Kathleen Prince has worked in The Avenue Gallery in Oak Bay since 2014 and has been manager since 2022.
Kathleen Prince is the new owner of The Avenue Gallery in Oak Bay, but she’s no stranger to the place.
Prince has worked in the art gallery since 2014 and has been manager since 2022.
She steps into the ownership role following the departure of Larry Wheeler, who assumed ownership after the passing of his wife, Heather Wheeler, the gallery’s founder.
Located in Oak Bay Village, The Avenue Gallery is considered one of the premier boutique art galleries in Western Canada, representing a range of established and emerging artists working in painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass and jewellery.
Prince brings professional expertise and a deep personal connection to Heather Wheeler and her founding vision.
“My commitment to The Avenue Gallery, to honouring Heather’s legacy and to supporting both our artists and the team has always been at the heart of my work,” said Prince. “I will lead the gallery forward with the same care, vision and dedication that have guided me from the beginning.”
Raised in Oak Bay, Prince holds an honours BA and MA degrees in art history from the University of Victoria.
Director Julie Murtha has been re-elected for a second term to the board of the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society, and Karen Aitken and Amy Hinrichs were elected to their first terms.
Aitken is director of the parliamentary education office at the B.C. legislature, where she has led the department since its inception in 2001. She leads a team of 12 permanent educators, guides and researchers, as well as mentoring 12 legislative interns each year and supporting 16 summer student staff.
Hinrichs is the senior development manager at Victoria Symphony. After a career managing organizational growth, in 2003 she centred her career on philanthropy and since then has managed portfolios ranging from fundraising and donor relations to strategy and systems implementation.
The newly elected and re-elected board members will join previously elected members Moira Dann, Stephen Lyons, Angelica Pass, Will Sorrell and Kelly Somogyi.
Patricia Foster, Nancy Reason and Kevan King retired from the board.