Welcoming Deantha Edmunds and Marisa Fusaro to our Board of Directors
September 11, 2024
The Hnatyshyn Foundation is thrilled to welcome Deantha Edmunds and Marisa Fusaro to its Board of Directors!
Deantha Edmunds is Canada’s first Inuk professional classical singer. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in December 2023 for her activities as a performer, writer, composer, and mentor – work through which she seeks to empower Indigenous people and share their stories. Her work has international reverberation as well as community integrity. She brings a level of professional excellence to Canada’s Indigenous art scene that is unique and important.
Notable appearances include singing at the opening ceremony of the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2021, performing for His Holiness, Pope Francis in Iqaluit at the official apology to Inuit residential school survivors in 2022, and singing the Nunatsiavut anthem for King Charles III at the St. John’s welcome ceremony of the 2022 Canadian Royal Tour which focused on Reconciliation.
Creating original music, collaborating with other musicians, contributing to Indigenous productions, and mentoring young artists, Deantha shares her voice and vision with her whole heart, and is drawing accolades from across Canada and the world.
Find Deantha at www.deantha.ca or on Instagram: @inuksoprano.
Portrait of Deantha Edmunds, OC by Jennie Williams
Marisa Fusaro is a Program Administrator at the Canterbury Community Association. She is the wife of Ray and Gerda Hnatyshyn’s eldest son, John Hnatyshyn. She has experience on volunteer boards of directors and councils, as well as experience in film and television.
Marisa served as treasurer (2017-2020) and is currently co-Chair (2020-current) of the St. Gemma Catholic School Council. She worked on contract as a project manager for the Ottawa Cultural Alliance (2018-2019) and served as Secretary, Treasurer, and organizer on the Board of the Digi60 Filmmakers Festival (2010-2013). From 2003 to 2009, she was a producer for Mountain Road Productions. She worked for the Hnatyshyn Foundation in 2002 and 2003, as Administrative Assistant. Before that, she worked as an event supervisor for the PBS program Antiques Roadshow (1998-2001), Forum Coordinator at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (1992-1996) and Legislative Research Assistant at the Office of US Senator Edward Kennedy (1990-1992). She studied Political Science at Boston College and has a Master’s of Science in Television from Boston University.
