bookings Coordinator

Jessica Knodel

Marketing/Communications Coordinator

Julia Clarke

Customer Experience Coordinator

Carolyn Freeman

Education Programming Supervisor

Cody Weiss

Site Superintendent

Susan Mckinnon

Collection Manager

Pamela Irvine

Event Supervisor/Janitorial

Amy Duval

Studio Technician

Melanie Gaudet

Museum Assistant

Terry Murphy

Maintenance Associate

Michelle Schneider

Event Staff

Chrissy Cruickshank

Event Staff

Nicole Nemo

Event Staff

Genevieve Mathieu

Event Staff

Jocelyne Bouvier

Event Staff

Friends of Medalta Society

Mr. Randy Lehr

Chair

Ms. Kimberley Knight

Vice Chair

Mr. Drew Jackiw

Treasurer

Ald. Jamie McIntosh

Secretary

Mrs. Melinda Arthur

Director

Mr. Graeme Cruickshank

Director

Mrs. Jane Mackay

Director

Dr. Dennis Schneider

Director

Mr. Lorne Simpson

Director

Mr. Roger Sept

Director

Mr. Mike Onieu

Executive Director

Ms. Laurie Switzer

Recording Secretary

2018 Supporters

BMO – Bank of Montreal

Greenbarn Potters Supply Ltd.

Yuill Family Foundation

Bill Yuill

Clayton Sissons

Dennis & LaDonna Schneider

Ian & Phyllis McLaughlin

James Marshall

Jane & Sandy MacKay

Kimberley Knight

Ken Blair

Leslie Hirsch

Short Grass Ranches Ltd.

April Ruzycki

Malcolm Sissons

Servus Credit Union

Shaw Communications

Big M Ford Lincoln Ltd

CHAT TV

Community Foundation of M.H. & S.E. AB

David Cocks

Dewayne Good

Dr. Linda Rossler

James Lehr

Kenneth MacPhail

Plato’s Superior Roofing Ltd

Dietrich & Kitt Brand

Drew Jackiw

FWBA Architects

Grant Stegen

Kevin Gregory

KIWANIS Club of Medicine Hat

Linda Lehr

Martin LaFrance

Medicine Hat Brewing Company

Mireille Perron

Patricia Horner

Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel

Stringam LLP

Amy Gogarty

Ann Renee Lasante

Aaron Nelson

Baumann’s Ventilation & Plumbing Ltd.

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Bert & Donna Propp

Brian Robinson

Canada Helps

Courtyard Dental Centre

Derek Hirsch

Don Davis

Gordon Thompson

Grant Pisko

Hargrave Ranching Co. Inc.

Jamie McIntosh

Joanne Marion

Kaiden Vancuren

Kent Smith

Kent Walker

Kevin Gregory

Lauren Fishley

Laurie Switzer

Leanne Stega

Lenora Stein

Meghan Bidinger

Michael Benoit

Michael Bering

Mike Christie

Morgan Bath

Nurgul Rodriguez Del Ojo

P. Auger-Iannattone

Pat Borrrows

Randy A. Lehr

Robert Wanner

Robin Sherwood

Steve Pahl

Sandra Moore Consulting

Amyfit & DKFitness

Barbara Scott

Brenda Watson

Caleb Bloomfield

Catherine Young

Cathy Regier

Harvey & Loretta Fix

Ian McLean

Jayne Parsons

Jeanie Gartly

Jesse Bixby

Joan Bruneau

Joanne Marion

Joanne Pitman

Kalika Bowlby

Kerry & Brent Barrett

Karl Schwonik

Leanne Stega

Lorne Simpson

Luke Jackiw

Marilyn Pacheco

Michael Bering

Michelle Kamlocher

Nancy Bassendowski

Nathalie Lawrence

Orrie Whitford

Partek IT Solutions

Sandra Heather Black

Tiana Straga

Terrance Lazaroff

Virginia Marsh

Paula Murray

Vertical Element Ltd.

Tegan Pearen

Phillip Pype

Wayne & Rosemary Baumback

Honour Roll

Honour Roll recipients have made significant contributions to the Friends of Medalta Society. Many of the Founding Committee members continue to offer their services as advisors and volunteers for the society, as do many retired members of the Board of Directors. Volunteers are selected for the extraordinary effort they have extended to the society’s various programs, and staff are chosen for their selfless dedication and perseverance in achieving the goals of the Historic Clay District.